Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Tales of the Yeti” – South Summit

South Summit are one of the most consistent and criminally underappreciated bands in the country at the moment. If this Western Australian act isn’t on your radar yet, their latest EP Tales of the Yeti is bound to make you sit up and take notice.

This EP shows a real evolution for the band as they play with different genres and sounds. They’ve always had a cool surf sound, but I’ve never heard them leaning into reggae as much as they do in the opening track “I Feel It.” The good vibes continue with “Sidelines,” a straight up indie-rock charmer that I can imagine blasting on my next road trip, and “Just Like You” a sunshine-infused gem that will have you singing along with its infectious chorus. I can imagine tracks like “Tuned In” and “Dreaming” going off at the live shows. They’re a little more anthemic and epic, with big chords and defiant lyrics. “Fallen Friend” is such a strong closer, with powerful, poignant lyrics that speak straight to the heart.

What a journey Tales of the Yeti takes listeners on. With six songs, it’s a little longer than most EPs, but I still find myself wanting more. Like when you have a really amazing main meal, and although it’s totally satisfying you can’t resist peeking at the dessert menu to see how good that’ll be. If you’re digging this EP too, make sure you get to one of South Summit’s headlining shows in Australia or New Zealand this November. They’re also playing the Odyssea – Headland Music & Arts Journey festival this weekend.

19 August 2023 – Odyssea – Hedland Music & Arts Journey, Marapikurrinya/Port Headland
2 November 2023 – La La La’s, Woolyungah/Wollongong
3 November 2023 – The Lansdowne, Eora/Sydney
4 November 2023 – Howler, Naarm/Melbourne
10 November 2023 – The Brightside, Meeanjin/Brisbane
11 November 2023 – The Northern, Cavanbah/Byron Bay
17 November 2023 – Whammy Bar, Auckland
18 November 2023 – The Loons, Christchurch
19 November 2023 – Meow, Wellington
24 November 2023 – The Rosemount, Boorloo/Perth


Images used with permission from beehive; main image credit: Mark Francesca

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Sea Gypsies Become Sunsoli

Darkinjung Country/Central Coast band The Sea Gypsies are ushering in a new creative chapter under a new name Sunsoli. If their latest single “Time and Place” is any indication, they’re going from strength to strength. This feel-good song is a deeply personal one from the band. Lead guitarist Dan Hoolihan wrote it, with the help of keyboardist Joseph Smith, to celebrate the way his past anxieties and mistakes seemed to fade away after the birth of his song.

“’Time and Place’ is one of the last songs we wrote on the album. It was actually one of Dan’s demos that we put to the side for years until we were looking for the right song to complete the album. Once Dan had refined the music and structure the rest of the song was basically written in a 40-minute drive to rehearsal one evening by Joe,” the band said. “Having a son recently felt like the missing piece of the puzzle for him. Any wrongdoings of the past, or anxieties he had, melted away since bringing that perfect little human into the world.”

There’s more new music where this came from, with Sunsoli promising to drop their self-titled album on September 13. To celebrate its release, Sunsoli will play shows all over the eastern states.

15 September 2023 – La La La’s, Woolyungah/Wollongong (with Brandon Duff & Georgia-Jean)
16 September 2023 – Live at the Polo, Ngambri/Canberra (with Kopasetic & Eden Plenty)
6 October 2023 – Barwon Club, Djilang/Geelong (with This Way North & Gabby Steel)
8 October 2023 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne (with This Way North & Anna Smyrk)
27 October 2023 – Sol Bar, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Maroochydore (with Flaskas & Sundaze)
29 October 2023 – Lefty’s, Meeanjin/Brisbane (with Flaskas & Tjaka)
11 November 2023 – The Lansdowne, Eora/Sydney (with The Toothpicks & Southwest Corduroy)
25 November 2023 – Drifters Wharf, Darkinjung Country/Gosford (with Tyrants & Tiali)
1 December 2023 – The Federal, Baligin/Bellingen

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Jordan Cortti

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MANE Shares Awesome Single, “Flowers”

MANE’s new single “Flowers” is so good. So good. It’s a stunning alt-pop anthem that beautifully tackles social anxiety, balancing the weighty subject matter with an uplifting sound that celebrates resilience. I can’t stop listening.

“I struggle with social anxiety, in general and also in the music industry, where I feel like I always have to prove myself in one way or another,” MANE explained. “The pressure can be unrelenting and possessive and it sucks. Sometimes I ask myself, why am I here and why am I putting myself through all this extra stress? I could be at home with my person, dog, family, or my pals.”

