Sunshine Coast Earth Rockers Flaskas recently released their stunning new single ‘Songbird’.
The band are currently on the road touring the new release across NSW and QLD.
Catch Flaskas at a venue below!
December 7th – Night Quarter
December 13th – Miami Marketa
December 14th – The Rails
December 27th – Pacific Hotel
December 28th – BBQ Bizzar
January 18th – Fire In The Sky
February 22nd – Agnes Blues, Roots and Rock Festival
Cinematic alt-folk group, Lazy Colts have today announced the release of their brooding new single, Twenty Two, the second taste of their debut LP, Trojan, set for release on August 5. They’ll be hitting the road in August to celebrate the new LP, kicking off in Melbourne on August 6 and moving on to Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney then wrapping up in Katoomba on September 4.
Twenty Two is a reverent and reflective ode to youth and the naivety that dictates the relationships formed during that time. Emphasised by the pulse of young blood that dictates the arc of the song, the organic nature of the drums, piano and violin resonate under lead singer Lacey Cole’s effortless vocals. Acoustic and raw, Twenty Two encompasses country and folk influences to illicit a rich blend of sound that is lush and satisfying. Of the single, Cole remarks, “Essentially, Twenty Two is about the grand ‘undying’ sentiments that hallmark your first cracks at a serious relationship. It’s about perspective, initially, the lack of it, and then the revelation that the reason you’re in your situation – however great or bad it is – is also the reason you will get through it: you’re only 22 years old.”
Directed by Sarah Adamson (The Preatures, Gideon Benson, Matt Corby), the video clip for Twenty Two is a filmic representation of both the vulnerablilty and the joy of being young. Starring New Zealand-based model Evelina Milward, the film seeks to balance the song’s morosely tragic male dialogue with a feminine depiction of happiness and beauty. The tone is both nostalgic and immediate; an authentic depiction of youth’s resilience and wonder. Speaking about the clip, director Sarah Adamson says, “I saw this great opportunity to lovingly poke fun at the sincerity of the song. I had this picture in my head of a girl listening to this love song some boy had written her but not really caring as much as he thought she would. She’s doing all these other funny and weird things a 22 year old girl might do when bored at home by herself. She is only 22. She knows there’s nothing to really worry about.”
Lazy Colts’ debut album, Trojan is a fine example of the state of Australian songwriting. Broad, triumphant, and satisfying, yet devastating, emotive and raw, the group have put a mirror to the human experience and Trojan is the result. Mixed by renowned engineer, Mark Lawson (Arcade Fire, Timber Timbre), the release has been two years in the making and calls upon a variety of influences including The National, Nick Cave and Bruce Springsteen. Recorded in part inside a local church, Cole reflects on the process, “I’m not sure if the songs would sound the same if they were written and performed in a living room or garage. There is definitely a reverence or awareness of the space and the mood the empty church sets which lives on in the album…Trojan is set against grand backdrops of religion, myth, violence and politics, but the songs themselves are more personal, focusing on relationships and the fleeting moments between people.”
Lazy Colts will be hitting the road on a national tour in August to celebrate the release of Trojan. Giving fans a taste of what to expect from the shows, Cole enthuses, “Audiences can expect energy, passion, dynamic arrangements and musicianship. The rest of the band bring an element of sophistication and skill which strikes a nice balance with my more unhinged vibe. All in all, it’s a good time, it’s like rays of light through storm clouds.
Lazy Colts is Lacey Cole, Micheal Bridges, Sinj Clarke, Craig Collier and David Keys.
LAZY COLTS ‘TROJAN’ NATIONAL TOUR
SAT 20 AUG | THE BEARDED LADY, BRISBANE | 18+
SAT 27 AUG | FRANKS WILD YEARS, THIRROUL | ALL AGES
SUN 28 AUG | THE OXFORD CIRCUS, SYDNEY | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SUN 4 SEP | HOTEL BLUE, KATOOMBA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.loungesessions.com.au
One of Australia’s most exciting new pop artists Jake Marra has today announced his magnetic debut single The Day That You Left, a hard-hitting track that details the wave of emotions that follows a significant loss, and how it feels to be drowning in the swell. This magnetic single is out now.
