I figure I’d keep with the theme today and offer up more positive, infectiously happy music. So with that in mind, meet Jasmin Jones. This lovely Aussie-born lass will make you fall in love with her latest single “Pepper Creek Farm.”
It’s a gorgeous blend of pop and folk that has me thinking about skipping through fields of flowers. It’s just that kind of song. The track comes from Jasmin’s EP Gold, which is scheduled for release early next year.
Don’t you just love it?
Sydney’s Pluto Jonze has offered up the perfect remedy to those mid-week blues with his latest EP Sucker. This recording has such positive energy, whether Pluto Jonze is inviting us to party when he’s gone (“Wear Purple at My Funeral”) or chow down in Asia (“Breakfast in Korea”). The title track “Sucker” is a bit more serious than the other songs on the EP, but I think we need numbers with such emotional heart to balance the recording.
“Sucker” is weird and wacky, but so much fun. It’s full of hooks and synths and all of that stuff that makes you smile. It’s unashamedly pop, but pop that loves to live left of the center. Think The Cars, Ween, or early Beck, but with that extra special something you just can’t put your finger on.
Pluto Jonze will kick off the Sucker launch shows in Melbourne tomorrow night.
4 December 2014 – Shebeen, Melbourne
6 December 2014 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
13 December 2014 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
Image used with permission from Shake Appeal
Twin Lakes might not have grabbed headlines yet, but this independent Newcastle act is definitely going places.
They’ve just released their third single of 2014, “Wolf Hall,” which is a wonderfully accessible slice of pop-rock. Along with “Glacier” and “The Ageing Field,” it’ll feature on a debut EP next year. Twin Lakes also earned a spot at Canadian Music Week and the Aussie BBQ, where they played alongside esteemed acts like You Am I. And somewhere in there they found time to make their own music videos and finalise the deals of their debut EP.
Show them your support when they celebrate the release of “Wolf Hall” with the following shows this month.
12 December 2014 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
13 December 2014 – Smith’s Alternative Bookshop, Canberra
19 December 2014 – Oxford Art Factory, Gallery Bar, Sydney
20 December 2014 – Dicey Rileys, Wollongong
Melbourne’s Dalli brings together smooth vocals and compelling electro beats for his debut single “Down This Road.” I really love the way the minimalism of the instrumentation ensures we hear every punch of those lyrics. The video brings another layer to the song, mapping the despair that many of us feel if we try to control the elements and live life with any degree of certainty.
I’m really looking forward to seeing more of what this gorgeous young artist comes up with.
Fabulous American alt-country act Needtobreathe are bringing their acclaimed show to Australia. The guys from South Carolina will join Third Day and our own Levi McGrath for World Vision Australia’s Make a Difference tour.
Needtobreathe’s album Rivers in the Wasteland has done great things since getting an international release in April. We’ve been a bit slow to catch on, but thankfully it’ll hit local stores on December 5, giving music lovers a few months to learn the songs before the band touches down.
Here’s a bit of a headstart for you though, the wonderful single “The Heart.” It’s got an infectious positivity about it and a great honest foot stomping appeal. That makes sense because the band reports that 90 percent of the album was recorded in live takes.
“It will be our first time in Australia and we’re really looking forward to getting down there,” explained Bear Rinehart. “We have so many fans there that have emailed us saying to come down there and when we got the opportunity to not just visit, but support a great organisation like World Vision it was too good to resist.”
The Make a Difference tour takes in the following venues next February.
11 February 2015 – Hordern Pavillion, Sydney
12 February 2015 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
13 February 2015 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
14 February 2015 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
16 February 2015 – HBF Stadium, Perth
18 February 2015 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
20 February 2015 – Brisbane Riverstage, Brisbane
21 February 2015 – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
Eliza Hull has teamed up with fellow Melbourne musos Texture Like Sun for her latest single “Used To,” and the results are stunning.
The way Eliza’s angelic vocals and Texture Like Sun’s more masculine tones meld is just tunning. Add layers of electronic drums, harps, and horns and you’ve got something so interesting and hypnotic.
