Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sex on Toast Go Vintage with “Oh Loretta!”

Sex on Toast take us way back to the days of pastel dinner jackets and warm vintage keys with their latest single “Oh Loretta!”

It feels like it’s come from a cheesy lounge club, but I can’t imagine the lyrics going down to well in that kind of environment! This single’s just so much fun, I can’t help wondering whether there’s more like this on the band’s Ready EP, which will hit stores later this year.

Sex on Toast will launch the single with a show at Sydney’s Good God Small Club on 19 June and another at Melbourne’s The Toff the following night.

Image used with permission from Wondercore Island

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eves the Behavior Releases Electric New Single


Local chanteuse Eves the Behavior has blown me away with her gorgeous new single “Electrical.”

It’s a powerful slice of indie pop, and the latest lifted from her debut EP, which will be released later this year. Eves’ impassioned vocals are sublime, the perfect foil for her poetic lyrics and the lush instrumentation.

“I feel like it’s commenting on the friction between the organic / analogue and the synthetic / digital and the quest to find a meaningful connection between the two. The song is triumphant but it’s also bittersweet. I stumbled out of a sort of numbness into both beauty and gloom. And the simple fact of feeling something made me woozy and victorious at the same time,” Eves explained.

Eves the Behavior hasn’t announced any shows to support the single, but if you’re heading to Splendour you won’t want to miss her set.

Image used with permission from Dew Process

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stonefield Release Dreamy New Single

Stonefield have always been influenced by the music of the 60s, but their latest single “Golden Dream” is much more psychedelic than their previous efforts. There’s still the rock edge that first endeared the Findlay sisters to us, but its trippiness is brand new.

“The song has a real sense of female strength. It thrives on the energy of a man longing for her to come back to him,” explained Amy Findlay. “It’s a woman’s perspective of the classic masculine band-on-the-road story – reassuring their partner back home that they’ll come back to them. I love that the strength of the female presence is contrasted by the more delicate vocal.”

Stonefield are hitting the road this month to support the release of “Golden Dream” and give fans a taste of the new material they’ll hear on album number two, due out later this year.

26 June 2015 – Shadow Electric, Melbourne
2 July 2015 – The Brightside, Brisbane
3 July 2015 – GoodGod Small Club, Sydney
4 July 2015 – SS&A, Albury (FREE SHOW)
5 July 2015 – Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga
10 July 2015 – CATS @ Rocket Bar, Adelaide
11 July 2015 – Four5Nine @ Rosemount Hotel, Perth
12 July 2015 – Mojo’s, Fremantle

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Lulu Raes Tour Sunny Single

Sunshine is in short supply at the moment, but The Lulu Raes are spreading it with their summery new single “Swing Me on a Vine of Sunshine.” This is such simple, feel good stuff. I ended up listening to it three times in a row with a big smile plastered on my face.

The Brisbane band will take the single to the East Coast capitals this winter. Catch The Lulu Raes at the following venues.

26 June 2015 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
3 July 2015 – Shebeen, Melbourne
4 July 2015 – Goodgod Small Club, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Love is the Great Rebellion” – Ben Lee

Ben Lee is one of those artists that doesn’t like to stay in one musical place for too long. He’s often been angry and experimental, but my favourite Ben Lee is folky, loved-up Ben Lee. He’s the guy who makes very accessible light poppy songs that just make you feel good. That’s the Ben Lee we have showcased on Love is the Great Rebellion, my favourite Ben album since 2007’s Ripe.

It charts some of the same territory as Ripe, but with the wisdom that a happy marriage and fatherhood brings. That wisdom is captured beautifully in the opening number “Giving Up on Miracles,” a song which says goodbye to the romantic fantasies and embraces the reality of a fantastic life. The overabundance of joy in songs like “Happiness” and might be a bit cloying if you’re not in the right frame of mind, but I find such cheer endearing. The mellow, assured knowledge of “The Body of Love” really struck a chord with me. On an album like this even a song called “Everybody Dies” reeks of positivity.

I started listening to Love is the Great Rebellion on a pretty good day which quickly went south. When I was up, it echoed my sentiments. When I was down, stressing about my cat who was admitted to the vets for the second time in a week, it buoyed me. It’s not an album for the cynical, but for the rest of us it’s a wonderful pick-me-up.

Love is the Great Rebellion hits stores on June 2. It’s available for pre-order now with a free download of the single “Big Love.”