The Day That You Left will be everything and more for fans of Charli XCX, Troye Sivan and Dua Lipa – heartfelt, sincere lyricism paired with an irresistible beat and killer, sharp production. The sentiment behind the track is intensely relatable; most will identify with the feeling of being fixated on everything said and done by someone just before they leave you for good. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Jake explains, “The Day That You Left is the product of all the failed relationships I’ve experienced in my life. It focuses on the denial that floods in when somebody is no longer in your life and the harsh wave of emotions that comes with it. Whether it be a falling out with a friend, a break-up, or a death, most of us have experienced the feelings that come with losing somebody and I wanted to channel that into a dark, pulsating synth-pop track (produced and co-written by the brilliant Ben Oldand) that you can still bop along to while simultaneously crying your eyes out.”
It’s definitely fair to say Jake Marra has absolutely nailed the ‘dancing while crying your eyes out’ aesthetic championed by Robyn’s iconic Dancing On My Own,and all within his very first single. It’s really no surprise though – Jake has been musical for many years, and even has a viral hit under his belt, as he says, “I’ve been musical my entire life, which is the answer that everyone gives, but the difference is that I had no idea I was any good at it. It was something I did in secret when nobody was around to hear it and eventually, I started to realise I had something to offer. I started two YouTube channels, one for singing covers, and one for mashups I produced. In 2015, my mashup of Ariana Grande’s One Last Time and Justin Bieber’s What Do You Mean? went viral. There were articles about the mashup on Teen Vogue, Billboard and MTV, and Ariana Grande herself even said in an interview that she was ‘obsessed with it’ and that ‘whoever did it is a genius!’ Since then, I’ve been performing at various venues/festivals with Sunshine and Disco Faith Choir, as a backing vocalist for Melbourne R&B singer/songwriter, JAYDEAN, as well as working on original music.”
The Day That You Left is out now.
Legendary Australian singer-songwriter Dean Manning is fed up with the soulless development that is taking over Sydney.
“Looking like the ghetto now, from Shire to the Bower. You can hear Macquarie weep, they sold the vision splendid cheap.”
His new single Casino Town is the second single from his coming second solo album, Sunday Mountain.
Dean has also release a music video with the single. The video features Dean cruising around in the back of an old convertible with various characters from Casino Town.
Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments.
We recently caught up with Kyle from Real Friends to discuss their upcoming Australian tour dates with Columbus and Harbours.
You guys have been touring pretty hard this year. How have the shows been so far?
Shows have been very sick. Our headlining US tour this year was my favorite tour to date. We hadn’t properly headlined in the US since 2014. The tour exceeded our expectations. It was rewarding to say the least. Very excited for what’s to come for other tours this year.
How are you feeling about your upcoming Australian tour dates?
Honestly Australia is my favorite place to play overseas. We have always had a blast there. We are so stoked to come back. It’s been two years since we were there. Very stoked!
How have fans received the new album in a live atmosphere over the past year?
I think music is a little different than it was a few years back with people really getting to know songs. There’s so many bands out there! We found some people not listening to our album for almost a year after it’s release date. Now the album has been out for over a year and we are feeling the new songs are up to par in a live setting with all the others. Our newer song Mess is my favorite one to play live. It gets the best reaction.
Tell us about your favourite parts of touring Australia?
The fans of course! They’re great. Australia has always supported us so hard. I remember sending online merch orders to Australia in 2012. It seemed so out of the questions to ever go there then. Fast forward five years later and here we are. And the vegetarian food is awesome in Australia. That helps. We love Lord Of The Fries!!!
What can fans expect from your live show?
We really try to make our live shows as casual as possible. We want it to feel like we’re all hanging out. Without the fans there, well there wouldn’t be a show. We’re all on the same level. It’s all about letting go of any troubles and having a good time at our shows.
What is next for Real Friends following your upcoming tour?
We have been writing a ton for a new album. That’s our main focus for the year. We’re also doing Uk and Europe with Neck Deep and As It Is.
Tell us about some of the challenges of international touring?
The plane rides are always tough. The flight to Australia is always the worst, yet so worth it. It’s pretty much two days in Airports and on a plane. It’s also typically hard to find good food vegetarian food overseas. We don’t run into that in Australia though.
You recently announced that it has been 4 years since the release of ‘Put Yourself Back Together’. How does it feel to reflect on the past 4 years as a band?
It amazes me everyday. I’m not sure this will all ever feel normal. It’s crazy to think where we have been over the post four years because of our songs. Music is crazy, man.
Thanks so much for your time! Anything that you would like to add finally?
Just a big thank you to all of our fans. We are nothing without you. Keep telling your friends about us!
