From the Ashes of Motor Ace, Meet Nighthawk

As we look for the next big thing in music, I think we sometimes forget about the value of classic sounds. Nighthawk reminds us with its debut single “Surely Getting On.”

This is the kind of straight up honest rock music I remember hearing in pubs when I first started seeing bands. We shouldn’t be surprised though, because Nighthawk features members of Motor Ace, who were one of the biggest acts of the early 2000s.

“The fire that compelled me to make music in the first place was extinguished by the end of Motor Ace. I was young and took every kink in the road harder than I should have. I do have some regrets about not enjoying the great music we made and our success a little more,” explained founding member Patrick Robertson.

“Nighthawk comes from a very different place. It was a party before it was a band. There’s a simplicity about the music and the attitude. I haven’t felt as excited about a group of musicians and making music for a very long time. I think you can hear it.”

“Surely Getting On” is our first taste of Nighthawk’s upcoming album. After experiencing it, I’m hungry for more.

“Two Degrees” – Illy

I consider myself open to most musical genres, but I haven’t really listened to a lot of rap since the 90s. I had fun with acts like Salt-N-Pepa and The Fugees, but then the genre evolved, as most do, and I felt left behind. It seemed rap was either about the struggle of people from the “wrong side of the tracks” or about the excess of those living it large. Neither type of rap resonated with me, so I found myself listening to the genre less and less. And then came Illy.

It’s hard to believe, considering how Illy seems to have burst onto the scene a relatively short time ago, but his newie Two Degrees is actually his fifth studio album. It’s a highly anticipated release considering the way Australia’s responded to singles like “Papercuts” and “Catch 22.” It’s the strength of those singles that have taken it to number one on debut. But it’s the strength of the other songs that’s going to get people talking and keep it on the charts for many weeks to come.

My favourite songs are the ones where Illy collaborates with other artists. I think he does some of his best work when he has someone to bounce off. The chemistry he has with the artists he’s handpicked here elevates these tracks. “Hazard to Myself,” a collaboration with Sir the Baptist, is so playful and irreverent. “Oh My,” with Jenna McDougall, feels like a summer anthem. “Extra Extra,” featuring Mike Waters, is pure feelgood joy.

While these songs make me smile, some of the album’s most poignant moments come when Illy’s working alone. “Truce” feels very personal, with powerful lyrics that pack a serious emotional punch. The closing track “Highway” is such a perfect way to finish the album. This song closes this chapter in the Illy story by looking forward to the future.

Illy is a rapper, but his music is so much more than that. He effortlessly fuses his rhymes with pop, dance, and electronic sounds to broaden its appeal and make it accessible to people like myself who don’t spend a lot of time listening to rap. If like me you’ve moved away from rap music, Two Degrees encourages you to dip your toe back in to the genre. You won’t be disappointed.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Behold Millington’s “Being” Clip

I can’t remember the last time a music video made an impression on me like the clip for “Being,” the latest single from British-born Melbourne-based muso Millington. It’s a visual feast which takes a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Strap yourself in!

Aside from the outrageous video, the song is pretty special, a charming folk-pop ditty that you’ll find yourself humming for days.

Sheppard Back With New Pop Smash “We Belong”

It was always going to take some work for Sheppard to top the catchy “Geronimo.” But it just might have done it with new single “We Belong.” It’s only November, but I can see this irresistible track becoming the feel-good song of the summer.

“We Belong” came from the last year Sheppard spent writing and producing new material between Los Angeles and Brisbane.

“So excited for the release of We Belong,” George Sheppard said in a presser. “Our fans have been very patient, and we finally get to give them something to wrap their ears around. This new single is a great taste of what’s to come on the album next year.”

That album is set for release everywhere in 2017.

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Rough River Casts a Spell With “This Love”

Take a moment out from your weekend chores and socializing to just stop and listen to “This Love,” the stunning new single from Melbourne singer-songwriter Rough River.

I say you should take a moment, because this is a gentle, delicate track. A slow burner if you will. And if you just hit play and go about your day, you might miss exactly what’s so special about it. It doesn’t have those obvious hooks or singalong choruses so many songs do after all. But it’s utterly beautiful.

“This Love” is the first track lifted from Rough River’s sophomore album, The Leaving, which gets released on 17 February 2017. A limited run of vinyl copies are available via the Rough River Bandcamp page. If you’re among the first 100 to pre-order, you’ll get a nifty tote from record label Dusky Tracks to carry the LP in.

Image used with permission from Dusky Tracks

High Violet Release Pop Smash “All I Want”

Grab yourself a hairbrush to sing into, kick over your shoes, and prepare to give yourself over to the shimmery electro-pop genius of “All I Want,” the latest single from Adelaide outfit High Violet.

This song is just so much fun. The synths take me back to my childhood and the interplay of male and female vocals tells the story of love and longing beautifully.

High Violet will play the following shows in the coming weeks.

26 November 2016 – The Metro, Sydney (supporting British India)
29 November 2016 – National Live Music Awards @ The Basement, Sydney
16 December 2016 – The Gov, Adelaide (supporting British India)

Image used with permission from Rare Finds

“The Housefox Sessions” – Pepperhead

Some of the best rock outfits have been featured groups of guys with a woman out front. Perhaps it’s that these women are forging a path in a male dominated genre, but they seem to have an extra bit of grit and fire about them. Pepperhead frontwoman Louisa Thomas picks up where the likes of Suze de Marchi and Sarah McLeod left off.

She owns every track on The Housefox Sessions EP, a collection of songs recorded at Housefox Studios on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. When I think of the Northern Beaches, I think of privilege and a little pretension, but there’s none of that artifice about this recording.

Opening track “Angels & Demons” is a straight-up rock gem, all heart and soul. It’s followed up by the single “See Through You,” a track which adds a little more punk and rebellion to Pepperhead’s rock sound. If you’re not punching the air by the end, I’m a poor judge. “Superhero” sees Pepperhead shifting gears slightly, with gentle verses contrasting with its explosive chorus. The closer, “Unresolved,” is a frenetic piece of power-punk clocking in at just a little more than two minutes. It’s the kind of song that takes your breath away, before making you feel like you want to experience it all again.

The Housefox Sessions might have been recorded in a professional studio, but it feels more like something cut in a garage or live at a gig in a sweaty pub. There’s an irresistible energy about the way Pepperhead plays, with Louisa a commanding presence well supported by this tight unit of players. In just four tracks, Pepperhead shows enough to suggest it could be the next big thing.

Image used with permission from The A & R Department

San Cisco Drop Pop Gem “SloMo”

San Cisco is one of those bands it’s impossible to dislike. Every song the duo releases puts a smile on my feet and starts my feet tapping. They’re so darned catchy, but quirky enough to keep me guessing. The trend continues with “SloMo,” the first official single from album number three.

“’SloMo’ was the first song we wrote as a band after Gracetown,” singer Jordi Davieson explained. “We wanted to create a song that made people want to move.”

Mission accomplished! While you can stream “SloMo” and its aptly named companion “B Side” right now, they’ll also be available on a limited edition two-track seven-inch vinyl, which you can order later this year. San Cisco’s yet-to-be-titled third album will be released in the first quarter of 2017.

Leeli Tours Gorgeous Single “Into the Dark”

There’s something in the air in Byron Bay. The residents just seem to be more chilled out than the rest of us, which makes it an excellent breeding ground for the kind of folky alt-country music I love. Leeli is the latest act from Byron to catch my ear, and I recommend you take a listen to her stuff too.

New single “Into the Dark” is the perfect introduction to this talented songstress. A moving reflection on the power of addiction and loss, it draws you in with its personal lyrics and heartfelt delivery. It’s music at its purest, with little more than the vocals and the gentle strum of an acoustic guitar.

Leeli is currently on the road, taking this song and others in her collection to audiences around the country. It’s a place where she feels right at home.

“For me it’s about the intimacy of performance,” she explained. “That beautiful rawness of telling your story with one guitar and one voice.”

Here are the remaining dates on Leeli’s tour.

23 November 2016 – The Rails, Byron Bay
26 November 2016 – Rhythm Hut, Gosford
30 November 2016 – Newtown Social Club, Newtown
15 December 2016 – The Balcony, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Rish Publicity

Holy Holy Releases Another Awesome Single, “Elevator”

Holy Holy is continuing to build buzz for the release of their sophomore album with the launch of a brand new single “Elevator.” It’s another stellar slice of indie rock, with shimmery guitars and a chorus that should have you punching your fist in the air.

“I can’t recall how it germinated, but before we knew it we were playing this same two chords, over and over,” explained lead guitarist Oscar Dawson. “And it built from there, like a conversation; starting softly, then bouncing around to become louder and louder… It had been caught on a phone when we were touring in Europe, and back in Australia we put it together and decided that, in fact, it is a song.”

“Elevator” is the latest track from that highly anticipated new album Paint, which will drop on February 24. You needn’t wait that long to get your Holy Holy fix though. The band is currently touring the country with I Know Leopard and Alex L’Estrange. Here are the remaining dates.

17 November 2016 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
18 November 2016 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
19 November 2016 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
20 November 2016 – The Basement, Canberra
24 November 2016 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
25 November 2016 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
26 November 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane

Image used with permission from On the Map PR