Hayley Mary Impresses With Latest Solo Effort, “The Lonely One”

In case you hadn’t heard, The Jezabels frontwoman Hayley Mary is gearing up to release her first solo album. But before she does, she’s dropped a fabulous new single, “The Lonely One”. This track has a cool retro feel that reminds me of strong female artists of the 80s like Chrissie Hynde, Kate Bush, and Annie Lennox.

Hayley co-wrote “the song”The Lonely One” at a house party with Reggie Goodchild of Confidence Man. She recalled “Goodchild and I started writing kinda by accident. We were partying and hanging out at the Con-man house a bit, and he had a few amazing demos that he thought would suit my 80s diva-style singing. We were jamming over this track, trying to flesh it out while everyone else was on the dance floor. It gave me the feeling of driving down a highway away from heartbreak, sadly but triumphantly.”

“The Lonely One” comes from Hayley’s solo album Roman XS, which drops on October 25.

Image used with permission from AAnthologies

The Jezabels Release Stunning Standalone Single “The Others”

The Jezabels are one of those rare bands that never seems to show signs of fatigue. With the release of a new single “The Others,” they’ve left no doubt that they’ve got plenty of creative juices running through their collective veins.

Interestingly, “The Others” is a standalone track. It doesn’t come from an album or an EP. It’s just here for us to enjoy in all its glory.

“We’re revisiting our romantic roots in this new song, though with a newfound directness,” the Jezabels said in a press release. “Lyrically it’s a reflection of the kind of intense loneliness that makes simply being in ones own body feel painful. The unsolvable predicament of ones desire for another crossing over into a desire to lose yourself, where the body is both the blissful point of contact, but also, the thing which keeps you constantly separate. Musically we have tried to sit that on a soundscape that is both euphoric and melancholy, driving but pensive”

The Jezabels have just wrapped up seven sold-out nights at The Lansdowne Hotel. Fans get their next chance to see them at the Wildwood Festival in Port Macquarie on October 1.

The Jezabels Hitting The Lansdowne

You might have assumed your days of seeing The Jezabels in pubs were over. However, if you’re in Sydney, you get another chance. Or seven to be precise. You see, the band is scheduled to perform seven shows at The Lansdowne over seven consecutive nights this month.

“We had a few reasons for doing seven nights at the Lansdowne,” explained Hayley Mary. “We wanted to play a bunch of small, intimate shows to our Sydney fans where we could change up the set and play some songs we wouldn’t normally have time for and the reopened Lansdowne represents such an awesome new era for Sydney that it seemed right it should be there. But mainly, we felt a sadistic kind of pleasure in making the staff listen to us over and over to the point of sheer disdain.”

Each show will feature a different opening act before The Jezabels take you on a musical journey through their back catalogue. If you’re lucky, you might even be among the first to hear some new tunes.

Tickets for all shows are available through Oztix.

21 August 2017 – with special guest, Didirri (solo)
22 August 2017 – with special guest, Sunscreen
23 August 2017 – with special guest, Soma
24 August 2017 – with special guest, Angie McMahon
25 August 2017 – with special guest, Planet
26 August 2017 – with special guest, Borneo
27 August 2017 – with special guest, Big Time

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity

The Jezabels, British India Headline Port Macquarie’s Wildwood Festival

Now in its fourth year, Port Macquarie’s boutique independent music festival Wildwood is getting even more fabulous. The first major line-up announcement recently confirmed The Jezabels, British India, Hugo Race, and Alex the Astronaut will all grave the Wildwood stage.

It might have an incredible line-up, but Wildwood doesn’t believe bigger is better.

“Wildwood has never strayed from its roots while at the same time continues to grow year after year,” explained festival organiser Simon Leigh. “We just aim to bring together a warm feel good festival and have really gone beyond and above this year with our amazing line up and our food stalls and children’s area will once again bring colour, glitter and our own brand of fun to the festival.”

“We are excited to see the forest filled with fireflies and adults and children alike sparkling from head to toe in their illuminated aurora. It’s always the most magical way to end a day of great music”.

Wildwood hits Cassegrain Winery in Port Macquarie on October 1. Tickets are on sale through Livetix.

Image used with permission from Wildwood Music Festival

“Synthia” – The Jezabels

The Jezabels are back with a brand new album, Synthia. So often bands struggle to maintain the quality of their music over an extended period of time, but there are no such worries with this stellar Australian act. In fact, this third album may just be their best yet.

Ordinarily when I listen to an album I might review I find myself scribbling notes as I listen. However, I was too entranced by the music the first go round to be pulled out of it with observations. I just wanted to let it wash over me.

There’s something so cathartic about listening to songs like the opening track “Stand and Deliver” and the breathtaking “Smile” that build so beautifully to searing crescendos. The Jezabels know how to do epic more convincingly than most acts on the scene.

They’re also a band that knows how to use light and shade so well. I love that driving intensity they can deliver in a song like “My Love is My Disease,” and then how they can leave you hanging on ever moment in quieter periods, like the first half of “Smile.”

“A Message From My Mothers Passed” is one of those songs so beautiful that it stopped me in my tracks. I was similarly enthralled by the exquisite “Flowers in the Attic.” “Stamina,” a song so full of wisdom, ends the album perfectly.

Synthia is likely to be everything fans hope it will be. The darkness and drama of the songs The Jezabels create is like nothing else around. And Hayley Mary’s vocals that seem to cut through so effortlessly are some of the best in the business. This album is sure to cement The Jezabels reputation as one of the best Australian acts making music today.

Synthia hits stores on 12 February.

