Tag: Yorke

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“ten feet tall” – Yorke

In 2020, Yorke blew me away with her debut EP Liberosis. I loved it so much that I named it among my top releases of the year. I couldn’t wait to hear what came next, but I’m glad Yorke has taken her time with a follow-up. Two years after her breakthrough, she’s treated us with ten feet tall.

After two years, Yorke is older and wiser. There’s a confidence that comes with time that shines through these songs. However, she hasn’t lost that youthful spark that drew me to her music years ago. There’s a real nostalgic charm to the upbeat numbers that dominate this EP, including the singles “next life”, “i’ll keep driving”, and “when the honeymoon is over.” After dancing through the first couple of songs, the gentle title track gives us the opportunity to pause, reflect, and get to know Yorke a little better. There’s a quiet power about this song, the only ballad on the EP. Its lyrics are beautifully vulnerable and its simpler orchestration shows us a new side of Yorke and her powers.

When I reviewed Liberosis back in 2020, I said Yorke showed great potential. With the release of her follow-up, I think she’s realising that potential I heard then. It’s pitch-perfect pop, confident and charismatic, whether it’s backed by layered beats or more stripped back. I’m really looking forward to hearing what Yorke does next, but I’m also going to enjoy sitting with these songs for a little while.

Yorke’s ten feet tall is out now. She’ll play the East Coast capitals to support its release in February.

3 February 2023 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne
9 February 2023 – The Lansdowne, Eora/Sydney
10 February 2023 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Images used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yorke Releases Ultimate Road Trip Track, “i’ll keep driving”

I’ve been a Yorke fan since she dropped the singles from Liberosis back in 2020, and it seems she just keeps on getting better. If you’re a fan too or you’re yet to discover her brilliance, wrap your ears around her new single “i’ll keep driving.” I swear this pop banger will make your Monday feel better.

Yorke says she wrote the track about “the realisation that the concept of home can be whatever you want it to be, even a person. I was constantly on the move and craving stability so it took me some time to realise that a healthy relationship can also ground you in a similar way.”

If you’re a Yorke fan like me, you’ll love the visualiser.

“We shot the visualiser at this random cabin in regional Victoria and gave the place a temporary makeover. It’s still in the same world as ‘next life’, just a bit of time has passed… consider it the bridge between the last video and what’s to come. There are also lots of little Easter eggs hidden in the background too. What you can’t see is me shivering, it was eight degrees and the heater didn’t work. I had my hot water bottle on me at all times!”

Yorke’s new EP ten feet tall drops in November. Before that, she’ll appear at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney on October 1 supporting Peach PRC.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: Jess Gleeson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yorke Takes Sound to Next Level With New Single “next life”

We’re only a quarter of the way in, but it looks like this year will be massive for Yorke. She’s just released a poptastic new single “next life” and announced some headlining shows in addition to some impressive support gigs.

Yorke’s debut EP Liberosis was one of my favourite releases of 2020. It perfectly showcased her introspective lyrics and knack for perfect pop melodies. But I feel Yorke has taken her sound up a few notches with “next life.” While it acknowledges dark feelings of denial and anger, there’s a euphoric optimism that I just can’t resist. Yorke penned the song in a single day with JIM ALXNDR (James Vincent).

“James really took the time to make sure that every word/melody was considered and purposeful allowing for a certain type of vulnerability that’s rare when you first meet someone. It felt like going back to my roots of pure storytelling and that’s why it came together so well,” Yorke explained. “When it was time for production, we already knew what we wanted and spent the rest of the day messing around with different equipment and warped effects. I’m a huge fan of James’ work and had goosebumps the entire day.”

Yorke also produced “next life’s” music video, working alongside director Kyle Caulfield.

“There was a spectacle about this video and the concept that we didn’t want to feel like a music video, we were really pushing for an international cinematic look,” he added. “We wanted it to feel more like a movie or movie trailer, to help the audience digest themselves in the story. It was important to create a new world with the locations, the styling, and other creative choices that help facilitate the story of the song. Exploring the five stages of grief was a big theme of the clip, and it was interesting to explore the representation of these feelings and emotions visually. I also had a lot of fun structuring the scenes and narrative around the arrangement of the song, both James and Grace have both really brought to light some very special sonic moments in this track.”

As I mentioned, Yorke has a stack of gigs on the horizon. She’ll support San Cisco in her hometown of Byron Bay before playing her own gigs and supporting Amy Shark on shows around regional Victoria.

29 April 2022 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (supporting San Cisco)
1 May 2022 – Golden Shores Festival, Gold Coast
26 May 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
27 May 2022 – Waywards, Sydney
12 July 2022 – Wangaratta Performing Arts & Convention Centre, Wangaratta (supporting Amy Shark – SOLD OUT)
14 July 2022 – Riverlinks, Shepparton (supporting Amy Shark)
16 July 2022 – Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon (supporting Amy Shark – SOLD OUT)
17 July 2022 – Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon (supporting Amy Shark – SOLD OUT)
19 July 2022 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool (supporting Amy Shark – SOLD OUT)
20 July 2022 – Bendigo Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo (supporting Amy Shark – SOLD OUT)
21 July 2022 – Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, Ballarat (supporting Amy Shark)
22 July 2022 – Horsham Town Hall, Horsham (supporting Amy Shark – SOLD OUT)
23 July 2022 – Costa Hall, Geelong (supporting Amy Shark)
27 July 2022 – Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura (supporting Amy Shark – SOLD OUT)

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yorke Releases Feelgood Alt-Pop Single “Gravity”

Yorke’s debut EP Liberosis is one of my favourite releases of the year, so I was pretty excited to wrap my ears around her new single “Gravity.” This upbeat pop number is a departure from the intimate songs on that EP, but it has just the kind of positive vibe I think most of us need right now.

This isn’t your ordinary tale of two people falling in love though. Yorke wrote it about an alien and human falling for one another, but struggling to exist in one another’s worlds. Think “intergalactic Romeo and Juliet,” without the real tragedy.

One thing I really noticed is how Yorke’s sound has evolved. Her EP had a kind of bedroom feel, but this has a real slick polish to it. No doubt that comes from working with some really established acts including Japanese Wallpaper, Finnish producer Hank Solo, and Chris Walla (ex-Death Cab for Cutie).

“Gravity” is certainly a different sound from Yorke, but it’s got me smiling today. Hopefully it lifts you up too.

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia; credit: She is Aphrodite

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Liberosis” – Yorke

There’s something about Yorke’s debut EP, Liberosis, that keeps drawing me back in. I listened to an advanced stream weeks before it dropped near the end of March. I enjoyed it immensely, marvelling at her intimate vocals and introspective lyrics. I thought she was musically so interesting, with a natural flair for layering beats with accessible indie-pop melodies. Yet, strangely enough, I didn’t put my fingers to the keyboard and write a review.

The very best music isn’t there for us in mere moments. We return to it time and time again. Listening to the songs from Liberosis this morning felt like catching up with an old friend. My husband stopped to listen and asked me whether it was the new Taylor Swift album. There’s a similar sweetness about Yorke’s vocals, a comparable knack for killer pop melodies. Just like Taylor, Yorke isn’t afraid to write confessional lyrics either. Songs like the single “Nights We Waste” expose the mistakes, the drinking, the questionable relationship choices. It’s messy, but growing up always is. And when you have the right soundtrack, it’s a little easier to bear. As those of us who’ve lived through it understand, with the right tunes you can figure out who you are, and what you want.

With Liberosis, Yorke shows great potential. It’s pitch-perfect pop, the kind of music that’s easy to underestimate, especially if you’re an old, jaded listener. However, spend some time with it and you might just find it restores your faith in the genre.

Yorke has pushed back her Liberosis launch shows to October. Tickets are available now from her website. You know everyone will be desperate for live shows by then, so get in early to avoid missing out!

15 October 2020 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
16 October 2020 – Waywards, Sydney
17 October 2020 – Grace Darling, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia