Category: Film Clips

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LUPA J Wows Me With “This Suburb” From Latest Album

LUPA J’s new album To Breathe Underwater is out now, a fascinating collection of songs that showcase the diversity of this daring Aussie artist. It’s such an eclectic mix of tracks created during the COVID lockdown. Even when the tracks don’t resonate with me (and on such a diverse album, I think it’s hard to please everyone all the time) I appreciate LUPA J’s bold bravery.

The track that’s hit me hardest is the current single, “This Suburb.” It’s a lot quieter and more introspective than most of the tracks on this album, which ensures it really stands out.

“‘This Suburb’ is one of the most raw and vulnerable songs I’ve ever made. It sits a little outside my ‘usual’ pop-dance style but I think it might be my personal favourite on the album. I don’t always feel up to being so lyrically honest and emotional, sometimes I just want to make techno tracks with little to no vocals – but when I feel capable & ready of writing a song like this it’s a really incomparable, cathartic experience,” they explained. “This one still makes me teary to listen to sometimes – it’s about the intensity of an attachment that’s to not only a person but a place and a life you’ve become so wrapped up in together.”

LUPA J worked closely with Kat Silverosa to translate her musical vision into a gorgeous music video.

“While writing the song I had all this fantastical imagery in my head of a body becoming one with a place, almost like this singular organism, as seen in the chorus lyrics:

I’ve grown to love this suburb
My skin is a sticky sap
It’s grown into your walls
And around the vines out the back

Kat Silverosa, the video director, translated this into a really beautiful stop motion style concept where we used paint and liquid to visually meld me into a space. I’m very proud of how it turned out.”

To Breathe Underwater is a dynamic listening experience, but if you’re short on time make sure you at least check this song out. It’s really something special.

Image used with permission from Arow Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sydney’s Sloan Peterson Drops “Nightmare”

Nothing makes you understand your flaws quite like the downtime we’ve had through the pandemic. With my husband working from home since mid-March, we’re discovering just what nightmares we both can be. So “Nightmare,” the latest single from Sydney’s Sloan Peterson, is ticking all the boxes for me. It’s a sugary sounding indie-pop track with a dark undercurrent that’s perfect for these pandemic times.

“The beauty of songwriting is creating a story or poem with emotive concepts; it could be elements of truth, exaggeration or completely fictional” she explained. “‘Nightmare’ is shining a light on the fact that perhaps my expectations in life could come across unrealistic at times, but on the other hand does that really make me a nightmare or just a strong-minded woman who knows what she wants. It’s written in a playful relationship sense but questioning the construct of being deemed bossy or controlling rather than assertive or driven. I think it’s something a few people might relate to, whether it be a personal, social or professional circumstance.”

With a new EP slated for release early next year, we’ll be hearing a lot of Sloan Peterson in the near future.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leonie Kingdom Releases New Pandemic Folk Anthem, “2020”

It’s safe to say that 2020 hasn’t turned out the way any of us expected. Queensland’s Leonie Kingdom has paid tribute to a year that’s been memorable for all the wrong reasons with her folky new single “2020.” However, don’t expect your typical pandemic soundtrack. This song examines the little things that pile up rather than the enormity of the global health crisis.

“It magnifies all the ‘non-event’ things that went wrong this year whilst subtly ignoring the elephant in the room that is the global pandemic. This is not your ordinary ‘sad’ song; the upbeat production married with pitiful lyrics give the overall song a lighthearted feel.”

Leonie teamed up with animator apricotbanana for this cute clip.

Leonie is currently supporting Sons of the East on their You Might Think tour. It wraps up on Friday night, November 20, at Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Loiter’s New Single “In This Town”

With international travel off the table and border closures isolating so many states, it’s easy to feel a bit fractured from the rest of the world these days. But Loiter reminds us of what great things can happen when we come together. The band features a British expat and lads from Newcastle and Brisbane, and they’re pretty fantastic. Once you hear their new single “In This Town,” I’ll bet you’ll want to hear more.