The Real Friends Australian tour kicks off on July 27th at The Brightside, Brisbane.
Quiet achiever Spectoral has today announced his new single Movin’ On, an ominous dedication to a lovesick friend, out October 12. Movin’ On is the very first taste of the upcoming new EP An Incorruptible Dream from Spectoral, the stage name of producer singer-songwriter Andrew Bitto. Also dropping on October 12, An Incorruptible Dream is an understated, considered and truly unique collection of songs from the newcomer.
Movin’ On feels evocative of some big names – Flume, Peking Duck, even Kanye West’s melancholy production style comes to mind – but there is something still so one-of-a-kind about it, something so uniquely Spectoral, that makes it such a special listen. Instrumentation features co-production from Martiln (one half of Twofold Vision) and sees synths glide effortlessly alongside each other, ducking perfectly behind carefully placed percussion, while Spectoral’s distinctive vocal leads the way with intensely relatable lyrics. Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, Andrew says, “I actually wrote this one about a good friend of mine. We’d catch up and she’d always tell me news about this guy she was in love with. Things never really worked in her favour with him because he was already taken – it was this kinda Love Actually moment for her I guess, just in reverse. So anyway, we’d chat about it, and she just found it so hard to give up the dream of one day him being hers. So this song’s about that. It’s about accepting the loss and letting it go.”
Movin’ On appropriately precedes the highly anticipated EP An Incorruptible Dream. Working alongside Tim Watt and Tim McArtney of Hercules Studio in Sydney (Flume, Touch Sensitive, George Maple), fellow producer Alius aka Sebastian Ivanov (Blake Rose, Arizona Jones) and musician Robin Waters (Ella Hooper, The Boat People), An Incorruptible Dream fuses pop, R’n’B and electronic influences flawlessly, all amongst a sparkling bed of confessional, well-crafted lyrics. Andrew explains the themes behind the EP, saying, “The name An Incorruptible Dream is a line from The Great Gatsby actually. It’s this idea of always trying to reach for the unattainable, whether it’s a person, or a state of mind, or a level of perfection or success. Unfortunately for Gatsby it blinded him and led to his downfall. The EP explores this theme that is definitely in my life in different ways. I planned this EP back in January, but actually a couple of the songs here I’ve been sitting on for literally years.”
So it’s no secret that this EP has been a long time coming, especially for Spectoral’s dedicated fanbase – and Andrew is thrilled to finally be ready to unleash these never-before-heard tracks onto the world, enthusing, “I’m so pumped! It’s like seeing a little bonsai tree that you’ve been caring for finally sprout flowers…I feel like I’ve really nestled into my sound over the past year, thanks to the experience of working with so many awesome engineers and co-producers all over this project. It’s been the most eye-opening and fun experience.”
An Incorruptible Dream is out October 12.
Emerging WA band Cloning have today released their ethereal new single All Rise, an introspective track that questions morality and is influenced by Nordic mythology. The group have also released an impressive self-made cosmic claymation film clip to accompany the song. To celebrate the release of All Rise, Cloning will be playing an exclusive show at the Indian Ocean Hotel in Scarborough on March 13.
All Rise pays homage to triphop auteurs Portishead while also evoking influences from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds to Radiohead. Recorded and mixed by Dave Parkin (Gyroscope, Karnivool) and mastered by Brian Lucey (Cage The Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood), this atmospheric track is the perfect soundtrack to a warm, hazy summer, with shining synthesisers, ample mandolin, cinematic guitar and idiosyncratic vocals. Speaking on the intricate meaning behind the track, guitarist and lead vocalist Felix Parker says, “All Rise is about how groups of people can think their intentions are purer than they actually are, and end up committing morally questionable acts in the name of their chosen cause. It’s also about what gets left in the wake of pursuing a goal and how noble intentions can be corrupted by the pursuit of this goal. The imagery in the lyrics is influenced by Nordic mythology and stories about the Yggdrasil which is a mythical ash tree at the centre of the cosmos. I read way too much as a kid and a lot of that just seems to naturally flow into my lyrics.”
