Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saralyn Finds Closure With New Single, “Last Goodbye”

Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley singer-songwriter Saralyn has got me right in the feels with her latest single “Last Goodbye.” It’s such a beautiful country ballad about lost love inspired by Saralyn’s own heartbreak.

“I feel like in life we say goodbye to many things unexpectedly, it doesn’t just have to be a relationship, but deep down there is a knowing that maybe it’s for the best,” says Saralyn. “When I wrote this song it allowed me to have closure … I didn’t know that it was still lurking in the back of my mind.”

Saralyn will support Amber Lawrence at her show at the Paterson School of Arts Hall this Saturday, October 7.

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Good Intent Giving Indie Artists a Leg Up With Greater Good Program

Time’s running out to get your application in for Good Intent’s Greater Good program. This exciting initiative aims to nurture independent artists by providing a cash grant totally more than $25,000 and services from Good Intent and their partners, including Studios 301, Billy Zammit, Make Merchandise, Zenith Records, and Media Arts Lawyers.

“This all started with our passion for championing Australian music that we love, and we’re fortunate to be in a position to be able to give back to our community, connect dots and provide advice for artists on their journeys,” explained Good Intent’s Chief Operating Officer Rick Bridgman. “It’s challenging to catch a break in today’s climate, so we’re truly stoked with this year’s offering and linking up on a bigger pack with our partners.”

“Greater Good really changed the trajectory of my EP campaign,” added Peni Parker, who took home the grant 12 months ago. “Good Intent supported me with the first single ‘Disrupt’, giving me some great advice, a huge insight into digital marketing and really started me off with some big wins with playlisting, radio play, some fun interviews and even rotation on triple j Unearthed. It really was a total package though; a dream to work with Billy Zammit, who helped bring to life my visual concepts. Ben [Mitchell] helped rework my logo and a huge shout out to Make Merchandise too, always love working with that team. Every single element of the prize was so helpful to my year and allowed me to get to work with creatives, that I normally wouldn’t have the budget for as a fresh artist.”

Applications for this year’s Greater Good program close on October 12. For more information on the program and how to lodge your application, head to Good Intent’s website.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skyuka Shows Her Darker Side With “Houseplants”

Boorloo/Perth talent Skyuka first caught my attention with her upbeat indie-pop ditty “Michael Cera.” It was playful and sweet, and not at all like her latest single “Houseplants.” We love peeling back the layers of an artist, so we’re pretty psyched to her switching things up with this brooding, angsty track.

“‘Houseplants’ is definitely the first angry song I’ve released, and it feels great,” she enthused. “It’s about having complete, utter disappointment in someone and a lack of communication making you question everything to the point that you drive yourself crazy, creating your own narratives that may not even exist. ‘Houseplants’ originally started with just a bass line that I wrote and from there came the melody quite easily. I was having a terrible night mentally, so the salty lyrics just poured out of me. I then programmed some synth and recorded my vocals from home. My brother (Token Friend) put down live bass and guitar; and did a lot of layering in parts to really build the tension. We both then went to Debaser Studios with Jasper Emmitt Miller who put down live drums. We were very grateful to then have Andy Lawson steer the track in the right direction with his production and mixing skills.”

There’s more new music from Skyuka on the way with her EP slated for release later this year.

Photo credit: Sarah Haleem

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Down and Out Team Up With Kellin Quinn For “Four Leaf Clover” Single

If you’re struggling to transition back to the grind after the long weekend, turn up “Four Leaf Clover”, the latest track by Tandanya/Adelaide-based pop-punk act Down and Out. Trust me, this energetic track, featuring Kellin Quinn from Sleeping with Sirens, will do more for you than any cup of coffee.

“The song is about getting into a relationship with someone that you know you shouldn’t; the sort of person that makes you think, ‘yeah, they’re gonna ruin my life’. Then guess what?! SURPRISE – they ruin your life!” the band said. “ I mean, you can kind of blame them, but you’ve also gotta blame yourself for walking into oncoming traffic despite all the very obvious red flags all over the road and the barricades that were attempting to stop you from making terrible decisions. So, yeah, the song is about a person that I knew was going to ruin my life, but I went ahead and let them, and now I’ve gotta take accountability for the choices that I made to get myself into that situation.”