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Suze DeMarchi Pays Tribute to Home with Australia’s Best

Suze DeMarchi has assembled one of the best line-ups of special guests that I’ve seen in some time for her brand new album Home, her first released through Social Family Records. Jimmy Barnes, Diesel, Tex Perkins, Russell Morris, Dallas Frasca, and Shane Nicholson all perform with the Baby Animals frontwoman.

The album’s title is very appropriate, as the recording comes at a time when Suze’s again calling Australia her home base. The songs are also covers of tracks artists like Ryan Adams, Sheryl Crow, and Adele have penned about home.

Suze DeMarchi will give music lovers a taste of Home at an intimate preview show at Newtown Social Club on July 9 ahead of the album’s July 24 release.

Image used with permission from Social Family Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Expat Vic Stone’s Got Soul

Melbourne-born musician Vic Stone left Australia for the bright lights of New York City back in 2013. There he’s been honing his craft, developing his sound and collaborating with local artists. Last summer he showcased some of his original songs in his free Sounds on C concerts around Manhattan and Brooklyn.

I actually intended to write a post promoting his debut single “Misery.” It’s such a funky track with a really easy groove that reminds me a little of a late 70s disco track. I love the dirty quality of Vic’s voice too. This is really good stuff.

But then I discovered another email in my inbox about his follow-up track “Beautiful.” This is a different flavour, still soulful but with some real angst and longing behind it.

Both songs come from Vic’s debut album One Eleven, which is currently available digitally. What track’s your favourite?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Christine Anu Celebrates 20 Years with Live Album & Tour

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Christine Anu made a splash on the local music scene with her debut album Stylin’ Up? Featuring the hit singles “Party” and “Island Home,” it introduced Australia to one of its most enduring singers.

Christine is celebrating the milestone with a brand new live album, Restylin’ Up 20 Years, due for release on June 19. It features the tracks from that first release plus two extra songs, “Island Home’s” B-side “Kulbay Yaday” and another bonus track, “Ocean of Regret.”

Christine is currently taking music lovers back to the 90s with her Stylin’ Up 20th Anniversary tour. Here are the remaining dates.

13 June 2015 – The Street Theatre, Canberra
14 August 2015 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
15 August 2015 – The Basement, Sydney
21 August 2015 – The Bean Bar, Taree
22 August 2015 – The Jetty Theatre, Coffs Harbour
11 September 2015 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong
12 September 2015 – Laycock Street Theatre, North Gosford
24 October 2015 – The Hydro Majestic, Blue Mountains

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

JONES Jnr Celebrate Soul with “Step on Sleep”

It’s always hard to get back to work after a long weekend. It’s even harder when you feel a cold coming on. But it’s made easier when you’ve got something fantastic to listen to like JONES Jnr’s debut EP Step on Sleep.

JONES Jnr is a new project for Ev Jones and Thundamentals founding member Morgan Jones. With it they’re bringing back old school soul with songs like the funky single “Never Be Lonely,” the Nu Jack Swing feel of EP opener “Feel That Way,” and the epic Motown-influenced closing number “Don’t You Worry.” There are plenty of grooves and brassy hooks and velvety smooth vocals.

“We have a lot to share with the world when it comes to the JONES Jnr sound. It’s still growing and developing, it’s still soul, it’s still got swingbeats, but it will take listeners to some surprising places,” Ev explained. “There are some very personal songs on this EP, these aren’t stories, this is our life on record.”

JONES Jnr will showcase that sound when they play the following shows supporting Step on Sleep’s recent release.

2 July 2015 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
3 & 4 July 2015 – Bello Winter Festival, Bellingen
10 July 2015 – Blackbear Lodge, Brisbane
11 July 2015 – Shebeen, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Louis Baker Wings His Way to Oz

Since my trip to NZ I’m a bit obsessed with everything from the Land of the Long White Cloud, and that includes Louis Baker. And once you listen to his current single “Birds,” I think you will be too.

Isn’t it beautiful? This song is so delicate and exquisite, soulful and organic. I’m in love. If you are too, make sure you catch Louis on his first, and hopefully not his last, Aussie tour.

18 June 2015 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
19 June 2015 – Boadriders, Gold Coast (FREE)
25 June 2015 – The Treehouse, Byron Bay (FREE)
26 June 2015 – Kings Cross Hotel, Sydney (FREE)
27 June 2015 – Grace Darling, Melbourne