Tag: Joe Mungovan

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joe Mungovan Critiques Modern Life With “Cyclone”

Joe Mungovan continues his musical evolution with the release of “Cyclone.” It’s a world away from the laidback romantic tunes that turned me on to his music, but it’s so cleverly written and sonically interesting that I just don’t care. I’m sure it’ll turn off some of the fans he made in the start of his career, but I love listening to the twists and turns his career’s taking.

“Cyclone” comes from Joe’s forthcoming album SUGAR, CANDY, LIPS, which drops on March 15. He’ll waste no time taking these songs on the road.

“We knew (the band and I) that we couldn’t wait to get these songs in front of a crowd as soon as we were recording them – they’ve got big, electric energy that screams for a live audience to get amongst it and have a boogie,” Joe enthused. “We’re stoked to return to some old haunts on this East Coast line up, and play some new venues too. The boys in the band absolutely kill it and while this is our most ambitious headline tour yet, and we are itching to get on the road and bring the show to a city near you.”

Joe will play a string of shows with The VANNS before kicking off his headlining tour. Here are all the dates. You know what to do!

29 February 2024 – Sooki Lounge, Wurundjeri Country/Belgrave
1 March 2024 – Torquay Hotel, Wadawurrung Country/Torquay
3 March 2024 – Volta, Ballaarat/Ballarat
5 April 2024 – Stag and Hunter, Mulubinba/Newcastle
6 April 2024 – La La La’s, Woolyungah/Wollongong
19 April 2024 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
20 April 2024 – The Gasometer, Naarm/Melbourne
28 April 2024 – The Gum Ball Festival, Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley
3 May 2024 – It’s Still A Secret, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Photo Credit: Ben Develin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joe Mungovan Ushers in New Era With “Handmidowns”

Southern New South Wales singer-songwriter Joe Mungovan blew me away with his debut album A Flower in the Weeds a couple of years back. Now he’s regrouped and dropped a fabulous new single “Handmidowns.” I must admit, it took me a little while to embrace as it’s a bit more sonically layered than the music that came before, but now I’m on board I really appreciate his evolution. Perhaps a new sound is only natural, as Joe took a different approach to recording this time around.

“This is the first time I’ve ever had other musicians in the studio with me,” he explained. “Prior to ‘Handmidowns’, I’ve always recorded all the parts by myself. It was awesome to hear other musicians play the parts and bring their own flavour to the track.”

“I want this song to empower whoever listens to it to believe they can do exactly what they want and to tread their own path in life,” he added. “Writing this song has had a strong impact on my outlook and I hope it can help others.”

Fresh from shows supporting The VANNS, Joe is playing the following gigs in the coming weeks:

15 July 2023 – Suburban Vibes, Walyalup/Fremantle
20 July 2023 – Sofar Sounds, Boorloo/Perth
22 July 2023 – Little Village, Wadandi Country/Metricup
29 July 2023 – General Assembly, Naarm/Melbourne
12 August 2023 – Ryans Hotel, Dharawal Country/Thirroul

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Flower in the Weeds – Joe Mungovan

Joe Mungovan has been one of my favourite musical finds for the year. I raved about his sexy, summery singles “Give Me Your Love” and “Lemon + Lime,” so was delighted to wrap my ears around his debut album, A Flower in the Weeds. My expectations were high, but this collection of cool, romantic ditties is just what the doctor ordered.

Like so many great albums, A Flower in the Weeds was inspired by a great love. It was the kind of connection that bridges distance, that takes hold and refuses to let go even when logic tells you that you should.

“I met a girl while on tour in Europe back in 2019. She cut my hair at 4 am after my show in Berlin, and ended up traveling around Europe with me for the remaining shows. I flew back to Australia after the tour ended a few months later and moved into a house in Kangaroo Valley to start writing an album. I didn’t know if I would ever see her again,” he explained, setting the scene.

But of course, he did. She came to Australia for a carefree summer. They were inseparable, road-tripped along the East Coast, soaking up the sun and sipping wine by campfires. It was all going swimmingly, until the pandemic hit, she returned home and Joe resumed writing this album.

A Flower in the Weeds is a beautiful snapshot of a relationship unfolding. Most tracks focus on the time he spent with “the one that got away,” recreating intimate moments in Germany and Australia. Others are full of longing. He pleads for her to come back and be next to him in “Stella.” He waits for fleeting phone contact and remarks on the gulf between time zones in “Autumn Sun.” The closing track “What Should I Do With All This Love?” brought a tear to my eye.

As someone who’s lived through one, I know how bittersweet long-distance relationships can be. The highs are glorious, but that separation can be torture. I can’t even imagine the extra level of pressure the pandemic has put on couples who live on opposite sides of the world. Joe captures all of those emotions so beautifully. If, like me, you’ve ever loved someone who lives far away you’ll find this collection of songs so relatable. If you’ve never been there, I guarantee you’ll still get swept up in the romance.

A Flower in the Weeds is out now. Joe plans to tour the album around the country next year. Until then, Kiama locals can catch him at Little Betty’s tonight and New Year’s Eve.

Images used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joe Mungovan Drops Hot New Single “Give Me Your Love”

South Coast singer-songwriter Joe Mungovan brings the sexy with his cool new jam “Give Me Your Love.” Before you press play, Joe sets the scene.

“Imagine yourself on a warm summer day in a beautiful city somewhere in Europe. You’ve been spending every day exploring the city, drinking wine in the sun and everything is new and exciting. On top of all of this, you’re falling for a person you’ve just met. ‘Give Me Your Love’ is the soundtrack.”

OK, got that visual in your head? Good. Now take a listen.

Joe directed the video with Mikey Conlon in his hometown of Kiama.

“We were quite restricted with making this video,” he admitted. “The initial idea for it had to change quite drastically when the second lockdown became quite serious in NSW. I decided to make it a one-shot through my beautiful hometown of Kiama. We came up with a rough map of where we wanted to go and winged it a few times. Although we stumbled across a few hurdles (car doors not opening and lights falling over) we got there in the end.”

“Give Me Your Love” gives us a little taste of what’s in store when Joe drops his long-awaited debut album A Flower in the Weeds this November.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Mikey Conlon (Conlon Creative)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joe Mungovan Drops Tasty New Single, “Lemon + Lime”

Summer might be fizzling out, but Joe Mungovan is helping us hold on to its laidback vibes a little longer with his ultra-chill new single “Lemon + Lime.” Hit play, close your eyes, and you’ll be instantly transported to the beach, mojito in hand.

Like so many great tracks, “Lemon + Lime” was inspired by a chance encounter with a girl. Joe met the mystery woman after a show in Germany. Their time might have been short-lived, but it lives on in this cracking single.

“We had a magical time together and I tried to encapsulate the feeling of that night in the sonic elements of the song,” he explained. “Lemon + Lime’ is a track I’ve been working on for about six months. During the Covid lockdown, I was living on a property in Kangaroo Valley. The space provided me with a lot of time to write music and look back on the memories made over the past years of touring and making music. The song came together a lot easier than most of my songs; it sort of just fell out. I got my mate Tim Carr down to my little studio set up I was using and we finished off the song together. The cicadas were so loud at that time of year that we had to build a soundproof booth out of blankets and cushions to record the vocals in.”

This gentle groove is just what I needed to get me through the rest of Humpday. What do you think readers?

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Ruby Boland (@rubyboland)