Brisbane’s Skies Collide have just released their new film clip for single ‘Come Alive’ and we absolutely love it!
The film clip has garnered over 35,000 views since release. The single was premiered via Idobi Radio in the US and is gaining a very positive response here in Oz.
Press play and enjoy!
There’s something very special about the enigmatic electronic duo Sumner, consisting of Jack McLaine and Chloe Wilson. The underground newcomers have already played alongside Vera Blue, The Smith Street Band, Montaigne, graced the Falls Festival stage and are a part of the upcoming Party In The Paddock…but in 2018, it’s about to get a whole lot bigger with the release of their exciting new single, Pictures, on February 9. This dark RnB track examines solitude, and is the first taste of Sumner’s upcoming debut EP, All That I Am (out Feb 16), a release that explores illness, diagnosis, personal struggle and catharsis, all within Sumner’s own very cool little world.
Pictures plays with a wide variety of elegant influences; the duo embrace the production style of Lorde’s first LP, while adding their own distorted pop/RnB stylings reminiscent of Frank Ocean and heavy bass that feels like something off an Arctic Monkeys record. It’s a potent combination that particularly shines on this single, as the duo have skillfully pieced together some seriously eclectic moments to create this one intelligent, mature, hooky song. Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, Jack and Chloe agree it’s definitely about feeling very alone, “The song was inspired by the feeling of being alone in a packed club full of people. Feeling distant and out of touch with the people around you laughing, dancing and having a generally happy time.”
The EP All That I Am is further proof that Sumner are one to watch. This collection of songs is perfectly unique and completely self-assured, and not only is that very rare for such a young project – it’s precisely what makes them special. All That I Am is effortlessly cool and refreshing, with open vulnerability within the lyrics that overflow atop consistant beds of glowing, pulsating, dexterous production. Jack and Chloe share a little more about the process and the team behind it all, “The EP was entirely self-produced and recorded. We worked with some mates for particular parts such as Shanice Osita Chuku on additional vocals in 45 Roses and Pictures, and Billy Bennett (Save The Clock Tower) on additional guitar for Lover. We also worked with Ross Irwin (The Cat Empire, The Bamboos) for the horn parts on 45 Roses. The EP was mixed by Kevin ‘KD’ Davis (Rihanna, TLC, Destiny’s Child, Tupac) and mastered by Grammy Award winner William Bowden (Gotye, Hermitude).”
Music is the constant thread shared between Jack and Chloe, as they reflect on the theme of the EP and what it was that brought them together, “We used music as a catharsis, with the EP following a story from illness to a cleaner, healthier mind with a change of perspective through the process… We met living in the small town of Launceston and finding each other’s music through mutual friends. We decided to link up to play a one off gig as ‘Sumner’ and we haven’t stopped making music since.”
Pictures will be out on February 9 and All That I Am is set for release on February 16.
Sydney three piece, teen pop sensations were online about their recent release, an Ep titled ‘Day In Day Out.’ The guys have been around for a while first coming to our attention with a performance of Taylor Swift’s “Style” on X factor auditions. They haven’t looked back since then.
What attracted you to the style of music for the forthcoming Ep?
It’s a combination of things, the three of us having been doing music for quite a while now. We came together with the three different musical influences, we wanted to make music that would be entertaining for any age group. We wanted to make music that was uplifting, music that was crafted. We wanted to make people want to dance, make people want to laugh. I think we’ve done that with the latest Ep, ” says Chris. ‘Each song has its own kind of vibe and meaning to it.’
I wanted to look at the Ep, being so young (average age is 16), how much creative control did the guys maintain through the release?
“It was almost 100% our creative direction,” says Ethan. “Every single song was held together by a very valid strength to why we wanted that track included on the release. In this release were were very instrumental in the whole creative process.”
So were you able to maintain this creative flow once you were in the studio, working with different producers?
“We were working with some very cool producers, who we had connected with on different levels over the past couple of years. We were in control and we were really working together. They really understood who we were and what we wanted. We had really good working relationships with them. Creative control wasn’t an issue because we all get along very well, and the producers we worked with understood what we wanted.’
I remembered talking with silverchair when they started back in 1993 and the issues they had as a young band starting out. Was it hard with In Stereo?
