Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sleep Decade’s Dreamy New Single “Bicycle”

Melbourne quartet Sleep Decade turn up the romance in their debut single “Bicycle.”

This isn’t your run of the mill love song with “moon in June” rhymes and clichéd scenarios. It’s much realer than that. You can feel the connection and chemistry between these two lost souls just discovering one another. It’s sweet, but not sappy.

Sleep Decade have spent the last year cutting their eye teeth alongside local acts like Pikelet, Richard in Your Mind, and Love Connection, but they’re about to step into the spotlight. Their debut album Into Spinning Lights will hit stores October, but before that they’ll launch the single for hometown fans at Fitzroy’s Bar Open on September 16.

Image used with permission from Shows in Space

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Leave It All Behind for Album Tour

With their debut album Leave It all Behind finally sitting on record store shelves, the time is right for Melbourne funk-soul charmers Saskwatch to take their show on the road.

The tour will be something of a homecoming party, as Saskwatch have spent August abroad playing the acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Clearly they were just warming up to wow local music lovers.

If you love a foot stomping evening of sweet jams and soulful grooves, these shows are for you!

13 September 2012 – Bigsound, Brisbane
14 September 2012 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
15 September 2012 – Qpac, Brisbane (FREE)
16 September 2012 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
20 September 2012 – Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
21 September 2012 – Stoke Factory, Wollongong
22 September 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
28 September 2012 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
29 September 2012 – Wave Rock Festival, Haden
5 October 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
6 October 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
7 October 2012 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs

Image used with permission from Show Off Recordings

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Little Father Time” – We Are The Birdcage

We Are the Birdcage first captured my imagination in March with their sweet single “Two Left Feet.” They make good on the promise I heard there with their debut EP Little Father Time.

In six tracks, the Sydney duo firmly establishes their sound. It’s folky, with gorgeous harmonies at the fore. The music is simple, but it swells unexpectedly as the tunes hit their emotional crescendo. The whole thing is really beautiful, accessible and well-crafted with few rough edges. Critics might call it too gentle and cruisy, but there’s something so appealing about the sweetness most of the tracks convey.

Not that We Are the Birdcage are incapable of digging down and finding some extra grit. “Much Too Small” is my favourite song from the recording as taps into that emotional core and ups the intensity. That extra dirt is so compelling. I loved the other songs, but adored this.

I was enjoying Amanda’s K’s vocals so much that it was a bit jarring to hear the twosome switch things up for the closing track “Carry the Fire.” It’s a gorgeous song, but that dominant male voice doesn’t quite gel with the rest of the recording. That’s really the only blemish on this EP though. Little Father Time is a gorgeous journey through We Are the Birdcage, and a hint at the brilliance that’s yet to come.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Murlocs Launch Tee Pee

We might expect an EP called Tee Pee to be full of puerile humour, but instead The Murlocs latest recording offers us a blast from the past.

The five-track EP builds on the fuzzy, harmonica spiced blues the band delivered on their first EP. The mates from Ocean Grove have such as appealing dirtiness about their sound that music lovers young and old can’t help but get on board.

The recording has such a raw sound and spontaneous energy that it’s unsurprising to hear it was recorded in just one weekend in harp player Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s spare room.

I can only imagine how beautifully such an organic EP will translate to the stage. Victorians will get the chance to find out when The Murlocs launch Tee Pee at The Tote on August 31.

Image used with permission from Singhala Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Emmy Bryce’s Offspring Song Released

Emmy Bryce charmed me when I heard her song “Hit the Ground” while watching Offspring, so I was thrilled to hear it’s got an official release.

“Hit the Ground” comes from Emmy Bryce’s debut EP Seven Days. Emmy will pack her bags and play shows around some of the capitals over the coming months to support its release. I recommend seeing her in these intimate venues while you can; something tells me it’s only a matter of time before Emmy’s music earns mainstream attention!

29 August 2012 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy
5 September 2012 – The Vanguard, Newtown
22 September 2012 – The Abbey, Nicholls
23 September 2012 – The Front Gallery/Cafe, Lyneham
29 September 2012 – La Boheme Bar, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Alpha Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sound of Seasons Tours “Make Believe”

Sydney rock act Sound of Seasons are celebrating the release of their debut EP Make Believe next month with a big headlining tour.

The EP offers a bit more than most, with six electric tracks and one acoustic number. It’s emotional and heavy hitting, with retro synths layered on top of wailing electric guitars.

Here are all the places you can catch Sound of Seasons up close and personal on their Make Believe Tour:

1 September 2012 – UC Refectory, Canberra
20 September 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong
22 September 2012 – The Basement, Canberra
23 September 2012 – The Lair, Sydney
26  September 2012 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
27 September 2012 – Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie
29 September 2012 – X&Y Bar, Brisbane
5 October 2012 – Newmarket Hotel, Bendigo
6 October 2012 – Fist 2 Face, Ringwood
6 October 2012 – BANG! Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne
7 October 2012 – National Hotel, Geelong
12 October 2012 – C5, Freemantle
13 October 2012 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
14 October 2012 – YMCA HQ, Leederville

Image used with permission from RAWR Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Temper Trap, Missy Higgins, and Bluejuice Play Soundscape

The fifth annual Soundscape Festival is shaping up to be the best yet, with The Temper Trap, Missy Higgins, and Bluejuice all taking their place on the bill.

Soundscape will settle into its new home at Prices Wharf Shed No. 1, on Castray Esplanade in Hobart on November 16 and 17. The location isn’t the only change this year. The festival’s moved from January to November to avoid stifling heat, and downsized the available tickets. That means fewer queues and more intimate performances.

Tickets are on sale now from the Soundscape Festival website.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Regular John Serves Up Slume

A band called Regular John seems like it’s doing its best to go unnoticed. However if the right people hear their unique sound, they might just face that spotlight whether they like it or not!

The lads have managed to shake off the “grunge revival” tag that plagued them a couple of years ago. They gained a new guitarist and honed their songwriting to emerge with something less derivative. That dirtiness is still there, but it’s married beautifully with a heavier, psychedelic feel.

The single “Slume” gives a taste of what will come when the band’s album Strange Flowers hits stores on September 14. What do you think of it?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Bart Thrupp

Bart Thrupp’s natural storytelling ability and Aussie charm is showcased beautifully in his brand new single “Girl in the Fishbowl.” Bart took time out from the single tour to tell me about the song, the shows, and what makes his hometown of Toowoomba so special.

Your current single “Girl in the Fishbowl” really struck a chord with me, as I think we’ve all been in those impossible relationships where it was the right person (at least in our minds) and wrong time. Did it come from personal experience?
I used to work at Coles. There was a florist just outside Coles which had glass on all four sides, so it looked like a giant fishbowl. That’s what everyone called it. I wrote the song on the back of a receipt while I was working on the checkout.

I was also struck by how Australian your voice sounds. It seems like so many Aussies tone down their accent to create this generic, globally marketable sound. Was there a conscious decision for you to avoid this?
I’m very proud of my home nation and our identity. I really love it, and I try to celebrate it. But to be honest I never thought too much about it. I just sing with my heart and that’s what’s happens.

The video for “Girl in the Fishbowl” also had that really honest, Australian charm to it. There’s no pretension or Hollywood flash to it. Did you have much creative input there?
I did have a lot to do with the video, and I was very lucky to have some talented people around to help me as well. It was a very honest story. We were also lucky enough to shoot the video inside the Coles where I used to work at Highfields Plaza in Toowoomba. It is the location of where the song was written, so it was great that we could use that space.

I see you’re touring the single around the country. How are those shows going?
Terrific! I’m having an amazing time. I’ve driven from Brisbane to Adelaide in three weeks with a whole bunch of towns and shows in between. I love my job. I’ve caught up with so many beautiful friends along the way, and met heaps of new faces. Between my skateboard and my car I’ve travelled thousands of kilometres through this beautiful country. I don’t know how I got so lucky.
Continue reading “Q & A with Bart Thrupp” →