“Flowers” comes from MANE’s upcoming sophomore EP Caught in the Undertow, which is scheduled for a September 15 release. While it’ll be on all the major streaming platforms, you can preorder the vinyl here.

Image used with permission from Pretty Good Thanks; credit: Friends on Film

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Duets” – Kevin Borich

I had pretty high expectations for Kevin Borich’s new album Duets the moment I looked over the track listing. It should come as no surprise that his Aussie guitar icon had no problem recruiting some top talent for this release. But you might still be surprised how good this album is.

Kevin is one of the nation’s best singer-songwriters, so I expected the original songs would be top-notch. He’s also one of our best guitarists, so I knew the tracks would sound good. He’s not the best vocalist in a classic sense, but his voice is full of character. And he’s partnered up with some excellent vocalists, including Baby Animals frontwoman Suze Demarchi, who has one of the best rock voices in the business, and Angela Fabian, who made such an impression on me a few years ago on The Voice Australia.

What I didn’t quite expect was the energy that leaps from this album. You can almost hear how much fun Kevin and his pals are having in the studio. It’s also so diverse that you’re never going to get bored. “Wrapped in Rock,” with Suze Demarchi and the politically charged “Soapbox Bitchin’” with Angry Anderson rock hard. “I’m Together,” with Ella Hooper, is a sweet love song that sounds like it could have come from a Cole Porter musical. “There is a Road,” with another Party Boys bandmate Swanee, takes us straight to church. As someone who grew up on the Eagles, I have such a soft spot for “The Fires,” featuring Kevin’s old Party Boys bandmate and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. “Straight From My Heart,” with fellow guitar legend Ian Moss, is another standout. And that’s to say nothing of the fantastic tunes recorded with Joe Camilleri, Tim Rogers, and Leo Sayer.

With such an impressive list of guest artists on its side, most Aussie music fans will want to give Kevin Borich’s Duets at least one listen. But don’t be surprised if, like me, you find yourself pressing play time and time again.

Images used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MID CITY Rock Out With “Happy Ever After”

Naarm/Melbourne band MID CITY have dropped their epic new single “Happy Ever After.” It’s the title track from the band’s forthcoming debut, and if it doesn’t make you excited for that release I don’t know what will. Hit that volume, because you’ll want to listen to this one loud.

“‘Happy Ever After’ took us, no joke, two years to write. It was a COVID lockdown demo that was kicking around in 17 different versions and we just couldn’t crack it,” the band admitted. “It wasn’t until we completely rethought what a MID CITY song could be that it came together. And when it did finally come together it was the most satisfying feeling we’ve ever had from making music. It has become the flag bearer for the whole album. In a funny kind of poetic way it sums up so much of what the band has been for us – always struggling and striving and hoping we can break out of our own situations and make something worth all of that.”

You can just tell this song will go off live. Hometown fans get the chance to experience that when MID CITY play The Gaso on August 19. With their debut album dropping on August 25, it shouldn’t be too long before we hear of some more MID CITY shows around the country.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Richard Clifford

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kaylens Rain Release Nostalgic Comeback Single, “One Song Brings You Back”

I’ve been doing this #lifeasasoundtrack thing on Facebook lately, highlighting a song a day for every year I’ve been on this planet. It’s been fantastic looking back at all the songs that shaped me. So I’m really vibing with Kaylens Rain’s new single, “One Song Brings You Back.” This release has been a long time coming, with Nashville songwriters Brett Rutledge and Jessica Campbell Waterman bringing the song to the band way back in 2018.

“We instantly fell in love with the ideals and meanings these words had for each of us at the time. In collaboration with Brett and Jessica, we were able to rework the lyrics to tell our own story and added it to our live set,” explained founding member Kaylee. “After spending the last few years raising our young families, it was a matter of finding the right time to release music again. After a long break, this song has brought us back to what we love doing and made us remember why we love music so much. It’s a powerful thing that can spark memories and evoke all kinds of feelings in everyone!”

The film clip turned out to be an emotional one for the band, who decided to feature Garry, the owner of a vintage Ford F-150 truck they secured, in the video.

“The storyboard idea was for Garry and his granddaughter to spend the day together, reminiscing on a fictional wife who had passed away. When we told them the idea, they could not believe it. Sadly, Garry’s beautiful wife Sharyn had passed four weeks earlier and the storyboard idea actually became their real-life story,” Kaylee said. “Everyone had goosebumps and the meaning of this song took on a whole new life – it became Garry and Darcy’s song and it felt like Sharyn was watching over them all day.”

