Tag: Greg Gould

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Strings Attached” – Greg Gould

Australia met Greg Gould in 2013, when he came second in that year’s season of Australia’s Got Talent. He might not have claimed the title, but his incredible covers of tracks like “Purple Rain” and “Feelin’ Good” stuck in the public consciousness. His debut album 1998, jampacked with covers of the year’s biggest hits, topped the charts. He toured the country with En Vogue’s Maxine Jones on the back of their cover of “Don’t Let Go.” Covers have served Greg well. He has a knack for inhabiting a familiar song and making it his own. But Greg has much more than an amazing multi-octave voice to offer the music scene. With the release of Strings Attached, his first album of original music, he shows us he’s got plenty to say.

Pop is so often accused of being a lightweight musical genre. Musicians who come through the reality system are often dismissed by their industry peers. Greg seems to relish busting those myths and showing exactly what he can do. He doesn’t shy away from weighty material, tackling issues like sexual assault, the fight for equality, and the violent deaths of his friends Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. And that’s just the singles. Some songs can be confronting, but they’re also incredibly moving. Greg’s rich voice and knack for pop melodies draw you in, encouraging you to listen even when it’s uncomfortable.

It’s not all heavy-going though. “Hurricane” is an uplifting dancefloor anthem about trusting the right relationship. The earnest message and sweet piano melody of “You Are Enough” wrap around you like a big, self-affirming hug. “Love It All Out” is a beautiful torch song, a simple romantic ballad elevated by the musical chemistry Greg shares with Asian superstar Phoenix Morissette. She’s one of several big names on the album. There’s Broadway icon Shoshana Bean, Australian Idol Kate DeAraugo in her first pop appearance in nine years, Drag Race royalty Kween Kong, and a massive list of talent working behind the scenes. It’s a testament to Greg’s talent that all these luminaries have clamoured to work with him.

Strings Attached may well be the most powerful pop album I’ve ever heard. Greg takes the opportunity to tackle some big issues here, but he perfectly balances the darker songs with the light usually associated with the genre. With this album, I feel like we’re finally seeing the true depth of his talent, and it’s glorious.

Strings Attached is out now. You can see Greg live at one of the following shows:

13 September 2024 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Tarntanya/Adelaide (Synthony Dance Anthems Orchestrated)
20 September 2024 – Margaret Court Arena, Naarm/Melbourne (Synthony Dance Anthems Orchestrated)
27 September 2024 – Flamingo’s Live, Mulbinba/Newcastle (Keep the Faith George Michael & Whitney Houston show)
28 September 2024 – Avoca Beach Theatre, Darkinjung Country/Avoca Beach (Keep the Faith George Michael & Whitney Houston show)
30 September 2024 – Reef Casino, Gimuy/Cairns (Keep the Faith George Michael & Whitney Houston show – FREE)
31 September 2024 – Reef Casino, Gimuy/Cairns (Keep the Faith George Michael & Whitney Houston show – FREE)
8 November 2024 – Athenaeum Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (Immortality Celine Dion & Bee Gees show)

Images used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Greg Gould Aims to Break Stigma Around Sexual Assault With “Who Gave You Permission?”

Australian powerhouse Greg Gould is bravely sharing his experiences with sexual assault with his incredible new single “Who Gave You Permission?” A potent mix of pop and soul, the anthemic song calls out his abusers and reveals his own strength. He hopes the track might empower other survivors on their own journey through the trauma.

“To be honest I’m only just starting to feel comfortable to talk about this,” he shared. “The first time I performed the song live I burst into tears. I have been a victim of sexual abuse on four separate occasions in all very different circumstances from when I was 10 years old, right up until I was 30. Each time left me feeling so violated, so powerless, paralysed. Nobody has the right to touch you without permission. No means no. It was a very emotional, heart-wrenching, and confronting experience to write this song to be honest as I’d pushed a lot of those feelings and experiences down and hadn’t dealt with them – it took a while for me to be OK to admit it. There is a stigma around sexual abuse in general, and I do think it can be really difficult for men who are the victim – whether it be at the hands of another man or a woman. In my case, it was both on separate occasions. I want other men to feel comfortable to talk about this and speak up too.”

Greg has a string of shows happening over the next few months, including several where he’ll play this stirring single.

“Whether the subject matter is darker or lighter, guests at my shows can expect big vocals, big moments and a lot of fun,” he enthused. “I love to perform and I’m excited for the next 12 months! I’ve got big plans and even bigger dreams. I am so proud that ‘Who Gave You Permission?’ is out now and I’m moving forward both personally and professionally! I would love if even one survivor of abuse feels stronger as a result of hearing this song. I want people to know they are seen, they are heard and they are believed. We won’t be broken.