John Butler Trio, The Jezabels Headline Big Pineapple Music Festival

I thought that the Big Pineapple was just a place for tourists to snap a few photos. But it turns out it’s also been hosting a sold-out music festival for the last couple of years. It’s little wonder the event’s so popular when organisers can put together a lineup featuring the John Butler Trio, The Jezabels, Thundamentals, Violent Soho, Jebadiah, and helps more.

This year it’s got a brand new site with space for 2500 people to camp, three stages, and plenty of car parking.

“We were given the opportunity to move to the land just across the road, which now gives us a stunning panoramic view to main stage area,” explained festival organiser Mark Pico. “We also gained two more beautiful areas for our smaller stages, double the site space, and the camping is now very close by – bringing the whole festival together.”

The third annual Big Pineapple Music Festival hits Nambour on May 30. Early-bird tickets go on sale tomorrow from the festival website for the bargain price of just $69.95 plus booking fees.

The Jezabels Go DIY

With their homecoming tour just around the corner, The Jezabels have decided to release their first ever DIY film clip to promote their new single “Angels of Fire.” The music video was filmed in and around London by their talented photographer friend.

“Our friend Jo is a photographer so we enlisted her to be our DOP. She had some really nice touches which helped. Filming London isn’t that difficult either though,” said the band’s lead guitarist, Samuel Lockwood said. ”The song is partly about time and ageing, and what city could better convey that sort of thing.”

The “Angels of Fire” video is available exclusively online. Enjoy!

The Jezabels Announce Headline Shows

I’ve been loving The Jezabels’ latest songs from their new album The Brink, so I’m pretty excited to hear the band’s playing their first headline dates for the year next month. These shows are in addition to their upcoming appearances at the Groovin the Moo festival.

Blink and you’ll miss them; The Jezabels will play just five shows including two at the prestigious Sydney Opera House.

28 & 29 April 2014 – Opera House, Sydney
2 May 2014 – The Palais Theatre, Melbourne
6 May 2014 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane
9 May 2014 – The Astor Theatre, Perth

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

The Jezabels Own “Look of Love”

If the first single “The End” didn’t already convince you that you need to own The Jezabel’s new album The Brink, then let the “Look of Love” work its magic. This electro-pop gem showcases the depth of talent that this album offers. Don’t let its familiar name fool you either. This is a true Jezabels original.

“Essentially, it’s story is that of ‘Uptown Girl’, but sung from the perspective the girl, who acted ‘too good’ for the boy who loved her, afraid to become stigmatized by her own desire. Years later, when nothing has matched up to the young love she pushed away, the pretence crumbles into delusion,”explained Jezabels’ frontwoman Hayley Mary. “Though the song is sung in present tense, about wanting to give into this love right then and there, the opportunity she speaks of is dead, and all that is left is an unhealthy reliving of the past, and a desire for a love that’s gone.”

What do you think of this killer cut?

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Flume Dominates, but 27th Annual ARIAs Underwhelm

I’m a little late on my ARIAs post this year as Australian music’s night of nights coincided with another big night for me: my husband’s birthday. So I’ve spent the morning catching up with all that went down. As these things go, I thought it was pretty average.

It was far from a debacle, polished and professional, but also lacking the wow factor of some of the other ceremonies. Watching the ladies from The Jezabels pay tribute to Chrissy Amphlett so beautifully was a real highlight, as was watching those classy fellows from Air Supply inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was also thrilled to see Matt Corby take home Song of the Year for the stunning “Resolution,” although his “speech” left plenty to be desired. Perhaps he should have taken notes from the eloquent Guy Sebastian.

By and large though, I felt the performances were a bit bland and predictable. Sheppard excited me more from the red carpet than most of the entertainers in the auditorium. I also thought it was odd that Michael Gudinski, as the recipient of the first “icon” award, didn’t take to the stage. Surely he deserved a moment in the spotlight rather than simply waving awkwardly from his seat. The same goes for the winners of the “minor” awards, many of whom weren’t even acknowledged. I miss the days where we at least saw all their names once we returned from commercials, not just the ones the broadcaster thinks we might be interested in. I always sit transfixed to awards shows, but I felt this one dragged. I’m not sure what it was missing, but I was left yawning despite watching the thing when I was well awake.

What was your take on this year’s ARIAs? And what do you think of this year’s winners?

Album of the Year: Lonerism – Tame Impala
Song of the Year: “Resolution” – Matt Corby
Breakthrough Artist (Release): Flume – Flume
Best Male Artist: Flume
Best Female Artist: Jessica Mauboy
Best Group: Tame Impala
Best Independent Release: Push The Sky Away – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Push The Sky Away – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Best Blues and Roots Album: Sharkmouth – Russell Morris
Best Children’s Album: A Little Day Out with Justine – Justine Clarke
Best Comedy Release: The Bits We’re Least Ashamed Of – Tom & Alex
Best Country Album: Wreck and Ruin – Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
Best Dance Release: Flume – Flume
Best Pop Release: Armageddon – Guy Sebastian
Best Rock Album: Lonerism – Tame Impala
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: Asymmetry – Karnivool
Best Urban Album: Bring it Back – Illy
Best International Artist: One Direction
Best Australian Live Act: Guy Sebastian
Best Video: “Firestarter” – Samantha Jade
Best Cover Art: Dave Homer & Aaron Hayward of Debaser (Ice On The Dune – Empire Of The Sun)
Engineer of the Year: Virginia Read (Sally Whitwell)
Producer of the Year: Harley Streten (Flume)
Best Classical Album: All Imperfect Things: Solo Piano Music of Michael Nyman – Sally Whitwell
ARIAs Best Jazz Album: Smile – The Idea Of North
Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album: Conversations With Ghosts – Paul Kelly, James Ledger, Genevieve Lacey & ANAM Musicians
Best World Music Album: Chameleons of the White Shadow – Joseph Tawadros