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.
Kiwi-raised and Naarm/Melbourne-based, Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields have both impressed me with their solo efforts, so it was inevitable that I’d fall hard for their new album of duets, I Remember You. With a natural chemistry and knack for songwriting, the pair have created some of the best music you’ll hear this year.
There’s a natural connection between the artists which is so appealing to listen to. I love the way their voices complement one another, but there’s more to love than simply their sound. There’s an electricity when they make music together, a bond that’s evident as they join their talents. Listening to poetic lyrics referencing their homeland, there’s a shared understanding that helps these songs resonate. Together they take us on a musical journey, from playful romantic numbers like the opening track “Your Heart of Gold” and “Prairie Song” to haunting songs like “No Trace” and “Dead Flowers and Stale Wine.”
As you might expect from these artists, the music is richly organic. I can imagine it sounded exactly this way when the pair laid these songs down. When so much music gets overproduced, hearing music like this that’s allowed to shine just as it was created is special.
I Remember You is out now. Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields are currently playing shows together in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Here are the remaining dates.
Most artists release one new single at a time. Some prolific folks release a double A-side. Then there are the Presley Davis Jrs of this world who drop three singles all at once. But the insanity doesn’t stop there. These songs also couldn’t be more different.
“Crazy” is a cover of the Willie Nelson hit. It’s much jazzier than the original, but delivered with a deference to the song’s roots.
“My father was obsessed with tenor banjos and early jazz,” Presley shared. “The only other music he seemed to enjoy was Willie Nelson. Patsy Cline made this song famous, but Willie Nelson wrote it. One morning I woke up to find a recording of myself playing this country classic in this really old-time jazz style. It had been emailed to me from ‘Friday Night Presley’ if you know what I mean.”
Presley brings out the country with “Petunia,” a bouncy bluegrass number that feels like a delicious throwback.
“Petunia is a slacker’s lament. Or in my case an undiagnosed ADHD lament,” he said. “I never intentionally dragged my feet in life, but I have pancaked a lot and find myself constantly starting anew. Turns out this is common for people with my diagnoses. This song is basically for my partner who has always supported me.”
Then there’s my favourite of the three songs, “How Can I.” It feels like the most modern of the trio, and it delightfully showcases Presley’s soulful, bluesy vocals.
“This song came to mind without much, lyrically, other than a few turns of phrase,” he recalled. “I knew it was about someone who was living a double love life. I used details from a friend’s declining relationship which was a real cheat-fest to fill in the blanks.”
I so often hear that it’s important for artists to tell listeners what their sound is, so releasing three such different songs seems to defy conventional wisdom. But there’s method in the madness. These three songs offer a sneak peek at the three albums Presley plans to release on July 23: Birdlife, Roadside Magnolia, and Torana Americana. Together they’ll form his Eclecta Trifecta project. Is it ambitious? Yes. But it also might be genius.
Local hitmaker Amy Shark should add a few more successes to her repertoire with the release of her third studio album Sunday Sadness on August 16. She’s got my interest piqued with the release of her latest single “Loving Me Lover,” a song which she called “a dreamy love song, based around happy guilt.”
“I was in LA by myself working on music, there were things happening back home, people missing me being around and I remember feeling guilty enjoying this completely different life,” she admitted. “Hence the line fighting forever so stop loving me lover.”
The title of the album, Sunday Sadness, reflects not just the writing process but Amy’s headspace as the weekend draws to a close and a new week begins.
“I specifically wrote this album on Sundays, constantly daydreaming about the happiest moments and the worst, remembering the best people while still getting over others. I am different on Sundays, I am not sure why, but I bet you are too,” she said. “I think about my life so much on Sundays, my family, my friends and probably you. I’m still learning people, I’m still trying to be a better person, Sunday Sadness has every emotion I feel, you’ll smile in some songs and feel the love – but you’ll also be sad and probably not sleep well this Sunday night”.
Pre-orders are available here for the digital download, CD, and vinyl copies of Sunday Sadness. Different retailers have cool offers like signed copies, exclusive coloured vinyl, and guitar picks, so make sure you check them all out.
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