Kaylens Rain will play The Beer Shed Brewing Co in Dharawal Country/Leumeah on October 13.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hugo Stranger and the Rattlers’ Tom Harrison Releases Solo Single, “How Long”

Former Hugo Stranger and the Rattlers frontman Tom Harrison has just dropped his debut solo single “How Long,” and it’s an absolute charmer. If you’re into folk-pop acts acts like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, I know you’re going to dig this.

Tom isn’t just the singer and songwriter here. He recorded all the instruments except for the bass at his home studio. “How Long” was inspired by the time Tom spend exploring the west coast of Canada and the United States in a Chevy G10 with his wife Angela, who lends backing vocals on this track.

“I wrote some of these songs within the first few months of travelling, there was so much inspiring me at the time. However I had also just written the debut album for Hugo Stranger just before the trip, so upon returning to Australia I wasn’t confident enough to be a solo musician and wanted to put my first band together (Hugo Stranger),” Tom explained. “I’ve had these songs ready to go for years, however I finally feel like I can give them justice and tell their story properly.”

I’m really looking forward to hearing more stories from the road when Tom releases his EP Old Growth.

Image used with permission from Tom Harrison

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

WĪLMA LĀ Releases Upbeat Break-Up Gem, “Free Happy”

“Free Happy,” the latest single from WĪLMA LĀ, is a different kind of break-up song. Instead of mourning the loss, she celebrates the relationship that was and the lessons learned. And can we talk about the delicious symphony of sound? It’s an audacious move to combine piano, Moog synths, big drums, tap dancing, juggling balls, and stacks more on one recording, but it works!

“Free Happy is about bringing his musical world into mine in a bid to understand because understanding helps in the journey of forgiving and moving on,” WĪLMA LĀ explained. “The song genre is a blend of my love for jazz, and the influence my ex brought with the music he liked.”

“Free Happy” is an anthem of strength that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Take a listen!

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angie McMahon Wows Me With “Letting Go”

I am so in love with Angie McMahon’s new single “Letting Go.” If your day needs a dose of truth and wisdom (and quite frankly, who’s doesn’t?), you’ll want to wrap your ears around this. It’s so good!

“‘Letting Go’ is a place to keep the lessons that I’ll keep on needing. Reminders to go easy and gentle, be imperfect, let things leave,” Angie explained. “The learning is never-ending. I’m always in the process of remembering to release what my brain clings to – thoughts, people, comfort zones – and land in the present moment. It’s so hard for me to do, and then such a euphoric relief when it happens, so that’s what we tried to capture in the recording. I hope someone screams ‘Letting Go’ in the car on an open road somewhere.”

“Letting Go” comes from Angie McMahon’s new album Light, Dark, Light Again, which drops again. Fans will get the chance to hear new material before its release when Angie embarks on her Make Mistakes tour. There are just two Aussie dates, so get in quick:

11 September 2023 – The Moroccan Lounge, Tongva Land/Los Angeles
13 September 2023 – Sultan Room, Lenapehoking/Brooklyn
18 September 2023 – St. Pancras Old Church, London
27 September 2023 – Metro Theatre, Eora/Sydney
28 September 2023 – Northcote Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne

Image used with permission from Super Duper; credit: Bridgette Winten

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sweet Temper Calls Out Toxic Partners With “Two Face”

Cool Naarm/Melbourne-based neo-soul outfit Sweet Temper have just dropped their debut single “Two Face.” And as its name suggests, while it’s got a laidback groove, that sweet melody is paired with some pretty scathing lyrics. This song, which slams toxic behaviour in relationships, does not hold back.

“It puts manipulators and abusers in the spotlight, centering on situations where they may act charming and lovingly in one setting but behave harmfully in others,” the band added. “The overall message is developing the strength to directly expose abusers and walk away from such situations.”

The music video, directed by Greta Reginato, focuses on Sweet Temper’s lead vocalist Abbey Green seeing a show with the wrong guy.

“Throughout the show, Abbey’s boyfriend consistently neglects her and starts chatting up another girl. This eventually leads to the boyfriend cheating on Abbey with the other girl,” Sweet Temper explained. “Abbey, performing the song and having witnessed her boyfriend’s betrayal, uses the stage as a platform to call out his toxic behaviour and put him in the spotlight so the rest of the audience can see what he has done.”

Not content to rest on their laurels, Sweet Temper will drop another new single, “Better Than You,” in just 10 days. Click the link to pre-save it to make sure you hear it first.

Image used with permission from Good Intent