News – Page 4 – Sounds of Oz

Posted on 15/02/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Two Times Shy Drop Pop-Punk Banger, “Tearing Up Inside”

If the pop-punk stylings of Meeajin/Brisbane band Two Times Shy don’t give you the energy you need to make it to quitting time, then nothing will. Their latest single “Tearing Up Inside” features the bold guitars, pounding drums, and emotional vocals you want in a pop-punk song.

“Tearing Up Inside is written about a relationship breakdown and how it feels to go through something so tormenting and heartbreaking,” the band explained. “Watching the one you love slip away, fall into the arms of someone else when there is nothing you can do about it; and although it tears you apart, you still love them and want to/will do everything you can to fix it. No matter how hard you try, the relationship meets its inevitable doom.”

There’s more to come from Two Times Shy, who will release their debut EP, It Looks Better Than it Sounds, on March 10.

Image used with permission from Ruckus PR; credit: Gabi Rankine Creative

Posted on 17/01/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Vale Renee Geyer

What a terrible shock to hear of the passing of Renee Geyer this afternoon. While in the hospital for hip surgery, doctors discovered inoperable lung cancer. She died peacefully with friends and family members around her. She was just 69.

Renee was a true pioneer and an absolute force of nature. Hits like “Heading in the Right Direction” and her incredible cover of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s World,” saw her inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Music Victoria Hall of Fame in 2013. She also received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards in 2018. My dad likes to tell a story about the time he saw her play Cardiff Workers Club in the ’70s. She wore a sheer see-through top that left nothing to the imagination, flirted outrageously with all the men sitting in the front row, and tore the roof of the place with one hell of a performance. So much confidence, so sure of herself, with charisma and talent to burn.

I saw Renee play countless times over the years and was always so struck by her sensational voice. As this video from Bird’s Basement last year shows, it was so compelling right to the end. We won’t see another like her. She will be so missed.

Image source: Denise O’Hara @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 31/12/202231/12/2023 by Lauren Katulka

2022: Year in Review

After a few years of disappointment, it feels like we’ve turned a bit of a corner in 2022. I’m still cautious about where I go and what I do, but at least concerts aren’t getting cancelled left, right, and centre. I came so much closer to compiling a top 10 of live shows! So while I’m keen to pop some bottles, I’m not doing so keen to put 2022 behind me. These are just some of the albums and concerts that put a smile on my face this year. What made your 2022 great? Be sure to let me know in the comments. Happy New Year!

Top 10 Albums of 2022

Top Shows for 2022

Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

Posted on 28/12/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Guitar Show Back in 2023

After the pandemic spoiled the fun over the last couple of years, the Melbourne Guitar Show is making its triumphant return to Caulfield Racecourse in March. As always, it’ll feature a who’s who of guitar talent including international acts Eric Bibb and Nick Johnston and local legends Steph Strings, Hussy Hicks, Lloyd Spiegel, and heaps more.

If you want to start playing the guitar or upgrade your set-up, this is the place to do it. There’ll be more than 50 exhibitors showcasing electric and acoustic guitars, amps, effects pedals, and so much more. With seminars, demonstrations, and plenty of live performances, no self-respecting guitar enthusiast can afford to miss it.

“The association is pleased to be able to announce the re-birth of our iconic show in 2023. The industry has missed the chance to meet face-to-face and talk to guitar enthusiasts about our great products,” said Alex Masso, the executive officer of the organising body, the Australian Music Association.

The Melbourne Guitar Show hits Caulfield Racecourse on March 4 and 5. Visit the website before February 14 to secure discounted early bird tickets.

Posted on 25/12/202223/12/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas from Sounds of Oz

By the time you read this, I’ll be very comfortably situated at my sister’s place, probably on my second beer, celebrating Christmas. Whether you celebrate the holiday or you’re simply enjoying the time off, I hope you’re having a marvellous time. I hoped to share another new Christmas song with you, but they’ve been a little thin on the ground this year! So instead I thought I’d rewind a couple of years to Kav Temperley’s “Christmas Lights”. As an album track from his brilliant All Your Devotion album, it probably didn’t get the love it deserved. But it’s a magic track, just perfect for your Christmas evening. Enjoy, and merry Christmas!

