Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Worm Girlz Start a Revolution With “Dirt”

Worm Girlz have come out swinging with their fierce debut single “Dirt.” If you’ve ever been harassed at a live show and felt frustrated because you just came to see the band, I know this track will resonate with you.

“I am so sick of feeling uncomfortable at gigs, I am sick of hearing that other people are feeling uncomfortable at gigs,” stressed proud Worm Girl, Jade Montgomery. “’Dirt’ is a big eff off to anyone that thinks it is okay to ignore boundaries and touch people without their consent.”

“When Jade shared the chorus of ‘Dirt’ with me for the first time I fell instantly in love with the world I saw for Worm Girlz,” added her band mate Lauren Rowe. “The rest of the song came together really quickly after that. It was electrifying.”

Apparently this song marks the start of worm domination, and I’m here for it. This band say they’re committed to the message of the song and want to work hard to promote safe habits at gigs to ensure women and members of the LGBTIA+ community feel safe at their shows. They’re also imploring other bands on the scene to do the same. Worm Girlz also hope that their queer voices can help others in the community known they’re not alone.

“There’s a saying in the asexual community, ‘I’d rather have cake’ and I love the connection in our chorus,” Lauren added.

According to the press release, “Worm Girlz is an energy; a way of life; a mantra. Why be anything else when you can be a worm girl?” Why indeed? Residents of Meeanjin/Brisbane can get on board when Worm Girlz play The Bright Before Christmas at The Brightside on December 15.

Image used with permission from Worm Girlz

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Selfish Sons Impress With “edge of emptiness”

Big things are happening for local band Selfish Sons. They’ve recently relocated to Los Angeles and just dropped their brand new single “edge of emptiness.” It’s a fantastic alt-rock anthem inspired by a conversation with a close friend struggling with their mental health. While it’s easy to feel down when your head’s not in the right place, Selfish Sons have managed to make this song feel hopeful.

“I loved the dichotomy of that and how it’s so easy to forget when you’re in a tough spot that everyone knows the feeling just as intensely as you do and it’s better to feel that together than alone,” Selfish Sons said.

With plenty of new music set to drop in 2024, the future’s looking bright for Selfish Sons. Los Angeles locals can see them play at Bardot on December 11.

Photo credit: @camraface

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Between You & Me Drop Nostalgic Summer Banger, “YEAH!”

Between You & Me have gone old-school with their latest single “YEAH!” and I’m here for it. With its nostalgic feel, you’ll want to add this track to your favourite summer playlist.

“I imagine this song playing in the montage scene of an early 2000s bratty comedy film,” admitted BYAM frontman Jake Wilson. “Stylistically it’s a big shift for BYAM, but we wanted to bring beachy summer vibes to a fun and carefree song.”

Their sound might have evolved, but this track sees BYAM collaborating again with Canadian producer Sam Guaiana, who flew to Australia earlier this year to record with the band.

BYAM have just announced a UK tour, but don’t stress if you’re a homegrown fan. I hear we can expect more new music and new local shows really soon, so there’s a lot for BYAM fans to look forward to! If you are in the UK, here’s those brand new dates:

16 February 2024 – Thekla, Bristol
17 February 2024 – Key Club, Leeds
18 February 2024 – Cathouse, Glasgow
19 February 2024 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
20 February 2024 – Rebellion, Manchester
22 February 2024 – Joiners, Southampton
23 February 2024 – Underworld, London
24 February 2024 – Asylum, Birmingham

Photo credit: Mitch Chamberlain

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Will Blume Releases Perfect Pop Track, “Porcelain”

I’m really digging “Porcelain,” the brand new single from North Queensland singer-songwriter Will Blume. Produced by Holy Holy’s Oscar Dawson, it’s got an infectious dance beat married with some really powerful lyrics.

“People that I’m close to have been through some hardships and I wanted to write a song, something that they can listen to and find comfort in when I’m not around,” Will said. “‘Porcelain’ is about renewal and was deeply inspired by the important women in my life. It’s for anyone who has ever been made to feel less than and is dedicated to all the survivors, fighters and children at heart. Horrible things may happen, but you can always come back to that pureness of yourself; the beautiful soul you were born to be.”

Will said he wrote “Porcelain” on a writing trip where he isolated himself in a beach cabin for two weeks with no internet, no phone reception, and no conversations or contact with the outside world except for a single “beach buddy”. Through this process he learned to connect more to himself and his music. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty keen to hear what else he came up with on that trip!

