Bobby Uncle Releases High-Energy Pop Track “Coffee”

The end of the working week is tantalisingly close, but it still feels too far away. Never fear! Bobby Uncle’s latest feelgood single “Coffee” is as effective a pick-me-up as its caffeinated namesake.

“I wrote the melodies to the entire track on acoustic guitar around late November,” Bobby recalled. “I had a gig on December 9th and wanted to advertise it on my Instagram by singing an unreleased song. At the time, I only had written lyrics for the chorus as I was anxiously into this girl I was seeing. I laid down the guitar riff in Logic and started filming myself singing over it. I was quite emotional at the time which added cadence to the chorus which I would not have added previously. Fast-forward, the gig was a successful night musically, but not for my relationship with this person. A few days later, I wrote the lyrics for the verses and pre-chorus.

“I started by sound designing the lead synth. I needed something harsh and dark to capture anger and sadness for the central melody but to keep the track happy and upbeat,” he went on to explain. “One of my good mates is a metal drummer and he carefully uses the Toms to create build-up and tension. Hence, the Toms were used in certain sections but predominantly in the chorus where each part is more intense than the next. I mirrored the hi-hats with the acoustic guitar to drive the central groove. The electric guitars provide that summer indie pop feel. The pace of the track of 170 bpm reflects the sensation of taking a shot of concentrated caffeine. I wanted people to hear the track and feel like they needed to move, where it’s uncomfortable to be idle.”

Just like this song, Bobby shows no signs of slowing down. He’ll play the House on Fire show at The Loft in Eora/Ultimo on July 20.

Photo credit: Joshua Bisset

Yawn Vibes Celebrate Simple Pleasures With “Fast Lane”

Since coming down with Covid last week, I’ve been forced to take it easy. Plans with family and friends were cancelled, work was put on the back burner, and I’ve focused on taking it easy. While cancelling plans is disappointing and being sick is never exactly fun, I’ve also kind of relished kicking back. So I’m really vibing with “Fast Lane,” the latest track from Boorloo/Perth-based indie/alt-rock act Yawn Vibes, which explores the idea that small, seemingly ordinary moments hold the most significance in a fast-paced life.

“This song was written at the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic, probably while I was at work on a lunch break and reflecting about how much my life had changed in such a short period of time,” lead singer Taylah Grundwaldt recalled. “I started swimming at the local pool a few months prior to the pandemic and quite literally never made it into the fast lane. The Covid pandemic hit, and I had to figure out how to take each day one step at a time and not get overwhelmed. It’s a song about how much the simple things matter when life escalates at a rapid pace, and how sometimes you find yourself cleaning rubbish at work in the middle of a global pandemic and wondering how life keeps going, time keeps moving, and how you’re still able to function when the world seems big and scary I guess.”

“Fast Lane” gives us our first taste of Yawn Vibes’ upcoming debut album, Never End. Recorded in between the 2022 lockdowns, the album explores themes of “togetherness, friendship, and solidarity throughout time and location,” according to a recent press release. Follow Yawn Vibes on the socials to learn more about it ahead of its release.

Photo credit: Yagan Kiely

Bukowski Release Relatable Single “Superweak”

Naarm/Melbourne-based punk outfit Bukowski have just dropped their latest single “Superweak,” and you should definitely take a listen. It explores the effects of anxiety, overthinking, and people-pleasing. If you’ve ever struggled with that kind of behaviour, I know this track’s going to resonate with you.

“I found myself constantly trying to please people in my life and being apologetic about who I was, even if I didn’t think I did anything wrong,” frontman James Karagiozis reflected. “That constant battle would hurt me, but I would never outwardly show it or discuss it. Superweak? Maybe. But at least I’m trying to ventilate those thoughts from my anxious/overthinking brain.”

It’s exciting to hear more new music from Bukowski, since their previous single “one hundred seconds” was their first since 2021. It seems the drought has well and truly been broken, with the band promising more new releases and announcements throughout 2024.

Photo credit: James Dominiko

Menajerie Turn Up the Heat With “Melt”

“Melt” is a slinky, sultry little number from Meeanjin/Brisbane-based female-led act Menajerie. Its neo-soul sound and exquisite harmonies really cast a spell.

“’Melt’ is about that kind of love that turns your insides to liquid gold,” enthused vocalist Gracie Mack. “I wrote the song in the early stages of a romance that felt really healing and special. Melt kinda feels to me like a mushy love song parading as a neo-soul groover. It’s enchanting, joyous and a bit sexy”.

Keep an eye on their socials to learn what’s next from Menajerie.

Photo credit: Kate O’Sullivan

Will Baker Drops Fantastic Single, “Eddie”

Eora/Sydney-based singer-songwriter Will Baker has just released his impressive new track “Eddie.” It’s got such an accessible pop-rock sound with some really quality lyrics exploring the way our relationships with people can evolve over time.

“’Eddie’ is about watching people you grow up with turn into people that they said they would never be,” Will explained. “I wrote this song one night with my drummer Giac. We were in love with it straight away. Was a super easy process and a song that the whole band looks forward to playing every gig. I remember wanting to write a song about one of my mates who was going down a bad path.”

The music video, which Will directed with Harry Corcoran, was inspired by classic music of the 1970s.

“The music video was nuts. The theme was very rock n roll which we all bought into very well. First time I’ve ever worn makeup as well,” Will laughed. “Loved every second of the shoot day.”

If the quality of this song is any indication, we’ve got some exciting music from Will to look forward to in 2024.

Photo credit: Conor Sprague

GRAACE Stuns With “Her” Ahead of EP Release

After impressing me with upbeat numbers, GRAACE is stripping things back with her latest single “Her.” It’s a vulnerable ballad about the challenging feelings that can surface when your ex moves on.

“After a breakup, it’s common to feel the need to check in on your ex as they move on, eventually realising you’ve been replaced,” she said. “Comparing yourself to their new partner, you might view them through rose-tinted glasses, leading to a mix of jealousy, self-doubt, and infatuation. Unsure if you’re jealous, aspire to be like her, or desire to be with her, this universal experience often results in becoming more invested in her than your ex”.

“Her” comes from GRAACE’s new EP afterimage, which drops on August 16. She explained the EP’s concept, noting “Just as an afterimage is the lingering impression of an object seen after closing your eyes, afterimage captures the essence of carrying past relationships into new experiences, incorporating the lessons, heartbreak, and love from those encounters”. Fresh from supporting The Dreggs, she’ll play a string of headlining shows in the capitals to promote its release.

16 August 2024 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne
17 August 2024 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane
24 August 2024 – Lansdowne Hotel, Eora/Sydney
30 August 2024 – Jive, Tarntanya/Adelaide
31 August 2024 – Milk Bar, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Britney Spears and Beethoven Come Together For Chutney’s “Toxic Moonlight”

I don’t care what you’ve been listening to today; I can confidently say that “Toxic Moonlight,” the latest track from Eora/Sydney-based klezmer punk collective Chutney will be the most surprising thing today. It might even be the most brilliant. The song combines Britney Spears’ pop anthem “Toxic” with Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” and it’s actually fantastic. It doesn’t end there though. The band brings together these seemingly disparate elements with their trademark Eastern European and Middle Eastern flair. And then we’ve got vocals from Ilan Kidron of The Potbelleez on top of that. It’s off the wall, but somehow it works!

“It was 2021 and we had a gig lined up with Ilan,” shared Chutney violinist Ben Adler. “We were in a reprieve between COVID lockdowns so we’d developed a certain nihilism that, in retrospect, was highly conducive to unfettered creativity. I was talking with Ilan about songs he’d like to sing with us, and he observed that the string riff in Toxic sounds “really klezmer” – we only discovered years later that it’s actually a Bollywood sample! Anyway, Ilan’s suggestion was all I needed to klezmer-ify Britney’s song. Something about its darkness and (toxic) romance then led me to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, especially after I realised that importing Beethoven’s descending bassline might open up a whole new set of possibilities for the otherwise pretty harmonically static ‘Toxic’ verses. I sketched up a chart and we tweaked it in rehearsal, at a gig and in the studio into its present form”.

“I was always really impressed with Mark Ronson’s version, and although Toxic had been covered plenty of times, I knew Chutney would translate it really daringly and originally,” Ilan added. “They have an unashamed ability to bend the rules; but somehow it works. This version plays between a dark oceanic void and a western bar fight. There is emotional drama and a dance between tension and release that I love here.”
Take a listen to this. I know it’s going to blow your mind. Chutney will continue bending the rules when they release their next album Ajar on August 6.

Photo credit: Max Goodman

Layer Cake Impress With “Help”

I’m a sucker for beautiful harmonies. And that’s exactly what Meeanjin/Brisbane band Layer Cake are serving up with their tasty new indie-pop single “Help.”

“‘Help’ speaks for itself,” the band said in a press statement. “It’s a cry of relief, a musical sigh of acknowledging that it’s okay not to be okay. Sometimes, when you’re feeling trapped, the easiest way to cope is to pour your heart out in a song.”

I love all the twists and turns this one takes. It reminds me of those classic songs of the 70s that switch things up before they take you to their ultimately satisfying conclusion.

Press play and enjoy this one. It’s a little trippy, but what a ride!

Image used with permission from Layer Cake

Baeden Faint Releases Powerful New Single “Overthinking”

If you’ve ever struggled to switch off and move on like I have, you’re going to connect with Baeden Faint’s new single “Overthinking.” I love those honest rapid-fire lyrics and how they sit against the rhythm of the banjo and electric guitar.

“It reflects on how it seemed all my relationships were going at the time, and I was adamant that this time was going to be different,” Baeden explained. “In the early days the song had more of a tone of desperation, but a little while down the track, Brad [Ashton, guitarist] sat out the front of my grandparent’s house and strummed a few chords, which led to a rethinking in a slightly more positive light.”

Baeden will support Fanny Lumsden as she makes her way to the Big Red Bash with a show at Cobar Bowling & Golf Club on July 6.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

harper Wows Me With “37”

UK-born, Eora/Sydney based producer/multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter/all-round talent harper has put a spring in my step with his latest single “37.” This is one of those alt-pop-rock that just feels so good. That super-catchy melody is wrapped around some insightful lyrics about the indecision that can leave you paralysed when you need to keep moving forward.

“37’ is me realising that putting myself first isn’t such a bad idea,” harper revealed. “It’s as close and vulnerable as it is big-picture and pondering. I ask a lot of questions in the lyrics, which is a mirror of my headspace both at the time and in my life in general. I love to embrace the hypothetical and the ‘what-if?’, because that’s just the way I think things through and figure out what I truly want.”

With four singles already under his belt, harper says releasing “37” marks a new chapter in his musical journey.

“I feel that I’m finally coming into my own as an artist, and am realising what the purest and most-distilled form of my art is. Everything I’m putting out from now on is going to be transparent and unapologetically me, because I believe the only way to truly connect with anyone listening to my music is for them to feel they know me. How can I allow them to do that without knowing myself in the first place?”

If this track is a sign of what’s to come from harper, I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

Image used with permission from Crowd Favourite