Image credit: Nick-K @ Flickr

Posted on 25/11/202225/11/2022 by Lauren Katulka

The ARIA Awards 2022 Wrap

So the dust has settled on the ARIA Awards for another year and it seems like everyone has an opinion. I can’t help but feel like most of those opinions come from people who haven’t taken the time to listen to a new Australian album in years who simply want to reminisce about the “good old days”. That’s not to say that the awards were perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I hardly think they’re the shambles that many made them out to be. Most of the performances were solid and a fantastic showcase for the diversity of Australian music today. I also thought Natalie Imbruglia, G-Flip, and Ruel, who stepped in at the 11th hour when Lewis Capaldi pulled out, were personable hosts.

Having said that: Christian Wilkins and Froomes – you had one job. I don’t know whether a few glasses of vino made them a little too relaxed, but there’s really no excuse for getting album names wrong. Multiple times. While they got the tributes for Uncle Archie Roach and Judith Durham so right, Olivia Newton-John deserved better. It felt like a number from the Schools Spectacular, not a professional celebration of the life of one of Australia’s most loved artists. I was disappointed to see Gang of Youths go home empty-handed, but thrilled for Baker Boy and The Wiggles’ wins.

Anyway, if you missed the awards or you simply want to check the correct names of those albums, here are all the winners.

Album of the Year: Baker Boy – Gela
Best Solo Artist: Baker Boy
Best Group: Amyl and the Sniffers
Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist: King Stingray
Best Independent Release: Archie Roach – One Song
Best Pop Release: The Kid LAROI – “Thousand Miles”
Best Hip Hop Release: Baker Boy – Gela
Best Soul/R&B Release: Budjerah – Conversations
Best Dance/Electronic Release: Luude feat. Colin Hay – “Down Under”
Best Rock Album: Amyl and the Sniffers – Comfort To Me
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: The Chats – Get Fucked
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Julia Jacklin – Pre Pleasure
Best Country Album: Casey Barnes – Light It Up
Best Blues & Roots Album: William Crighton – Water And Dust
Best Children’s Album: The Wiggles – Rewiggled
Best Classical Album: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis – The Enchanted Loom: Orchestral Works By Carl Vine
Best Jazz Album: Mildlife – Live From South Channel Island
Best Original Soundtrack/Musical Theatre Cast Album: Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti – River (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Best World Album: Joseph Tawadros with William Barton – History Has A Heartbeat
Best Video: William Bleakley – “Every Side Of You” (Vance Joy)
Best Australian Live Act: The Wiggles
Song of the Year: Tones and I – “Cloudy Day”
Most Popular International Act: Harry Styles
Music Teacher Award: Matt Orchard (Apollo Bay P-12 College)
Best Cover Art: Adnate – Gela (Baker Boy)
Best Mixed Album: Pip Norman, Andrei Eremin & Dave Hammer – Gela (Baker Boy)
Best Produced Album: RÜFÜS DU SOL – Surrender (RÜFÜS DU SOL)

Posted on 01/11/202229/10/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Nick de la Hoyde Wows Me With “Bulletproof”

Eora/Sydney-based alternative pop act Nick de la Hoyde shows the strength that can come from true vulnerability with his new single “Bulletproof.” The track explores themes of mental health, resilience, and the importance of human connection.

“I wrote Bulletproof about breaking out of a dark place mentally. Often it takes a special someone to shake you back to reality, and to them we owe everything. They make you feel like you are bulletproof, unstoppable, and most importantly loved. I wrote this song with my brothers in our home studio in Sydney,” he explained.

I’ve always maintained that magic happens when talented siblings make music together. This stellar track is just further proof.

