Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Sunday Estate Deliver With “When You Get Home”

I’ve been a little quiet lately. It’s not like I haven’t been listening to music, but I have been searching for something that really hits. Writing posts about music that doesn’t impact me seems a bit disingenuous. I know there are plenty of media outlets out there who just post about everything, but if I wouldn’t share it with a friend, I can’t see the point in wasting my time writing about it. I was starting to think maybe I was just being too picky, and then I heard The Sunday Estate’s new EP When You Get Home. This Sydney five-piece have got something really special. But if you’ve had your ear to the ground, you knew that already. If not, prepare to discover why tastemakers are raving about them.

The Sunday Estate have already released three singles from the EP: “Pray for Rain,” “Fight Me,” and “Bike Thief,” which I’ve already written about. Those tracks have enjoyed airplay on triple j, Beats I, and KCRW. So rather than going over old ground and writing a traditional EP review, I thought it better to highlight the latest single, “We Were Kids.” It’s a nostalgic track with cool indie pop-rock vibes that really hit the spot. Lead vocalist Conor O’Reilly calls it “another song about the trials of getting older,” but it’s a little more than that. The personal lyrics help it stand alone.

“I wanted to really lean into those bittersweet feelings that come with past love/friendship,” he explained.

If you’re not already across The Sunday Estate’s music, check out When You Get Home on your preferred streaming platform. Then if you’re near Sydney, snap up some tickets for their launch show. The gig at The Lansdowne on November 7 is something to look forward to once we (hopefully) get out of lockdown.

Image used with permission from Mirror Music Group; credit: Maclay Heriot

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Camille Trail Embraces Unpretty With New Single, Album

Camille Trail isn’t like other female country acts, and she’s proud of it. While other performers embrace pretty things, she doesn’t want a bar of them. It’s an approach that made her recent studio sessions with producer Shane Nicholson a little out of the box.

“I don’t like pretty things,” she confessed. “He’d play a guitar and say is that too pretty and I’d say yep, too pretty. I don’t like shiny things, I like it to be raw and vulnerable and I wanted to make my debut album a bit more of a statement.”

I’ve had her debut album, River of Sins, on repeat for the last couple of days, and I think the unconventional approach works. These songs are honest and unashamedly real. She calls it “a sit down with a whiskey kind of album,” and that’s a description I can really get behind. It’s also a country album that refuses to play with the classic tropes.

“It never really occurred to me to write about [utes and boots] because it was my everyday life,” explained the Rockhampton native. Instead she took inspiration from the classic rock, blues, and gospel she grew up on.

“I think I’ve always loved vulnerable music. There’s something really beautiful about just a piano and lyrics and space,” she said. “I’ve always loved those darker themes and I’m a big believer in what goes around comes around.”

You can dip your toe into Camille’s music with the new single “I Don’t Like You,” a track that provides a counterpoint to all those sappy songs of yearning that flood the airwaves. But I recommend just diving in and listening to River of Sins from start to finish. If you like what you hear, you can see her perform at the following shows, unless COVID spoils the party!

23 September 2021 – Oodies Café, Bundaberg (with Michael Waugh)
24 & 25 September 2021 – Outback By The Sea Festival, Karumba
2 & 3 October 2021 – Savannah in the Round, Mareeba
9 October 2021 – The Barn at Wombat Flat (with Michael Waugh)
10 October 2021 – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide (with Michael Waugh)
17 October 2021 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle (with Shane Nicholson and Michael Waugh)
22 October 2021 – Junk Bar, Brisbane
3 December 2021 – Murray Delta Juke Joint, Goolwa (with Shane Nicholson)
5 December 2021 – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide (with Shane Nicholson)
20 January 2022 – Wests Leagues, Tamworth
21 January 2022 – Wests Leagues, Tamworth (with Michael Waugh)
4 February 2022 – Railway Hotel, Macedon (with Shane Nicholson)
11 February 2022 – Factory Floor, Sydney (with Shane Nicholson)
12 February 2021 – Bowral Bowling Club, Bowral (with Shane Nicholson)

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baker Boy and G Flip’s New Track “My Mind” Is Every Bit as Good As You’d Expect

You probably know before pressing play that “My Mind,” the new single from Baker Boy featuring G Flip, is pretty awesome. I’m not sure two such talented people could collaborate and produce something mediocre. So you don’t need me to convince you. Just hit that play button!

“Working with G Flip was a real privilege,” Baker Boy confirmed. “We’ve known each other for a while through touring, but it was mad to see them in their element in the studio. G is a real talent, not only their voice, but their songwriting is like no other! My Mind is a fun tribute to the incredible women in both of our lives, we’re both really lucky to have incredible support networks so really it’s a song for those people too!”

The feeling is mutual, as G Flip gushed, “I’ve always been a big fan of Danzal. We met on the festival circuit over the years and our time slots were always back-to-back, so we’ve had a lot of hang time and a lot of beer time together! I’ve even jumped up and played drums on a track with him before so a song collab was always on the cards. We met up at the studio sometime in 2019 and ‘My Mind’ was written in a day. It’s a song about appreciating the beautiful women in our lives.”