“Used To” is our second taste of Eliza’s forthcoming debut album The Bones of Us, which is shaping up to become one of the most anticipated releases of 2015.
Baychimo Kin’s album Understood snuck up on me. I remember being sent the Soundcloud of the lead single “Marianne” a few weeks ago, listening to it, just not quite being able to get into it, so moving on. Then I was sent the video. It was animated and beautiful, but again the song didn’t quite resonate with me. Those persistent publicity folks then sent me an album stream. I know all too well not to judge a band by one song, so I slipped it on.
I still hadn’t made up my mind after the first listen, or the second, yet I found myself compelled to keep on playing it. There was something there, and somewhere around the third or fourth listen I got it. I can’t describe what “it” is, dear readers. I’m not really sure how this album got under my skin, or what it was that made the penny drop, but suddenly I found myself taking notes. I wrote down several adjectives: delicate, fragile, unique, special. The songs on Understood are all these things. You might not catch them on the first listen either, but I’m sure you will.
These songs are deceptively simple, but they get richer with each listen. The Melbourne band creates moods with the haunting vocals and beautiful instrumentation. I love the heartfelt romance of “Anna,” especially since the band can balance it with the edge of a track like “B Sting.” “Honey” might have a bit of an identity crisis, but I am right there now as it takes the listener through every movement. “You’ve Got a Hold Of Me” is such a striking closer. And “Marianne,” that song that I grappled with for so long is now one of my favourites. It was such a slow burner for me, but when I got it, boy did I get it.
I took some time to fully grasp Understood, but I think it’s one of the most original albums I’ve heard all year.
Image source: Baychimo Kin Bandcamp page
I am really digging Aussie hip hop at the moment. The latest artist to find his way onto my radar is Forbes, a talented young thing from the Goldie. His first single “Swim Better,” featuring a verse from Sydney MC Smiles Again, hints at what a special talent this guy is.
It’s really smart music, with some insightful lyrics and killer rhymes. It’s our first taste of Forbes’ debut EP, which is slated for a release early next year. After time spent supporting guys like PEZ and 360, it’s awesome to see him stepping into the spotlight.
What do you think of Forbes?
Brisbane band The Jensens serve up some dark material in an irresistible pop package with their new single “Fears.” It feels so good to listen to that it’s easy to miss the shadows, but really listen to the lyrics and you’ll gain a brand new appreciation for this cleverly layered song.
“Fears was written about the feelings of fear and anxiety I had about life passing me by. This was when I felt like I was doing nothing with my life when living on the coast,” explained The Jensens’ frontman Joseph White. “The song is about how all these things can get to a person and make them feel like they’re drowning in self pity, the only solution is to ‘say goodbye’ and move on to greener pastures, I guess.”
“Fears” is our first taste of the band’s full-length mixtape, which is scheduled for an early 2015 release. What do you think of it?
Fresh from selling out shows across the United States last month, cooler-than-cool Melbourne act Jakubi are ready to delight local audiences with their Life’s a Beach tour. The funky five-piece will play shows up and down the East Coast throughout summer, including plenty of free shows.
The tour caps off a monster year for Jakubi which saw them signed up to 7s Management in the US and Coda Agency in the UK. Everyone from Perez Hilton to HillyDilly was raving about “Couch Potato,” which really deserves another spin.
And done. Jakubi are going to be back to in the US before we know it, so make sure you catch this local success story while you can.
11 December 2014 – Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly (FREE)
12 December 2014 – Vic On The Park Hotel, Sydney (FREE)
26 December 2014 – Rad, Wollongong
27 December 2014 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach (FREE)
28 December 2014 – Cambridge Hotel (Warehouse), Newcastle
29 December 2014 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
30 December 2014 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
31 December 2014 – NYE On The Hill, Kernot
2 January 2015 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
3 January 2015 – Solbar, Maroochydore
4 January 2015 – Sounds Of Sunday @ Broadbeach Tavern, Gold Coast (FREE)
30 January to 1 February 2015 – Cool Summer Festival, Mt Hotham