“When I wrote the lyrics to ‘In This Town’, I was in a dark place. A volatile relationship was due to end as she was moving away, and although I knew it was probably for the best, in my immaturity I didn’t want it to,” explained frontman Daryn Yeats. However, the song took on new meaning when he moved to Australia and joined Loiter.

The band just dropped the music video for what will be their only single release for 2020. Hopefully, the new year brings plenty more music from these guys.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; photo credit: Will Johnstone

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sing Along to Midnight Drags’ “Ronnie”

I’m really digging the retro vibes of Midnight Drags’ new single “Ronnie” this morning. It’s got such a great power pop feel. But before you hit play on that bad boy, be prepared, this song will get stuck in your head. I guarantee you’ll be singing the catchy chorus throughout your day.

“Ronnie is a love song about yearning, regret and ultimately meeting one’s fate,” explained Lucas James, the man behind his exciting solo musical act. “It was (loosely) written about someone I know who went to jail. It’s written from the perspective of their confused and tormented loved one waiting on the outside.”

Lucas recorded the track at his studio with his talented musical friends Ashley Naylor (Even, Paul Kelly Band), Bill McDonald (Stephen Cummings, Frente), and Brett Wolfenden (The Casanovas, Wolfmother). No wonder it sounds so good.

“Ronnie” is our first taste of the new Midnight Drags album Bad Business, which should drop early next year.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

JXCKY Releases Romantic Pandemic Track, “Lockdown Lover”

The global pandemic hasn’t brought us a lot worth celebrating, but the creativity it’s inspired is a real silver lining. Melbourne was hit harder than most Aussie cities, but local soul singer JXCKY has turned lemons into lemonade with his latest single “Lockdown Lover.”

The track explores the idea of building emotional connections during this time when physical connections are so hard to find. It sounds like a bit of a throwback to the slow-jam glory days of the ‘90s, which is no negative at all. JXCKY’s falsetto is oh so smooth.

With a few more single releases slated for 2020’s remaining months and an album to follow next year, it sounds like we’ll be hearing a lot more from JXCKY.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

TYDE Wows With First Release “Skin on Skin”

Ella Belfanti wowed me a few years ago with her first collection of songs, Going in Circles. I saw her promise then, but it’s being fully realised with the release of her first material with her new band TYDE. The band features Ella, her younger sister Zoe, and another promising young talent Josh Garnett. With their debut release “Skin on Skin,” you can hear this trio has really got something special.

I can hear the influence of acts like Florence + The Machine and Matt Corby in this music, but it’s not so strong that it drowns out their originality. This song is so well-written and the musical arrangement absolutely captivating. It starts so small and intimate but builds to a beautiful, emotionally powerful crescendo.

Ella conceived the track while working as a ski instructor last year.

“During my third back-to-back winter amongst a very transient social set, I was feeling pretty lonely. After a few drinks on a big night out, I sought out connection in a way that usually wouldn’t be my style,” she admitted. “’Skin On Skin’ is about how it didn’t make me feel the way I wanted it to.”

The trio finished the arrangement in person, and you get a sense of that collaboration in the finished recording. While this is Ella’s story, you really get the sense that this is a band effort. The video, shot at Brisbane’s West End and Tambourine, is also visually stunning.

“The concept was to create this surreal space between the reality of going home the morning after a one-night stand, and the emotional rollercoaster that can happen in your head. We wanted to capture the process of reflecting on the experience – specifically in this story, on feeling detached and feeling strange in your own skin.”

Ella Belfanti has matured a lot as an artist since I was introduced to her music three years ago. She’s also surrounding herself with people who complement her talent so beautifully. After discovering this music from TYDE, I can’t wait to hear more.

Image used with permission from TYDE

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pierce Brothers’ “Dentist” is a Sweet Treat

When I heard Pierce Brothers had released a new track called “Dentist,” I was a little wary. Dentists do wonderful work, but like most Aussies, there are people I’d rather visit. Thankfully listening to the new Pierce Brothers track is much more relaxing than any root canal.

“After ‘Kanko’, we wanted to explore a deeper sound, and bring some harmonica back into the studio, which is something our recordings have been missing,” Jack said about the single. “This song was written during the first lockdown earlier in the year. I really wanted to step up my writing so, along with a friend of mine, I started doing a writing exercise every night. This song came out of one of those exercises. The word was Dentist. What flowed out was a reflection on the vulnerability we feel when things are out of our control and we don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s what the song is ultimately about, vulnerability. The dentist part is just a word.”

The folky ditty is complemented by a very 2020 video filmed entirely in Jack Pierce’s Melbourne living room.

“In the time of COVID there is not a whole lot we’ve been able to do shoot-wise. We couldn’t get locations, or extras, or even a real crew, so we had to improvise,” Pat recalled. “Carl and I have worked together on lots of projects before, and we have been talking for a while about teaming up again. It was great just getting back into filming beautiful scenes again and it seems fitting to have the clip be representative of this place in time. We included photos of our friends and family we’re missing to reflect the fact we were, in fact, stuck at home.”

Pierce Brothers have made the most of 2020, finishing the recording of their sophomore album and making music videos just like this. Pat Pierce has also been working with Balancing Act, a charity that connects artists with people with learning disabilities. Thank goodness for Zoom! The year might be winding down, but I hear the duo will still treat us to a few more tracks next year.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Little Quirks Release Beautiful New Single “Florence’s Town” Ahead of NSW Shows

Central Coast family band Little Quirks have made my heart soar with their latest single “Florence’s Town.” It’s an epic folk-pop number which reminds me a little of something Mumford & Sons or The Lumineers might have made. However, the feminine touch of sisters Abbey and Mia and their cousin Jaymi helps set this track apart.

“Florence’s Town is a story of people searching to find a magical, fictional place called Florence’s Town. The characters within this story are trying to prove their worth and earn their way into the love and freedom this place holds. In a world where unfortunately everything and everyone can be judged, I wanted it to be an anthem of empowerment for everyone feeling like they don’t fit into the social ‘norm’,” Abbey explained.

“I started the idea of Florence’s Town on a train somewhere after hearing the name of another passenger was Florence, which I really loved. I sang a melody quietly into my phone hoping nobody on the train would hear. After I got home I wrote the whole story of these characters, interspersed with my own experiences. I listened to all my secret train recordings and put the rest of it all together that night.”

The music video brings the narrative to life, with a nod to The Wizard of Oz. As gigs start to return, there are few opportunities to see Little Quirks doing their thing. Catch them at the following venues next month.

6 November 2020 – Warners Bay Theatre, Warners Bay (supporting Shane Nicholson)
21 November 2020 – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
27 November 2020 – The Chippendale Hotel, Chippendale
28 November 2020 – Radio Waves: A Drive-In Concert @ Morisset Showground, Morisset

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: Charlotte Toole

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Oh My My Impress With “Lover, Lover”

If LANY and Jeff Buckley were ever to collaborate, I think they might write something like “Lover, Lover,” the latest track from Sydney duo Oh My My. This track is so fantastic, with a catchy chorus juxtaposed with dark and brooding verses. There’s so much yearning and nostalgia in those vocals. This is everything I didn’t realise I needed to hear on this gloomy Monday afternoon.

“There was an ease to writing this song that felt natural, necessary and pretty magic. Once Sam [Thomlinson] spit out the line, “Lover, Lover”, everything fell into place for me lyrically,” explained the other half of the duo, Tim Quaife. “Coincidentally, I was in the midst of a pretty traumatic breakup and processing some very intense emotions. It all just spilled out and by the time we were done it felt somewhat triumphant. As if I was putting a very firm stamp on a painful part of my life. Cathartic.”

The pair recorded the track at Sam’s Sydney home studio before Leon Zervos (Troye Sivan, Pekin Duk) weaved his magic at Studio 301. The band continued the creative process, with Sam making his directorial debut for the music video.

“The idea of the video was to reflect what happens in your head when you’re going through a reasonably fresh break-up. It’s hard not to imagine your ex-partner with someone else, and although it may be a little irrational, it’s often hard not to demonise them, as somewhat of a coping mechanism,” he explained.

Oh My My don’t have any gigs on the horizon, but hopefully it won’t be too long before we see them back in front of audiences again.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR