Sunflower Drops Sublime Indie-Pop Anthem, “Thin Skin”

Brisbane band Sunflower are spreading the good vibes with their latest single “Thin Skin.” This dreamy slice of indie-pop is the perfect pep-talk for the pandemic.

“Thin Skin” is about accepting that life is going to deal you difficult cards sometimes, and letting go of anything that doesn’t add value to your life is one way you can beat the darkness,” explained co-vocalist and co-songwriter Kahlia Ferguson. “You can be your own worst enemy if you let the difficulties of life tear away at you. We only get one life, might as well learn to love it.”

Amen to that! If you need more of Sunflower’s positivity in your life, catch them at the following shows:

6 February 2021 – Mountain Goat Valley Crawl, Brisbane
27 February 2021 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast (supporting Caravana Sun)
28 February 2021 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane (supporting Caravana Sun)
16 April 2021 – Stay Gold, Melbourne
17 April 2021 – Wrangler Studios, Melbourne (Under 18s)
23 April 2021 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
24 April 2021 – The Brightside, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Ali Barter Drops “Twisted Up” Single Ahead of Victorian Shows

Ali Barter wrote her latest single “Twisted Up” in a simpler time. It was February 2020, and she was in Los Angeles for her first American tour, “before the world fell down,” as she put it.

“I was feeling really weird, like I wanted to run away or blow something up and this song is about that feeling,” she explained. “It’s crazy to think what happened since this song was written and how timely it was.”

American producer Harlan Silverman (duckwrth) worked with Ali on the track before the pandemic forced her to head back to Melbourne. It’s got the local touch with a video created by Melbourne production team We Made That.

“We wanted to keep the video for ‘Twisted Up’ light, fun, and energetic” explained director Bryce Padovan. “The video explores the idea of waking up after a big night and then wandering around a beach town, dazed and confused. We wanted to steer clear of conventional “big night” tropes, so instead of the usual vices, Ali wakes up in a pile of hot chips and tries to retrace her steps.”

Ali has been busy during the pandemic, releasing the lockdown anthem “4 Days” with her main squeeze Oscar Dawson and playing a 10-date Live From Inside tour of her house. She also hosted a 14-week series of open mic nights on her Instagram page and began recording new material, like this song. In the last couple of months, she’s been able to get back in front of live audiences though. People of Victoria, at this point you can catch her at the following upcoming shows. Keep an eye on the venue pages though for the latest COVID measures.

8 January 2020 – Volta Arts & Culture, Ballarat
9 January 2021 – Pelican Bar, Queenscliff
15 January 2021 – Tanswells, Beechworth
16 January 2021 – Northern Republic, Euroa
20 January 2021 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
14 February 2021 – The Dart & Marlin Bar, Warrnambool

Image used with permission from Inertia Music; credit: Kane Hibberd

Start Your Year Right With The Lulu Raes

I’m not one of these people who believes you can just flick a switch, or toast to a new year, and the world will magically be better. However, I do think that finding the right soundtrack can dramatically impact your mood. So in the interest of starting 2021 with good vibes, hit that play button on The Lulu Raes most recent single, “Not for the Weekend.”

This track is really the perfect summer anthem, with infectious keyboard riffs and a danceable beat. You just see if you can resist tapping your toes along.

“When this song was first being written, it was written as a middle finger to someone who had decided it was time to move on with their life. Eventually, it morphed into self-reflection, and now it’s really a peace offering to that person. Hope you’re doing well,” the band said in the presser.

If you’re in Sydney, you can catch these local legends at Waywards in Newtown on January 23.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Tori Forsyth Impresses With Brooding New Single, “Courtney Love”

After all the excitement of Christmas, I’m ready to wind down a little before the New Years’ festivities kick off. If you’re seeking out mellow sounds right now, Tori Forsyth’s new track “Courtney Love” is just what the doctor ordered. I love the way Tori combines gentle, acoustic folk sounds with dark, brooding lyrics befitting the grunge princess the song namechecks.

“The way ‘Courtney Love’ was written was much like most of my songs, on my lounge room floor with an acoustic guitar,” Tori explained. “The song quickly formed into a sort of disturbed lullaby.“

Tori created the single’s music video with director Emily Avila, who felt an instant kinship with the Newcastle artist.

“I instantly connected with Tori’s vision for the ‘Courtney Love’ clip – with such an intimate setting and raw, unguarded emotion, we just needed to give it all time and space to fill the screen,” Emily explained. “I love the meditative quality of a one-take performance video. Tori’s heart is there, all laid out in real-time, an unassuming moment that gets inside your head.”

This is stellar stuff from one of Australia’s most impressive up-and-coming artists.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: She Is Aphrodite

Eli Greeneyes Releases Retro Single “21”

WA artist Eli Greeneyes serves up some serious Brit Pop vibes with his latest single “21.” It’s rebellious, brash, and supremely catchy. The lyrics seem targeted at millennials, but if you were blasting Oasis and Blur back in the day, this will be right up your alley. That fisheye lens video is another fantastic throwback to the glory days of the ‘90s.

I’ve got to give you a language warning though. If you’re working in an office, you might want to stick your headphones on before blasting it as loud as you’ll want to!

“I wrote it in about 15 minutes about how depressed and scared I was about living my life the way I truly wanted to at 21 years old,” Eli explained. “I was becoming my own person and for some reason the thought of that was terrifying. A lot of this song is about figuring out who I am and feeling like I realised it too late, looking back at wasted time and how I wasn’t sucking the marrow out of life like I should’ve been. I was so pent up with childhood trauma and all that bullshit that I wasn’t seeing and enjoying all the positive things in front of me.”

Since he’s based in Western Australia, hopefully we’ll see Eli playing some shows around home in the New Year. Follow his Facebook page to learn about all his gigs and new tunes as they’re announced.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Tim Hart Wows Me With New Solo Single, “Cold Comfort”

Feast your ears on “Cold Comfort,” the new solo single from Boy & Bear’s Tim Hart. It’s a powerfully intense track, dripping with disdain and angst. I love the way its honest, raw lyrics marry with those gorgeous horns and the warm strum of the acoustic guitar.

“Cold Comfort” comes from Tim’s forthcoming solo album Winning Hand, which should drop on February 19, 2021. If the rest of its tracks are as good as “Cold Comfort” and the lead single “Great Escape,” we’re in for a real treat.

Fletcher Gull Drops Poignant Single “City is Busy”

Plenty of us have felt disconnected for much of this year. Many of us couldn’t see our loved ones, and I think most of my readers are missing the buzz of connecting with strangers in music venues. With isolation weighing heavy on our minds, Fletcher Gull’s latest single “City is Busy” really strikes a nerve.

Fletcher wrote the track after a chance encounter with an old-school punk in North Melbourne.

“She talked to me for a while, telling me about how her life used to be great in the ‘80s but now the city’s busy, cold, and lonely,” he recounts. “She said she used to have fun with her friends and motorbike around Australia, but now she can’t even sit on the street without getting fined or arrested. She was tired of everything and old with nothing to look forward to, just waiting to be crucified.”

It’s a sad story, but one that’s balanced beautifully by Fletcher’s pop sensibility and the nostalgic lyrics.

“This video features Fletcher as a salesman. I like the idea of an old-school salesman as a life disrupter,” explained the clip’s director Theo Miller. “They’re like preachers, people who knock on your door and call your life into question. I like the boldness of that. I see a bit of that in the song, it’s bold and direct, like a Jehovah’s Witness but not as exclusive.”

It’ll probably be a while before we see Fletcher Gull on stage in the busy city of Melbourne he calls home, but until then make sure you give his Facebook page a follow. He’s been posting some great live videos of new music to come.

Image used with permission from GYRO PR

Paige Valentine Wows Me With “Fool”

Perth singer-songwriter Paige Valentine has given me goosebumps this morning with her latest track “Fool.” It’s full of heartbreak and angst, but its summery sound gives it a hopefulness that balances the dark. The lyrics are direct and relatable and Paige’s voice has such an alluring tone.

“‘Fool’ was very much written as a continuation from the story of my first single, ‘Pure’,” she explained. “It examines the complex and melancholy journey through heartbreak, questioning whether the reward was ever worth the risk. It explores the feelings of unkept promises and unfinished plans, while also remembering the nostalgic warmth of a past connection.”

Live music is back in full force in Western Australia. If you’re lucky enough to live there, catch Paige Valentine at the following shows.

11 December 2020 – Assembly Yard, Fremantle (with Riley Pearce)
20 December 2020 – Clancy’s, Dunsborough (FREE)
21 December 2020 – The Quill Collective, Vasse (SOLD OUT)

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: She is Aphrodite

Get “Sentimental” With Eliza & The Delusionals

Eliza & The Delusionals are sparking indie-rock nostalgia with their latest single “Sentimental.” Their first release since March’s A State of Living in an Objective Reality EP, the track has that late ‘90s, early noughties cool laidback sensibility that I’m really vibing.
The band has worked with some heavy hitters on the release of “Sentimental.” They co-wrote the track with our own Sarah Aarons (Cosmo’s Midnight, Childish Gambino) and U.S. songwriter and producer John Hill (WAFIA, Portugal. The Man). Producer/engineer Dylan Adams (DMA’s, Skeggs, Troy Sivan) also played his part in the song’s sound.

This song came out of a weird time for the band. “Just Exist” earned enough airplay in the U.S. for the band to lock in their first American festival slots and solo gigs, and then COVID-19 hit. Not a band that’s willing to wallow, this song and other new material came out of a desire to keep moving forward musically, despite the odds.

“We’re super proud of this song, it’s one of our favourites to date,” confirmed frontwoman Eliza Klatt. “Kurt started playing some chords in a tuning he made on the tour bus. We knew we were going in for a writing session, so after coming up with a few ideas around the chords, we brought it into the studio with Sarah and John, and they really helped bring it to life. After having a few months of listening to the demo over and over, myself and Kurt added a bridge and the other parts before taking it into the studio with Ruby and Tex to record it.”

From the sound of things, we’re going to hear a lot more from Eliza & The Delusionals in the near future. And that is a verry good thing.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Kinkora Slows it Down for “You Got Me”

Unseasonably warm weather calls for a soundtrack that’s sultry and soulful. Melbourne chanteuse Kinkora has you covered with her latest single “You Got Me.” It’s a lot more low-key than her up-tempo debut “Set You Free,” but that shift in sound shows us another side of this super talented singer. The sparse arrangement also lets her voice shine. And what a voice it is. If you loved female R’n’B acts of the ‘90s like Aaliyah and Brandy, this is going to be right up your alley.

Kinkora penned the lyrics to thank the people who helped her through some hard times.

“I’ve dealt with pretty full-on anxiety for a long time. The song is primarily a thank you to my partner who has supported me and provided me with so much love and care during challenging times – and also to my family/friends who are always there for me. It’s a song rooted in gratitude,” she explained.

Kinkora should drop more new music really soon, so keep your ears out for that!

Image used with permission from Kinkora