Djilang/Geelong-based singer-songwriter Daisy Kilbourne has made a massive impression on me with her debut single “Mother.” Its simple melody and stripped-back production is the perfect vehicle for Daisy’s incredible lyrics which recount her experience watching her mother’s gradual unravelling after losing the love of her life. This depiction of grief is so personal, but it’s bound to resonate with anyone who’s been in the orbit of a deep loss.
“I wrote this song after the passing of my father, watching my mum lose parts of herself with him as he left,” Daisy explained. “You can’t help but wonder if they’ll ever come to be the person they were before, and you feel guilty that you can’t make their pain go away. It isn’t easy talking about these things, but if it’s something that can help people overcome their grief, then it’s worth it.”
“Since the song is so personal, we thought about adding a real personal touch to it. So at the end of the song, all the harmonies are actually sung by my siblings, Rose, Lily, and Ivory,” she added. “For something quite emotional, recording them was the funniest night of my life. It was nice to create a good memory to attach to this song, and also hear how much Ivory sounds like Dad when he sings.”
Instead of a traditional music video, Daisy has paired this release with a documentary. Directed by Nick Rae, it celebrates her father’s life and the passion for music she shared with him.
Daisy hopes to continue connecting with music lovers when she releases her forthcoming EP later this year. You can hear more of her original music at the following shows:
My Chérie has just dropped her exciting new single “Darkness & Gold.” I really appreciate the way My Chérie steps outside the box and expresses herself as a true original. Her ethereal brand of pop music is always interesting, with lyrics that so eloquently express the struggles we all face being vulnerable, imperfectly perfect humans.
“‘Darkness & Gold’ is my candid portrayal and deep dive into my human experience of the internal struggles we all face,” My Chérie said. “In confronting themes of strength, vulnerability, and the pursuit of self-improvement, I want to acknowledge the efforts of trying and the tricky journey of figuring ourselves out.”
This is another fabulous release from My Chérie that makes me pretty excited for her debut album to come early next year.
Splitting his time between Naarm/Melbourne and Paris, Caspar Conrick is making beautiful music under the name Vanderlay. His latest release is “Triumph and Disaster,” a gorgeous slow burn of a track in the vein of Fleet Foxes and Patrick Watson. Take a moment out of your day to get a cup of tea, close your eyes, and let this one wash over you.
“The song is the internal battle, the dialogue with oneself when trying to process or alter circumstance,” Caspar explained. “It comes to a head, a point where everything must be laid out before you and examined without bias. The findings, and the process are found to be one and the same: triumph and disaster.”
“Triumph and Disaster” is the second single lifted from the upcoming Vanderlay EP, due later this year.
With an irresistible pop melody and searingly honest lyrics, GRAACE has captured my heart with her latest single “Love is Getting Wasted.” Following hot on the heels of last month’s release “Jealous Type,” it’s looking like 2024 might be a big year for GRAACE.
“’Love Is Getting Wasted’ is like diving into a whirlpool of emotions. It’s about feeling torn between sticking it out or calling it quits in a relationship” GRAACE explained. “You’re grappling with hope and resignation, trying to hold onto the last shreds of love, desperate for the attention they gave you in the beginning, but uncertainty looms about your future.”
GRAACE has already sold out headlining shows and toured with Stephen Sanchez this year, but she’s not stopping yet. She’ll be back on the road next month supporting The Dreggs at the following shows.
As I stepped into Lizotte’s on Saturday night, I realised that it’s been far too long. It’s the kind of venue that welcomes you back like an old friend, no matter how much time has passed though. It may be under new management, but other than the hosts wearing more sequins and the décor receiving a few more fairy lights, little has changed. The rotating menu still features old favourites like the salt and pepper squid with passionfruit sauce and classic fish and chips. If anything, the dishes were even better than we remembered. With bellies and glasses full, we settled in for a fantastic night of music.
Lachlan Edwards hit my radar back in 2020 with the release of his EP Once More, and I relished the opportunity to discover his new music. He was just 17 back then, a teen showing great promise but certainly green. He’s blossomed over the last few years, with European travel under his belt and a bunch of songs inspired by it set to be released later this year. While love songs dominated his EP, this set revealed some heartbreak. Never easy to navigate, but if you can come away from it with some great songs, so much the better. I loved hearing all this new material, stripped back and raw. Although it’s made me pretty excited for the new EP to come.
Lachlan warmed up the stage for Ian Moss, who delivered a similarly stripped-back show. I’ve seen Mossy more times than I can count now, and he never disappoints. This kind of acoustic show is my favourite. The set list can change on a dime, so you never know what’s coming, and he has the space to chat to the crowd. It’s so loose, easy, and lovely. We heard about his frustrations with his Apple Watch always wanting to give advice; it ended up on the floor after the first song. “Rivers Run Dry”, the title track from his new album, was so much more poignant after learning about the decades-long friendship that inspired it. We laughed hearing about the generous steak meal he enjoyed after volunteering to get a flat tyre fixed and leaving the rest of the Cold Chisel boys freezing in the middle of nowhere. It was one of those special nights where you didn’t feel that traditional divide between artist and audience; we were all just there to have a good time.
It almost goes without saying that the music was stellar. Mossy has a voice and presence that fills the room, and he’s one of the best guitarists we’ve got. The set was a rare treat, littered with songs from the fantastic new album Rivers Run Dry, hits from Matchbook and the Chisel days, and some unexpected treats. “Message from Baghdad” from Six Strings! A stunning cover of “Cry Me a River”! What a joy. And of course, there were those classic singalongs. Nothing makes me feel like I belong more than being in a room of Aussies belting out tracks like “When the War is Over”, “Flame Trees,” and “Tucker’s Daughter”.
After a pretty stressful week, this show was exactly what I needed. Two fantastic artists, one near the start of their journey, the other a seasoned veteran showing no signs of slowing down. Mossy wraps up his Solo & Acoustic Rivers Run Dry shows next weekend but he’s got gigs all through the rest of the year, including a few in the United Kingdom. If you can see him anywhere, make sure you do. You will not be disappointed.
After amassing an impressive following performing covers and some snippets of original songs on Instagram, Naarm/Melbourne singer-songwriter Amalia is ready to unleash her music on the world. Her first single “Electric Rush” is honestly one of the strongest debuts I’ve ever heard. I’m an instant fan.
“The song is a reflection of the emotional breakthrough one experiences at pivotal moments of their life – ironic as this is my debut single,” Amalia explained. “Whether it be love, heartbreak or freedom, we all have experienced that ‘rush’ as we embark on testing the waters, stretching the rules and taking a chance.”
If you’re into this song as much as I am, the good news is there’s a lot more to come. Amalia’s apparently created almost two albums worth of music with Julian Schweitzer of Red Door Sounds. Her single launch shows at Nighthawks on June 1 and 2 quickly sold out, so hopefully she’ll announce more shows all around the country soon so we can hear more of those soon-to-be released tracks.
Boorloo/Perth singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sam Jane’s dreamy new single “Drive Away Summer” is the perfect soundtrack for a laidback weekend. It’s a gorgeous acoustic indie-folk track that perfectly showcases Sam’s rich vocals and introspective lyrics.
“I wrote this a few years back when I was classically in love, like I always am – I used to feel no rest in summer, I had a dislike for my body and a problem with loneliness,” Sam admitted. “I would surround myself with people who didn’t necessarily care for me, but at least I wasn’t alone – So I wrote this song for my self-empowerment. An ode to those insecurities you feel while growing up, that you are allowed to take up space, you are allowed to walk away and you will find what’s made for you.”
“Drive Away Summer” comes from Sam’s forthcoming LP, GIRL FOLK, which is scheduled for an October release. While that seems like a long time away, Sam’s got plenty more music to share with us before then.
Sunny Luwe, a proud Wailwan woman based on Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast has put a big smile on my face with her latest single “Hands Up.” It’s a feel-good piece of soulful pop music that reminds listeners that it’s OK to be a little different. In fact, it’s encouraged!
“‘Hands Up’ is a celebration of being comfortable in your own skin,” Sunny confirmed. “It’s about embracing who you are, flaws and all, and owning it with pride.”
Matt Collins, Sunny’s close collaborator added, “Working with Sunny is amazing. She is a world-class vocalist, with an incredible range and tone. Her energy and passion for music is contagious, and I feel like it shines through every note in ‘Hands Up.’”
Matt isn’t the only person Sunny collaborated with for this release. The track features backing vocals from 12 of Sunny’s fans, including Flan from Gold Coast Triple M.
I already felt pretty good listening to this song, but reading that it’s carbon-neutral has me feeling even better. Sunny calculated the carbon generated for the project and made sure to offset it with a donation to Rainforest 4, which buys back land around the Daintree Rainforest to preserve this special natural asset.
Sunny has a string of gigs coming up, so make sure you get out and support her wherever you can:
26 May 2024 – The Triffid, Meeanjin/Brisbane (FREE @ 5pm) 13 June 2024 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting ChillCheney) 24 August 2024 – Brunswick Hotel, Meeanjin/Brisbane (FREE)
Local country singer-songwriter Jake Whittaker has really impressed me with his soulful new single, “The Next You’re Gone.” A classic tale of heartbreak, Jake’s powerful vocals take this track to the next level. Jake penned the song with his collaborator and producer Jared Adlam.
“Jared and I wrote this together, with Jared coming up with the title The Next You’re Gone,” Jake said. “It’s a break-up song that tells someone else’s story because neither of us have had a break-up since before we were legal drinking age. It’s about that feeling when someone leaves you, but you still hold onto hope that they’ll come back, even as you drown your sorrows at the bar.”
Khan Manuel first came onto my radar more than a decade ago. He was just finding his feet, but such an impressive guitarist. He knew his craft, the classic traditions of the instrument. But he also enjoyed pushing the envelope. At the time I saw him taking cues from instrumental rock gods like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Now in 2024, he’s taking even more musical risks by combining his love of guitar with EDM sounds. Stay with me and take a listen to “The Light.”
“The Light” is the first single lifted from Khan’s forthcoming album Alpha & Omega. The album was co-produced by Ralph Wegner, known for his work with David Guetta. Khan plans to release a new single every four to six weeks until all eight tracks are unveiled, so make sure you follow him on Spotify to hear them as soon as they drop.
