Meeanjin/Brisbane band SPACE&AGES are quickly becoming one of my favourite bands. Hot on the heels of “Trial&Error,” they’ve dropped a new single which shows an impressive amount of versatility.
“Puzzle Piece” is an indie rock anthem about pushing past the doubt and giving in to falling in love. Lead singer Phin Spence’s vocals are on point here, brimming with emotion and bursting with energy. He’s also in fine form on the B-side “Bittersweet,” a gentle acoustic ballad showcasing their softer side. It’s like the other side of the coin, a much folkier, gentler counterpiece to the A-side. Or perhaps, if you’ll excuse the reference, another piece of the puzzle. Listening to the two songs together, you start to get a sense of exactly what SPACE&AGES are capable of. Although something tells me they’ve still got plenty more to show.
I love that this band can keep us guessing. And they can seemingly do it all. I definitely look forward to hearing what SPACE&AGES deliver next.
Mulubinba/Newcastle based artist Mishayla shows she’s every bit as good as the indie pop acts that top the charts with her latest single “Clutter.” If you’re into the heartfelt singles of Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo, I know you’re going to vibe with this one.
“The track is called ‘Clutter’ because it reflects how someone can completely take over your thoughts. It’s that feeling of your mind being full of them, like they’re cluttering your brain in the best way possible,” Mishayla said. “I wanted the song to truly capture the essence of that initial feeling of a crush. From the romantic piano melodies to the lush and lively chorus, every element – I wanted to evoke vulnerability and authenticity. I hope listeners connect with it just as deeply.”
As a born and bred Novocastrian, I was thrilled to see Mishayla shot the music video in her hometown.
“There’s a little café across from my university called The Press Coffee and Book House, with such a cosy vibe. I had a friend who works there connect me with the owner, and I was able to rent out the space for the lyric video and photos, she said. “My amazing photographer and videographer, Nikola Jokanovic, really captured the warmth and aesthetic I envisioned.”
“Clutter” sees Michelle building on the promise she showed with her debut EP BLEED in 2023. I’m sure we’ll see her go from strength to strength this year.
Daphnie was one of my favourite acts of 2024, so I was thrilled to discover that Alistair Hayes, the man behind the moniker, is also creating fabulous music with Alana Patmore aka Zhuli. Together they are youproblem and their latest single “Pinch” is a total bop. Co-written with Caleb Nott of BROODS, this indie-pop track captures what it feels like to be at a crossroads as you watch your friends taking different paths.
“I was watching my friends give up on music, and I really understood why. It’s so incredibly hard and the results don’t show for ages, it costs so much and it’s easy to lose belief in yourself and your art. In this understanding, I realised that I’d also never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try to give it all before I stop.” Alana explained. “Writing this song exposed a desperation within me, it’s kind of a love song to what I feel is my purpose in life (as wanky as that sounds).”
Youproblem have supported other up-and-coming acts like Loretta, Bugs, and ISHAN. Hopefully 2025 is the year we see them headlining their own shows.
Boorloo/Perth born and Naarm/Melbourne based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Alex Elbery has impressed me with his latest single “Ripcord.” It’s a charming indie-pop celebration of falling head first and freely into love.
This release has been a long time coming, with Alex starting production before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But this one is really worth the wait. Alex created his latest single with producer Jon Grace, known for his work with Dear Seattle, Baker’s Eddy, Kingswood, and Dune Rats.
“Ripcord was really a collaboration between Jon and I,” Alex explained. “I wrote it, brought it to Jon and then we spent a fairly long time working to get it to be the best version it could be. Everything except the drums was played my either myself or Jon. Jon, who has since retired from music, is an absolute genius and I loved working with him.
“Ripcord is a song about falling in love. I wrote it as I was/after I had fallen in love with my partner. I wanted to write a love song that was honest and leaned into the messier, less fairytale aspects of falling in love. I liked the analogy of falling in love being like falling out of the sky. Your destination is inevitable but the velocity with which you’re travelling towards it determines whether you’ll land safely or crash and burn – hence – ‘pull on the ripcord.’ I’ve always been someone who rushes into things with reckless abandon, so this song was almost like a mantra I was writing to myself. “
Rose Zita Falko has floored me with her latest single “Lullaby of a Breaking Heart.” It’s a dreamy track that explores the emotions that come with holding on to love when you know you’ll lose it someday.
Rose’s voice sounds so beautiful on this track. I was amazed to hear that despite her gift, she actually took a few years away from the spotlight to focus on other projects. The release of “Lullaby of a Broken Heart” marks her return to releasing original music. And what a return it is. Hopefully we hear a lot more music from Rose this year.
As the dust settles on 2024, we’re all looking ahead to what this new year might bring. My Facebook feed is flooded with friends making resolutions to enhance their lives, but I’d prefer to trust the journey and see where things land. In that spirit, I want to introduce you to “Brighter Skies,” the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne singer-songwriter, James C. Atkins.
“It’s more about looking for your own path, hearing and seeing what other people have gone through, and realising maybe that’s not for me,” James explained. “It’s based on my experiences and those around me, which I think makes it relatable. I think a lot of people long for something more, something different and that, at its core, is what the song is about. It’s written about someone who longs for ‘brighter skies’ and they’re not going to stop searching until they get it and it’s about the wandering soul who longs for something more and isn’t scared to go out on their own and find it.”
This is only James’s second single and one that shows that he has a bright future ahead.
Image used with permission from Bec Gracie Publicity
It’s that time again when we get ready to pop the champagne and say goodbye to the year that was. I hope however you’re doing it, you have a wonderful new year. Before I draw a line under 2024, I wanted to take a look back at all of the concerts and albums that made this year so special. Here are my highlights for 2024. If I’ve missed any of your favourites, please let me know about them in the comments.
Ross Wilson’s music crosses generations. So when my husband and I heard he was celebrating 50 years in the business with a show at Avoca Beach Theatre we knew tickets would be the perfect Christmas present for my parents. On a Monday that felt like a Saturday, our two generations shuffled in to one of our favourite local venues.
Local band The Cat Snatchers warmed up the crowd with what can best be described as their own brand of yacht rock. But that doesn’t quite cover what this four-piece does. Arthur Pratt is a charismatic frontman who spices up his performance with Elvis Presley-esque karate moves and a little interpretive dance. We saw Toby Wells perform with Elaskia just before the pandemic, and it seemed like he was finding his feet as an artist. This band feels like home for him. He’s got space to shred and show off his sizeable guitar chops. Their set wasn’t perfect. Arthur struggled at times to hit the ambitious falsetto notes and the songs were pretty simplistic. But I imagine that if I saw The Cat Snatchers, a few times I’d be singing along. I was thoroughly entertained by this off-the-wall act. While many around me weren’t as enthusiastic, I followed their socials as soon as their set wrapped up.
While The Cat Snatchers were a little polarising, Ross Wilson had everyone on side from the triumphant opener, “Daddy’s Back”. His set was everything that I hoped it would be. He delivered hit after hit, with a smattering of unexpected songs to satisfy the die-hards. There were the Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock classics of course, along with some choice solo cuts. While Ross clearly appreciates the audience reception to his biggest hits, he’s not content to rest on his laurels. “She’s Stuck on Facebook All The Time” wasn’t released to a lot of fanfare in 2023, but it’s such a great addition to his set. I also appreciated watching him recreate the blues tunes that got him excited about music in the first place. His version of “Back Door Man,” made famous by Howlin’ Wolf. Other songs were rearranged to keep them fresh without straying too far from their original magic.
Ross is a joy to watch. He grooves around the stage, soaking up the energy from his band The Peaceniks and the crowd. He chats easily to the audience, sharing his passion and life story with his fans. And after 50 years in the business, his voice shows little signs of slowing down.
It’s a testament to Ross’s exhaustive catalogue that when we were cheering for an encore, my husband and I weren’t sure what he had left to play. He’d already gifted us “Eagle Rock,” “Come Said the Boy,” “Cool World,” “State of the Heart,” “Bed of Nails,” “Hi Honey Ho,” and so many more. I guessed “Touch of Paradise,” but that didn’t quite seem like a closer. He played it and it was amazing, before transitioning into “Summer of ‘81.” It was the cherry on top of an amazing night of music, a track I hadn’t anticipated but relished all the same.
Looking back at this blog, I hadn’t seen Ross perform for eight years. I’d had a wonderful time, so I wonder now why I left it so long. My only explanation is that people like Ross just seem like they’ll always be there. They tour relentlessly, so perhaps we don’t feel the same urgency to make the shows as we do when international acts visit. But it’s easy for the years to slip by. If it’s been too long since you’ve seen him perform, or you’ve never had the pleasure, make sure you don’t miss one of his upcoming shows.
Pacific Avenue have served up a summery delight with the latest track “Lucy”. It’s a feelgood exploration of infatuation and longing with a catchy chorus that compels you to clap along.
“The concept of Lucy represents the idea that everyone has their own version of ‘Lucy’ — someone or something they hold dear,” the band explained. “Love takes many forms, and beauty is ultimately defined by the one who sees it. This song was recorded at a studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles and is called ‘The Hobby Shop’; it’s a little hole in the wall studio that has some really beautiful gear. It was our first time recording overseas and something we’ve all dreamed of since we started the band.”
Pacific Avenue are making the most of the warm weather with some choice festival spots and solo dates in the coming week. Catch them at following gigs that are sure brighten up your summer holidays.
Boorloo/Perth act Stem Steller have me grooving alone to their latest single “Electrical Moves.” It’s a psychedelic-tinged earworm that absolutely oozes soul.
“This song aims to capture the raw, vast, and spectacular experience we had when a group of us attended the Wave Rock Music Festival in 2023,” explained Stem Steller’s frontman Bevyn Tarboton. “Being in the desert, listening to the creativity in soundscapes paired with the visuals of lighting and landscape, was an inspiring experience that fuelled our desire to create a song incorporating those elements, allowing our listeners to access a similar experience sonically.”
Stem Steller and getting into the post-Christmas spirit with a big sale on their merch bundles. If you want to treat yourself, head to their online store.
