Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Citizen Kay Playing Almost Everywhere to Promote New Album

Citizen Kay is giving fans plenty of opportunities to hear the tracks from his upcoming album Belly of the Beast live. As if touring with Illy wasn’t enough, he’s also announced a string of headlining shows to celebrate the album’s August 25 release.

The Canberra-based rapper should excite fans of old-school party hip-hop with the way he blends genres, mixing slick rhymes with soul, funk, and jazz influences. While I loved his earlier EP Demokracy, Citizen Kay hasn’t rested on his laurels.

“A lot of time was spent choosing my words, and how I wanted things to be said,” he says of the writing process of writing Belly of the Beast. “I challenged myself more, as a wordsmith and poet on this album”

Hear the single “These Kicks” and other cuts from Belly of the Beast at the following shows.

25 August 2017 – Kay St, Traralgon (with Illy)
26 August 2017 – The Pier, Frankston (with Illy)
1 September 2017 – Odeon, Hobart (with Illy)
2 September 2017 – Club 54, Launceston (with Illy)
21 September 2017 – Wool Exchange, Geelong (with Illy)
22 September 2017 –Whalers, Warnambool (with Illy)
23 September 2017 – Shadows, Mt Gambier (with Illy)
28 & 29 September 2017 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (with Illy)
30 September 2017 – Sweaty Palms @ Proud Mary’s, Erina
6 October 2017 – Rolling Stone Live Lodge @ Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
7 October 2017 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
13 October 2017 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
14 October 2017 – The Transit Bar, Canberra
19 October 2017 – The Foundry, Brisbane
20 October 2017 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
3 November 2017 – Panthers, Port Macquarie (with Illy)
4 November 2017 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour (with Illy)
10 November 2017 – Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga (with Illy)
11 November 2017 – Area Hotel, Griffith (with Illy)
24 November 2017 – SSA Club, Albury (with Illy)

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Henry Clarke Takes New Musical Direction As Duncan Saige

You might know Henry Clarke as the frontman of raucous indie surf-rock outfit Stillwater Giants. If you do, you might be surprised to hear the music he’s making under his new moniker Duncan Saige. Much as Kevin Mitchell bounces between making high-energy rock music with Jebediah and gentle acoustic stuff as Bob Evans, Henry makes genre-hopping look easy.

As Duncan Saige, he’s just released his cruisy debut EP I’m Saved and the single of the same name. It’s a thoroughly pleasing piece of indie-pop which should put a smile on your face. Duncan Saige will launch I’m Saved with Western Australian shows next month in preparation for a national tour later this year.

1 September 2017 – The Odd Fellow Bar, Fremantle
7 September 2017 – Defectors Bar, Mt. Lawley
8 September 2017 – The Monkey Bar, Mandurah
9 September 2017 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
14 September 2017 – The Prince of Wales, Bunbury

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

King Social Touring “In Colour”

King Social are likely loading up the van as I type, preparing to play shows around the country on the In Colour tour. The early shows will give fans a sneak peek at the album which will drop on September 3.

The album should be something special if current single “Lemonade” is any indication. I love the blending of genres here. The rap is honest and raw and the soul silky smooth. Stevie Mitchell, who wrote and raps on the song, says it’s one of the most specific and personal tracks the band has released.

“I started writing Lemonade just as I was about to begin my current job. I’d bounced around for a while and done every job under the sun and I’d come to a point where I just wanted to put my head down and finish something,” he explained. “It wasn’t meant to be so father-oriented; I was just being honest with myself, that I wasn’t a little kid anymore and it was time to grow up. My dad is a great role model.

“He hasn’t heard the song, but I told him the lyrics once. He gets too carried away though – I fed him the first three lines: “Call me that bastard, these bars are the weapons I harbour, I’m hoping to tread the same footprints and steps as my father…” He stopped me there to berate me for ever thinking I was a bastard – he listened too much, that he didn’t listen.”

Kevin was reluctant to release such a personal song, fearing people who hadn’t lived his life may struggle to relate, but he reconsidered after hearing the track come to life.

“The boys – and the production team at The Grove Studios – have just made it sound so fucking good,” he gushed. “I think maybe they’re more in love with the sound than the message, but I guess that’s what music is all about – presenting meaningful lyrics in an exciting way.”

King Social will play the following headlining gigs and festivals in the coming months.