“My Mind” is the latest track lifted from Baker Boy’s highly anticipated debut album Gela. The album title is Baker Boy’s “skin name,” so it’s the perfect choice for his introductory body of work. It drops October 15, but you can preorder your digital, CD, or vinyl copy now.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nicholas Hamilton Reminisces With EP Title Track, “Pretty Young”

I don’t know about you, but the COVID pandemic has me in a nostalgic mood. I’m locked down here in New South Wales, but my Facebook memories make sure I remember the concerts I’ve been to, holidays I’ve taken, and great nights out I’ve shared with my friends. Nicholas Hamilton’s latest single “Pretty Young” reflects my current mood. In this track, he looks back at his own transition from teenager to twentysomething, a period that saw him moving halfway across the globe to pursue his passion for acting.

“I remember feeling pretty down when I wrote the first stanza. It was one of those days where you just cry behind a piano and hope a song comes out. There was a moment where I realised how silly it was for me to be writing a song about my childhood, when I definitely wouldn’t consider myself an adult yet … That’s how the second stanza came about, starting with ‘and I’m still pretty young’,” he explained. “I drew the rest of the lyrics from a ton of childhood memories I thought I’d forgotten, and recent memories I hope I don’t forget.”

This adorable music video features home movies capturing moments from Nicholas’s childhood.

“Pretty Young” comes from the EP of the same name, which we’ll hear on August 13. Like the single, this EP features acoustic pop tracks exploring nostalgic subject matter. Nicholas currently divides his time between Los Angeles and his hometown of Byron Bay. With the EP on the way and some TV and film projects in development, expect to hear a lot more about this talented Aussie in the near future.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Mike Falzone

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Delta Goodrem Releases Beautiful New Single, “All of My Friends”

With her new album dropping next month, I didn’t think we’d see Delta Goodrem release another single before its release. But she’s offering us another sneaky listen with the release of “All of My Friends,” the fifth offering from that album, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams.

I’ve been so struck by the intimacy of many Delta’s latest songs, but “All of My Friends” might be her most personal release to date. The simple piano and subtle strings arrangement draw us in, making us feel like we’re listening to something Delta might have laid down at home. The lyrics, which explore the idea of being separated from loved ones and their experiences, are also sure to hit as the pandemic still rages around the world.

“‘All of My Friends’ was inspired by a raw and vulnerable moment of contemplation when you wonder if your decisions and sacrifices in life are worth it and how you strike a balance with all that is most important to you,” Delta explained.

Bridge Over Troubled Dreams is available for pre-order now ahead of its May 14 release. It also coincides with the release of the book of the same name which explores the stories behind the album’s songs.

Delta will tour the country and New Zealand throughout September and October. Tickets purchased for the original dates in April and May are still valid. Limited tickets remain for all shows.

24 September 2021 – Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
25 September 2021 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
30 September 2021 – WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
2 October 2021 – Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach
6 October 2021 – Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, Townsville
8 October 2021 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
9 October 2021 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
13 October 2021 – RAC Arena, Perth
15 October 2021 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
16 October 2021 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
21 October 2021 – Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland
22 October 2021 – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
23 October 2021 – Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mardi Wilson Offers Stripped Back New Single, “Salty”

Mardi Wilson reminds us of the beauty of simplicity with the release of her latest single “Salty.” It’s a stripped-back folky affair, with the gentle melody of an acoustic guitar accompanying Mardi’s distinct vocals. The back-to-basics approach ensures we can zero in on those lyrics, which are sure to connect with anyone who’s felt they had to fight for acceptance.

“I know that not everyone enjoys camping and peeing in the bushes and doing yoga, but that’s my happy place. So I guess when people question the way that I live and the things that bring me joy, I just don’t understand. It confuses me because I don’t mind at all what people do, as long as they’re not directly hurting me I don’t feel like one way of living is less valid than another … So I wrote ‘Salty’ about this thought process,” Mardi explained.

“Salty” comes from Mardi’s debut album, which drops on May 3. I love this song, so I can’t wait to hear what else she has in store for us. Catch Mardi tomorrow night, April 24, at Casuarina’s Crafty Cow Bar & Smokehouse and at the Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club on April 25.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Mastwyk Releases New Single Ahead of Album Launch

Ben Mastwyk releases his album Livin’ in Gold Street this Friday, but the Melbourne artist couldn’t resist the chance to offer just one more taste of the music to come. “Trouble’s What I Found” is the fifth single from the album and perhaps his strongest yet.

I love this song’s cool alt-country feel. The press release describes it as “Dwight Yoakam pushed through a blender and sprinkled with rhinestones,” and that is just so perfect there’s no point in me trying to come up with my own analogy.

“I had just come off the back of a long-term relationship. I was distraught and vulnerable but also excited for new possibilities. Heading out into the world with that kind of energy opens you up to all kinds of people and experiences,” Ben explained of the song’s inspiration. “This song has me questioning my motions. Was I blurring lines between my friendships? Was I being responsible? It’s incredibly autobiographical, but hopefully, also universal. I think we all go through emotionally vulnerable times where we might take missteps in our lives … lean a little too hard on our friends … open ourselves up to people and experiences that may not be completely healthy for us or other parties involved. This song has me looking back, checking in on myself and the way I played during one of my most vulnerable moments. It’s jam-packed full of intensity.”

With so much country crossing over with pop, it’s refreshing to hear music like this which fuses the genre with something darker and more soulful. I can hear a little Chris Isaak, a little Flying Burrito Brothers, and a whole lot of talent in this. If you can too, check out Livin’ in Gold Street when it drops on Friday and experience what Ben is all about in person at one of the following shows.

24 March 2021 – Blue Door Dinner, The Freedom Hub (FREE acoustic show)
25 March 2021 – The Midnight Special, Newtown (Acoustic show)
26 March 2021 – Dashville Nights, Lower Belford
27 March 2021 – Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth, NSW (Album launch – FREE) *
28 March 2021 – Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, Sydney (FREE)

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Liz Stringer Drops Title Track Ahead of “First Time Really Feeling” Album Release

There’s something special about listening to new music from a seasoned pro like Liz Stringer. The Melbourne-born musician is prepared to release her sixth studio album, First Time Really Feeling, and she’s giving us a little taste with the release of the title track.

“It’s about experiencing the world with a clear and present heart for the first time after beginning a process of intense personal change, precipitated by getting sober at 36,” she explained. “It was initially very frightening but ultimately liberating and necessary for me to face everything that I hadn’t been able to look at, for a lot of different reasons, for many years. There’s real fear in real feeling. But I believe now that, for me, it’s the only place from which real love can grow and thrive.”

The music video, directed by Dyllan Corbett, is a powerful exploration of the world around us right now.

“Exploring the outskirts of Melbourne just out of lockdown, we wanted the camera to feel the energy of life on the road while capturing a nostalgia and simple beauty of home,” Dyllan explained. “With a small crew, we convoyed around to find these almost forgotten about places; which now inspired a deeper gratitude in us all. In some ways the message of the track reinforced the team’s creativity; helping us to find inspiration in the seemingly mundane.”

The album First Time Really Feeling drops on April 30. Liz will perform at Castlemaine State Festival on April 2, with more shows to come.

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records; credit: Kristoffer Paulsen

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Smith Street Band Goes Semi-Acoustic For COVID-Safe Shows

The last year has taught us all to pivot as we’ve attempted to thrive in this new normal. If you’ve had told me 12 months ago that The Smith Street Band were planning semi-acoustic seated shows I’d have laughed, and yet here we are. And funnily enough, it all makes perfect sense.

As soon as Victorian restrictions were eased, the band set about rehearsing and rewriting many of their songs to suit a more mellow, COVID-safe environment. The band will take these reworked tracks to fans across Victoria and New South Wales in the coming months.

The shows coincide with an album of those reworked tracks, Unplugged in Wombat State Forest. The first single, “It’s OK” isn’t too dramatic a departure from the original, but I expect we’ll hear a few left turns when the album drops on March 5. If you love what you see, you can also stream a video featuring all the songs here. And remember to get on to those The Smith Street Band Unplugged shows. With limited capacity in all venues and some shows already sold out, the remaining tickets won’t last long.

26 February 2021 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
27 February 2021 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
4 March 2021 – The Forum, Melbourne
5 March 2021 – The Forum, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
6 March 2021 – The Forum, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
12 March 2021 – The Enmore, Sydney
17 April 2021 – Yours + Owls Festival, Wollongong

Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency; credit: Ian Laidlaw

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mia Dyson Celebrates “Parking Lots”‘ 15-Year Milestone

Mia Dyson is celebrating the 15th anniversary of her acclaimed album Parking Lots with a reissued vinyl release, a brand-new EP, called Parking Lots (Revisited) which reimagines some choice cuts, and a tour. All this excitement is a timely reminder of just how good that album is. While it was recorded so many years ago, the songs prove timeless. I found myself bouncing backwards and forwards between the original album and the new EP, marvelling at the way the different treatments brought out each song’s nuances. I encourage you to do the same.

The new white vinyl copies of Parking Lots were so popular that they sold out almost instantly, but you can stream the album and its companion EP now on your favourite platforms. There are still tickets left for her upcoming East Coast shows, but as COVID has reduced venue capacity, you’ll want to get in quickly to secure yours via her website.

12 March 2021 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
13 March 2021 – The Lansdowne, Sydney
19 March 2021 – Howler, Melbourne
20 March 2021 – TBA, Surf Coast
21 March 2021 – Macedon Railway Hotel, Macedon Ranges
26 March 2021 – Sandy Point Music Club, Sandy Point
27 March 2021 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
28 March 2021 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
1 April 2021 – The Brightside, Brisbane
2 & 3 April 2021 – Bluesfest, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from This Much Talent