Emily Lubitz Goes Solo With “Like I Do”

Tinpan Orange vocalist Emily Lubitz is striking out on her own with the charming new solo single “Like I Do”. This might be Emily’s solo debut, but her experience gained through more than a decade in the business shows here. It’s a seasoned effort that should please her fans and win her some new ones.

“When a relationship spans many years it contains many lifetimes. This song is about looking back to when things started and how different it is now. How our lives turn and curve and the common denominator is the person we have shared it with,” Emily explained. “Actually, our partner changes and curves too and so do we, so maybe the common denominator is love. From being young musicians in Melbourne, drinking bourbon and pretending we know everything, to being the parents of three children and realising we know very little, it’s a big range. And we are still learning. ‘Like I Do’ is a love song too.”

Emily will hit the road next week to support the release of “Like I Do.” Here are all the dates you need:

17 July 2022 – Brunswick Artists Bar, Iramoo/Brunswick
18 July 2022 Regal Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Paul Kelly and Paul Grabowsky)
19 July 2022 – Regal Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Paul Kelly and Paul Grabowsky)
29 July 2022 – The Citadel, Murwillumbah
30 July 2022 – The Junk Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
31 July 2022 – Dust Temple, Currumbin

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Lilli Waters

Tinpan Orange Ready to Tour “Wanderers” Single

With their tour kicking off in a couple of short weeks, it seemed the perfect time to introduce you to Tinpan Orange’s dreamy new single “Wanderers.” The song pushes the boundaries of folk music with its unique string arrangements and lush layered sound. The video, captured by Sinem Saban, is also stunning.

“This clip was made at my friend Sinem’s house, using her daughter’s dolls, as our kids ran wild around us,” explained Emily Lubitz. “It’s about capturing an introspective and phlegmatic mood and putting it next to the dynamic scenes of Annie Oakley riding her horse with great purpose and flare. It’s about what we dream of doing while we sit, unmotivated in our bedrooms. The song has other layers to it as it also describes the feelings around a miscarriage I had earlier in the year but the clip doesn’t touch on that. Some things are meant to be heard and not seen.”

Tinpan Orange will play the following shows to celebrate the release of “Wanderers.” Get your tickets now from the Tinpan Orange website.

20 October 2017 – The Workers Club, Geelong
21 October 2017 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
3 November 2017 – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin
4 November 2017 – Mojos Bar, Fremantle
10 November 2017 – Hudson Ballroom, Sydney
17 November 2017 – The Foundry, Brisbane
18 & 19 November 2017 – Mullum Music Festival, Mullumbimby
25 November 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Tinpan Orange Tour New Single in Europe and Oz

The beautiful songs from Love is a Dog just keep coming with the release of Tinpan Orange’s latest single, “See You In the Water.”

This is such a stunning song, with ethereal vocals and delicate strings. I definitely recommend taking a moment to stop what you’re doing and just listening to it, without distractions.

The Aussie trio has spent months touring, but they’re not done yet. Check out the following shows in Australia and abroad.

14 & 15 January 2017 – Illawarra Folk Festival, Wollongong
26 January 2017 – The Rocks Australia Day Festival, Sydney (FREE)
20 February 2017 – Haldern Pop, Haldern
21 February 2017 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
22 February 2017 – Wohngemeinschaft, Köln
23 February 2017 – L’alimentation générale, Paris
25 February 2017 – Hafen 2, Offenbach/Frankfurt
26 February 2017 – Wohnzimmer Matinee, Dresden
27 February 2017 – Lido, Berlin
3 March 2017 – The Odd Fellow, Fremantle
4 & 5 March 2017 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
11 & 12 March 2017 – A Festival Called Panama, Golconda
24 & 25th March 2017 – Yackandandah Folk Festival, Yackandandah
26 March 2017 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (matinee show 2pm)

“Love is a Dog” – Tinpan Orange

It’s hard to believe that it’s been seven years since I heard my first Tinpan Orange album, their third studio release The Bottom of the Lake. I raved about their unique sound, Emily Lubitz’s gorgeous vocals, and the way the band played with genre on this very blog. Now I’m excited to see how the band’s grown with the imminent release of their fifth studio album Love is a Dog.

The album opens with the single “Rich Man,” which sets the scene perfectly with its delicate, dark vibe. Love is a Dog is an album which isn’t afraid to tackle dark and difficult subject matters. The rich lyrical subject matter ensures no song is lightweight or filler. Such weighty material could bog a listener down if not for the gorgeous instrumentation. Tinpan Orange play around with folk and country music so perfectly, creating songs that are a joy to listen to.

“Cities of Gold” speaks perfectly of chasing a dream, the potential for happiness coupled with an uncertainty about the future. I love the laidback country campfire feel of the title track, which adds nuance to its bitter lyrics. There’s no fight as the relationship draws to an end, just resignation. “Cabarita” might be my favourite number on the album. I love the characters the band’s created. The song’s string section makes the evocative lyrics sound even more beautiful. “Light Across the Water” is another highlight, with its epic feel that never crosses the line into melodrama. The closing number “Leopards” builds so beautifully. At first it seems almost too subtle to end an album, but in the final minute the strings and drums kick in and you’re clapping your hands and stomping your feet in time.

Tinpan Orange are such accomplished musicians. Five albums in, they know what they’re doing. Every song is perfectly measured, with Emily Lubitz’s stunning vocals perfectly paired with the right instrumentation. The slide and acoustic guitars and gentle driving drums support her without ever stealing focus. I’m not sure whether Love is a Dog is the album to get Tinpan Orange the mainstream attention they deserve, but it should be.

Love is a Dog hits stores on April 8.

Tinpan Orange Announce Album Tour

Tinpan Orange are some of the true quiet achievers of the music world, releasing quality album after quality album with little fanfare. They’re just about to release their fifth studio album Love is a Dog, and if the lead single “Rich Man” is any indication it’s going to be another high quality collection of music.

This is such a beautiful, delicate song, with Emily Lubitz’s voice pairing beautifully with those soaring strings. Make sure you listen to those lyrics too, which are so delightfully dark. I really love guitarist Jesse Lubitz’s comment that “it could have been used as a Bond theme if David Lynch was directing.” Can we make that happen by the way?

Tinpan Orange will celebrate the April 8 release of Love is a Dog with a national tour. Tickets are available now for the following shows.

15-17 April 2016 – Fairbridge Folk Festival, Fairbridge
29 April 2016 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart
1 May 2016 – Fresh on Charles, Launceston
7 May 2016 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
8 May 2016 – Rattlers Hotel, Wallan
14 May 2016 – Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
15 May 2016 – Old Museum, Brisbane
20 May 2016 – The Vanguard, Sydney
27 May 2016 – The Workers Club, Geelong
28 May 2016 – The Railway Club, Darwin
4 June 2016 – Fly by Night, Fremantle
5 June 2016 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide

Tinpan Orange Give First Taste of Forthcoming Album

I’m a firm believer in the idea that the week must be approached delicately. Even though I find myself working a lot of weekends, there’s something about a Monday morning that still rattles me. Perhaps it’s that alarms go off, so I’m shaken out of my slumber instead of coming to the land of the living naturally. Perhaps it’s that my husband goes off to work and we get into that weekend routine. Either way, Mondays are different, and they need a gentle song to help you ease into it.

I’ve got you covered with “You’re Not There,” the latest single from Tinpan Orange. This delicately melancholic alt-country folk song is our first taste of Tinpan Orange’s fifth studio album, which is scheduled for release in early 2016.

Tinpan Orange will launch the single for hometown fans next month. They’re also currently playing the festival circuit. Catch them at the following dates.

13 December 2015 – Melbourne Folk Club, Melbourne (single launch)
8-10 January 2016 – Cygnet Folk Festival, Cygnet
11-14 March 2016 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy

Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity

The Peninsula Picnic Sounds Incredible

I’m not really a festivals kind of person. I can’t think of anything worse than fighting through crowds, enduring a bunch of acts that only the cool kids like, and paying too much money for lukewarm beer. But the Peninsula Picnic has caught my attention. It sounds like my kind of festival, and I wish I was closer to the Mornington Peninsula so I could get along.

The Peninsula Picnic is all about three of my favorite things: good music, good food, and good wine. The musical line-up is stellar, with The Waifs, Paul Dempsey, The Pierce Brothers, Tinpan Orange, and Hayden Calnin all on the bill. Ian Curley, and the teams from Terre, Montalto, Pope Joan, The Long Table Restaurant, Dee’s Kitchen, DOC Mornington, and Terminus at Flinders Hotel will take care of the food.

The Peninsula Picnic hits the Mornington Racecourse on March 29. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek.

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

"The Bottom of the Lake" – Tinpan Orange

bottomofthelakecover

One of the greatest perks of my job is getting a jump on amazing new music before the rest of the world. The latest disc to cross my desk and touch my heart is “The Bottom of the Lake” by Tinpan Orange.

I’d never heard of the band, but I was instantly drawn in by the whimsical cover art and the promise of mandolins and ukuleles. I’m always a sucker for instrumentation that’s a little left of centre.

This is one CD that didn’t just meet my expectations; it exceeded them. This is music that feels familiar, yet completely different from anything that inhabits radio. The sound is lush; not from studio wizardry but from the rich textured layering of instruments and vocals. For a three-piece, Tinpan Orange have one hell of a sound. Everything is perfectly measured: delicate, lilting, and warm.

Emily Lubitz is a real find, a siren with a voice so husky and inviting. Her brother Jesse’s songs didn’t gel with me as easily. I’m reminded of the way I felt when listening to george years ago, so enamoured with Katie Noonan that I struggled to appreciate Tyrone’s tracks. As with Tyrone Noonan, the songs with Jesse Lubitz up front aren’t bad. They just don’t thrill me in quite the same way.

That aside, it’s really hard to find fault with this album. It’s an exciting release, with elements of folk, jazz, and even a little flamenco. Like a patchwork quilt, no two pieces are quite the same, yet it all comes together as something magical and very special.

The Bottom of the Lake will hit record stores on August 17.

Image used with permission from Two Fish