4 August 2017 – Whitsunday Reef Festival, Cannonvale (FREE)
5 August 2017 – Gigs & Digs Festival, Yamala
25 August 2017 – Hudson Ballroom, Sydney
27 August 2017 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour (FREE)
1 September 2017 – SS & A Club, Albury (FREE)
2 September 2017 – The Retreat Hotel, Brunswick (FREE)
9 September 2017 – New Globe Theatre, Fortitude Valley
10 September 2017 – The Bearded Dragon Hotel, Tamborine (FREE)
23 September 2017 – Longreach Cup, Longreach
29 September 2017 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kings Beach
1 October 2017 – The Salt House, Cairns (FREE)
21 October 2017 – Darwin Railway Club, Parap
25 November 2017 – Brews & Barbie Bash, Toowoomba
8 December 2017 – King’s Christmas, Townsville

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Self Talk Releases “Beside Dictionary” Ahead of EP Tour

I’ve had one of those days where the little things don’t go right and molehills seem like mountains. What’s the best way to deal with a day like that? Experts might advocate meditation or slow breathing, but I find grabbing a hairbrush and bouncing around my bedroom singing out a track like “Bedside Dictionary,” the latest track from Melbourne indie-poppers Self Talk, so much more therapeutic.

This music sounds so fresh but it also reminds me of some of the angry girl music I was listening to in the ‘90s like Juliana Hatfield, Letters to Cleo, and The Breeders. This nostalgic track is about “relationships that don’t really get past the beginning, not because they don’t work or the people involved don’t like each other, but it just doesn’t go any further,” the band explained. “It’s about the various things that come with that, how it might feel, the frustration or disconnection, or even just acceptance really.”

“Bedside Dictionary” comes from Self Talk’s EP Almost Everything, which drops on August 11. Preorder the EP and you’ll get instant downloads of “Bedside Dictionary” and “Old Habits.” Self Talk will support its release with shows all around the country next month.

12 August 2017 – The Old Bar, Melbourne
18 August 2017 – The Phoenix, Canberra
19 August 2017 – The Record Crate, Sydney
25 August 2017 – Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
26 August 2017 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Paris is Patient

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lance Ferguson Drops “Back to You” Single From Wild Remixed Solo Album

Melbourne soul pioneer and Bamboos founder Lance Ferguson has offered us a taste of his first solo album Raw Material with the release of the single “Back to You.”

The funky, feel good track is really the perfect showcase of what this album is all about. It samples “2+1,” which Lance recorded with his Bamboos vocalist Kylie Auldist. Lance loves working with samples, taking the original song and recutting it and recreating it until it’s something fresh. “Back to You” also sees Lance working with One Above, EMRSN, and Melbourne MC Mosé. This album might be technically a solo endeavour, but Lance does his best work when he’s bouncing off the creative energy of others.

The album is one of the more unique on the musical landscape. The creative process say Lance writing and recording twelve new songs. He pressed each one onto individual vinyl singles. He kept the first and sent the second to his favourite producers, encouraging them to sample the song they received and use it to start a new track. The first disc gives us the reworked versions, including six songs remastered by Lance. The second shows us the original recordings.

Raw Material drops on August 4.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kim Churchill Releases New Single “Second Hand Car” Ahead of Anticipated New Album

Kim Churchill is preparing to release his long-awaited new album Weight Falls, but there’s a good reason fans have been left waiting.

Kim spent 18 months working on the album, his follow-up to Silence/Win. While the end result was polished and accessible, for Kim it just didn’t feel quite right. So he scrapped it and started anew.

“I worked really hard on the follow-up record for a long time,” he explained, “and it sounded good. But some very subtle layer of my consciousness was saying to me, ‘It’s not all that inspiring.’”
He picked up his guitar and created a new batch of songs in just one week. It took another two months piecing the new songs together with his producer Ian Pritchett in a Western Sydney garage. I’m a big believer that the best things happen when you’re not overthinking them, so I’m really excited by this album.

Kim’s new single “Second Hand Car” is one of the new songs that’s passed muster. It’s got a great easy vibe that feels perfect for long road trips.

Weight Falls is finally released on August 25. If you preorder it, you’ll get an instantly download of “Second Hand Car.” Once the album drops, you’ve got a few weeks to learn the lyrics before Kim sets off on a massive tour around the country. Tickets are on sale now through his website.

14 September 2017 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
15 September 2017 – Unibar, Wollongong
16 September 2017 – Street Theatre, Canberra
21 September 2017 – The Jack, Cairns
22 September 2017 – The Office, Townsville
23 September 2017 – Timberfest, Mackay
29 September 2017 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
30 September 2017 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
1 October 2017 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
5 October 2017 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
6 October 2017 – Waratah Hotel, Hobart
7 October 2017 – Royal Oak, Launceston
13 October 2017 – Fremantle Arts Centre Front Lawn, Fremantle
14 October 2017 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
15 October 2017 – Red Room @ Clancys Fish Pub, Dunsborough
20 October 2017 – The Factory, Sydney
26 October 2017 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
27 October 2017 – Soundlounge, Gold Coast
28 October 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Soldier’s Wife Revisits Stories of Love and War

You might remember The Soldier’s Wife, a special show developed by singer-songwriters who spent time with the wives and widows of Australian servicemen, and the full-length album that accompanied it back in 2015.

Now two years later, there are still many more stories to tell so it’s time for volume number two. The latest release features many of the artists that contributed to the original including Jackie Marshall, Roz Pappalardo, Emma Bosworth, Kristy Apps, and original musical director Deb Suckling. Their double-album of folk songs features tracks like “Appreciate Your Love,” about the last 18 months Suzi Vincent shared with her husband, Vietnam veteran Tony. During his time in Vietnam Tony contracted melanoma skin cancer, which did not surface until 2009. In their final months together, the couple learned to “stop sweating the small stuff.”

“Appreciate Your Love” is one of 19 songs featured on the new The Soldier’s Wife album. There’s also a companion book which gives greater detail on the stories of these brave men and the women who love them.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dear Seattle Announces Aussie Tour Ahead of EP Release

The band’s moniker might make you think of the United States, but Dear Seattle are proud to be part of Sydney’s music scene. The band creates punk rock that sounds as defiant as the genre should. The new single “Afterthought,” which comes from the band’s new EP, due out on July 14, is a glorious case in point.

Listen to this one and see if you’re not fired up as lead vocalist and guitarist Brae Fisher sings “Hope tells me that I’m getting somewhere soon.”

Dear Seattle has spent the last three years touring up and down the East Coast, so expect a tight live set at the following shows.

6 July 2017 – Hotel Tasmania, Launceston (with Kingswood)
7 July 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart (with Kingswood)
28 July 2017 – Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga (with Kingswood)
29 July 2017 – SS&A, Albury (with Kingswood)
4 August 2017 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
5 August 2017 – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne
17 August 2017 – Moonshine Bar, Manly
18 August 2017 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
19 August 2017 – Shaka Fest, Gold Coast
20 August 2017 – Rad Bar, Wollongong (ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from Title Track

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Lyrical Touring New EP

I reviewed it last month, but The Lyrical drops his fantastic new EP King of Me tomorrow. The EP features incredible songs brimming with wisdom, including the awesome new single “Teach Me.”

“Some of us, as artists and musicians, don’t have all the answers or knowledge about things happening around us, but we need to be open to learn,” he explained of the song’s message. “There is a world full of important issues, and powerful stories to tell. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the entertainment side of things, that we forget about the message … Which, in my humble opinion, is just as important.”

The Lyrical will bring music from his EP to the masses later this month with shows on the East Coast and South Australia.

22 June 2017 – The Jack, Cairns
23 & 24 June 2017 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
30 June 2017 – Alex SLSC, Alex Head
1 July 2017 – Mt Gravatt Marketta, Brisbane
2 July 2017 – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads
8 July 2017 – The Penny Black, Melbourne
12 July 2017 – The Bridge Hotel, Langhorne Creek
13 July 2017 – Beach Hotel, Seaford
14 July 2017 – The Elephant British Pub, Adelaide
15 July 2017 – Slug n’ Lettuce, Parafield Gardens
21 July 2017 – Moonshine Bar, Manly Sydney
22 July 2017 – Tapp Bar Panthers, Port Macquarie
28 July 2017 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Slow Dancer Releases Moody New Album

In a Mood, the new album from Melbourne troubadour Slow Dancer, is in stores today! To celebrate, I thought it was about time I showed you his latest single “I Would.” This is such a dreamy alt-folk ballad that reminds me a little of something Tim Buckley might have come up with. Make sure to tap in to those poetic lyrics when you listen. They’re absolutely beautiful.

After wowing crowds at South by South West and across the United Kingdom, Slow Dancer is in fine musical form and ready to play some local shows. Catch him at on the following East Coast dates.

6 July 2017 – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne
7 July 2017 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
14 July 2017 – Oxford Arts Gallery Bar, Sydney