I can always count on a good pop-punk song to really lift my mood. As I recover from my accident, I found myself gravitating towards old comfort music and struggling to connect as easily with new sounds. But the nostalgic feel of Bukowski’s latest single “What Do You Want Me to Be?” has got me pretty excited. I won’t be getting into mosh pits anytime soon, but this upbeat single makes me sentimental for them!
Bukowski said the lyrics for their latest single were inspired by the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber.
“Lyrically, it also captures all those messy feelings around juggling being a people pleaser and letting yourself be who you are,” added the band’s frontman, James Karagiozis.
“What Do You Want Me to Be?” comes from Bukowski’s forthcoming debut album I Don’t Wanna Live. I Don’t Wanna Die, which drops on February 14.
Jade Gibson has always had a knack for pumping out upbeat, feelgood country-pop hits. But she’s taken a bit of a left turn with the release of her latest single, “Technicolour”. With its John Mayer-esque bluesy guitar licks and moody vibe, this track showcases a brand-new sound for Jade. But gee it sounds good on her.
“Technicolour” is the first song released from Jade’s new project scheduled for a 2025 release. If the rest of the tracks sound as good as this one, we’re in for a real treat. You might hear some more new material if you get to one of her upcoming shows:
21 December 2024 – Henley’s Wine Bar & Kitchen, Waveroo Country/Milawa 24 December 2024 – Precinct Bar & Restaurant, Bpangerang Country/Wangaratta 26 December 2024 – Christmas Recovery @ Cofield Wines, Yorta Yorta Country/Wahgunyah 31 December 2024 – Lockhart Ex-Servicemen’s Club, KuukuYa’u, Wuthathi, Umpila, Kaanju and Uuthalganu Country/Lockhart
Ziggy Alberts is easing you into your working week with his latest single, “Singing for Country.” This patriotic, chilled-out folk song is the latest track from Ziggy’s forthcoming seventh album New Love which drops on February 21.
“I wrote ‘Singing For Country’ along the Mid-North Coast of Australia. It’s a song about what it means to be Australian, to love this land and our planet. For me, being Australian is about embracing a unique mix of cultures on this sunburnt land,” Ziggy explained. “This song was my way of celebrating what and how it feels to be Australian. I performed this song across my tour in Europe, UK and North America and despite it being about my love for Australia, people really connected to it. I think that for anyone who loves the natural beauty of their homeland will relate and feel camaraderie in this too. It speaks to the core reason I write songs; to sing and celebrate people and nature.”
Ziggy has played plenty of shows all over the world, but he’ll be back home in February with gigs in the capitals and regional centres supporting New Love’s release.
“After being on tour all year, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of coming home,” he said. “You don’t realise how much you love a place until you’re back, breathing it in again. There’s something raw and grounding about being back on home soil, smelling the bottlebrush, and returning to the ocean. Originally, this song was just going to be part of the album, but when I got back home, that visceral feeling reminded me how important it was to share it as a single ahead of summer. I’m grateful my team helped make it happen.”
Some shows have already sold out so don’t wait to get yours.
The United States might be the home of country music, but our own James Johnston and South Africa’s Appel prove the Americans don’t have the market cornered. These talents have teamed up for a fantastic new country single appropriately titled “Country is For Me.” It’s funny; I often say that country really isn’t for me, but then I hear a tune like this and start reconsidering my protests!
“I’ve always dreamed of sharing my music with the world and celebrating the country way of life through the lens of different cultures,” James said. “’County is For Me’ is the embodiment of that dream. Collaborating with Appel has been an incredible experience. His passion and genuine connection to his fans, family, and country have been so inspiring. At the beginning of this journey, I was searching for a kindred spirit in music, but I never could have imagined I would find a lifelong friend. The joy of creating ’County is For Me’ shines through in the recording. I’m excited to share it with the world and show that, despite being born in different places, we’re not so different.”
“Meeting James and collaborating to unite cultures through the universal language of music has been a journey neither of us realised the world needed,” Appel added. “By weaving together our stories, voices, and distinct roots, we’ve proven that when barriers come down, the music only grows stronger. It has been a truly mutual and inspiring experience, highlighting the limitless potential of music.”