Fresh from playing shows with Drastic Park, Down and Out have a few headlining gigs coming up. Catch them doing their thing at the following shows:

20 October 2023 – Pub Rock Diner, Palawa Country/Devonport
21 October 2023 – Altar, Nipaluna/Hobart
18 November 2023 – The Vanguard, Eora/Sydney

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paulina Releases Heartbreaking Single, “Give It All”

Meeanjin/Brisbane artist Paulina proves she’s one of the best neo-soul talents in the country with the release of her stunning new single “Give It All.” Notice I didn’t just say she’s one of the best neo-soul voices we have. That’s a given of course. You know within the first few notes that her rich voice is exceptional. But it’s the way that Paulina backs up that voice with songs of real depth that impresses me. This song is an exploration of the grief that never quite leaves you when you lose someone significant. You don’t just hear that loss when you listen to this song. You feel it.

“The music video explores stages of grief – specifically an older girl grieving her childhood best friend who unfortunately passed away. This future and older version of me is seen walking through my own memories of my younger self and my childhood best friend, playing in the front yard, whilst I’m reminiscing on those days and reflecting on how things have since changed,” Paulina explained. “Certain clips within the video depict how those memories haunt me at times, which is further accentuated when the little kids run into the house, and I frantically look for them inside but they are nowhere to be found. When you’re grieving a huge loss, it can sometimes be hard to decipher past memories from your reality, and that’s what this music video is all about.”

Let this release serve as a reminder to check out Paulina’s gorgeous EP Just Know, It’ll Be Okay. It’s out now.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cookin’ on 3 Burners Feature Stella Angelico on Fire New Single, “I’m Comin’ Home to You”

I might be biased, but I think Australia has one of the best modern soul scenes on the planet. The United States might get all the accolades, but I think we definitely punch above our weight. Cookin’ On 3 Burners make some of the best local soul around. If you’re not already across their incredible music, their latest single “I’m Comin’ Home to You” tells you everything you need to know.

This track is a straight-up feel-good bop featuring Stella Angelico on vocals. Stella has been a constant presence at the group’s live shows, so you can pretty much call her the fourth member of the group. And with vocals like this, why wouldn’t you?

“As soon as I heard this one, I knew I wanted to write on it. It conjured images of water sparkling in the sun, bright blue skies, riding a bike on a warm night,” Stella said. “I was thinking of Sicily, I was thinking of Melbourne, where I’ve grown up and feel most at home – and where we chose to shoot the gorgeous, very domestic cover shots with Jo Duck. I was thinking of coming home to someone you love, coming home to yourself…”

As an added bonus, “I’m Comin’ Home to You” is bundled on the streaming services with “Whole Woman,” a beautiful ballad also featuring Stella’s serious vocal talents. It’s like two sides of a very soulful coin that I know you’ll really dig.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Jo Duck

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee @ Hayes Theatre, Eora/Sydney

For a long while a friend has told me I needed to go to more independent theatre productions. I’ve always been resistant. After seeing a few fairly amateur local community theatre shows, I decided it wasn’t for me. But then my husband got a job that saw him in Eora/Sydney a couple of days a week, and I started to realise that the only way we would be able to see the shows we’d heard about it at the Tony Awards was to explore the independent theatres there. Needless to say, I’m hooked. Last month we caught the Australian debut of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 at the Darlinghurst Theatre. It was bold and dynamic, and I definitely would have written about it if we didn’t attend one of the last shows. Last night we headed to the Hayes Theatre to see the 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, and since there’s a little more than a week left I wasn’t going to miss the chance to tell you all about it.

My husband and I have long had the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on our must-see musical theatre list. It won a couple of Tonys back in 2005 along with other honours like Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel awards and it often features on those musical theatre top 10s videos we love watching on YouTube. I knew it’d be a sweet show, but I didn’t quite prepare myself for how much I’d enjoy it. The premise is simple, as the best musical theatre shows often are. A group of six kids, played by adult actors, along with a few brave audience volunteers, come together for the titular spelling bee. Each has their own story, their reasons for wanting to compete, their strengths and insecurities that have led them to this moment. They’re overseen by a sweet moderator and former spelling bee champ Ms Peretti, the vice principal Douglas Panch, who returns to the bee after a five year absence following a mysterious “incident,” and Mitch Mahoney, an ex-con turned comfort counsellor. It’s a quirky collection of characters and one which delivers laughs and feels in equal measure. The base is solid, but a show is only ever as good as its performers.

This company knocked it out of the park. There wasn’t a weak link among the cast. Their voices, acting chops, and even dancing skills were on point. You have such a short time to establish a connection in a production like this, but I found myself so invested in every one of their stories. Even those brave volunteers I mentioned did a fabulous job. When everyone is so strong, it seems rude to single out anyone, but a special shout out has to go Cypriana Singh, who took on the role of Ms. Peretti at the eleventh hour. Big theatre groups have understudies who prepare for a select number of roles, but as the Hayes is small there are just two expected to be across everything. Honestly, if it wasn’t announced she was an understudy at the start of the show, I never would have known. Way to take your moment to shine!

