If you ever find yourself singing along to classic pop from the ‘80s and lamenting that they just don’t make music like that anymore, wrap your ears around “Funhouse”. The latest single from Boorloo/Perth artist Nocturnal, it’s a synth-infused slice of nostalgic pop. If it doesn’t put a smile on your face, I’m a poor judge!
It usually requires a big team working behind the scenes to bring us our favourite ‘80s hits, but Nocturnal has managed to create this song almost all on his own. Inspired by the energy of a community fair for his daughter’s school, he grabbed his phone and recorded the lyrics and basic melody on the spot. He then produced the track in his home studio before handing mixing duties over to award-winning recording engineer Dave Parkin (Spacey Jane, South Summit, Sly Withers, Old Mervs, Drapht).
“Funhouse” is a bit of a departure from the slow jams Nocturnal delivered on his self-titled debut album, but I really appreciate the change of direction. Turn it up and grab your nearest hairbrush!
Image used with permission from Louis Rendle-O’Shea
I barely have a maternal bone in my body, but I feel there are few things more pure and beautiful than the love a mother has for her child. So while I’m never going to have my own kids, I’ve found totally and utterly captivated by Alana Wilkinson’s new single “Dream Big.” Alana wrote the song in the neonatal intensive care unit as her new son Rafferty slept on her chest.
“Raffy was born extremely prematurely at 24 weeks and put up a big fight for 92 days in hospital until he was finally big and strong enough to come home,” she recalled. “Throughout the terrifying experience I found solace in daydreaming of our future together; wishing on birthday cakes, singing to the trees and exploring the beauty and the chaos of the world waiting just beyond the hospital window.”
She might have a little one now, but Alana is not slowing down. Catch her at one of the following shows in the coming months.
Eora/Sydney-based bedroom creator Lee Sugar has just dropped the video for his dreamy single “One Too Many.” Take a moment to relax and settle into the groove of this one. It’s very cool.
Lee says the song is “a reminder to trust your gut and grow through the acceptance of both your strengths and weaknesses.” As for the film clip, which sees Lee living his best life enjoying the best choreographed karaoke ever, he said “Honesty is the directive for this music video. Sydney cops a lot of flack for being stale and I’m guilty of perpetuating the sentiment, but let’s flip the narrative. ‘One Too Many’ is an honest song that hits close to home so it only seemed right that the video romanticised my city in some way. Sydney, sorry for all the times I said I hated you, I actually love you, you just suck sometimes.”
If you’re admiring the cover art, take note: it’s Lee’s work too. Is there anything this guy can’t do?
Claire Anne Taylor has one of those female voices that you just don’t hear in 2024. It’s raw, earthy, weathered. Richly textured, hinting at a life that’s been lived. Above all, it’s utterly unforgettable. The press release describes it as “the voice of Tasmania.” If that’s the case, I’ve got to listen to more of the women making music in Tassie. Take a listen to her latest song “Lay You Down in the Cold Hard Ground” and you’ll hear exactly what I mean.
This song comes from Claire’s album Giving It Away, set for release on February 16. “This album is a deeply personal one for me, and comes from a huge time in my life; following my son’s diagnosis with Angelman Syndrome. I guess you could say I took all my grief and anger and put it into my music and this has been my therapy and an escape of sorts.”
Claire will give music lovers plenty of opportunities to see her play in the coming months. Make sure you catch her when she’s in your hometown.
I love hearing a really great debut single. I figure if someone can impress me from the jump, they’re bound to have a big future ahead of them. “Television”, the first single from Eora/Sydney artist Ant Enoch is one of those tracks that’s made me really sit up and take notice.
“This song was born out of a very intense writing experience. Seeing myself write 100 songs in 10 days. ‘Television’ began as a small idea, no. 54 of 100. Then Georgia [Potter, co-producer] and I expanded on the story itself,” Ant explained. “We wanted to paint a vivid picture of the underdog. A clear triumphant song that saw people choosing to carry on and choose love as the way through hardship. We started with a basic drum machine pattern and wrote the entire song with the piano, vocals and drum machine. Myka Wallace [drums] came and added that superhuman swagger, furthering the humanity of the song.”
“Television” comes from Ant’s debut EP Big Talk Big Party, which drops on May 17.
Image used with permission from Guerilla Music
Don’t you just love a big dramatic ballad? If torch songs give you tingles too, make sure you listen to “Love It All Out,” a new duet from local talent Greg Gould and Filipino megastar Morissette. This pair is talented enough, but when you realise it was penned by Tania Doko and Swedish songwriter Nick Jarl, who’s written songs for Westlife and Loreen, and that it features a live strings arrangement from John Foreman, you start to understand why it’s so good.
“‘Love It All Out’ is possibly my biggest ballad to date, and I’ve sung a few in my career!” Greg enthused. “When I first heard the stunning track from my dear friend Tania Doko, and then blended with the gorgeous strings by John Foreman, I knew we needed a huge voice to take the song to the next level. I am so honoured to have the beautiful Morissette sing with me and I’m so proud of the finished product. I hope you love it as much as we do – it carries such an important message.”
“Love It All Out” is the fourth single from Greg’s new album Strings Attached, which should drop in the middle of the year. No doubt he’ll add to his already busy schedule on its release! Until then, you can catch him at one of the following shows:
It’s Imogen Clark’s birthday today but she’s giving us a gift: a brand new single. I feel like this every time I hear new Imogen Clark material, but “All Hard Feelings,” might just be her best one yet. It’s so relatable and catchy, I’ve already played it several times this morning. It sounds incredible, and well it should given her superstar collaborators. Imogen penned the track in Nashville with Sinead Burgess and Blake O’Connor, then recorded it with Grammy-winning bassist Davey Faragher and Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer Pete Thomas on drums, who were both part of Elvis Costello’s band The Imposters.
“When I rocked up at Sinead and Blake’s apartment to write this song, I’d had a bit of a week. Someone had fucked me over and I resented how much it was getting to me,” Imogen recalls. “We decided to put that energy into a song about how I have never really gotten over anything in my whole life. I saw a meme once that said ‘Taylor Swift has never shaken anything off’ and I thought ‘Same queen’. It’s a really fun tune that also lets me burn off some of that bitter energy in a cathartic way”.
There are plenty of opportunities to see Imogen in the coming months as she’s landed some plum supporting slots. Once she wraps up her shows with BOWEN * YOUNG, she’ll warm up crowds for Andrew Farris and Steve Poltz. If you have tickets to any of these shows, make sure you get there early enough for her set.
Country is one of those genres that elicits pretty strong reactions in me. I either love it or hate it: there is no in between. That’s the reason I didn’t review Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham’s collaborative album Birdsong last year. While there were songs I loved, there were plenty that also weren’t my cup of tea. It’s also why I’m excited that they’ve released the title track, one of my favourite cuts from this release. The song was inspired by an ancient Chinese proverb, “Always keep a green branch in your heart so a singing bird may come.”
“It’s easy to die inside and become unwilling to keep your branch outstretched,” Felicity added. “When you’ve suffered it can make you untrusting and protective.”
Speaking of his musical partner, Josh said “I was inspired by her resilience and openness in the wake of recent personal tragedy. When I encountered that proverb, I felt that she was its living embodiment. Not only was her branch green and outstretched – she was the singing bird too! I wrote the song by a river in the golden glow of a late summer evening with a chorus of cicadas swelling and pulsing in harmony.”
Felicity and Josh are bringing the music from Birdsong to the following cities in the coming months.
You probably don’t even have to press play on “Everybody’s Movin’”, the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne-based act Mannequin Death Squad, to know it goes hard. A band with that kind of name are never going to make acoustic folk are they? While you might expect a heavy rock number, you might just be surprised by how good it really is. This kind of music doesn’t always resonate with me, but its strong melodic core and killer vocals from Elly Vex have sucked me in.
“‘Everybody’s Movin’ is about one of those nights out when you just don’t want to be there,” the band explained. “The energy is raging, the music is shaking the floors. But deep down, it’s as if you’ve wandered onto a set where you don’t belong. The initial glamour of bright lights and attractive people has morphed into a bizarre world where everyone’s trashed, the floor is on the ceiling, and the flies are all dead. Leaving you in a personal tug-of-war between social pressure and the strong desire to exit.”
Mannequin Death Squad have headlined shows in the United Kingdom, Europe, India, and here in Australia, and also supported heavyweights like Suicidal Tendencies, Frenzal Rhomb, and WAAX. Expect their star to continue rising with the release of this choice cut.
Photo credit: Rebecca Dimovski
Joan & The Giants have just dropped their latest single “Good Time”, and it’s an absolute summer anthem. It’s an easy, breezy number that has me thinking of carefree moments like highway drives and bonfires on the beach.
“‘Good Time’ is about being madly in love and letting go of control,” said the band’s frontwoman, Grace Newton-Wordsworth. “This indie guitar-soaked summer song is a sexy ride, and it’s the first time I’ve let myself get sexy and feel sexy in a song. I just love the way it makes me feel, and I hope it brings some good times to people.”
Joan & The Giants will play a few shows this month to warm up for their massive slot supporting P!NK in March. If you don’t have tickets to the stadium shows, make sure you catch them at one of their free gigs!
19 January 2024 – Froth Craft Brewery, Goomburrup/Bunbury (FREE)
20 2024 – Settlers, Wooditup/Margaret River (FREE)
21 2024 – Caves House Hotel, Wooditup/Yallingup (FREE)
1 March 2024 – Optus Stadium, Perth (supporting P!NK)
2 March 2024 – Optus Stadium, Perth (supporting P!NK)
Image used with permission from Kick Push PR
Eora/Sydney-based bedroom creator 