James recently played the Cape Town Country Music Festival in South Africa, but he’s back home and ready to play for local crowds this summer. Catch him at all the hottest country music festivals in the coming months.
Solomon Island-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based singer, guitarist, and auu (panpipe) player Charles Maimarosia proves music really is the universal language with his gorgeous new single “Hote’ Hote’”. Like most listeners I don’t speak the Are’ Are’ language, but I’m moved by this gorgeous track. While Charles has to take a lot of the credit for that, he remains humble and acknowledges the part that Andrew Robison, who recorded, mixed, and produced “Hote’ Hote” played.
“Hote’ Hote’ is organic, rhythmic, soulful, and deeply rooted in the Are’ Are’ traditional ‘parani o’o’ rhythm, which shares similarities with rhythms found in many other cultures around the world. None of those rhythms would have been realised without Andrew Robinson,” Charles said. “He arranged the music chord progressions, and I layered the lyrics on top. If the words didn’t fit perfectly with the chords, we would try different ones until everything sat right, knowing that the words had to align with the context. For me, when I put Are’ Are’ lyrics in a song, I always make sure those words are true, make sense to ‘Are’Are’ people, and remain meaningful when translated into other languages, like English or Japanese. We’ve changed this song Hote’ Hote’ about three times already, and now we have this amazing version.”
Marcus Longfoot directed the song’s music video, which charts Charles’ personal journey from the Solomon Islands to Australia.
“The concept of the video is centred around voyaging in the ocean to the islands, which resonates with my own journey from Pipisu Village to Melbourne,” Charles explained. “I was shooting in the Melbourne city during winter, wearing shorts, which was quite an experience! I never imagined the video clip would turn out so well. The video was directed by Marcus Longfoot, with assistance from his team from RMIT media students: Rachel Kemp and Ruari Walsh. Natty [Dolaiasi] provided spoken word contributions from Lau Malaita Islands, whose people we call ‘masters of the ocean.’ Natty D’s spoken word and footage was filmed in Honiara Solomon Islands, my homeland, by Dream Cast Studios’ Mr Collin Leafasia. Marcus is a talented filmmaker and musician who has worked with Radical Son, another amazing artist from the First Nations community. It was a collaborative effort, and I’m grateful for all the creative minds who helped bring the video to life.” The year’s not done yet, but Charles is already setting his sights on 2025 when he’ll release a new album and play several shows.
“I want my audiences to know that I come from a remote village and that I’ll probably yarn a little bit on stage, share some stories, and make them laugh and reflect on their own life and journey while explaining each song,” Charles said. “Every time I’m on stage, I think of my mentor, and elder the late Donation Manu, an Are’ Are’ legend, and it reminds me that music is always here with us, before we are born and long after we are gone.”
Tickets for most of Charles Maimarosia’s February shows are on sale now, so don’t miss out!
Nathan Lamont effortlessly combines country, rock, and pop influences with his latest single “Name on It.”
“I wanted to highlight how love can completely upturn and transform a person’s outlook on life for the better, filling spaces we never knew were empty,” Nathan explained about the song he cowrote with his regular producer Alex Maher. “Alex and I have spent a lot of time in the studio together recording and songwriting, and we have many shared values and experiences when it comes to life and love.”
“Name On It” has already earned the seal of approval from none other than Keith Urban, who told Nathan to “keep it coming.” While Nathan looks up to Keith, his wife is arguably a bigger inspiration. His muse plays a starring role in the single’s film clip.
“I was excited to feature my wife in this project,” Nathan said. “She’s been the biggest source of inspiration behind my songwriting and has been on the sidelines supporting me since day one, so to have the opportunity to work with her so closely on something I love has only brought us even closer together.”
Nathan has already announced a couple of shows for next year, so don’t miss him if he’s playing near you!
“My Own Time,” the latest track from Meeanjin/Brisbane indie rockets The Urban Sea, is one of the best indie-rock tracks I’ve heard in some time. The lyrics are poetic and personal, and they’re wrapped up in such a fantastic shimmery sound that’s bound to have you grooving by the time the first chorus kicks in.
“There’s a bit of Arctic Monkeys swagger and Spacey Jane jangle in there, especially in how we approached the arrangements,” shared songwriter and guitarist Shanan Kilner. “’My Own Time’ came from a pretty emotional place during a breakup where I was ready to move on, but my ex was struggling to let go. The relationship had reached its end, and deep down, we both knew it. Writing this song was my way of processing those feelings and realising that sometimes the healthiest thing to do is move on. The line, ‘You got love on your lips but blood on your hands,’ sums it up. There was still affection, but we both had a hand in why things didn’t work out. It’s not about blame, but about recognising that love alone couldn’t fix what was broken. I wanted to move forward without rehashing old arguments or trying to pin down who was at fault, which is where the lines ‘I got no more coins for that wishing well’ and ‘lay low and let it go’ came from – sheer exhaustion from going over the same things again and again. The bridge ‘In my own time, get my feet back on the ground’ was a reminder to myself that healing takes time and it’s okay to take things at your own pace. When I first wrote it, it felt like a release.
“I didn’t want the song to be heavy or sad, even though the emotions were. The upbeat indie vibe reflects that sense of freedom that comes with finally letting go, even when it’s hard. I think we’ve all been in situations where we know it’s time to move on, but the comfort of the familiar pulls us back. It’s not about heartache – it’s about strength, about taking control of your own life and time. I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling of needing to reclaim their space after a relationship ends. Writing this song helped me find that closure, and I hope it resonates with anyone else who’s ready for their own fresh start.”
There’s more new music on the way from The Urban Sea, with the band set to release a new EP, Sunsets and Silhouettes, in February.
South Summit are one of the coolest bands out of Boorloo/Perth, and that’s saying something. They just released their long-awaited debut album The Bliss, and they’re preparing to take their music around Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia next year.
I encourage you to dive into the album, but if you’re short on time make sure you check out the band’s incredible version of “Roxanne” recording for Triple J’s Like a Version. A band as iconic as The Police set the bar so high, but these guys weren’t afraid of the challenge. It might be that new sound energy talking, but I think this fresh take might even be better than the original.
South Summit are psyched to hit the road with their new material, noting “We’re super looking forward to our AUS/NZ Album Tour next February/March! These are by far the biggest headline shows we’ve ever played, and we can’t wait to get out there and see everyone again. These shows feel a little extra special though, it’s been a while since we’ve toured the whole country, and showcasing our debut album is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. We’ve got a brand new live show for you guys, and plenty more treats for ya! See you guys on the road.”
Before that happens, this hardworking band also have plenty of summer festival appearances. Tickets are on sale now for all these shows:
You know those songs you start out hating but realise you love by the end? Usually ultra-poppy and infectiously catchy? “Rodeo Star” by Eora/Sydney-based Kiwi Venice Qin is a song exactly like that. I’m not sure exactly when my brain made the switch and embraced it, but I was definitely bopping along long before the final notes. Think of this track as a queer, spicy, local version of Steps’ “5, 6, 7, 8”.
Venice said that “‘Rodeo Star’ is all about the surge of energy I feel when that perfect, super c***ty song comes on at a house party. It’s me, moving my hips, making eyes at all the hot, sexy people around, totally caught up in the moment. This track celebrates confidence and the joy of exploring your sexuality, all wrapped up in the drop-a** Y2K vibe. It’s about letting loose, embracing the playful side of life and not being afraid to show who you really are.”
This single probably won’t be for everyone, but that message definitely is! I also love the video, which Venice shot after performing at the 41st Rocky Mountain Regional Gay Rodeo in Denver, Colorado, earlier this year. As I say, I expect this song will be a bit polarising, but the best art usually is!
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
Skyscraper Stan is spreading all the good vibes with his fabulous new single “Talk To Me.” If your day’s off to a rough start, this soulful little ditty is just the stuff to turn things around. Make sure you tap into those lyrics too which explore conspiracy theories and how we can help our nearest and dearest separate fact from fiction.
“I’ve had friends fall down the rabbit hole and it can be alarming. This tune is for anyone out there trying to save a loved one from the loonysphere,” he said. “Don’t turn your back on them. Have a chat. That might be all they need!”
Skyscraper Stan is currently touring around the country with his band The Commission Flats to celebrate the release of “Talk To Me.” Here are all the remaining dates:
