Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dustyn Releases Spinetingling Solo Single, “Right Where You Are”

I have got chills listening to “Right Where You Are,” the first solo single from Tarntanya/Adelaide-based artist Dustyn. This is so good, soulful with a stirring, cinematic quality and one of the best falsettos you’re ever likely to hear.

“I was inspired by the moment in Wizard of Oz where Dorothy steps out of the fallen house and into munchkin land for the first time. As she opens the door to the technicolour world, the sound of the wind is an incredible vocal arrangement, alluding to different melodies and hook lines from the rest of the soundtrack. The way the vocals moved like the wind always blew me away and I wanted to emulate that somewhere in this song. So in the moment right before the final chorus I arranged my vocals in a similar way so that it feels like the song steps back into technicolour for the end.”

You might remember Dustyn’s voice from his time fronting Wanderers. It’s so exciting to hear the incredible music he’s making now on his own. And there’s more to come. “Right Where You Are” is the first track lifted from Dustyn’s debut EP, Midnight Movements.

Photo credit: Michelle Grace Hunder

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ziggy Alberts Releases Acoustic Charmer, “Where Does the Love Go?”

Ziggy Alberts has thoroughly charmed me with his gorgeous new single “Where Does the Love Go?” I’m not sure whether I love its laidback acoustic vibes or insightful lyrics that ruminate on the importance of self-love more!

“It’s a song I wrote about wondering where does the love go, when it’s not us? It’s a question I was asking myself when I was feeling a lack of self-love,” Ziggy explained. “Now that I’ve thought about it more, I think love disappears unless we embody it. And it is the responsibility of humanity, wherever possible, to keep it alive.”

“Where Does the Love Go?” comes bundled with a couple more tracks from Ziggy’s forthcoming album New Love, which drops on February 21. Listening to them all has definitely made me anticipate this release. Ziggy has a few shows coming up in Japan, but hopefully it won’t be too long before he’s playing shows for local audiences. If you’re in Japan, here are all the details.

26 October 2024 – Overview Coffee Ichinomiya, Chiba (FREE)
30 October 2024 – Nagoya Shangri-La, Nagoya (SOLD OUT)
31 October 2024 – Shibuya Club Quattro, Shibuya City (supporting Donavon Frankenreiter)
1 November 2024 – Umeda Shangri-La, Osaka (SOLD OUT – supporting Donavon Frankenreiter)

Photo credit: Janneke Storm

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

BESTIES and Yours Truly Drop “love bombs”

BESTIES have teamed up with Yours Truly for a truly epic new single, “love bombs.” This pop-punk-rock tune is the second song lifted from BESTIES’ forthcoming three-track EP, which will drop on November 23.

The track came out of some songwriting sessions between BESTIES and viral sensation Ula late last year, but it wasn’t fully realised until BESTIES guitarist Nat Sherwood went on tour with Yours Truly. They entered the studio together and rewrote, produced, and perfected it to sound like the killer release it is today.

“I loved working with Besties,” Mikaila Delgado of Yours Truly said. “Nat has worked with my band Yours Truly on live shows and even co-wrote on our new record so it was awesome to be involved in something for his project. I really believe in them so it was great to be a small part of their big journey.”

BESTIES will perform “love bombs” and other favourites for am//pm’s Halloween shows in the coming weeks. If they’re not coming to your hometown or you missed out on tickets, don’t stress. The band’s promising more gigs in 2025.

25 October 2024 – King Street Bandroom, Mulubinba/Newcastle
26 October 2024 – The Burdekin, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
2 November 2024 – The Brightside, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from Capital Artist Group

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rocking New Terra Rouge Track Up for Song of the Year

Feeling a little angsty today? Then you’re going to love “Couch Song,” the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne-based rock princess Terra Rouge.

Don’t let its name fool you. This track is an energetic number with crunchy guitar chords and some biting lyrics from Terra. It’s an empowerment anthem that sends a big “fuck you” to her ex. Loving it!

If you love it as much as me, make sure you head to the Melbourne District Music Awards Insta page and click the voting link. Terra is up for song of the year, an honour she richly deserves for this one! Locals can also see her live at Terra Rouge’s Halloween House Party on October 31. The venue’s yet to be announced, but tickets are available now through Eventbrite.

Image used with permission from Ruckus PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sadie Mustoe Releases Relatable New Single, “I Find You Interesting”

I am lucky enough to be married to an interesting man. We’re 17 years into that marriage, but he still fascinates me. He’s also a bit more reserved than I am, a man of few words if you will, which probably keeps the mystery going. So “I Find You Interesting,” the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Sadie Mustoe, has really struck a chord with me.

“‘I Find You Interesting’ was written in April last year when I was sick with a cold and itching to sing and write. Every moment that happens in this song I can picture in my head because the images are what I started with. Someone sitting at a bar, in a cinema, a locket necklace around their neck. To me, the song is incredibly visual,” Sadie explained. “The story ended up becoming one about curiosity. Centering around someone who is introverted, mysterious, and potentially a little lonely and the narrator who finds them so interesting yet struggles to form a connection.”

Sadie will play Maldon Folk Festival, which runs from November 1-4, and then a show for hometown fans at The Workers Club on December 21.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jesse Marantz Releases Pop Bop, “Feel Good ’24”

If you’re anything like me, you need a little something to get moving on this Monday. Where I am the weather’s gloomy and I’d much rather be snuggled up with a book and a blanket than doing anything productive. When that kind of inertia strikes, upbeat pop is always my go-to. Jesse Marantz is hitting the spot with his latest single “Feel Good ’24.”

This track, featuring vocals from Renee A, is so much fun and irresistibly catchy. We shouldn’t be surprised it’s an earworm though, as Jesse is behind major ad campaigns for Reebok, BMW, Myer, Subaru, Uber, and heaps more. It’d be easy to rake in the coin for jingles, but Jesse is ready to focus on music that reflects his artistry.

“I’m at a stage in my life where I’d like to get some of my songs out there and have a body of work that represents me and something I can look back on and be proud of,” he said. “Also, I’ve got two kids and I don’t want them growing up knowing me as only ‘that guy with that one song in the Myer ads’, if I can avoid it.”

The release of “Feel Good ‘24” is definitely a good way to convince us Jesse has much more than ad music in him!

Image used with permission from Hunger Digital

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Slowly Slowly Release Rock Banger “Forgiving Spree”

Naarm/Melbourne outfit Slowly Slowly have knocked it out of the park with their fantastic new single “Forgiving Spree.” It’s such a great rock tune with fabulous lyrics and a catchy AF chorus that should have you singing along and punching the air soon enough. It’s such an earworm, I must have listened to it at least five times straight and I’m definitely preparing for round six.

“Forgiving Spree” is the title track from Slowly Slowly’s forthcoming fifth album, which drops on January 24. “‘Forgiving Spree’ was written at the end of the writing period for the album,” explained the band’s frontman and songwriter Ben Stewart. “It’s a song about moving on, real deep lasting change, and the act of forgiveness as a tool to achieve it. It is also a reminder that forgiveness can be a tool used to move forward, let go, grow, and not look back.”

Slowly Slowly have bundled “Forgiving Spree” with a couple of other album tracks on the streaming services, so make sure you give those a listen too. They’ve certainly got me anticipating this release!

Fresh from European and UK shows supporting Stand Atlantic, Slowly Slowly have announced a stack more. Aussie dates are a little light on, but watch this space and I’m sure they’ll announce some more local gigs soon enough.

2 December 2024 – SWG3 Warehouse, Glasgow (supporting Crawlers – SOLD OUT)
3 December 2024 – Gorilla, Manchester (supporting Crawlers – SOLD OUT)
4 December 2024 – O2 Academy, Liverpool (supporting Crawlers)
6 December 2024 – O2 Institute 2, Birmingham (supporting Crawlers – SOLD OUT)
7 December 2024 – The Dome, London (supporting Crawlers – SOLD OUT)
6-9 February 2025 – Party in the Paddock @ Quercus Park, Lutruwita/Tasmania
9 March 2025 – Limestone Coast Beer & BBQ Festival, Bungandidj Country/Mount Gambier
14 March 2025 – Academy 2, Dublin
16 March 2025 – Cat House, Glasgow
18 March 2025 – Key Club, Leeds
19 March 2025 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
20 March 2025 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
22 March 2025 – Camden Assembly, London
24 March 2025 – AB Club, Brussels
26 March 2025 – Supersonic, Paris (FREE)
27 March 2025 – Rotown, Rotterdam
29 March 2025 – Artheatre, Cologne
30 March 2025 – Badehaus, Berlin

Photo credit: Kane Hibberd

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nocturnal Delivers 80s Vibes With “Cold Hearts”

When I find myself saying “They just don’t write songs like that anymore,” I hear my dad’s voice ringing in my ears. I enjoy listening to the evolution of music, but there’s an irresistible pull to those tunes that sound like throwbacks to my youth. So you can bet that “Cold Hearts,” the latest track from Boorloo/Perth-based act Nocturnal is right up my alley. It’s got a classic ‘80s pop-rock sound that I’m convinced will never really go out of style.

The production values could go toe-to-toe with any of the era’s popular tunes, so it’s impressive to learn that Nocturnal recorded and produced it in his home studio. The song was later mixed by Dave Parkin at Blackbird Studios, followed by a mastering session with Simon Struthers at Forensic Audio.

“Cold Hearts” comes from Nocturnal’s forthcoming EP HEARTATTACK, which will be released really soon.

Image used with permission from Nocturnal

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jake Whittaker Celebrates Kiwi Heritage With “Coming Home”

Local country artists are absolutely killing it at the moment. It was only yesterday I was raving about Braeden Faint, and now I want to put another name on your radar: Jake Whittaker. Jake hails from Southern Queensland, but his latest track “Coming Home” is about his father’s hometown, Eltham, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

“I was having a chat with my co-writer, producer and best friend Jared Adlam about how I have this intrinsic feeling that every time I head back to Eltham, that I’m coming home,” Jake explained. “I didn’t grow up there, but I know all the stories of him growing up, all his friends are still there, my Kiwi family are still there and it feels like home. I feel like everybody has that town or place that when they spend time there, it feels like second nature going there whether it’s your favourite camping spot, grandparents’ place, or somewhere you used to holiday. It’s that place when you head there, it’s like coming home.”

Jake will play for his own hometown when he takes to the stage at the Monte Music Muster in Mungaree/Slacks Creek on November 23.

Image used with permission from Bec Gracie Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saif and Samin Al Sabah Collab on “Celebration”

Saif has teamed up with fellow Eora/Sydney-based Samin Al Sabah, the lead singer of Packing Dhaka, for a fabulous new single “Celebration.”

This is such an exciting fusion of genres. Saif brings his signature hip-hop rhymes which somehow pair beautifully with Samin’s cool jazzy neo-soul sound. And then when you dig into those lyrics, which look to empower the oppressed and encourage them to embrace their inner strength and rise up, you start to realise how truly special this single is.

“Power to you, my music for you, be liberated,” Saif enthused.

“Celebration” is such an exciting release from Saif. I can’t wait to hear what he does next.

Image used with permission from Saif