Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Greg Gould Aims to Break Stigma Around Sexual Assault With “Who Gave You Permission?”

Australian powerhouse Greg Gould is bravely sharing his experiences with sexual assault with his incredible new single “Who Gave You Permission?” A potent mix of pop and soul, the anthemic song calls out his abusers and reveals his own strength. He hopes the track might empower other survivors on their own journey through the trauma.

“To be honest I’m only just starting to feel comfortable to talk about this,” he shared. “The first time I performed the song live I burst into tears. I have been a victim of sexual abuse on four separate occasions in all very different circumstances from when I was 10 years old, right up until I was 30. Each time left me feeling so violated, so powerless, paralysed. Nobody has the right to touch you without permission. No means no. It was a very emotional, heart-wrenching, and confronting experience to write this song to be honest as I’d pushed a lot of those feelings and experiences down and hadn’t dealt with them – it took a while for me to be OK to admit it. There is a stigma around sexual abuse in general, and I do think it can be really difficult for men who are the victim – whether it be at the hands of another man or a woman. In my case, it was both on separate occasions. I want other men to feel comfortable to talk about this and speak up too.”

Greg has a string of shows happening over the next few months, including several where he’ll play this stirring single.

“Whether the subject matter is darker or lighter, guests at my shows can expect big vocals, big moments and a lot of fun,” he enthused. “I love to perform and I’m excited for the next 12 months! I’ve got big plans and even bigger dreams. I am so proud that ‘Who Gave You Permission?’ is out now and I’m moving forward both personally and professionally! I would love if even one survivor of abuse feels stronger as a result of hearing this song. I want people to know they are seen, they are heard and they are believed. We won’t be broken.

You can see Greg at the following events.

10 May 2024 – Greek Legends of the 20th Century @ Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne
18 May 2024 – Keep the Faith – George Michael & Whitney Houston @ Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Naarm/Melbourne
1 June 2024 – Gippsland Pride Gala @ Lardner Park, Gunai Country/Gippsland
7 June 2024 – Synthony @ Carriageworks, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
8 June 2024 – Synthony @ Carriageworks, Eora/Sydney

Photo credit: Cain Cooper

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ruu. and Chelle Tamika Team Up for “WORTH”

“WORTH”, an exciting new collaboration from African-Australian hip hop artist Ruu. and R&B act Chelle Tamika, is this year’s first release from Campbelltown Art Centre’s Conscious program. This professional development program first came to my attention when P.Smid released “WESSIDE” in 2022. It’s fabulous to hear it’s still supporting and elevating local artists.

“This song is about my experience growing up Black in South-West Sydney, being (and feeling like) the only Black person in my area and experiences on Black culture and how it has been perceived and taken advantage of as I continue to live life,” Ruu. explained. “I hope the song allows the African-Australian community to embrace their culture stronger, and brings more internal discussion and support for each other, as it is needed as the music scene in Australia continues to grow.”

If you like what he does, make sure you catch Ruu. at one of his gigs this month:

3 May 2024 – 4INTHECUT Release Party @ Burdekin Hotel, Gadigal Country/Darlinghurst
25 May 2024 – PULSE @ Botany View Hotel, Gadigal Country/Newtown

Photo credit: Jay Patel

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mt. Nadir Releases Stellar New Single “Knife’s Edge”

Meeanjin/Brisbane dream rock act Mt. Nadir have gotten under my skin with their latest single “Knife’s Edge”. It took me a few listens to fully appreciate it, but once it clicked for me I was all in. This track has been a staple in Mt. Nadir setlists for some time now, and I can see why.

“For my whole life, I’ve been someone that falls in love hard and fast, and once I’m with someone, I never want to leave. ‘Knife’s Edge’ is about the year I was 24, when this changed,” admitted the band’s frontperson, Frankie Rosbrook. “I would fall for people hard and fast, but lose interest within weeks, and my mind would inevitably wander back to my first love. I upset a few really lovely people and it made me feel really awful. It was a stressful, confusing, sometimes fun time of my life. I was living on a knife’s edge.”

After recently launching the single for hometown fans, Mt. Nadir will support The Vaccines before heading south for a string of New South Wales shows in a couple of weeks. Here are all the places you can catch them on their A Slightly Smaller Tour.

