Category: Film Clips

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Discover New Between You & Me Track, “Deadbeat”

Aussie punk-rock act Between You & Me are set to inject some energy into your weekend with their bold new single “Deadbeat.” The track sees frontman Jake Wilton coming to terms with his own shortcomings.

“Being in a band, I am often away from home for long periods of time. Whilst at home, I also found myself prioritising my own endeavours over my relationship. During the pandemic, I was able to spend a lot more time with my girlfriend and I felt a sense of remorse for the unwavering support that she gave me whilst I was absorbed in my own career. ‘Deadbeat’ is a self-reflection of my behaviours as a boyfriend and how I recognised I needed to do better.”

“Deadbeat” comes from Between You & Me’s sophomore LP, which is coming at you really soon. With three years passing since their debut Everything is Temporary, fans will be fired up for new material, especially if it’s all as good as this track!

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bugs Releases Dynamic New Single, “Decisions, Commitments & Plans”

Brisbane trio Bugs are back with their new single “Decisions, Commitments & Plans.” A live favourite (remember when we could see bands live?!), this song starts fairly mellow for a Bugs track before erupting with raw emotion around the two-minute mark. It’s a trip!

“I wanted to write a song that talks about the chaotic emotional pressure of making choices, one that represents the full spectrum of confusion that comes to mind when faced with evolving responsibility and change-forced growth,” explained frontman Connor Brooker. “It can be daunting (or empowering) when you realise you’re the one writing your own script; but with more gained wisdom you learn to realise you’re not alone in that journey. It’s okay to be afraid, we all get scared sometimes.”

The band intends to wrap up their sold-out “Diamond” single tour in Melbourne later this month. Whether it happens or not, it’s all sold out so if you missed out on tickets, it’s time to look at the next thing. If you’re craving some live Bugs, you can (hopefully) catch them at the following shows:

16 October 2021 – STONEFEST, Canberra
6 November 2021 – Open Season @ The Princess Theatre, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; credit: Nikita Oliver

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Casey Barnes Gets Romantic With “God Took His Time On You”

Last time we heard new music from Casey Barnes, he was rocking out with the sexy “Come Turn Me On.” But he reveals a more tender side with his latest single “God Took His Time On You.” It’s another confident country-crossover track that should make listeners swoon. It also proves that a pandemic and its border closures don’t have to stand in the way of creating a great song with people on the other side of the world.

“I’ve absolutely loved teaming up with my US buddies in Brown & Gray co-writing tracks for this next album and when we worked on this single we knew straight away it was something really special. Every lyric in this song is a dedication to the one you love. Using the metaphor in the line ‘when heaven dreamt you up, God took his time on you’ I think is the ultimate tribute of how perfect you feel your partner is.”

“God Took His Time On You” is the latest track from Casey’s next album, which will drop early next year. Hopefully the country will be a little more open and Casey can tour it as planned. Before that, Casey will defend his Artist of the Year title and hopefully pick up Song of the Year, Release of the Year, and Live Act of the Year at the 2021 Gold Coast Music Awards on September 4.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Turn Up Bellwether’s New Track, “Shortsighted”

Perhaps it’s Monday or the umpteenth day of lockdown getting to me, but the angsty punk of “Shortsighted,” the latest track from Sydney act Bellwether, is really resonating with me today. It’s an all-out assault on the senses with big chunky chords and all-too-relatable lyrics.

“‘Shortsighted’ is, in essence, a song about self-acceptance. It’s about confronting and admitting your own flaws, while at the same time accepting yourself for who you are and abandoning the expectations imposed onto you by others,” explained Bellwether’s guitarist and songwriter, Heath Joukhadar. “That all being said, the song doesn’t take itself seriously, which is not only reflected by the message of the lyrics but also the numerous pop culture and meme references included throughout the track.

“We took a lot of inspiration from BoJack Horseman when we were writing ‘Shortsighted’, as he was a character we could all empathise with,” Heath added. “BoJack personifies the feeling of never being good enough and we tried channelling that energy into the song. Sometimes you feel like a piece of shit and that’s alright.”

You might not have heard of Bellwether yet, but a lot of influential people are sitting up and taking notice. They’ve played shows with American acts Four Year Strong and Knocked Loose, British bands WSTR and Trash Boat, and our own Between You and Me and Yours Truly. This track also premiered on leading USA outlet Substream Magazine. It sounds like this is one local act destined for big things in the not-too-distant future.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Sunday Estate Deliver With “When You Get Home”

I’ve been a little quiet lately. It’s not like I haven’t been listening to music, but I have been searching for something that really hits. Writing posts about music that doesn’t impact me seems a bit disingenuous. I know there are plenty of media outlets out there who just post about everything, but if I wouldn’t share it with a friend, I can’t see the point in wasting my time writing about it. I was starting to think maybe I was just being too picky, and then I heard The Sunday Estate’s new EP When You Get Home. This Sydney five-piece have got something really special. But if you’ve had your ear to the ground, you knew that already. If not, prepare to discover why tastemakers are raving about them.

The Sunday Estate have already released three singles from the EP: “Pray for Rain,” “Fight Me,” and “Bike Thief,” which I’ve already written about. Those tracks have enjoyed airplay on triple j, Beats I, and KCRW. So rather than going over old ground and writing a traditional EP review, I thought it better to highlight the latest single, “We Were Kids.” It’s a nostalgic track with cool indie pop-rock vibes that really hit the spot. Lead vocalist Conor O’Reilly calls it “another song about the trials of getting older,” but it’s a little more than that. The personal lyrics help it stand alone.

“I wanted to really lean into those bittersweet feelings that come with past love/friendship,” he explained.

If you’re not already across The Sunday Estate’s music, check out When You Get Home on your preferred streaming platform. Then if you’re near Sydney, snap up some tickets for their launch show. The gig at The Lansdowne on November 7 is something to look forward to once we (hopefully) get out of lockdown.

Image used with permission from Mirror Music Group; credit: Maclay Heriot

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jannah Beth Celebrates Art Over Profits With “Want Me Dead”

Sydney artist Jannah Beth celebrates their love of music in their latest single “Want Me Dead.” Despite its macabre name, this is an upbeat track that effortlessly blends rap and pop vibe. It’s definitely put the groove into my Friday.

“‘Want Me Dead’ is a song about conflicting music industry experiences and reconnecting with why I started music in the first place,” she explained. “I honestly do feel like I’m out here ‘selling my soul’; this whole project has been informed by my real-life experiences, not trends or extrinsic motivations. I left school and a turbulent home life at 15 to chase my dreams and I’ve worked my ass off over the past 10 years to get to the place where I’m now seeing my dreams come to fruition.”

Jannah Beth believes so much in an industry that nurtures art that she’s been working behind the scenes to make it happen. She’s built several studios in Marrickville’s creative hub by the Bowling Club. Already more than half of the resident artists and producers are female or non-binary. She’s also launching her own artist-run creative space, Offbeat Collective, really soon.

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: She Is Aphrodite

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ryan Meeking Drops Hot New Single, “Endless Run”

It’s always exciting to check in with an old favourite. Ryan Meeking and The Few were hot property in the early 2010s, playing shows with Rob Thomas, Diesel, Angus and Julia Stone, and Gossling. But Ryan dropped off my radar … until now. With the release of his latest single “Endless Run,” I’m right back on board.

As you might imagine, a lot has changed in the last decade. Ryan’s music has developed a more modern sound with an electro-pop feel that reminds me of Gotye and Benee. Ryan’s songwriting skills are even stronger and that voice that drew me to his music in the first place is every bit as enticing.

Ryan sets the scene for the song, noting “You’re in the festival crowd. Drink it in. Your friends, thousands of others, the music, the party, the complete loss of any sense of time and space – and who cares: the community in that. Everything is now, everything is amazing and it’s just the beginning. Welcome to your Endless Run.”

The colourful music video, directed by filmmaker and photographer Rick Clifford (Ainslie Wills, Bad Pony, Tori Forsyth), is also absolutely stunning. Just see if you can take your eyes off it.