You can see Greg at the following events.

10 May 2024 – Greek Legends of the 20th Century @ Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne
18 May 2024 – Keep the Faith – George Michael & Whitney Houston @ Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Naarm/Melbourne
1 June 2024 – Gippsland Pride Gala @ Lardner Park, Gunai Country/Gippsland
7 June 2024 – Synthony @ Carriageworks, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
8 June 2024 – Synthony @ Carriageworks, Eora/Sydney

Photo credit: Cain Cooper

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Greg Gould & Morissette Team Up For “Love It All Out”

Don’t you just love a big dramatic ballad? If torch songs give you tingles too, make sure you listen to “Love It All Out,” a new duet from local talent Greg Gould and Filipino megastar Morissette. This pair is talented enough, but when you realise it was penned by Tania Doko and Swedish songwriter Nick Jarl, who’s written songs for Westlife and Loreen, and that it features a live strings arrangement from John Foreman, you start to understand why it’s so good.

“‘Love It All Out’ is possibly my biggest ballad to date, and I’ve sung a few in my career!” Greg enthused. “When I first heard the stunning track from my dear friend Tania Doko, and then blended with the gorgeous strings by John Foreman, I knew we needed a huge voice to take the song to the next level. I am so honoured to have the beautiful Morissette sing with me and I’m so proud of the finished product. I hope you love it as much as we do – it carries such an important message.”

“Love It All Out” is the fourth single from Greg’s new album Strings Attached, which should drop in the middle of the year. No doubt he’ll add to his already busy schedule on its release! Until then, you can catch him at one of the following shows:

3 February 2024 – Motown to Memphis @ Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Naarm/Melbourne
9 March 2024 – The Greatest Hits of Queen: The Freddie Mercury Songbook @ LOEV, Naarm/Melbourne
6 April 2024 – The Bridge, Eora/Sydney (supporting Eric Bazilian and Tania Doko)
7 April 2024 – Avoca Beach Theatre, Darkinjung Country/Avoca Beach (supporting Eric Bazilian and Tania Doko)
20 April 2024 – Memo Music Hall, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Eric Bazilian and Tania Doko)
18 May 2024 – The Gospel According to George Michael @ St. John’s Uniting Church, Wurundjeri Country/Elsternwick

Image used with permission from Dreamhouse PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Greg Gould Drops Powerful Original Single, “Marching On”

Fresh from performances at Pride Cup, Sydney World Pride, and Chillout Festival 2023, Greg Gould has released his impressive new single “Marching On”. This original track is an absolute anthem that shines a light on the constant fight for equality and acceptance that minority groups face.

“Music is so powerful and can change the world. ‘Marching On’ is a brave, fierce and powerful anthem that celebrates how far we’ve come; never forgetting the struggles, the lives lost and the shoulders we stand on to be where we are today,” said Greg, a proud gay man.

“It sets out to empower those still fighting for their rights around the world and is a war cry to continue to fight for equality. No matter your sexuality, gender/non gender, race, beliefs or ability, when we are all united – the world is stronger! We must keep marching on for ourselves, and the next generations to follow.”

I love listening to this song, but watching the music video takes it to the next level. Featuring Ethiopian dancer and artist LION, First Nations drummer Benny Clark, and trans advocate Sait Ergo, it’s a powerful accompaniment to “Marching On.”

While “Marching On” is an incredible original, don’t think this former Australia’s Got Talent finalist is giving up singing covers. Greg will celebrate the work of one of his idols when he plays The Freddie Mercury Songbook with Jimi the Kween and Sarah C at Oakleigh Music Hall on June 24.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nat Bass Headlines SYNTHONY Shows Around the Country

When you think of seeing a symphony, you probably imagine a night at the Opera House watching people dressed up to the nines playing classical music, right? But SYNTHONY has changed the game, marrying symphonic sounds with some of the hottest dance music around. Add a host of fantastic performers, and you’ve got the recipe for a fabulous night out.

Now in its third incarnation, SYNTHONY will hit some of the best music venues in the capital cities from February next year. These shows will feature Nat Bassingthwaite, Thandi Phoenix, Ilan Kidron from The Potbelleez, Greg Gould, and of course those incredible symphonies taking on music from acts like Disclosure, Eric Prydz, Flume, Daft Punk, and Calvin Harris. Oh, and did I mention the epic light show? It’s like the best dance party you’ll ever attend.