Posted on 16/08/202215/08/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Kick Start Your Country Career With Kix-Start

Think you have what it takes to be the next big country music star? Then get your entry in to the Kix-Start competition. You could win some incredible prizes, including a slot at the Groundwater Country Music Festival alongside a who’s who of country music, a one-on-one mentoring session with Gina Jeffries, a songwriting session with Phil Barton, and studio time at The Music Cellar with Rod McCormack where you’ll record your very own single.

This isn’t one of those competitions where people win and you never hear from them again. Last year’s winner Bella Mackenzie has just dropped her latest track “1, 2, 3 You and Me,” which she recorded as part of her prize, and it’s a banger.

“Winning KIX-Start was such an honour boosting my career from the second I won,” said Bella. “The support from KIX Country, Groundwater Country Music Festival, and everyone else involved has been so amazing. I could never have imagined a year ago that I would have accomplished what I have today which includes releasing two singles and playing major festivals. I have had my biggest year yet with so much more to come and I urge anyone thinking about applying to just do it! You never know if you don’t have a go.”

You heard her! If you’re waiting for your big break, this competition might just be it.

Image used with permission from Sue Mac Media

Posted on 15/08/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Press Club’s New Single, “Eugene”

There’s nothing like some good punk-rock music to make a case of the Mondays feel a little more bearable. And we all know that Press Club know how to make good punk-rock music! With its fuzzy guitars and Natalie Foster’s raw, real vocals, their latest track “Eugene” is every bit as angsty as you’re hoping for.

“Eugene” comes from Press Club’s third album Endless Motion, which drops on October 14.

“The album is a culmination of years of downtime and introspection, false starts and disappointments, bushfires and pandemics. Factors that forced us to dig out parts of ourselves to sculpt a body of work that was as uncompromising and raw as our previous releases, but executed with more polish and finesse than we thought ourselves capable of” drummer Frank Lees said.

Press Club will play shows in Australia to celebrate the release of Endless Motion before gigging overseas. No matter where you are, here are the dates you need!

13 October 2022 – The Cambridge, Awabakal Land/Newcastle
14 October 2022 – UOW, Dharawal Land/Wollongong
15 October 2022 – Crowbar, Gadigal Land/Sydney
16 October 2022 – The Zoo, Turrbal Land/Brisbane
17 October 2022 – Brunswick Ballroom, Wurundjeri Land/Melbourne
18 October 2022 – Singing Bird, Bunurong Land/Frankston (All Ages)
28 October 2022 – Kasbah Club, Limerick
29 October 2022 – Whelans Upstairs, Dublin
31 October 2022 – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
1 November 2022 – Stereo, Glasgow
3 November 2022 – The Flapper, Birmingham
4 November 2022 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
5 November 2022 – OSLO, London
6 November 2022 – The Exchange, Bristol
8 November 2022 – 1999, Paris
9 November 2022 – Trix, Antwerp
10 November 2022 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
11 November 2022 – Vera, Groningen
14 November 2022 – Cassiopeia, Berlin
15 November 2022 – Chapeau Rouge, Prague
16 November 2022 – Chelsea, Vienna
18 November 2022 – Bogen F, Zurich
19 November 2022 – Strom, Munich
20 November 2022 – MTC, Cologne

Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency; credit: Nick Manuell

Posted on 09/08/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Vale Olivia Newton-John

My Dad only calls before 9 if it’s really important. He called me before 9 today to let me know Olivia Newton-John had passed away. He knew this one would hit, because he was the one that taped “Grease” off the TV onto a Beta tape and was around when I played that movie every single day after school, for weeks. And he probably heard me singing this song at top note in our backyard, channelling “our Livvy.”

I thought she was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. And she was an Aussie! She was such a part of my formative years. I always admired the way she carried herself, the way she helped others despite her own ongoing health battles, the way she was such a proud Aussie ambassador on the world stage. Looking at my Facebook feed this morning, it was heartening to see what an immense impression she made on so many people I knew too. What a legacy. Vale Olivia Newton-John.

Image source: FESTIVALDEVINACHILE/Wikimedia Commons