Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Down and Out Drop Rocking Single, “Paper Skin”

The Aussie pop-punk scene is so strong at the moment. It feels like I’m writing about bands from this scene most weeks, but they’re so good I can’t leave any out. Tandanya/Adelaide act Down and Out is the latest to get me fired up with their latest single “Paper Skin.” With killer vocals from frontman Luke Ganeo and an exciting mix of classic guitars and synths, there’s a lot to like.

“The song is about being in a situationship that falls apart due to a lack of clear communication and intentions. It’s easy for things to become messy quickly in a situation like that unless everybody is on the same page, and this situation became messy pretty quickly,” Down and Out explained. “Unfortunately, if nobody has the insight or guts to call it off early enough it can devolve into an unstable and toxic dynamic, which is exactly what happened.”

Watching the video for “Paper Skin”, which features live performance footage from shows at Mobile Barber Shop Depot and Hijinx Hotel, makes me want to see Down and Out in some sweaty pub somewhere. They’re fresh from shows with SoSo, but no doubt it won’t be too long before they’re back on the road. Keep an eye on their socials for news of gigs as soon as they’re announced!

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

DENNIS. Releases Stunning New Single “Sober”

DENNIS. is best known for her upbeat pop numbers, but she’s taken a bit of a left-turn with “Sober.” This track is a real sucker punch, a vulnerable and confessional exploration of identity and self-doubt.

“’Sober’ is about how I like myself more when I’m sober but my friends like me more when I drink,” she admitted. “I guess it’s a drinking anxiety theme, with a focus on being too much inside your own head to the point that you almost create a reality that isn’t true. What if I was Sober would you love me like I do? We’ve all been there before, had one too many and maybe said too much or did something we shouldn’t have.”

DENNIS. has already clocked up more than 7 million streams; if there’s any justice this awesome single will net her a few more.

Image used with permission from samesame records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eliza Hull Releases Powerful New Single “Running Underwater”

After years of keeping her degenerative nerve disorder hidden, Eliza Hull has laid her feelings about her condition bare in her powerful new single “Running Underwater.”

“For a long time, I hid my disability, especially in the music industry. This was due to under-representation of disabled musicians and I was constantly shown that disability was a deficit or something that should be feared and hidden. It was such a heavy weight holding onto these beliefs, it was exhausting to constantly hide,” she admitted. “This song is about pushing up against society’s view of disability, it’s about letting go of the fear and being authentic and true to myself and showing that it’s OK to be different.”

The single’s power is matched by the video, which features dancer roya the destroyer, a fellow disability advocate and creative force.

“The music video features my very good friend ‘roya the destroya’. She is a brilliant disabled dancer who moves like nobody I know. She actually started busking with an early version of the song and sent me a video of her performing with it. When I watched that video I knew I had to collaborate with her on the official music video,” Eliza added. “She has a beautiful ability to inhibit what I am feeling in my music and then express that through movement. In the music video she is like my alter-ego, almost like the spirit part of what I am feeling in the lyrics. Keiran Watson-Bonnice is the director of the music video. We have worked together in the past on the ABC Kids TV show And Then Something Changed, which I produced and wrote the music for. We shot the clip in one day, in mostly one take in the Goods Shed on a freezing winter’s day. “

Fresh from dates in the United Kingdom, Eliza will play the following local shows in August and September.

26 August 2023 – Melbourne Recital Centre, Naarm/Melbourne
10 September 2023 – Riverside Theatre, Eora/Sydney
22 September 2023 – Undercover Festival, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Michelle Grace Hunder

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields Team Up For “Your Heart of Gold”

After wowing me with his stellar catalogue of solo songs, Matt Joe Gow is taking on a new challenge and teaming up with Kerryn Fields. “Your Heart of Gold” is their first single as a duo, and it’s just as fabulous as fans of these artists, who’ve both won Music Victoria Awards for their solo material, might expect. I’ve always loved the interplay between starkly different male and female voices on a good duet, and that’s exactly what we get here.

Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields have already been named finalists in the New Zealand MLT songwriting awards for three more songs of their upcoming album, so it sounds like we’ve got plenty of quality material on its way. Tomorrow they’ll play the Tussock Stage: Moonlight Session in Gore before heading to Hawke’s Bay for the Small Halls Sessions from June 9 to 11, so if you’re in that part of Aotearoa/New Zealand make sure you don’t miss these gigs.

Image used with permission from Matt Joe Gow

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

PJ Harding Stuns Me With “It Wasn’t Enough”

It’s been a little while since a song stopped me in my tracks. “It Wasn’t Enough”, by local singer-songwriter and producer PJ Harding, is one of those special, rare songs. On the surface, it’s a simple folky acoustic guitar number, but it’s so much more. Stop what you’re doing and take a listen.

‘”I think ‘It Wasn’t Enough’ is a song that gets to the heart of something very true about the human condition and doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense. It’s really one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” PJ said. “I only recorded one take of this vocal and it was recorded seconds after I finished writing the song. There was something magic about that moment I didn’t want to mess with.”

“It Wasn’t Enough” comes from PJ’s debut EP To Fall Asleep, which drops on June 16. You can bet I’m listening as soon as it’s released.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eliott Drops Stunning Single “Control” Ahead of Album Release

It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing about Eliott since 2019, but we still haven’t heard her debut album. But you know what they say about good things coming to those who wait. That album isn’t too far away, but she’s just dropped a fabulous new single to tide us over. If you’ve ever directed your affection toward someone who didn’t share your feelings, “Control” will resonate with you.

“Control is about unreciprocated love,” Eliott confirmed. “It is about feeling isolated and vulnerable and coming to terms with the fact that you can’t force someone’s affection when you have already given them everything”

Charles Buxton-Leslie directed the music video, which features 18-year-old Mexican-born Eora/Sydney dancer Diego Garcia Rendon.

“The song has such incredible build and release moments which we followed with the music video,” Charles explained. “We wanted to explore a story of emotional release and helping each other through shared experiences.”

Hold on just a little bit longer Eliott fans. Her debut album will be here before you know it.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: Jess Brohier

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jem Cassar-Daley Releases Powerful New Single, “King of Disappointment”

Jem Cassar-Daley really impressed me with singles from her debut EP like “Oh No” and “Like It More.” So I’m thrilled she’s going from strength to strength with her first new music since that release. I must admit, while I enjoyed her past releases, I think her latest single “King of Disappointment” is my favourite yet. It’s so lyrically strong, with a stripped-back vibe that really showcases those powerful lyrics. If you’ve ever felt gaslighted and let down, you’re going to connect with this one.

“Before heading to Sydney to write with Brendon Boney in the “resonate” program, I had a situation where my shoes were on, makeup done and I was ready to head out the door when I got a “sorry, something came up” text,” Jem shared. “Instead of being sad, I decided to use it as inspiration in the studio.”

Fresh from shows in the United Kingdom, Jem has been announced as the support act for most of Busby Marou’s upcoming dates. Here are all the places you can catch this incredible line-up:

18 August 2023 – Harvey Road Tavern, Goeng Country/Gladstone
19 August 2023 – Moncrieff Theatre, Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Bailai Country/Bundaberg
26 August 2023 – Yamba Bowling Club, Yaegl Country/Yamba
27 August 2023 – Miami Marketta, Kombumerri Country/Gold Coast
1 September 2023 – The Gov, Tartanya/Adelaide
2 September 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
9 September 2023 – The Princess Theatre, Meeanjin/Brisbane
10 September 2023 – Moonee Beach Hotel, Gumbaynggirr Country/Coffs Harbour
14 September 2023 – Anita’s Theatre, Dharawal Country/Thirroul
13 October 2023 – Riverside Precinct, Darumbal Country/Rockhampton
14 October 2023 – Harrup Park, Yuwibara Country/Mackay
20 October 2023 – Tanks Arts Centre, Gimuy-walubarra yidi Country/Cairns
21 October 2023 – The Mansfield (Warehouse), Bindal and Wulgurukaba Country/Townsville

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skyuka Drops Fantastic Indie Pop Track, “Michael Cera”

Boorloo/Perth-based indie pop artist Skyuka has won me over with her new single “Michael Cera.” I had high hopes for this one, given my own love of Michael Cera, but Skyuka exceeded them. Not only are the lyrics brilliant, it’s got this cool grungy pop vibe that I’m really digging.

“When I wrote ‘Michael Cera’ I was listening to a lot of Vampire Weekend and just really enjoying the playfulness of their earlier albums which influenced the writing process of this song,” Skyuka explained. “It felt refreshing to write something fun that people could clap and sing along to and have a laugh at, but still had a lot of heart. I was basically telling myself I didn’t want to see this person anymore because of their addictive tendencies…but at the same time I felt like a huge hypocrite as I was clearly addicted to them.”

Also, if you also love Michael Cera, this video is everything you hoped it might be. Short of having a cameo by the actual Michael Cera.

“Being a Michael Cera fan I knew I could have a lot of fun with this video. I found this Michael Cera mask on eBay and I think that was when I realised I was onto something. I wanted the video to be very narrative-driven and fun like the song,” said Skyuka. “I did a very detailed storyboard for this video and a lot of thought and attention to detail went into the props and settings as I really wanted to capture the 90s/early 2000s vibes that come to mind when I think of Cera. The first scene was actually shot in the lounge room at my parent’s house and I remember being up till 4am the day before the shoot decorating the entire wall with Michael Cera posters and rearranging all their furniture like a mad woman. I directed the video myself and Dylan Guy shot and edited the video.”

We’ll hear more from Skyuka when she releases her EP later this year.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Mark Francesca

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

KHAOS EMERLD Makes His Debut With “getting better”

Eora/Sydney act KHAOS EMERLD has made a big impression on me with his debut single “getting better.” The presser describes his music as hyperpop, but I’m definitely hearing some heavier punk and grunge influences in there.

“‘getting better’ was written in July 2022, after I had spent several months in an endless feedback loop of feeling bad about myself and feeling like I was pulling everyone down with me. There were many events that changed the pathway of my life, yet I hadn’t done anything to benefit from them. Suddenly, I realised half a year had gone by and I felt like I was exactly where I’d started,” KHAOS EMERLD explained. “The song is a mix of rage and derision, written in a genre I was just getting familiar with around the time, and funnily enough, became the start of an upward trajectory which led me to where I am now.”

I hear this is the first of several KHAOS EMERLD songs slated for release, so make sure you follow his socials to hear the new music as soon as it drops. KHAOS EMERLD will also launch the single for hometown fans at Goodspace @ The Lord Gladstone on June 10.

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: @yogapunkphotography

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Delta Riggs Make Your Day Better With “Solutions”

The Delta Riggs are bringing the good vibes to your midweek with their new single “Solutions.” If this one doesn’t put a smile on your face, you might be a lost cause!

“Taking from our experiences in life, as well as that of friends and strangers alike, instead of just seeing the negatives, we wanted to write about finding the positives in situations,” the band explained. “Finding a solution through banding together with friends, lovers, family or strangers you’re yet to meet, lifting each other up and sharing the weight together.”

I hear there’s plenty more new music from the Delta Riggs on the way, so we can expect the good vibes to keep on coming this year.

Image used with permission from Good Intent