“This show is SYNTHONY all grown up, like a coming of age!” enthused conductor Sarah-Grace Williams, who has been with SYNTHONY since the start. “SYNTHONY no.1 is a bit of a nostalgic trip down memory lane, celebrating 30 years of global dance anthems, SYNTHONY no.2 is a little edgier, we still have a show packed with classics but introduce some more new music as well, and SYNTHONY no.3 takes that one step further – the best of EVERYTHING! I am so incredibly excited to be unleashing Synthony no.3 onto Australian audiences, they are going to love this show! For those who have already seen SYNTHONY 1 and 2, you ain’t seen nothing yet! And for those who have never seen a show – now is the time!”

So what are you waiting for? Tickets are available right now for all these SYTHONY No. 3 shows:

17 February 2023 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Naarm/Melbourne (feat. The SYTHONY Orchestra)
17 March 2023 – RAC Arena, Boorloo/Perth (feat. Perth Symphony Orchestra)
25 March 2023 – Riverstage, Meeanjin/Brisbane (feat. Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra)
22 April 2023 – Aware Super Theatre @ ICC, Eora/Sydney (feat. The Metropolitan Orchestra)

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Greg Gould @ The Art House, Wyong – 9 October 2020

It has been far too long since I’ve posted a concert review. The last time I went seven months without a concert I was probably in my early teens. I’m not sure I’ve ever gone that long without going out somewhere fun and social, but my husband and I have been hermitting hard during the pandemic. I wasn’t sure what it’d take to give me the confidence to venture out, but The Art House nailed it with The Stage Door Cabaret Sessions.

Before I talk about the Greg Gould show, I want to let you know all about the excellent measures The Art House has in place. The show was limited to just 45 attendees. We sat at tables on the stage in our ticket bubbles, further apart than the minimum 1.5 metres required. That left plenty of space for the venue’s staff to walk to deliver drinks and plates of cheese and antipasto to our tables. You could order them from a pop-up bar in the loading dock or via SMS from our table. We loved this option as it let us avoid bar queues. We were allowed inside as soon as we arrived and exiting was staggered to help us all maintain that vital social distance when we left.

The tables on the stage weren’t the only thing topsy turvy for this show. We entered and exited via the stage door, rather than the main entrance. A red carpet laid out for us made us all feel like VIPs. We used the bathrooms in the dressing rooms rather than those in the foyer. These changes made this show feel so special and gave us a new perspective of the theatre we all love.

The show started with a speech from Art House executive director, Anne-Marie Heath welcoming us back to the theatre and explaining the tradition of the ghost light, a light that traditionally stays on while a theatre is unoccupied. The Art House’s ghost light has lit up the theatre for seven months as the staff cancelled and postponed shows. What a thrill to toast to the Art House as that light went out.

And what a show to open the Art House with. Greg Gould has such an incredible voice, which could really shine in this intimate setting. It was his show, showcasing music from his current covers album 1998 and a few other choice cuts, but his special guests Andrew Worboys and Melanie Lewin were every bit a part of the show. Andrew Worboys provided piano accompaniment but also showed off his own vocal chops when Greg decided to tinkle the ivories. Melanie sang with Greg on his cover of “How Do I Live” on this album, but she showed her talent singing the parts of some of Australia’s most acclaimed female vocalists including Tania Doko and Prinnie Stevens. Greg and Mel are old friends, and their chemistry on stage really made the night something special.

1998 was an exciting time for me. It was my first year of university, that time when I really felt I was leaving my childhood behind and discovering my independence. Listening to songs from that period is such a nostalgic experience. Greg’s covers are so clever. He gives each song a new identity without straying too far from what made it great. And he’ll always out-sing a Britney Spears! I particularly loved his versions of “Together Again” and “Buses and Trains.” And that TLC medley had me wanting to violate that covid-safe no singing rule!

The Art House is showcasing the talents of other Central Coast talents like Greg, Mel, and Andrew at its The Stage Door Cabaret Sessions every Friday and Saturday night for the next few weeks. Tickets are incredibly limited to keep the events covid-safe, but I thoroughly recommend them if you’re anywhere near the coast! Head to The Art House website for all the details.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Greg Gould & Peyton Team Up for ’90s Cover

I’ve got a few guilty pleasures in my life. One of them is big torch ballads. Another is R’n’B from the 1990s. So the latest release from Greg Gould ticks all the boxes for me. He’s teamed up with X Factor UK finalist Peyton for a sensitive cover of Brandy and Monica’s smash “The Boy is Mine.”

Their reworking gives a new texture to the song which calls to light the bullying both artists faced in their youth. If you want something a little more upbeat, there are also three remixes on Spotify.

“I’ve always loved the song and wanted to create something unique and special, after Peyton dropped his vocals next to mine I knew we had just that,” Greg explained. “I’m really proud of this arrangement and how we flipped the narrative of the lyrics to really express something important to both of us. Sharing our personal history being bullied in this video was an emotional, yet cathartic experience for both Peyton and myself … oh and hand this woman an Oscar – Lynne McGranger is so incredible in this!”

If you love this as much as I do, you’ll be thrilled to hear there’s more where that came from. In fact, Greg has recorded a whole album of ‘90s bangers, 1998, which is due for release on April 17. It features collaborations with some of the nation’s best and brightest including Tania Doko, Damien Leith, Rhonda Burchmore, Cosima De Vito, and Mark Gable. Profits from this single and the album will benefit the Olivia Newtown-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre. It’s a powerful gesture that remembers Greg’s step-mother Sharon, who lost her own battle with cancer two years ago.

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Christine Anu and Greg Gould Team Up For “Without You

I go see more musicals than the average Aussie I think, but none has stayed with me like RENT. I saw it the first time it was performed in Australia, with Christine Anu playing Mimi. Remarkably, that was 20 years ago. I feel so old! I’ve seen RENT twice more since then: once in New York and again in Newcastle with an amateur theatre production. It’s that kind of musical that stands up to repeated showings, thanks largely to the strength of its songs. So I was thrilled to see Christine has revisited one of the most beautiful ballads from the musical, “Without You,” with the phenomenal Greg Gould.

“It’s not just that it’s a beautiful song,” says Christine. “But the themes from the show and the sentiment in the song are still so relevant. Social media shows this world of perfection and magnifies any sense of loneliness or separation. Greg has explored some of these in his own music which is why I’m excited to do this song with him.”

Like me, the music of RENT has long resonated with Greg. “Obviously I relate to many of the themes but the show follows people as they search for happiness in the face of intolerance, persecution and hardship. So many people in my life have been there.”

This new version of “Without You” has been released with a stunning clip exploring the way that life has changed for people with HIV thanks to medical advances and access to new medications and health services.

Hopefully this release will remind people how relevant and important RENT is and we can see another major production on our shores sometime soon. Twenty years is far too long!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Maxine Jones & Greg Gould @ Crowne Plaza, Terrigal – 18 July 2017

Living on the Central Coast, we don’t get a lot of big name musical acts. Aussie bands will occasionally stop by, but locals usually have to head to Sydney or Newcastle to see international artists. And a free show? It’s virtually unheard of. So when I heard that Maxine Jones from En Vogue was set to perform with our own Greg Gould at the Crowne Plaza in Terrigal last Tuesday night, I was a bit floored. Our Crowne Plaza? And for free? I wouldn’t normally venture out on a Tuesday night, but I couldn’t resist.

I must admit, when I stepped into the Lord Ashley Room, I wondered whether I was in the right place. The small stage, with its kitschy gold backdrop, hardly seemed befitting of soul royalty like Maxine. I’ve never been to a gig where employees were scrambling to find seats for people, pulling in couches and chairs from neighbouring rooms! The Facebook event said it all kicked off at 6, but hours later I was still waiting. That did give me time to savour the delicious wine and tapas the venue offered though.

This show was really worth the wait though. Although it was modest in presentation, the talent of both Maxine and Central Coast local Greg Gould shone through. Greg put me onside from the get go with a cover of “Euphoria,” a Eurovision winner from Sweden’s Loreen, that he dedicated to LGBTQI people still struggling for acceptance and love. I must admit, I missed Greg’s stint on Australia’s Got Talent, but I was wowed by him. What a talent the Central Coast has produced. Greg could have enjoyed more time in the spotlight, but he graciously stepped aside for Maxine to remind us all exactly what we love about her. I didn’t expect to hear “Free Your Mind” brought out so early, but she slayed it. Her voice has lost nothing over the years and her attitude is every bit as fierce.

Greg and Maxine graciously shared the stage for the rest of the evening, alternating between taking the lead and contributing back-up vocals. They sang like divas but certainly didn’t have the attitudes we associate with the term. Clearly appreciative of one another’s talents, they seemed happy to step back and take in what the other could do.

Greg treated us to a mix of his superb originals and covers of soulful songs like “Lay Me Down” and “American Boy.” Maxine’s work with En Vogue left her plenty of solo material to play with, but her cover of “Imagine” showed a deeper, more emotional side of this sassy performer. They came together for duets a couple of times, first to close the first set and again to close the night. I hadn’t heard their new single “Do You See Me Now” before, but I was spellbound by it. “Don’t Let Go,” the song Maxine made famous with En Vogue, was much more familiar to me, but hearing what Greg brought to the track helped me experience it with fresh ears.

Greg and Maxine will tour Europe and the United States together. If you get the chance to see them play together, take it. Nights enjoying voices like these are so rare and so special.

Image source: own photo