At just 19 years of age, rising indie-rock act Emerauld has wowed me with her latest single, “In the First Place.” Emerauld channels all the angst, emotion, and uncertainty she felt after graduating high school into this epic new track.
“This song is like my inner battle brought to life,” shares Emerauld. “It dives into my self-doubt and frustration and the chorus reminds me that I don’t owe anyone anything, but also reflects the exhaustion of having nothing left to give”.
If the regular release rocks a little too hard for you, check out the acoustic version on your favourite streaming service. While I appreciate that these twin releases showcase different parts of Emerauld’s compelling voice and the depths of her artistry. Rest assured, she’s one to watch. If you live in Tantanya/Adelaide, you can see for yourself when Emerauld takes the Northern Sound System Emerging Artist stage at Womadelaide on March 10.
Image used with permission from Pretty Good Thanks
Maybe it’s the stormy weather making me angsty, but I’m finding plenty of rock music to get me excited this week. My latest discovery is Cardboard Cutouts, a Toowoom/Toowoomba-raised act who’ve just dropped their powerful new single “My Best Friend.” Hit that volume button, because this one sounds best loud.
“‘My Best Friend’ is about a friend who was involved in a toxic relationship with someone and had substance abuse issues,” the band revealed. “They lost sight of who they were and what their purpose was. This song tells the story of that battle from an observer who is struggling to cope with what is happening, but has lost any bit of leverage to help and support the person.”
After sharing stages with Phil Jamieson, Greta Stanley, and Vera Blue, Cardboard Cutouts are stepping up as headliners with a quick tour celebrating the single release later this month. Check them out at these intimate venues before they inevitably graduate to the big gigs.
Boorloo/Perth indie quartet Daisy Park have got me rocking out with their latest single “Always” this morning. It’s got a quintessentially Aussie sound that feels effortless. Make no mistake, these guys are the real deal.
“At its core, ‘Always’ is about the sudden loss of a relationship and trying to cope with not knowing what went wrong,” explained Daisy Park’s frontman Fyn Slarke. “It covers the feelings I showed externally to my friends and family as opposed to how I really felt on the inside. The contrast of my outward projection and my interior dialogue was a really big part of the writing process.”
Daisy Park shot the video for “Always” along the coast of Walyalup/Fremantle, a place that holds a special nostalgia for the band.
“This was the first music video we’d ever done as a band,” Fyn said. “That green lighthouse is an iconic part of Fremantle, the place where most of us grew up in our teenage years. We’re all just young adults that met in high school and are creating art together and the fact that we do this because we love it is really special to me. I’m super proud that we were able to do this on our own.”
Daisy Park are set to have a stellar year with a debut EP on the horizon and plenty of shows already locked in. Western Australians can catch them at the following upcoming gigs:
One of One, a not-for profit organisation that supports and empowers female and gender non-conforming (GNC) people in the music industry, is celebrating 10 years with a series of breakfast events this month.
“We cannot believe it’s been 10 years of One of One!” said a One of One spokesperson. “We’ve grown from our humble beginnings with the help and support of our community, and the music industry. We still love what we do, and it’s as important now as it ever was. We have a team of incredible women and GNC people across the country who work with us, and we are so proud of being here for a decade and all of the people we’ve spotlighted through our events and interviews (over 400!). So many memories! And so much more to come.”
One of One’s 10th-anniversary events will feature keynote speeches, performances, and networking opportunities with some of Australia’s leading names in music. Keynote speakers include manager and promoter Kelsie Miller, former Albert Music head Fifa Riccobono AM, Indigenous musician and storyteller Dr Shellie Morris AO, and the one and only Tina Arena. One of One will also name the recipients of awards, grants, and scholarships worth $24,000 at every event.
Limited tickets are available for all the One of One 10th-anniversary events:
Following two sold out tours in the last two years, Canadian bluegrass quartet The Dead South are heading back to our shores for their biggest tour to date.
“Starting a couple years back, every time we’d post tour dates we’d see dozens of comments asking when we’re coming to Australia and New Zealand. A couple years ago we toured there for the first time and it immediately became one of our favourite places,” The Dead South said. “Let’s make it an annual thing, shall we? We can’t wait to see you all again in November and December! We’re even hitting the South Island this time. See you all soon!”
The Dead South will play the following Australian shows before heading across the ditch. Since tickets sold out last time, make sure you don’t procrastinate because you just might miss out.
When I saw the then newly reunited Southern Sons perform at 2019’s One Electric Day, I begged for a tour. This iconic Aussie act disbanded when I was 14, so I was too young to catch them in their heyday. Their short set at One Electric Day was well … electric … but it left me wanting more. Last night, more than five years after those shows, my patience was rewarded. With a gig in my local area no less!
This isn’t quite the Southern Sons of old. Phil Buckle never rejoined his bandmates and with Virgil Donati overseas, the uber-talented Pete Drummond has taken over drumming duties. But that core trio of Reggie Bowman, Geoff Cain, and frontman Jack Jones ably steer the ship. Their camaraderie is evident, both with each other and new kid Pete. Even though there’s one less member, the Southern Sons sound has lost nothing. Their sublime harmonies, incredible musicianship, and Jack Jones’ incomparable voice shone through in every number.
As a fan, I relished the opportunity to hear a longer set. While I’ve seen Jack play countless times, it’s always been acoustic. He needed to wait to reunite with his bandmates and be amongst fans to bust out some of my old favourites like “Hold On to the Memory” and “Sometimes”. It’s funny how you can hear songs after so many years and find yourself singing along, even though you haven’t thought about their lyrics for years. Those deeper cuts provided some of my favourite moments, but of course I loved the bigger hits. Being amongst fans who could sing along to smashes like “Lead Me to Water” and “Always and Ever” more confidently than the recent crowd at Avoca Beach Theatre was fabulous. That solo Jack Jones gig was totally stripped back, but in this bigger show Southern Sons used technology to great effect. With screens and audio, we experienced Colin Hay joining the band for “Don’t Tell Me What’s Right” and John Farnham joining Jack for the duet that should have been, “Burn For You.”
I worried that during a full band show, Jack may not have been able to chat as easily with the audience as he did during the Avoca Beach Theatre gig. So I was thrilled to see him take a seat, grab an acoustic guitar, and regale us with some stripped-back songs and stories. He’s such a charismatic storyteller that I hung on his every word, even though I’d heard the tales before.
Jack’s chattiness has always charmed me, but I was less enamoured later in the set when he talked about his surprise that he hasn’t been cancelled, the way he walks that line, before chatting about how “chicks don’t have ding-dongs.” Of course, he’s entitled to voice his beliefs, but the casual transphobia left a sour taste in my mouth. The laughter that erupted from the crowd suggests I was in the minority, but I would have appreciated more music from the early 1990s and less of the era’s opinions. Honestly, it was a bit hard for me to regather my enthusiasm after that and sing along to “Heart in Danger.” I can only imagine how it might have hit any members of the trans community who may have been present.
It’s amazing how just a few sentences can mar a generous set that stretched on well past the promised hour and 45 minutes. Southern Sons didn’t put a foot wrong until they did, and it’s a shame that’s what I’m likely to remember most about this long-anticipated gig.
Southern Sons continue their 35th anniversary tour in Thurrural/Thirroul tonight. Limited tickets are still available for the following shows:
Bootleg Rascal have got me grooving with their latest single “From The Very Start.” This Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast duo are always a good time and their soulful, synth-infused newie is right up there with their best.
“As the title and lyrics allude to, this song is all about beginnings – exploring the origins of romantic relationships, musical collaborations, friendships, and careers,” explained Bootleg Rascal guitarist Jimmy Young.
Not content with taking their Booty Block Party all over Oz, Bootleg Rascal recently announced a couple more local festivals and some Aotearoa/New Zealand dates.
“We’re stoked to be coming back to New Zealand!” enthused Bootleg Rascal frontman Carlos Lara. “The vibe there is always incredible, and we’re buzzing to team up with The Darlings for some unforgettable shows. We’re ready to bring the party, and we want everyone to join us!”
Strap yourself in for Nick de la Hoyde’s epic new single “Moments of You.” This ambitious pop-rock ballad ticks all the boxes for me.
I’ve enjoyed some of Nick’s other releases, but I’ve never heard him deliver soaring vocals like this before. He gives a true masterclass here. I love the way that the strings, guitars, and drums all combine to match his intensity.
Nick once sat squarely in the pop lane, but his latest cinematic ballads show a greater depth and evolution of his sound and artistry. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this new musical direction takes him.
After a massive 2024 that saw them supporting punk heavy-hitters like Frank Turner, Luca Brasi, and Smith Street Band, Great Job! are coming out swinging in 2025 with the release of their latest single “Take Your Meds.” If you like the gritty, introspective lyrics and powerful vocals of the acts they’ve played with, I know this will be right up your alley.
“This song is named after the alarm I have on my phone that buzzes every morning,” vocalist Charlie Hollands said. “It’s about breaking things off with someone and initially feeling freedom before being proven that not only was it not only the wrong decision, but a life-threatening one. Because it’s not about a person at all … it’s about that whole romanticised idea that medication is a hindrance to the soul, and that the answer isn’t valiantly throwing a bottle of prescription pills into a lake.”
“Take Your Meds” gives us our first taste of Great Job!’s debut album, which drops later this year. They’ll launch the single with a show at Monster Mouse in Eora/Sydney on March 7.
Zanna Black has really impressed me with her latest single “This Town.” It’s such a unique tune that refuses to sit neatly in any box.
Zanna’s sweet voice has a definite folk feel, but the guitars bring a bit more of a rock edge to it. And then there’s that extra something that’s so hard to define.
Zanna said this song has a dual meaning for her, noting she was inspired by the residents of Queensland who had to flee their homes during flooding and her grandfather who had to leave his homeland. Whatever you take from “This Town,” I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.
