Naarm/Melbourne-based talents Samuel Gaskin and Kee’ahn have joined forces for “Find My Way Back,” a dance-pop number that pays tribute to the people who’ve paved the way for these two artists. Samuel channels their Māori and Nigerian roots while Kee’ahn celebrates their Yalanji, Jirrbal, Badu islander heritage.
“For me ‘Find My Way Back’ is a love letter to the Ancestors and the parts of ourselves we may have shut down or been disconnected from,” Samuel explained. Kee’ahn added that the song is “an invitation to accept ourselves where we are at so that we can have the courage and self belief, to chase after what feels like home.”
I love a good collaboration, and this is one of the best I’ve heard in a while. Make sure you turn it up!
I’m convinced there’s no better pick-me-up than a really great pop song. If you need that lift, look no further than “Cupid,” the latest release from Daphnie, the musical alter ego of Eora/Sydney drummer and producer Alistair Hayes. It’s a total earworm. I’ve already listened about five times in a row, and I’m probably not done.
“It’s an homage to having a crush on someone, with all the excitement and anxiety that can get wrapped up in that feeling,” Alistair explained. “I find the idea of violent metaphors describing beautiful feelings so funny and dramatic, but at the same time crushes always kind of felt like that. I wanted to write something about being killed by the feeling of love itself and that’s exactly what ‘Cupid’ represents. With offbeat lyrics like stupid pickup lines, to those same lines being made fun of, it dramatises the whole feeling of a crush into something ridiculously insane.”
We often associate pop music with a big corporate machine, but Alistair’s operating on a much smaller scale. He wrote, produced, and mixed this track himself in his bedroom, much to his neighbours’ dismay. When he’s making music this good, I wouldn’t be complaining!
All Regards have really touched me with their latest single “Let Me Down (Gently)”. It’s a powerful exploration of grief that’s bound to hit you too if you’re going through any sort of loss.
“Each of us in the last couple of years has had instances where we’ve gone through grieving for something or someone that was incredibly important to us,” the band explained. “Whether you are grieving the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship/friendship, or the end of a certain time in your life. It does not discriminate who it affects.”
All Regards will join fellow Naarm/Melbourne rock act Dear Reckless when they launch their latest single “Anchors” at The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar on October 11. Tickets are on sale now through Oztix.
Western Eora/Sydney act YAGKI has just released a fabulous new single “Just a Ghost.” It sounds like an absolute bop, but it’s also got some powerful lyrics behind it.
“‘Just A Ghost’ reflects my journey of running away from home at 16 to escape a difficult upbringing in housing commission and foster care,” YAGKI explained. “It also delves into the guilt of leaving my family behind in severe hardship and highlights the generational trauma that traps families in these environments.”
The single’s release also comes with an emotionally-driven video directed and filmed by Max Pasalic of BESTIES which stars YAGKI and her younger sister Ella. It also features short VHS cuts of the artist in her younger days.
YAGKI will open up for Merci, Mercy next month before headlining at Oxford Arts Factory this October.
Clay J Gladstone have come to kickstart your Wednesday with their rocking new single “Talk of the Town.” This angsty track about struggling to break through in the music industry sounds best loud, so crank that volume!
“Talk Of The Town is my uppercut to the business side of the music industry,” vocalist Tim Wisbey explained. “Targeting those elitists and gatekeepers that decide whether your social media is vogue and colossal enough to give you a shot. It makes me sick thinking how tough it is for younger bands coming through, or any band really.
“It’s not just about the music – though I guess it never really has been. You basically need to be an expert in marketing, sales, relationship management, bookings, or even dance choreography to cut through the fog. Anyway, I’m not whining. I could die tomorrow and be happy that I got to write this song, pretending I’ve made it and giving the middle finger to any creature that’s tried to cut us at the knees along the way.”
“Talk of the Town” is the latest single lifted from Clay J Gladstone’s forthcoming debut album, set to drop later this year. The band have a stack of shows coming up supporting Sienna Skies all around the country, where you just might hear some of those new songs.
It’s been six years since Sarah Blasko released her last album Depth of Field. I really appreciate it when artists take the time to find inspiration and craft music that matters. It’s always worth the wait. Just take a listen to Sarah’s latest single “The Way,” the opening track from her soon-to-be-released album I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain, and you’ll know I’m right.
“The Way” was inspired by Sarah’s strict religious upbringing and reflections on her decision to turn her back on her faith at the age of 17. “I had been feeling like turning my back on god may have contributed to misfortunes in my life,” she said. “Looking back upon the death of my mother, a failed marriage, and then a failed friendship during a time that felt like the apocalypse. Makes sense considering I was raised to believe in the apocalypse when I was a teenager.”
I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain sees Sarah exploring goodbyes, griefs, new beginnings, and an important friendship that underpinned her childhood. She says “This album was probably the most relaxed & free feeling record I’ve made.” Album preorders and presaves are currently available ahead of its November 1 release.
In case you hadn’t heard, The Jezabels frontwoman Hayley Mary is gearing up to release her first solo album. But before she does, she’s dropped a fabulous new single, “The Lonely One”. This track has a cool retro feel that reminds me of strong female artists of the 80s like Chrissie Hynde, Kate Bush, and Annie Lennox.
Hayley co-wrote “the song”The Lonely One” at a house party with Reggie Goodchild of Confidence Man. She recalled “Goodchild and I started writing kinda by accident. We were partying and hanging out at the Con-man house a bit, and he had a few amazing demos that he thought would suit my 80s diva-style singing. We were jamming over this track, trying to flesh it out while everyone else was on the dance floor. It gave me the feeling of driving down a highway away from heartbreak, sadly but triumphantly.”
“The Lonely One” comes from Hayley’s solo album Roman XS, which drops on October 25.
Dylan Ollivierre, one-half of The Money War, is flexing his creative muscles with some new solo material. His debut single “It’s Just a Shame” is a fabulously nostalgic track with a cool Americana feel.
“The chorus just bubbled up one day when I was noodling on the guitar. It felt very personal, and I knew I had to go down the well myself to find the rest of the song and bring it to life,” Dylan said.
“It’s Just a Shame” was the first of several songs Dylan’s penned for an upcoming solo album. “The process of making these songs was as much for my own clarity and healing as it was about creating a song,” he explained.
Follow Dylan on Instagram to learn more about his solo material as his album release approaches.
Wednesdays are much maligned, but WA act Have a Good Day are bringing the positivity with their dreamy new single “Punch-Drunk in Love.” I’ve fallen hard for this cool indie-pop number, and I’m sure you will too.
I love the way this song manages to strike the perfect balance between sounding modern and like an 80s throwback. The nostalgia is perfect for a track that celebrates youthful enthusiastic love, the kind that knocks you off your feet giving you no choice but to give in to it. A bit like this song really!
East Coasters will get the chance to see Have a Good Day when they play Towradgi Beach Hotel in Dharawal Country/Towradgi on September 6.
British-born, Queensland-based singer-songwriter Lucy Gallant has just dropped her sultry new single “Devious.” It’s a cool, genre-blending track with elements of soul, pop, and trip-hop that explores the addictive nature of the wrong relationships that can feel oh so right.
“In recent years, I’ve navigated through profound losses and experiences that have deeply shaped my music. My new sound reflects how I’ve channeled these experiences into my songwriting,” Lucy explained. “Stepping into my own power, I’ve discovered a reservoir of confidence. Embracing the strength of my womanhood, I’ve conquered past fears. Now, I’m ready to declare to the world: here I am, crank up the volume and listen closely to my lyrics—I have a lot to say, and I’m not afraid to say it.”
Lucy is currently playing shows in the United Kingdom and Europe for the first time in four years. The intimate venues and festivals she’s playing provide the perfect opportunity to reconnect with her fans abroad. Don’t worry Australia; she won’t be gone for too long. We’ll see her back on her adopted home soil by November. Here are all Lucy’s announced dates.
1 August 2024 – Market House, Maidstone 3 August 2024 – House concert, North Norfolk District 16 August 2024 – Café Kultus, Grevenbroich 17 August 2024 – House concert, Osnabruck 25 August 2024 – House concert, Devon 28 August 2024 – Alte Utting, Munich 4 September 2024 – The Green Man Inn, Charroux 8 September 2024 – Musettes Festival, Pyla Sur Mer (FREE) 21 September 2024 – Briston Pavilion, Norfolk (Entry by donation) 22 September 2024 – The Flying Circus, Newark Upon Trent 27 September 2024 – Holmfirth Tavern, Holmfirth 28 September 2024 – House concert, Halesowen 16 November 2024 – Seven Sisters Festival, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Country/Glenaroua