But honestly, every member of this cast did. They were sweet and funny and fun and so incredibly talented. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is one of those special shows that simply leaves you feeling good. And don’t we all need more of that? If you’re in Eora/Sydney, do see it if you can. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee finishes at the Hayes Theatre on October 8.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angie McMahon Wows Me With “Fireball Whiskey”

Angie McMahon’s upcoming album Light, Dark, Light Again promises some very revealing, personal songs. It’s not here yet, but I predict her latest single “Fireball Whiskey” will be one of the highlights. It’s so intimate, with confessional lyrics about managing anxiety that really shine against its minimalist musical backdrop. After it fades out, don’t be surprised if you have to take a moment to take it all in before rejoining the world.

“‘Fireball Whiskey’ touches on using alcohol to navigate my anxiety, and also just realising over time that caring for your mental health is so important and will affect the way you can love and be with people,” she admitted. “I think I’m afraid of change and didn’t know that about myself, but the process of writing this one helped bring it to light.”

Angie took charge of the video, editing footage captured by friends on lands belonging to the Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation and the Chumash tribe in California.

“I’ve never edited a video before, but I used this Handycam footage taken by my friends to try and tell a visual story of dancing and swaying myself out of the darkness,” she said. “Travelling to this mountain range outside of Ojai felt like visiting a place where all my silly little worries and bruises could be transformed into something open and time could be suspended and I could empty everything out again, and that’s the reward for leaving behind what I loved but wasn’t right for me.”

Angie wraps up a string of sold-out shows here and overseas with a gig in Naarm/Melbourne tonight. You might not be able to score tickets now, but I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t announce more local shows to coincide with the album’s release on October 27. Watch this space.

Image used with permission from Super Duper; credit: Taylor Ranston

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mathilde Anne Releases Fantastic New Single, “To Be Honest”

I am loving the angsty tracks that Naarm/Melbourne-based talent Mathilde Anne has been dropping, and her latest offering, “To Be Honest,” is no exception. It’s a ballad this time, but that anger is just simmering underneath the surface.

“We can all find a little comfort in letting people know they’ve hurt you and telling those we actually loved through hell, to finally fuck off,” Mathilde Anne enthused. Too right!

“‘To Be Honest’ was one of my favourite songs to record,” added her producer, James Seymour, known for his work with Merpire and Elizabeth M. Drummond. “It came together instantly. James and I really wanted to create something soft but gritty at the same time”, says Mathilde. “We created multiple juxtaposing guitar patterns to express the emotion in the track and this ended up starting a bit of a theme throughout the whole album”.

This is the latest release from Mathilde Anne’s forthcoming debut album Normal, which is slated for release next year. Until then, you can see Mathilde Anne doing her thing live at the following shows:

29 September 2023 – The Evelyn Hotel, Naarm/Fitzroy (with Lucy Lorrenne)
1 October 2023 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Fitzroy (with Sarah Yagki)
11 November 2023 – The Evelyn Hotel, Naarm/Fitzroy (with Pixel Junkies)

Image used with permission from Sandhill Records; credit: Shilo Shaker

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eaglemont Impresses With “You Don’t Live Here”

Eaglemont has dropped what the press release calls “another epic ‘sad and gay’ love song”, “You Don’t Live Here.” I feel that description sells the song a little short though. That comment almost suggests this track is interchangeable with any others, but it’s far from formulaic. And while it might draw from Eaglemont’s experiences as a gay woman, I think the themes are so universal and delivered so powerfully it’s bound to hit everyone in the feels.

“‘You Don’t Live Here’ is a yearning for the past, the uncertainty of the future and the kind of anxiety that makes your throat close up and your stomach drop to your socks. At the beginning of 2020, I fell in love with the love of my life who lived interstate at the time. When we finally got to see each other I remember being in my kitchen, with the chaos of the world swirling around us, and the simplicity of watching her do the dishes was the best moment of my recent life. Naturally the moment was fleeting and she had to leave again,” recalled Bridgitte Jessop, the woman behind Eaglemont. “This song is about frustration and longing, the big gay yearn and desire for simpler times, the cracking of your own reality and a good old fashioned half-drunk driveway cry, hoping someone would pull in and run you over.”

Eaglemont has just wrapped up a string of shows with Cry Club, but don’t stress if you missed them. She’ll play the Suzi’s Going Away (To Record an Album) Party at The Gasometer Hotel in Naarm/Melbourne on November 3.

Image used with permission from Habit Music; credit: Tim Lambert