Following the Nordic mythology theme, the video for All Rise was cleverly and masterfully worked in-house by the band, from conception to completion, excluding the editing which was completed by Jake Crawford (Psychedellic Porn Crumpets). From set making, to directing, to filming – the band did it all. With over forty hours of footage filmed over one very long weekend, and after almost setting fire to Felix’s living room twice, the video was taking shape. “We wanted to create visuals that complemented the lyrics and the myths they were influenced by. We came up with the concept first and were trying to think about how we could pull it off. We thought about hiring an animator to make an animation video at first, but we couldn’t afford it. Bevan made stop motion videos as a kid and does photography in his spare time, so we decided to make the video ourselves using Claymation,” explains Felix. “And we are really happy that we decided to do it ourselves because we ended up making something that is way more us than if someone else had done it,” adds guitarist Bevan Green, “But it definitely pushed the limits of our sanity. We spent ages gluing fake leaves to sticks to make trees which is really finicky when you’re dealing with things this small. And we had to be careful when filming not to move the clay figures in the wrong way or knock the camera, because one dodgy photo would ruin the hundreds of photos we had already taken up to that point for the scene.”
Cloning formed among friends Nic Rollo, Felix Parker and Jack Brett during their final years at school. The untimely loss of a close friend and musician around this time drove them to invest heavily in their musical pursuits. They were soon joined by guitarist Bevan Green, who grew up in the goldfields mining town of Kalgoorlie; joining the band when he moved to Perth. Though in relative infancy, Cloning have already been notching up some impressive achievements – touring nationally and scoring a WAM Song of the Year nomination last year – it’s safe to say 2020 is set to be a big year for this talented alternative act out of Perth!
All Rise is out February 3.
Cloning is Felix Parker (lead vocals and guitar), Bevan Green (guitar and vocals), Nic Rollo (bass and vocals), Jack Brett (drums).
CLONING ALL RISE LAUNCH GIG
FRI MAR 13 | INDIAN OCEAN HOTEL, SCARBOROUGH WA | 18+
Tickets from Oztix https://heatseeker.oztix.com.au/
Enimagtic surrealists Dream Dali have today announced their new single Little Lights, a reverberous, tumbling trip into darkwave, set for release tomorrow. To accompany the track, the group, comprising of three mysterious musicians whose collective experience has seen them gracing hallowed stages at Coachella, Primavera, SXSW and more, have also announced a spectacular video, constructed from dada footage by the group and synced perfectly to the music as a harmonious sound and surreal visual experience. To celebrate the release, Dream Dali will be performing their first Brisbane show in the throes of BIGSOUND 2019 at the Library Group Records BIGSOUND party at Greaser Bar on September 4.
Little Lights feels simultaneously nostaligic, nodding to The Cure and The Doors, while also undeniably modern, evoking a darker version of Tame Impala and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Hypnotic, trance-like and moody, Little Lights is driving, soaked with defined vocal melodies and a dark, melancholic feel, as lead vocalist Aldous Emerson explains, “Little Lights comes from a personal experience in dealing with a challenging and dark time with a relationship. Lots of allegedly supernatural things were happening that caused a lot of issues with anxiety and trauma, but I always had hope. The Little Lights are the hope.”
The clip for Little Lights pays homage to the groups’ namesake Salvador Dali, with its use of found Dadaist clips to reflect the eerie, supernatural vibe of the song. The flashing lights and spooky, strange, out-of-context footage work seamlessly with the music and complement the mood perfectly, as Aldous says, “The dada footage seemed to work well with the song’s theme and Dream Dali’s aesthetic. We like how surrealism explores subconscious thought and deep emotions that can sometimes seem dark, but when looking into them can actually cause healing, especially with the expression of art and music. We gather and create a lot of the black and white surrealist art and visuals that you can see at our shows. We have synchronized footage and lights to try to create an atmosphere and feeling.”
No strangers to the stage, Dream Dali have some impressive runs on the board as individual musicians, playing for artists such as Vera Blue, Daniel Johns, Kite String Tangle and Miami Horror, and supporting the likes of Phoenix, Washed Out and Empire of the Sun. Their upcoming show at Greaser Bar on September 4 for the Library Group Records BIGSOUND party is set to be a transcendent experience for all the senses, as Aldous describes, “For this show we will have our synchronised black and white surreal footage and lights, along with a set of dreamy, but energetic songs. We hope to take you on a journey to a cave to see your spirit animal.”
Little Lights is out August 30.
Dream Dali is Aldous Emerson (lead vocals and guitar), Rene Huxley (key bass and keys) and William Hobbes (drums).
DREAM DALI BIGSOUND 2019 SHOWCASE
WED 4 SEPT | LIBRARY GROUP RECORDS BIGSOUND PARTY @ GREASER BAR, BRIS | 18+
Tickets available here | Moshtix Outlets
What a huge week it’s been for Australia’s own RÜFÜS DU SOL. After dropping their anticipated third LP Solace last Friday, the trio announced their biggest Aussie tour yet on Monday, and this morning their epic run of shows just got even bigger with Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth selling out within minutes of going on sale this morning. To graciously satisfy the demand from their eager and loyal fanbase, the guys have announced second shows in Melbourne at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Valentine’s Day Thursday February 14, Perth at Fremantle Arts Centre on Sunday February 24 and Brisbane at Riverstage on Sunday March 3. Massive venues, massive tracks; this tour is set to be the Aussie live music event of the new year.
Blown away by the intensity of the swift sell outs, the band are even more pumped to bring their tour to home shores, with Tyrone Lindqvist enthusing, “It felt strange not to play in Australia for so long, but we wanted to come back with an entirely new show for everyone on our own terms. We never even anticipated having this many people want to come and see the show, we are legitimately blown away, we got the news right as we stepped on stage for the first show of the Solace tour. We walked on thinking about how exciting these shows at home are gonna be. Australian crowds are amazing to us.”
Solace follows RÜFÜS DU SOL’s previous two platinum-certified albums ATLAS and Bloom, and is an album that is as sonically rich as it is emotionally intelligent. The Australian three-piece, comprised of members Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt, have explored new territory on Solace; born out of a particularly poignant period for the band, it tackles heavier themes such as the pain of loss and the persistence of memory. This is unequivocally the group’s most sophisticated work to date.
The Australian Solace tour follows a rigorous two-year world tour which saw the band perform everywhere from legendary California festival Coachella, to Serbia’s EXIT. This intensive period of touring helped pave the way for the Solace live show, crafted through years of varied live experience for the band. Giving fans a rare insight into what to expect for the upcoming tour, Tyrone says, “This new show has allowed us to be able to take people on an inner journey and to get lost in the depths of Solace. It’s the most ambitious live experience we’ve put together yet.”
The brand new live show will push the band’s on-stage abilities to new levels. With an emphasis on jamming and live improvisation, the trio will bring the magical spontaneity of their studio process to the stage in an unprecedented format. Bringing a host of new analog gear into the fold, as well as a revamped visual setup, the new live show will allow for each RÜFÜS DU SOL performance to be sonically distinct. Of the upcoming shows, Jon says, “Some of our favourite moments have been at these outdoor venues. These live experiences just bring everyone together – whether you’re losing your friends, or finding new ones, but being so content in dancing and connecting with the music and the band on stage. We really hope to bring those moments and create that emotional connection over the summer.”
General public tickets to all shows are on sale now, Friday October 26.
RÜFÜS DU SOL SOLACE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
TUE 01 JAN | FIELD DAY, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
THU 14 FEB | SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE VIC | ALL AGES **NEW SHOW ADDED**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
FRI 15 FEB | SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE VIC | ALL AGES **SOLD OUT**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
WED 20 FEB | ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ADELAIDE SA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
FRI 22 FEB | FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, PERTH WA | 18+ (MINORS MAY ATTEND WITH SUPERVISING ADULT) **SOLD OUT**
Tickets available from https://www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All OzTix Outlets
SUN 24 FEB | FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, PERTH WA | 18+ (MINORS MAY ATTEND WITH SUPERVISING ADULT) **NEW SHOW ADDED**
Tickets available from https://www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All OzTix Outlets
SAT 23 FEB | 3 OCEANS WINERY, MARGARET RIVER WA | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All OzTix Outlets
SAT 02 MAR | RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE QLD | ALL AGES **SOLD OUT**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
SUN 03 MAR | RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE QLD | ALL AGES **NEW SHOW ADDED**
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/ | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
Solace is out now via Sony Music. Stream album: SOLACE
“With the electronic dance music scene turning formulaic and predictable, they’ve gone deeper and darker…. A digital storm in the desert” Cameron Adams, Herald Sun
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Perth has been renowned for producing some of Australia’s finest musical talents over the years.
Scarlet Drive are no exception to the rule. The band create a unique Alternative Rock sound that has been causing a buzz in the local music scene over the past couple of years.
The band have now released a new music video ‘Sad Robot’ and have announced the release of their debut EP
‘Echoes Of Apprehension’ on Friday 21st September.
Scarlet Drive kick off a run of tour dates on October 4th.
Check out ‘Sad Robot’ and let us know what you think!