“Some people were going to like us, some people weren’t going to like us. We’re doing music and that’s what we love to do. It makes us happy expressing what we like. We could write a book about our lives, but we like to write things that make people happy.”
This was the second time the guys had spoken about making people happy in their music. Did they also like to make people think about issues in their music?
“There are a couple of emotional ballads and we wanted to get people thinking about life and about love and relationships and other people around you,’ says Chris.
“We’re still and we’re still growing as well, we want our music to develop and grow with us. Lyrically you can see the jump from our previous Ep, to this Ep. We have matured a lot and moved to a deeper level with the songs. We like to entertain and engage people more. This is where this new release really moves.”
Have crowd favorites (or Youtube favorites) influenced you in the order in which you are going ro release your songs?
“It does have an influence, especially with this project. It is what we always wanted to do and it was the way we wanted to do it, that made it such a special project for us,” says Chris.
“We spent a lot of time working on this release, compared to the other two projects,” explains Chris. “This time it was a solid six to eight months of working on the project. We had plenty of time to think on how we wanted to go about it, were the songs were sounding right? Re-working some things we weren’t happy with.”
In the writing process, do you find you have bits of paper everywhere, or do you hit your phone every time a new idea that might be worth while for a release comes into your head?
“Sometimes we will bring a notebook, or on our phones or on our laptops. All of us would have hundreds of voice recordings, music riffs, whatever on our phones we bring into rehearsal. Sometimes we might come into a rehearsal and the producers might say to us “We got this great idea for a chord progression, what do you guys think?”
“We say “oh yeah, that’s going to work, or not.” It’s a very collaborative process between us all.”
I ventured a guess that the opener “Bad For Me,” was going to be the crowd favorite, what did the guys think of my choice?
“That was the one we chose to release as the first single off the Ep. It’s doing pretty well.”
Do their parents have a favorite track?
The guys from In Stereo agree they have very supportive parents, but I wasn’t able to get a clear picture of who supported what? But they did reveal there was no full size posters of the boys behind doors or above the dining room mantle. No awards sitting gathering dust on the mantel.
So did the guys have tracks they wished their parents wouldn’t play?
“All of them, ” they chorused.
“The release is an Ep that appeals to everyone,” explains Chris. “There’s the ballads, the anthems, every song is different, I guess that’s why our parents haven’t really named any track in particular.”
It’s an Ep for all ages?
“Yeah, that’s what we have been aiming for.”
The guys from In Stereo have a pretty crazy Youtube channel, that features music, dares and random thoughts.
“We really like to connect with our audience. It’s a great way to show our personalities and our music,’ says Chris.
youtube.com/instereomusic.com
You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest In Stereo stuff.
Sydney based R&B Rockers Chasing Giants have just released their stunning new single ‘Drunk’ (featuring Adam Kearns.)
Chasing Giants approach their musical creation in a similar fashion to electronic producers such as DJ Khaled. The band is made up of core members Ben Corby, Maurice Webb and Jake Arvonen however they recruit a different vocalist for every new track they put out.
Check out new single ‘Drunk’ below and be sure to let us know what you think!
Colourful and unique, LA. Faithfull has today announced her new single Heart Back, a gut-wrenching pop smash with a clear, vulnerable message, available now. This exciting newcomer has also released a raw, expressive video that conveys the truth behind the song through dance and visuals, and this effective clip has already racked up over 50,000 plays since its release.
Heart Back is raw, in every sense of the word. Produced by the legends at M Squared Productions (NUSSY, Imogen Brough), and evocative of Amy Shark’s heavy, hip-hop inspired beats, Heart Back is some seriously fresh pop from LA. Faithfull, otherwise known as Lisa Anne Faithfull. The chorus soars, with sharp, synth-laden production that nods towards Lorde’s renowned debut LP Pure Heroine, and Faithfull’s voice is the soft, reassuring comfort throughout. The song was inspired by a difficult time in her life, as she reflects, “Heart Back is about the moment when you fall apart and realise that maybe no one will ever be able to put back together those tiny pieces of your heart that feel like they are lost when tragedy strikes. I actually wrote the lyrics the night I found out my dad had prostate cancer…I was going through the motions of looking at my dad’s face when he had to tell us, and watching my mum’s reaction of pure fear – and then feeling that it will never be the same again…even when you have good days, you’re always worried about the next bit of bad news.”
The clip for Heart Back is stark; set in a grey, industrial landscape, yet manages to show that beauty can exist and thrive in any dark situation. Faithfull stands alone, in this concrete space, surrounded by the lyrics of the song written in chalk across the walls. A skillful dancer expressively moves through the space, interpreting the music in a way that words could never. Speaking about the process of making the clip, Faithfull says, “The idea is that the white, concrete space represents the mind. We spent hours covering the walls, pillars and floor with the lyrics of the song, which represents the feeling of anxiety – where you’re trapped in your mind going over and over your thoughts. The dancing represents the pain, and sometimes the dance is beautiful but that’s because I feel that sometimes pain isn’t ugly. The camera angles and filming were the reason I asked the incredibly talented Connor Dalton (Slowly Slowly) to film it. He’s one of my best friends and has a incredible eye for angles, and while some people might have all set shots and steady shots, instead for us the camera is constantly moving like a whirlwind, which is how this song feels in my head.”
With a tour set to be announced shortly, this thrilling indie pop artist cannot wait to show the world what she was born to do, saying “As a kid growing up with anxiety I was awkward, had almost no social skills and my mind would run 24/7. But…put me onstage with a mic and it was like silence – no anxiety at all, and it just felt like home! The stage is one of the only places my mind is still, calm and silent, and maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to being onstage!”
Heart Back is available now.
Dreamy indie darlings The Winter Gypsy have today announced their new single Bojke (prounouced ‘boy-ke’), a wistful and perceptive ode to a beloved family dog. The song is accompanied by a thoughtful, haunting clip featuring two masked friends, produced in collaboration with Gerard Wood from New Era Media (Timberwolf). To celebrate the new release, The Winter Gypsy will be hitting the road to play The World Bar (Syd) on June 23, The Grace Darling (Melb) on July 7 and Exeter Hotel (Ade) on July 8.
Bojke is the perfect follow up to the band’s debut EP Page I. Considered, intricate and unassumingly memorable, Bojke sweeps broadly, swells and disappears into the ether, gently lulling the listener back down to earth. Evocative of Fleet Foxes and The Paper Kites, this is indie folk done right; soaking guitars, gentle drums and humble harmony surround the lead vocal as it floats assuredly above it all. Reflecting on the track, lead vocalist Tushar Singh says, “The title is an ode to our bassist and his brother’s dog who passed away this year; her name was Bojke. At the time, I had written out these lyrics in a narrative sense, not necessarily written about anyone in particular. The song had absolutely no relation to me, but I could feel that it could relate to someone else. A few weeks after I wrote the song, Bojke had passed away. I instantly linked Bojke to the lyrics in this song and it was strange but so fitting as to how much these lyrics I had written weeks in advance had related to the incident. I asked the two brothers if I could name the song after her, and they said yes.”
The clip for Bojke is in keeping with the theme established in the bands’ previous video Took Me By; two friends spend routine time together, during which everything is normal except for the fact that they are masked. Then, suddenly – two becomes one. Tush explains, “The video clip is based on two friends or two siblings, if you will. The entire clip is demonstrating a bond or friendship between the pair, and it follows the two masked people hanging out casually; almost as if you were watching their day to day life. Everything flows smoothly until the climax. You no longer notice two people, you only see one; which in my mind, portrays the death of someone. This is the part of the clip where it confirms the connection of Bojke and their owners, Olly and Isaac. You never know when you might lose someone close to you. The masks used in the clip was to keep the creepy, eerie, but still intriguing visual going from the previous video clip, Took Me By, seeing as we used the same masks in that video too. We’d love to essentially make a connecting world out of our music videos.”
Audiences can gain exclusive access to the special world of The Winter Gypsy on the upcoming east coast tour. Thrilled to be heading out for some interstate shows, Tush enthuses, “We like to bring a bit more to our live performances than you hear in our recordings. We definitely are more upbeat at our live shows, and you can expect trumpet, soaring instrumentals and a range of vibes. We’re very excited for our next tour!”
Bojke will be available on June 5.
Stream: BOJKE Watch: BOJKE Buy: BOJKE
THE WINTER GYPSY SHOWS
Tickets from www.thewintergypsy.com
FRI 23 JUN | THE WORLD BAR, KINGS CROSS, SYD | 18+
FRI 7 JUL | THE GRACE DARLING, COLLINGWOOD, MELB | 18+
SAT 8 JUL | EXETER HOTEL BEER GARDEN, ADELAIDE, SA | 18+
Newcomer Gaudion has today announced his clever, indie pop single TV Shows, a wistful reflection upon love and loss written during a period of deep change and development for the artist, out April 1. Gaudion has also revealed a sweet, adventurous video to accompany the track, directed by Guido Pezz. In light of COVID-19, Gaudion is unable to perform regular gigs – so to celebrate the release of TV Shows he has announced two YouTube/Instagram livestream performances on April 2 at 7.30PM AEST, and April 30 at 7.30PM AEST.
TV Shows is one for fans of guitar pop and brilliant Australian songwriting. Evocative of Dean Lewis, Ziggy Alberts, and Ben Howard, TV Shows would feel at home on the soundtrack for a coming of age romantic film, or perhaps it’s that track that you’ll play over and over on your next summer roadtrip. Catchy and affecting, this song features Gaudion’s lovely vocal performance front and centre. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Gaudion explains, “TV Shows is a small part of my life. I began writing the tune when I was working on a small farm in a rural area in Canada’s Saskatchewan. In this place I was turbulent. I never knew what I wanted to do. So I taught myself to play guitar and sing inside a grain silo every day after work. I was also going through a difficult stage of adolesence; through this song I was aiming to express my current feelings with music. Every time I’d think of the things I was going through I’d write a little bit more of the song. It’s not the first song I ever wrote, and definitely not the last, but it holds a long journey of my emotions, my memories and my thoughts.”
The film clip for TV Shows is open to interpretation, allowing the audience to incorporate their own meaning into the clip, which is a very special feeling. The video follows the story of a couple who part, while Gaudion watches on on a television set. The performance is serene, indicating a sense of acceptance of life’s inherent challenges and curveballs. Speaking on the clip, Gaudion enthuses, “The music video for TV Shows has been one of the funnest journeys ever. Guido Pezz is a fantastic director, new mate of mine and creative genius. It’s literally a video of me watching TV Shows which follow the emotions of the music. I’m very happy with the process, the beautiful actors we worked with and laughs we had along the way.”
Although disappointed that he won’t be able to perform in person for the foreseeable future, Gaudion is excited to present two intimate performances via livestream, as he says, “All we have seen happen to the world over the past months due to COVID-19 has been devastating. In our industry, all shows have been cancelled, jobs have been lost and artists are genuinely scared of the carryover effects that this virus will have. I feel the need to keep moving forward and I’m also in a position to brighten peoples’ days through sharing my music, so I feel very fortunate. I am excited to be performing two Youtube livestream performances to celebrate the release of this song.”
Talented in more ways than one, Gaudion is a keen carpenter, and even made his own guitar, as he says, “I love building and creating things with my hands, I find it very rewarding and exciting. A few years back I built an acoustic guitar from scratch. She’s a medium sized dreadnaught made from Tasmanian blackwood (back and sides), sitka spruce (top), mahogany (neck) and Indian rosewood (features). Her name is Grace, and I play her every day! Everything happens for a reason, and after building this guitar I became a lot more interested in playing.”
TV Shows is out April 1.
GAUDION ‘TV SHOWS’ LIVESTREAM PERFORMANCES
THURS APR 2 | YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM LIVESTREAM | 7:30PM AEST
https://youtu.be/O3-W0QRGtr4 | IGTV @gaudion_music
THURS APR 30 | YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM LIVESTREAM | 7:30PM AEST
https://youtu.be/gaDdbb4y9Ns | IGTV @gaudion_music
The enigmatic Martika has today announced her debut single How Did I Get Here, a thoughtful, soulful track that explores the difficulties of chasing dreams, out March 15.
How Did I Get Here is a mellow, contemplative track, with an undeniable groove and stunning, eclectic vocals. The chorus refrain, ‘How did I get here? Am I coming, or going?’ is sung so earnestly; it’s impossible to ignore the pleading in Martika’s voice. Gentle yet driving percussion percolates underneath a constant, melodic bassline, as organ and synthesisers swirl together with unexpected and satisfying harmony. Fans of Aurora and Massive Attack will love Martika’s incisive style.
How Did I Get Here tackles the complexities of turning a passion into a career, as Martika explains, “This song explores the emotional journey of an artist; that lost feeling of being at a crossroads in life. I was unsure of which way to go. I found myself reflecting on my life and where I was, thinking that music should have brought me success at this point – and was it all worth it? It was then the decision of whether to keep on walking down the hard road, striving to make my passion a career, or to take the easy road and find stability. This song has helped me vent the frustration of what a struggling artist goes through, and has helped me find the strength to carry on.”
Martika is set to perform How Did I Get Here for a hometown crowd in Melbourne on Thursday April 11 at The Toff in Town. Thrilled to be showcasing new music as well as her exciting new single, Martika gives fans an insight into what to expect at her shows, as she says, “Audiences can expect something entertaining and amazing, yet a show that makes everyone feel equal and at home – a family. I myself love going to a show where, as an audience member, you feel like a part of a community and united, rather than fighting for a spot in a crowd.”
Martika is a natural-born performer; first discovering her passion for singing as a young child, dancing around the house to Disney soundtracks. Highly disciplined and passionate about performing, she spent most weeknights during childhood at singing lessons, piano lessons, dance classes spanning a wide variety of genres – and she even completed a degree in musical theatre upon finishing high school. Since her move to Melbourne from her country home town, Martika began gigging professionally and working alongside local label True Music (Shelley Segal, MAYA) and producer/composer Rob Upward. She spends her days in the studio, writing and growing creatively as a songwriter and artist. With so much talent to share, Martika is surely one new artist to watch.
How Did I Get Here is out March 15.
MARTIKA HOW DID I GET HERE LAUNCH SHOW
THURSDAY 11 APRIL | THE TOFF, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.thetoffintown.com
Sydney Indie Rock trio PJ Orr have released their hypnotic new album called Tightrope Walker.
The album will take you on an emotionally rich journey throughout and unlike many releases these days, you can listen from start to finish without the desire to skip a single track.
PJ Orr debuted in 2016 with the release of their self-produced album called Foggy Notion. The album received airplay on Double J, FBi Radio, RRR FM and was covered by Happy Mag, Obscure Sound, These Psychedelic Sounds to name a few.
The band recently signed to legendary US Record Label
Misra Records (home to Phosphorescent, Adam Torres) for their new release.
Tightrope Walker is available on all major online stores.
The Rebelles
One of the things I love best about the Melbourne music scene is there are certain bands you look at and think yup, only in Melbourne would you see that. The Rebelles are one of those groups. 15 singers that sound like a classic all girl 60s group with a punk attitude and wearing matching outfits, tell me where else you gonna see that? Backed with a rocking four piece band, the Rebelles are truly a gem that everyone can find someone they enjoy. One of the many singers Kitty Rebelle took time to talk Spector, outfits and the awesomeness of girl groups.
Munster: The Rebelles are a pretty unique band, kinda an only in Melbourne band, how did it all come about?
Kitty: it was about ten years ago. Bob D Rebelle and Rhonda Rebelle who are two of our cofounders and creative brains behind the band got together and had this idea of an onstage representation of Phil Spectors Wall of sound and part of that is aving a huge vocal presence. We ave layered and lush harmonies. That’s where its came from and we/ve gotten together over time people ave come and gone but we/ve always had that girl group sound.
Munster: Its an amazing sound is it 15 singers in the band?
Kitty: yes but we also ave bench as well you can imagine getting people to gigs is a logistical thing. We ave 15 singers at anyone gig and a four piece band as well.
Munster: when recruiting a new member what do you look for, I take singing isn/t the only requirement?
Kitty: we do a lot of harmonies so vocal range is important but also personality is big part of the band as we bring girl group rebellion to the stage and you got ave personality a bit of fun gotta shake your hips. That’s part of what we look for in a new Rebelle when we/re on the hunt.
Munster: What process went into recording the LP you made last year?