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

This Space is Ours Share Their Sad Songs Playlist

We’ve all got our go-to songs that help us through hard times, but have you ever wondered what music your favourite bands listen to when life gets on top of them? I caught up with Naarm/Melbourne emo quintet This Space is Ours to learn about the top 10 sad songs they love to sing along to:

1. “Drink to Drown” – Stand Atlantic
It’s so ingrained in Aussie culture to just drink when things are going wrong and even though it’s not the main point of the lyrics, “I drink to drown,” encapsulates how many of us feel when we do that.

2. “My Side of the Bed” – Noah Cyrus
If you’ve got a terrible fear of abandonment, this is the sad song for you. Noah Cyrus manages to intentionally sound like she’s on the verge of crying throughout this song and it’s beautiful.

3. “Let’s Talk About Your Hair” – Have Mercy
Just like ‘All The Things I’ve Been Avoiding’, this song rises in intensity throughout, starting solemnly sad then ending passionately angry.

4. “Dear Inner Child” – Peach PRC
‘Heavy’ by Peach PRC could have just as easily made it to this list as well. I find this one just that little bit more tear jerking as Peach makes peace with her inner child.

5. “Can’t.Lie.Around.Remembering.Everything” – Capstan
As it says in the song, “it’s just another classic case of the right person at the wrong time.” This song presents true pain to a situation most people can relate to.

6. “Asleep” – The Smiths
The god of all sad songs. A classic that has to be in this list as a legal requirement. I find most people you meet who have been through some dark times will have a connection with it.


7. “One More Time” – Blink 182
This song is especially heartbreaking when you know the history of the friendships within Blink 182. All about realizing how the small stuff isn’t worth fighting over, our friends could be taken from us at any time.

8. “Smother” – Daughter
As someone who has felt like they’ve been “too much” for other people, this is a song that I have turned to many times. Incredibly melancholic with the lyrics to match.


9. “Cardinals” – The Wonder Years
Cardinals perfectly describes the guilt that comes along with loss, especially under tough circumstances such as mental health and drug problems.

10. “Kick” – Spanish Love Songs
Kick is an incredibly well-written song about the life of an addict through the eyes of an old friend.

If you want to add one more to your own sad songs playlist, I suggest checking out “All the Things I’ve Been Avoiding,” the latest single from This Space is Ours. It’s out now.

Photo credit: ActFour

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dermot Kennedy @ The Doss House, Talla-wo-la-dah/The Rocks – 17 November 2023

Ordinarily once an artist gets to the stage in their careers where they’re selling out the Opera House forecourt, you’ve missed the chance to catch them in an intimate venue. But Dermot Kennedy is no ordinary artist. He revels in playing in beautiful places, regularly announcing pop-up gigs that complement his paid shows around the world. Last night it was Sydney’s turn to witness one of these magical events when he played The Doss House in Talla-wo-la-dah/The Rocks.

I’m still pinching myself that I got the chance to see one of my favourite artists in such a special space. A beautiful sandstone building, you can feel the history seeping from the walls. To call it intimate is an understatement. We were told just 80 of us would get in, but once we were ushered through we discovered maybe about 40-50 of us would be in the same room as Dermot. The rest would have to be content in the courtyard, peeking through a window at the action inside. I have never been more excited to take my seat in the front row, maybe 30 centimetres away from the mic stand. What a stark difference from the last Dermot show I saw at the Hordern Pavilion!

Dermot was still five hours from gracing us with his presence at that point, but with wine and conversation flowing freely that time passed quickly. Soon enough we were told we could purchase one of the limited-edition Australian-exclusive copies of Dermot’s latest album Sonder and meet the man himself. He was as warm and sweet (and let’s face it, handsome) as I could have hoped for. And then we were settled in for our special acoustic performance.

And when I say acoustic, I mean acoustic. He did away with the mic stand, deciding it was unnecessary for a space like this. His guitar didn’t need plugging in either. This is as raw as music gets, and it was wonderful. You could have heard a pin drop as he launched into recently released single “Two Hearts.” I marvelled at how special it was to experience “For Island Fires and Family” like this, in such a quiet space. He always performs that song unaccompanied, but at the Hordern there was so much chatter impinging on the moment. But here, everyone was attentive, drinking in every word, every note. The more upbeat “Kiss Me” helped us find our voices. Or perhaps it was the trays of whiskey generously passed around. Either way, the singalong continued with “Outnumbered” before we ushered out into the night. While we were told entry would be first-come, first-served, Dermot wasn’t going to leave hundreds of people disappointed so he agreed to play another set for as many of those people who would fit inside. He’s just that kind of artist.

I feel so incredibly blessed that I got to see one of my favourite artists in such a beautiful space so up close and personal. And to share it with such wonderful people. Crowds that give their attention and respect to the artist are worth their weight in gold. Dermot has a few more pop-up shows before he kicks off his Australian tour. Like the show at The Doss House, I’m sure they’ll be incredible.

18 November 2023 – Music Farmers Record Store, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
18 November 2023 – La La La’s, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
19 November 2023 – The Royal, Bundi/Bondi Beach (FREE)
21 November 2023 – Jimmy O’Neill’s, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda (FREE)
22 November 2023 – Oh! Jean Records, Naarm/Melbourne (FREE)
22 November 2023 – Thornbury Picture House, Naarm/Melbourne (FREE)
24 November 2023 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Naarm/Melbourne
25 November 2023 – Spilt Milk Festival @ Exhibition Park, Ngunnawal/Canberra
26 November 2023 – Spilt Milk Festival @ Gold Coast Sports Precinct, Kombumerri/Gold Coast
2 December 2023 – Spilt Milk Festival @ Victoria Park, Wadawurrung/Ballarat
3 December 2023 – Spilt Milk Festival @ Claremont Showground, Boorloo/Perth
6 December 2023 – Opera House Forecourt, Eora/Sydney
7 December 2023 – Opera House Forecourt, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
8 December 2023 – Opera House Forecourt, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
10 December 2023 – Riverstage, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Catholic Guilt

Naarm/Melbourne alt-rock act Catholic Guilt have just released their fantastic new song “Can You See Me?” It’s brand new, but there’s a beautiful nostalgia about it. It feels instantly familiar and accessible, the sort of song you immediately like and want to turn right up. The lyrics, which deal with feeling like you’ve lost your identity, are also so relatable.

“For me personally, that feeling was brought on by a period of intense emotional and physical upheaval caused by a variety of interpersonal issues and a few serious life and career setbacks,” explained Catholic Guilt frontman Brenton Harris. “All of these issues coalesced around the time of the lockdowns and ended up impacting life on the other side of it, resulting in me living life as a version of myself that felt so unfamiliar, so unconfident, so shaken, so entirely unlike ‘me’. Writing the song allowed me to process and heal and move onto the next evolution of ‘myself’. It’s our ‘feel sad hit of the summer’.”

Catholic Guilt will launch “Can You See Me?” tomorrow night at The Tote. There are still some tickets remaining, so grab them while you can! If you miss out, don’t stress. You can catch them supporting Guttermouth next year.

18 November 2023 – The Tote, Naarm/Melbourne
15 Match 2024 – Stay Gold, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Guttermouth)

Photo credit: Dean Gordon

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jeremy Turner Drops Stellar Second Single “Try to Stop Me”

Australia’s answer to Chris Stapleton, Jeremy Turner is back with his sophomore single, “Try to Stop Me.” I don’t know how he got this good this fast, but this guy is a serious talent. His voice has such grit and heart and honesty, it’s a pleasure to listen to.

Jeremy Turner has been spending time in Nashville honing his craft recently, but he’ll be back home and on stages really soon.

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Michael Carpenter and the Banks Brothers Rock Out With Double A-Side Single

Eora/Sydney outfit Michael Carpenter and the Banks Brothers are leaning into more of a country-rock sound with their new double A-side single “Self-Taught Medicine Man/Everyone’s an Asshole (In Someone’s Story)”. I heard their talent when they released The Bluegrass Sessions Vol. 1 earlier this year, but their sound was a little too traditionally country for my tastes. However these edgier songs that showcase the band’s wicked sense of humour are something I can really get behind.

“Self Taught Medicine Man” is a Zane Banks composition about a man who decides that rather than fight his demons, he’s just going to embrace them. Then there’s “Everyone’s An Asshole (In Someone’s Story)”, a Michael Carpenter-penned track that reminds us that as much as you might complain about a lost love that did you wrong, the other party is probably equally critical of your character.

It’s amazing how quickly these guys are evolving as a band. I can’t wait to hear what the next Michael Carpenter and the Banks Brothers release might bring.

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dane Tutty and Jen Buxton Duet On “church”

Mulubinba/Newcastle alt-folk artist Dane Tutty has teamed up with fellow Novacastrian Jen Buxton for a fantastic new single “church.” I love the way Dane’s textured vocals contrast with Jen’s sweeter ones. You can hear the emotion in their voices as they sing this powerful duet. It’s really good stuff.

“church” gives us our first taste of Dane’s upcoming EP. If this song is any indication, it’s going to be pretty special!

Image used with permission from Dane Tutty