10 May 2024 – The Tivoli, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting The Vaccines)
17 May 2024 – Vic On The Park, Eora/Sydney (FREE)
18 May 2024 – Shark Bar, Gayemagal Country/Manly (FREE)
19 May 2024 – North Gong Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Neilson Releases Exquisite New Single, “Minefield”

Tom Neilson strips things right back for his breathtaking new single “Minefield.” Inspired by the music of Regina Spektor, it shows us that a great song needs little more than top-notch lyrics, vocals, and melody.

This is a bit of a left-turn from Tom’s previous works, but I’m here for it. He described the songwriting process as “a transformative creative journey” akin to “falling deeper into wonderland.”

I want to sit with this gorgeous song just a little bit, but Tom is already looking forward to his next project: the release of his debut EP on May 3.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RedHook Release New Rock Anthem, “Breaking Up With”

Who said saxophones and hard rock don’t mix? Never one to play by the rules, RedHook are pushing the boundaries yet again with their latest single “Breaking Up With.”

“This song is pretty much the antithesis of our most popular single ‘Bad Decisions’. Rather than revelling in being a total piece of shit, this one is about breaking that cycle of self-hate, forgiving your past mistakes, and just deciding to be bloody kinder to yourself,” explained the band’s frontwoman Emmy Mack. “Lyrically, it takes the piss out of break-up cliches to signify ending that toxic relationship (with, you know, yourself) and starting fresh. I hope everyone who vibed with ‘Bad Decisions’ will also be shaking their hips in the moshpit to this one.”

Emmy also conceptualised the music video, which features a cavalcade of superstars from Pro Wrestling Australia.

“Last year, I was lucky enough to live out my WWE Attitude Era dreams at Sydney’s PWA Colosseum event, so I figured – why not throw the party inside a wrestling ring and get a bunch of my PWA superstar mates involved?” she said. “The shoot was bloody insane. I got to bust a hurricanrana on myself in the perfect visual metaphor for laying the smackdown on all of my toxic traits once and for all – RedHook 3:16 says I just whooped my own ass!”

“Breaking Up With” gives us a taste of a larger release set to be announced in the coming months. Watch this space!

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ry X and Blick Bassy Make Beautiful Music Together With “Mbondi”

Aussie talent Ry X has teamed up with French-based Cameroonian singer-songwriter Blick Bassy for a dreamy new single “Mbondi.” Mbondi means flower in the Bassa language, which is only fitting as this track is as mesmerisingly beautiful as a fresh bloom.

I hear this is the first of several collaborations that Ry X and Blick Bassy plans to release. This one is so unique and special, I can’t wait to hear what their creative pairing brings next. Ry X will also play the following European shows in November:

8 November 2024 – Compessa Concert Hall, Vilnius
9 November 2024 – Inside Seaside, Gdansk
11 November 2024 – Teatro Dal Verme, Milan
12 November 2024 – Largo Venue, Rome
14 November 2024 – Club Mixtape 5, Sofia
15 November 2024 – Slovensky Rozhlas, Bratislava
17 November 2024 – Halle E Im MQ, Vienna
18 November 2024 – Posthof, Linz
19 November 2024 – Les Docks, Lausanne
20 November 2024 – Volkshaus, Zurich
21 November 2024 – Le Bikini, Toulouse
22 November 2024 – Sala Apolo, Barcelona
24 November 2024 – Sala But, Madrid
26 November 2024 – Theatro Circo, Braga
27 November 2024 – LAV 1, Lisbon
29 November 2024 – Gagarin 205, Athens
30 November 2024 – TBC, Instanbul

Image used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eaglemont Offers Fantastic Taste of Debut Album, “Party Boy”

When Phoebe Bridgers compares you to the one-and-only Lucy Dacus, you’ve probably got something special. Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Eaglemont might not be a household name yet, but with support like that and incredible songs like new single “Party Boy” in her repertoire, it’s only a matter of time.

“Party Boy is a homage to the kind of relationships you have in your early 20s. The kind that’s full of love and lust, excitement and huge feelings,” Eaglemont explained. “While you attempt to navigate the concept of truly being loved and accepted for the first time in your life, you also face the challenges of working in dead-end burger shops and the desires and needs of another person.”

“Party Boy” is the title track from Eaglemont’s debut album, which will drop later this year. She’ll launch the single for hometown fans at The Fitzroy Pinnacle on May 3.

Image used with permission from Wildrose Pictures

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

GRXCE Rocks Out With “Gravel Rash”

I am loving the grungy indie-rock goodness that GRXCE are serving up. I got right into their past singles “Everything I Wanted”, “Wasted On You”, and “What U Want”, and I’m every bit as enamoured with their newie “Gravel Rash.” Vocalist Jamila wrote the track about the time her ex-partner had a car crash when he sped away from an argument. That was the final nail in the coffin of this destructive relationship, but at least she got out of it with a fantastic song.

“‘Gravel Rash’ is about the breakdown of an imbalanced relationship,” explains Jamila. “It’s the toxic nature of never having a balance between two partners, which ultimately ends in one person being torn apart and the other making it out with barely any effect on their life.”

“The track deals with a lot of dark imagery from toxic relationships and emotional manipulation, to dealing with suicidal ideation, gaslighting and abuse in relationships which is something I really wanted to be blunt about,” opens up Jamila. “A part of writing and releasing this music was about being honest to myself and embracing and moving past some of the harder parts of my past.”

“Gravel Rash” is actually the first single to make the cut for GRXCE’s debut EP. You know what that means? There’s more new tunes on the way. I cannot wait. Fans might hear a little sneak peek when GRXCE plays shows along the East Coast.

2 May 2024 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle (FREE)
11 May 2024 – The Hoey Moey, Gumbaynggirr Country/Coffs Harbour (FREE)
17 May 2024 – Bootleggers Newtown, Gadigal Country/Newtown (supporting Friends of Friends)
25 May 2024 – La La La’s, Woolyungah/Wollongong
30 May 2024 – Banshees Vol. 6 @ Stay Gold, Brunswick
2 June 2024 – Banshees Vol. 7 @ The Brightside, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Photo credit: Zosia Francka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hayley Marsten Releases QMA-Nominated Single, “Getting Better”

Sometimes it takes a single release to put a song back on your radar. I reviewed Hayley Marsten’s fabulous sophomore album Girlhood last June. One of the songs that struck me most was the album’s opening track “Getting Better”. Hayley’s just released it as a single and I’m relishing rediscovering it. It was recently nominated for a Queensland Music Award in the country category, and while Hayley ultimately lost the title to Tori Forsyth she was thrilled by the acknowledgement.

“Getting Better’ is a song I wrote the night before we started recording Girlhood,” Hayley recalled. “I wrote it for me as a satirical version of how I think about my mental health. I thought it was a huge underdog when I submitted it so getting a QMA nomination is a really lovely pat on the back from the industry!”

“We shot the music video in Brisbane at the end of last year with my long-time collaborator Jazmyn Prodcues. I really wanted what I perceive to be the two parts of me in the song represented in the video. So we have me in my ‘therapy’ session kind of poking fun of the awkwardness that sometimes permeates that experience. We also re-created the album cover just for me to rip it all down in reference to the bridge line ‘and I hate every one of my songs’. Then the shots of me in Ezymart without a care in the world and the shots with my guitar and me surrounded the disco balls and glitter is representative of the feeling of perfection that I feel I’m constantly trying for that doesn’t really exist. The shots in the convenience store were filmed in a real and open EzyMart in Southbank with other customers milling around, so I had to park my embarrassment at the door for that one!”

Hayley will play the following shows to celebrate the release of “Getting Better.”

28 April 2024 – Cruisin’ Caboolture @ James Street Precinct, Kabi Kabi Country/ Caboolture (FREE)
3 May 2024 – Hunting Ground Studios @ 5/32 Baldock St, Jagera Country/Marooka
17 May 2024 – Town and Country Weekend 2024 @ Regatta Hotel, Turrbal Country/Toowong (FREE)
18 May 2024 – City Sounds @ Wintergarden Stage, Meeanjin/Brisbane (FREE)
15 June 2024 – In Store Birthday Party @ Sonic Slopes, Meeanjin/Stone’s Corner (FREE)

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute PR