Yes, I know I said I was taking a break, but when I heard American pop-punk legends Yellowcard are heading to Australia for a massive tour I couldn’t resist making one more post today. Hearing Yellowcard are heading our way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ocean Avenue was exciting enough, but then I saw the headliners. We get Motion City Soundtrack and Plain White T’s too?! Yes please!
“It has taken us a long time to sort out bringing the 20th anniversary of Ocean Avenue to Australia, but we promise it will be worth the wait!” Yellowcard said in the press release. “This lineup is so good and we can’t wait to reconnect with our fans down under.”
Yellowcard haven’t played Australia since 2017 so I know fans will be hungry for these shows. Sign up for presale tickets from December 10 or try the general sale from December 12.
2 April 2024 – Metro City, Boorloo/Perth (18+) 4 April 2024 Hindley St Music Hall, Tarntanya/Adelaide (Licensed ALL AGES) 5 April 2024 – Margaret Court Arena, Naarm/Melbourne (Licensed ALL AGES) 9 April 2024 – Hordern Pavilion, Eora/Sydney (Licensed ALL AGES) 11 April 2024 – Bar On The Hill, Mulubimba/Newcastle (18+) 13 April 2024 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane (Licensed ALL AGES)
I just wanted to let my readers know I was involved in a fairly serious car accident on Tuesday night which has left me nursing a broken collarbone and many bumps and bruises. So as much as I hate to do it, I’m going to have to step aside from the computer for a while and let my body heal. I’ll be back with all the Aussie music news and views you love as soon as possible.
It’s pretty hard to ignore that Christmas is mere weeks away. You can resist it, which doesn’t do much good I find, or simply embrace it. So in that spirit, I headed to Eora/Sydney last night for the taping of “A (Very) Musical Christmas.”
This review is a bit different than the ones I normally write, because I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone who’ll tune in to the ABC broadcast later this month. The lineup had been well-publicised so I will say that stars including Eddie Perfect, Casey Donovan, and that talented Laga’aia clan were every bit as wonderful as you might expect. I also hope this broadcast encourages people to see more shows like the traveling production of Dear Evan Hansen or Titanique, because their casts were fabulous. And I’ll also add that the surprise ABC personality, who wasn’t included in the original cast announcement, was an unexpected joy.
If you love Christmas, musical theatre, or (like me!) both do not miss “A (Very) Musical Christmas” when it screens on ABC on December 20. It was so good, I’ll definitely tune in to enjoy its fabulous renditions of beloved Christmas tunes all over again!
Solomon Island-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based singer, guitarist, and auu (panpipe) player Charles Maimarosia proves music really is the universal language with his gorgeous new single “Hote’ Hote’”. Like most listeners I don’t speak the Are’ Are’ language, but I’m moved by this gorgeous track. While Charles has to take a lot of the credit for that, he remains humble and acknowledges the part that Andrew Robison, who recorded, mixed, and produced “Hote’ Hote” played.
“Hote’ Hote’ is organic, rhythmic, soulful, and deeply rooted in the Are’ Are’ traditional ‘parani o’o’ rhythm, which shares similarities with rhythms found in many other cultures around the world. None of those rhythms would have been realised without Andrew Robinson,” Charles said. “He arranged the music chord progressions, and I layered the lyrics on top. If the words didn’t fit perfectly with the chords, we would try different ones until everything sat right, knowing that the words had to align with the context. For me, when I put Are’ Are’ lyrics in a song, I always make sure those words are true, make sense to ‘Are’Are’ people, and remain meaningful when translated into other languages, like English or Japanese. We’ve changed this song Hote’ Hote’ about three times already, and now we have this amazing version.”
Marcus Longfoot directed the song’s music video, which charts Charles’ personal journey from the Solomon Islands to Australia.
“The concept of the video is centred around voyaging in the ocean to the islands, which resonates with my own journey from Pipisu Village to Melbourne,” Charles explained. “I was shooting in the Melbourne city during winter, wearing shorts, which was quite an experience! I never imagined the video clip would turn out so well. The video was directed by Marcus Longfoot, with assistance from his team from RMIT media students: Rachel Kemp and Ruari Walsh. Natty [Dolaiasi] provided spoken word contributions from Lau Malaita Islands, whose people we call ‘masters of the ocean.’ Natty D’s spoken word and footage was filmed in Honiara Solomon Islands, my homeland, by Dream Cast Studios’ Mr Collin Leafasia. Marcus is a talented filmmaker and musician who has worked with Radical Son, another amazing artist from the First Nations community. It was a collaborative effort, and I’m grateful for all the creative minds who helped bring the video to life.” The year’s not done yet, but Charles is already setting his sights on 2025 when he’ll release a new album and play several shows.
“I want my audiences to know that I come from a remote village and that I’ll probably yarn a little bit on stage, share some stories, and make them laugh and reflect on their own life and journey while explaining each song,” Charles said. “Every time I’m on stage, I think of my mentor, and elder the late Donation Manu, an Are’ Are’ legend, and it reminds me that music is always here with us, before we are born and long after we are gone.”
Tickets for most of Charles Maimarosia’s February shows are on sale now, so don’t miss out!
Nathan Lamont effortlessly combines country, rock, and pop influences with his latest single “Name on It.”
“I wanted to highlight how love can completely upturn and transform a person’s outlook on life for the better, filling spaces we never knew were empty,” Nathan explained about the song he cowrote with his regular producer Alex Maher. “Alex and I have spent a lot of time in the studio together recording and songwriting, and we have many shared values and experiences when it comes to life and love.”
“Name On It” has already earned the seal of approval from none other than Keith Urban, who told Nathan to “keep it coming.” While Nathan looks up to Keith, his wife is arguably a bigger inspiration. His muse plays a starring role in the single’s film clip.
“I was excited to feature my wife in this project,” Nathan said. “She’s been the biggest source of inspiration behind my songwriting and has been on the sidelines supporting me since day one, so to have the opportunity to work with her so closely on something I love has only brought us even closer together.”
Nathan has already announced a couple of shows for next year, so don’t miss him if he’s playing near you!
“My Own Time,” the latest track from Meeanjin/Brisbane indie rockers The Urban Sea, is one of the best indie-rock tracks I’ve heard in some time. The lyrics are poetic and personal, and they’re wrapped up in such a fantastic shimmery sound that’s bound to have you grooving by the time the first chorus kicks in.
“There’s a bit of Arctic Monkeys swagger and Spacey Jane jangle in there, especially in how we approached the arrangements,” shared songwriter and guitarist Shanan Kilner. “’My Own Time’ came from a pretty emotional place during a breakup where I was ready to move on, but my ex was struggling to let go. The relationship had reached its end, and deep down, we both knew it. Writing this song was my way of processing those feelings and realising that sometimes the healthiest thing to do is move on. The line, ‘You got love on your lips but blood on your hands,’ sums it up. There was still affection, but we both had a hand in why things didn’t work out. It’s not about blame, but about recognising that love alone couldn’t fix what was broken. I wanted to move forward without rehashing old arguments or trying to pin down who was at fault, which is where the lines ‘I got no more coins for that wishing well’ and ‘lay low and let it go’ came from – sheer exhaustion from going over the same things again and again. The bridge ‘In my own time, get my feet back on the ground’ was a reminder to myself that healing takes time and it’s okay to take things at your own pace. When I first wrote it, it felt like a release.
“I didn’t want the song to be heavy or sad, even though the emotions were. The upbeat indie vibe reflects that sense of freedom that comes with finally letting go, even when it’s hard. I think we’ve all been in situations where we know it’s time to move on, but the comfort of the familiar pulls us back. It’s not about heartache – it’s about strength, about taking control of your own life and time. I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling of needing to reclaim their space after a relationship ends. Writing this song helped me find that closure, and I hope it resonates with anyone else who’s ready for their own fresh start.”
There’s more new music on the way from The Urban Sea, with the band set to release a new EP, Sunsets and Silhouettes, in February.
Local singer-songwriter AMA has teamed up with Los Angeles-based talent Jordan Everett for a new single called “SKIN.” It’s cute and super catchy. The chemistry between these two artists really shines through the recording.
This is AMA’s first collaboration and it sounds like she was pinching herself after getting the opportunity to work with one of her favourites.
“I’ve been a huge fan of him from years and it’s such a surreal moment to actually have a track out with him,” she said. “It’s super fun but also chaotic with just enough edge to keep you on your toes.”
AMA seems to go from strength to strength. I’ve loved everything I’ve heard, which is phenomenal considering she’s so young and still finding her feet in the music industry. I can’t wait to hear more from this local talent.
Lolita Mae’s got my temperature rising with her latest single “Holy Renascence.” This electro-pop number is the sexiest song I’ve heard in some time. So unless you want to raise a few eyebrows in the office, you might want to grab the headphones before you press play!
“This song is really a sonic love letter to my person,” Lolita Mae explained. “It’s someone who takes you on the wild side. This kind of intimate experience that feels like a sacred space where two souls finally merge and you feel everything you’ve always wanted to feel, exploring the depths of intimacy that transcend the physical and touch the spiritual. In this sanctuary, love is both wild and serene, a sanctuary where you can be bare and untamed.”
Lolita Mae, who’s based in Eora/Sydney, wrote and produced this song before handing the mixing and mastering duties over to PAX (Keiynan, Young6ix, Isaac Puerile). It’s such a strong track for a sophomore effort. Something tells me we’ll be hearing a lot more amazing music from her in the future.
I love The Vendettas’ classic rock sound. It’s anthemic, with big hooky guitar riffs and straight-down-the-line vocals. There’s no pretense or bullshit. “The Time Around” is another fantastic cut from this band who knows real rock music never goes out of vogue.
The track’s lyrics explore timeless rock themes of standing up to the man and taking back your power. Do we ever get sick of hearing music that pumps us up like that? I think not!
This is The Vendettas’ third single and they promised in a recent Facebook post that there’s some more on the way. I can’t wait to hear them!
Image used with permission from Golden Robot Records
The famous shipwrecks near Loch Ard Gorge on Purroitchihoorrong/Port Campbell Headland inspired Bella Deer’s epic new single “Shipwreck Coast.” This dramatic number reminded me of something we might hear from Florence and the Machine. What a powerhouse vocal performance Bella gives here.
“I was driving one night and felt drawn to the coast,” she recalled. “When I feel overwhelmed, I find myself there. Coastlines in Victoria hold a strange power, although they’re wild and fierce they’re also healing and a perfect place for contemplation.”
Bella has a couple of summer shows for fans to look forward to. Catch her at any of the following events:
23 & 24 November 2024 – Queenscliff Music Festival, Nherrin-boorwoork/Queenscliffe 14 December 2024 – Bendigo Records, Bendigo (ALL AGES, entry by gold coin donation) 26 January 2024 – Barrels Bar, Purroitchihoorrong/Port Campbell (ALL AGES FREE)