Kitty: we recorded at Sound Park studio with Idge, would like to give him a big shout out as he played a great role in dealing with all the logistics. We record in section usually the band goes first so we ave a guide then we/ll get the singers in. Sometimes we/ll go in with a big group or go in sections. We believe bigger is better I guess we keep adding more to the band we had guest musos from the Ska Vendors and a few extra guitars and Rhonda playing organ and had more friends in the studio. Idge turned round during the recording and said “gosh the more we add to this the better it sounds” so we really took that to heat.
Munster: the band you ave on stage is made up of blokes was that intentional for balance?
Kitty: Yeah we ave had women in the band as well we had Stick Rebelle on drums and we had two blokes on drums we had Thumper of ex Bitter Sweet Kicks fame and we now ave Bam Bam. Its not by design but it has worked out great quite visually. The boys always look amazing in their sharp suits provides a nice bit of balance but we want that girl band sound on the vocals hence the girl singers.
Munster: you mentioned the Spector girl band sound which comes through but I also hear a touch of the Ramones and the Cramps.
Kitty: Yep absolutely. We love that punk energy so you know theres that beautiful harmonic sound fo the girl groups that we/ve talked about but we also love that rocky garage edge and with punk energy. Our new single 1 2 3 4 GO is a huge nod to the Ramones you can hear the influence in that in lyrics and sound.
Munster: So what process would go into a Rebelles song?
Kitty: its quite a collaborative process. People get together for a jam and work on a sound there liking. Some might workshop lyrics or a feel for the song, it is very collaborative, some might just add a line or two its is a very cohesive process that goes into making all these tracks.
Munster: so when it comes to the singers I like the fact theres no star, so is it kinda an all in effort or are there times when someone might sit out or take a backseat role?
Kitty: we never ave solos we do work very much as a group and being apart of that is the blend. You listen to all these girl group records and you hear these beautiful vocal blend in together and part of trying to recapture that on stage is always being very conscious of your fellow singers. And making sure your tones blend in and being conscious when your section has a lead or your backing. So we do a lot of that manually and it means being sensitive to what other band members are doing. It’s a really nice part of singing together.
Munster: Aside from the Rebelles what else ave you do musically?
Kitty: well my background I ave done some gospel singing, in the past I did musicals at school. Musically our influences in the Rebelles are really common and exploring trying to bring an edge and modernizes from our influence and ad a Melbourne edge. For example Spanish Fitzroy takes a lot of parts we like about Fitzroy with a garage taste into the modern Melbourne setting.
Munster: With so many members is it hard arranging gigs or studio time?
Kitty: not really its all worked out magically. Its one of the wonderful things bout this band. In smaller bands ive heard of conflict amounts band members but with us theres none of that here its all worked very nice.
Munster: the video for 1 2 3 4 GO was a great tour guide of Melbourne how did that come about?
Kitty: Yeah that was a classic example of the great collaborative process. It’s a bit of a story that plays out of a bunch of us trying to find our gig. We went out with a bunch of cameras and went to a bunch of different locations. I went to Luna Park that day we kinda snuck in and stood in front of the rides. It’s a great mini tour of Melbourne and it ends with us meeting at the same place for a gig.
Munster: With the costumes do you ave a standard designer you use?
Kitty: we come up with a design we/d like to see and we/ve been helped out by a few designers who make the costume to order. The visual element is a big part of what we do. The red and black the jet black hair and river of black eyeliner and red lipstick it’s a big part of what we bring to the stage and we/ve had a lot of great designers brining that to the stage.
Munster: What does the rest of the year hold?
Kitty: Bigger and better gigs aiming for a Christmas gig. You can find gigs at www. rebelles.com.au
Winabago club at the Sk Kilda RSL is our next gig on the 19th June, and arvo gig
We would like to do some festivals and we are made for a big stage we wanna do bigger and better.
Munster: And favorite Fall LP if there is one?
Kitty: sorry can/t help. What would you recommend to start?
Munster: Code Selfish is good start.
The Rebelles launch their new double A side single 1-2-3-4 Go! / Spanish Fitzroy at the Winnebago Lounge, upstairs of St Kilda RSL on Sunday 19th June. Free entry.