Making plans is tricky these days, but at this stage Ryan will play a launch show at Small Time in Brunswick on August 12. The show will also be streamed for everyone who can’t be there in person. Follow Ryan Meeking on Facebook to learn more about that!

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: @rcstills

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nicholas Hamilton Reminisces With EP Title Track, “Pretty Young”

I don’t know about you, but the COVID pandemic has me in a nostalgic mood. I’m locked down here in New South Wales, but my Facebook memories make sure I remember the concerts I’ve been to, holidays I’ve taken, and great nights out I’ve shared with my friends. Nicholas Hamilton’s latest single “Pretty Young” reflects my current mood. In this track, he looks back at his own transition from teenager to twentysomething, a period that saw him moving halfway across the globe to pursue his passion for acting.

“I remember feeling pretty down when I wrote the first stanza. It was one of those days where you just cry behind a piano and hope a song comes out. There was a moment where I realised how silly it was for me to be writing a song about my childhood, when I definitely wouldn’t consider myself an adult yet … That’s how the second stanza came about, starting with ‘and I’m still pretty young’,” he explained. “I drew the rest of the lyrics from a ton of childhood memories I thought I’d forgotten, and recent memories I hope I don’t forget.”

This adorable music video features home movies capturing moments from Nicholas’s childhood.

“Pretty Young” comes from the EP of the same name, which we’ll hear on August 13. Like the single, this EP features acoustic pop tracks exploring nostalgic subject matter. Nicholas currently divides his time between Los Angeles and his hometown of Byron Bay. With the EP on the way and some TV and film projects in development, expect to hear a lot more about this talented Aussie in the near future.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Mike Falzone

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

BARKAA Releases Powerful New Single, “King Brown”

Proud Malyangapa, Barkindji woman BARKAA proves she’s an absolute queen with her new single “King Brown.” I love this track’s empowering lyrics and the way she’s effortlessly married hip hop sounds with some Latin flavour. This is absolute fire.

“I was in a very toxic relationship for years and it did its toll on my confidence and my self-esteem was really low,” BARKAA explained. “I believed in my head I deserved that kind of love at one point. But then after relearning, getting to know myself again and seeing my worth I could never look back. King Brown is just a f*ck you to my ex basically, it’s cheeky, it’s comical and it’s fun … I guess with King Brown I wanted to show that side of me. I made the decision to cut a lot of ties not only for my mental health and well-being, but for my babies. Love is a doing word and if it isn’t actioned it has no room in mine or my babies’ lives. This is a track for my sisters to keep their head up too, to feel good again, and to put their middle fingers up at those who don’t deserve us.”

BARKAA filmed the music video in Sydney with Paven Gill of Sonder Films.

“As soon as we heard the song we knew we wanted strong scenes/visuals to match the energy of the song, especially the vibe of the production,” said Paven. “After listening to the lyrics we wanted to focus on the visuals that show strength, confidence, family, culture while still keeping the overall vibe to be fun and energetic.”

“King Brown” gives us our first taste of BARKAA’s debut EP Blak Matriarchy. And what a taste it is!

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: Luke Currie-Richardson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Blake O’Connor Goes Retro With “Soul Feeling”

Soul and country don’t seem like a natural music marriage, but Blake O’Connor has brought these genres together for his latest single “Soul Feeling.” I didn’t expect it to work as well as it does, but this is actually brilliant. Just see if you’re not tapping your toes along by the end of it.

“I wrote ‘Soul Feeling’ right around the time when I was heavily listening to a lot of soul-inspired music, and watching a bunch of old videos of the Muscle Shoal Swampers, who were the original rhythm section for Sound Studios,” Blake explained. “That whole era of music is very inspiring to me, from the musical approach to the way they got their sounds in the studio! And when I sat down to write this song, all I could think about was how the upbeat soul songs of that era made you feel.”

Blake gave his hometown of Port Macquarie a retro makeover for the fun video. Set in the local laundromat, it’s such a fabulous throwback.

Blake had to cut his tour with Diesel short due to the unfolding COVID situation, but hopefully it won’t be too long before we see him back on the road.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute