Tag: New Music

NEW MUSIC: The Hunter Express – God Damn Plan

So great to see Brad & The Hunter Express back for 2021! I’ve been a fan since they first hit the music scene in Melbourne several years ago. Check out this new one, it’s called God Damn Plan – filmed in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick.

The Hunter Express release their first single for 2021, a slow-burner, God Damn Plan. (Out Friday April 23rd). Lead by Melbourne singer-songwriter Brad Ellis, God Damn Plan represents the idea that comes with the white picket fence. It’s the perfect facade, but its so often superficial, just a front, and isn’t always what it seems. The song was recorded at Sauna Studios in Collingwood and engineered and produced by Robert Muinos (Julia Jacklin, Nat Vazer). Having worked with Robert on previous recordings this partnership only reinforced the strong soundscape created by The Hunter Express. The film clip was co-directed by Mark Murray and Jess Walters, in which Jess also stars. It features the members of the band and was captured on the roof top of Brunswick music venue, Small Time Group.

The Hunter Express show date:
Saturday 15th May @ Some Velvet Morning
Support from Bec Goring
123 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill VIC 3068

NEW MUSIC: Caravãna Sun – Stella

Caravãna Sun have consistently courted praise for their dynamic live performances and energy. Focusing on reminding us that even in the darkest times beauty and meaning can be found, the band returns with a bright new single in ‘Stella’. Taken from the band’s forthcoming new album, it’s a striking new step forward for the band.

An intensely personal song, ‘Stella’ is a song about relationships and connections, and the shifts in perspective that can happen within us all following monumental life occurrences. And while the genesis of the song stems from a specific real-life experience, ‘Stella’ remains accessible and speaks to life’s ins-and-outs, broadly speaking.

Caravãna Sun’s Ant Beard says that ‘Stella’ was originally written for a close friend who had suffered a miscarriage. Witnessing the grief and recovery process inspired Ant to write the song as a way of representing the joy and excitement this unborn life had brought and to remind his friend of the positive energy the child had brought to their lives.

“‘Stella’ was written as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there’s always a shift that goes on inside of people. A changing of perspective or a lens on the life we’d never seen through before. I wanted to remind my friend that even though they’d never get the chance to hold their baby, there’d been a monumental shift in them. A light I’d never seen before; energy behind every word, that spoke with such deep empath and true authentic excitement for what this new life meant to them.”

Recording the track was completed by Ian Pritchett up in the Blue Mountains, with Ant deciding not to share the song with the rest of Caravãna Sun until the actual studio day. Changing up the dynamic of the process brought new energy to proceedings, leading to this strong final result

“Normally, we’d work on our parts in pre-production and be very prepared, but there was something different about this song. Some quiet voice, that wanted to put everyone on the spot and see how they’d relate and what they’d play after hearing it for the first time. It created an energy in the studio that was beyond special and turned the song into something truly greater than the sum of its parts.”

NEW MUSIC: Baker Boy ft. Yirrmal – Ride

Baker Boy’s official video for his new single ‘Ride’ has premiered on YouTube.

A new collaboration with his cousin Yirrmal, thefunky, soulful, and jaw-droppingly catchy tune is a party song lost to the annals of time, like an Off The Wall single re-recorded in Yolngu Matha. Baker Boy describes Ride as “a new and improved version” of his 2017 Yirrmal collab ‘Marryuna’.

The exuberant music video was directed by Ryan Sauer who after hearing the song for the first time tapped into the fun and energetic vibe to create the imagery of the music clip.

Featuring Baker Boy cruising down some of Melbourne’s most iconic streets and letting loose in a packed nightclub, “The video brings the same excitement that the track does, it’s all about the journey to the club and bringing people together. It was incredible collaborating with Aurie Indianna on the creative direction again, with Ryan, Harry and the crew really bringing the vision to life!,” says Baker Boy.

NEW MUSIC: Lauren Housley – This Ain’t The Life

British Singer-Songwriter Lauren Housley teases more new music with ‘This Ain’t The Life’, the third single taken from her upcoming third full length album, ‘Girl From The North’, due on April 23rd. 

It’s not often you get an artist who combines the irresistible hooks and dynamite vocals of classic pop with the 100% respect of the roots and Americana world. Lauren Housley is that British treasure, and proves it once again on her stunning new single ‘This Ain’t The Life.’ 

The song comes on the heels of the atmospheric ‘Stay Awake To Dream’ and ‘What’s Troubling You Child’ as previews of Lauren’s eagerly-awaited third album ‘Girl From The North’. Released on April 23rd, the full set was recorded with husband and longtime collaborator Thomas Dibb in their basement studio in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. It features ten new co-writes by the couple on a record of varied treasures and eclectic treats.  

Lauren and Tom had returned to her home town in late 2019, rewriting plans for a proposed move to London when they heard they were expecting their first baby. In view of what 2020 brought us all, you could call it foresight. Lockdown never sounded so good, and little Noah approves, too. 

‘This Ain’t The Life,’ and the album as a whole, are a giant billboard for an artist who stands among the UK’s most engaging live performers in any genre. It’s a single that’s screaming to be performed on stage: the grooves ooze with the couple’s love of vintage pop, soul and blues. It sounds like the Ronettes met Sam Cooke at a swinging party where the Beach Boys turned up to spin some cool Atlantic 45s. In other words, it’s exactly the kind of feelgood moment we all need right now.

The single is the perfect calling-card for one of the classiest albums you’ll hear in 2021, created in a joyously musical household in which Carole King plays next to Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow sits alongside Dusty Springfield. It’s also part of the album’s spontaneous theme of rediscovering roots, going back to where you came in and reminding yourself that music can get us through anything. 

“To move forward we sometimes have to go back,” says Lauren. “I wanted to prove to myself that it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you can make great music.” 

Jimmy Barnes Drops New Single ‘Flesh and Blood’ + Announces July Album

At this week’s State Memorial Service for his mate and mentor Michael Gudinski, Jimmy Barnes unveiled an epic new song appropriately titled ‘Flesh And Blood’. The emotive track (co-written with Diesel) is out now.

“It’s about the unbreakable bonds that bind us to our families through all of life’s ups and the downs. Without Jane, my kids and grandkids I wouldn’t be here today”, Jimmy explains. “The song has taken on an extra meaning for our family since Michael’s passing. When I say he was a brother to me, I mean that in every sense. We could drive each other nuts sometimes but there was always a deep and loving connection there.”

‘Flesh And Blood’ was performed during last night’s memorial service, at the specific request of Michael’s son, Matt.

“Dad was so vibed about ‘Flesh And Blood’ and had it on repeat at home, which was always a sign that he truly loved a song. Jimmy and Dad had a friendship and work partnership that stretched across decades. He was one of the first people Dad would call for advice or to perform at a special gig, so Jimmy was always at the top of the list to perform at Dad’s memorial. In a night which had so many special moments I know this was one that Dad would have particularly loved,” says Matt Gudinski (CEO Mushroom Group).

Barnes added, “I was so excited when I played the single to Michael – he was really pumped about it and we were both really looking forward to sharing this new record together”.

‘Flesh And Blood’ was produced and mixed by long-time Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel collaborator Kevin “Caveman” Shirley. It will be the title track of a new Jimmy Barnes album that will be released in July. The album is available to pre-order here. 

“Most of the songs on the album – including ‘Flesh And Blood’ – were written when everyone was staying close to home due to COVID-19. Life really slowed down for a while and I think it reminded lots of people about how much of our lives revolve around our family”, says Jimmy.

These connections also flowed through the creation of new music. Jimmy’s wife, son, daughters and son-in-law all contributed to the writing and recording of the album. As millions of Australians discovered through their entertaining pandemic performances of over 100 songs on social media, when it comes to the Barnes’, it’s a family affair.

The album Flesh And Blood will be available on limited edition blood red vinyl, CD, digital download and streaming, and on a limited edition deluxe CD/DVD package. The bonus DVD will feature 10 of the best home performance videos which Jimmy and Jane Barnes, along with their family and friends, filmed throughout the pandemic.

Jimmy is currently touring Australia on the Red Hot Summer Tour and will also be headlining Bluesfest in Byron Bay. Fans are advised to avoid ticket resellers and to only purchase tickets by following the official links at www.jimmybarnes.com/tour-dates/

NEW RELEASE ALBUM: John Smith – ‘The Fray’

Against the backdrop of a universally difficult 2020, songwriter and guitarist John Smith found himself facing personal and unrelenting change.  In the spring of 2020, Smith and his wife lost a pregnancy, and his mother was diagnosed with cancer. With his touring schedule of two hundred days a year on the road suddenly on indefinite hiatus, for the first time in over a decade, John was home.

“With newfound pain coming from so many directions, dealing with the uncertainty it brings, I closed the curtains and picked up the pen, turning to songwriting as a lifeline.”  It’s unsurprising that the new songs reflect a shift in priorities.  On his new album ‘The Fray’, Smith gives us an uplifting perspective on the path forward, but pays beautiful homage to the difficulties along the way. 

‘The Fray’ is Smith’s sixth studio album, and his vulnerability throughout is offered to his listeners, unadorned.  “It’s been a hell of a year, but I feel I’ve created my most honest work as a result, and as a necessity.  A lot of these songs are about accepting that life is hard, but just holding on and trying to enjoy it anyway.”  Smith’s stubborn optimism in tough circumstances shines through on the title track, in which he sings “Holding onto hope / I don’t need a decent reason / Yes and though it disappears sometimes / It returns with every season”. 

Smith co-produced ‘The Fray’ with long-time friend and producer Sam Lakeman.  They recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio, with pianist Jason Rebello (Sting, John Mayer), bass player Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, Nadine Shah), Drummer Jay Sikora (Paolo Nutini) and Jessica Staveley-Taylor of The Staves.  The album is a true reflection of the times, with American collaborators Sarah Jarosz, Courtney Hartman, The Milk Carton Kids and Bill Frisell recording remotely and sending contributions over international borders.  John’s frequent touring partner Lisa Hannigan contributed via a virtual studio session in Dublin. 

Smith co-wrote a couple of songs for the album whilst on tour before the pandemic.  Driving a rental car from Asheville to Nashville, John stopped to write the standout track ‘Eye to Eye’ with North Carolina-based Sarah Siskind.  The Americana influence is a red thread throughout the album which beautifully compliments Smith’s unmistakeable British Folk roots.   

Smith was born in Essex and raised on the Devon seaside.  Known for his intimate songwriting, his honey-on-gravel voice and pioneering guitar playing, he has spent the last fifteen years touring internationally and has amassed over 40 million streams on Spotify.  As a session musician he has played guitar with artists as diverse as Joan Baez, David Gray, Joe Henry, Lianne La Havas and Tom Jones. 

TRACKS
1. Friends
2. Hold On
3. Sanctuary
4. Deserving
5. The Best of Me (feat. Bill Frisell)
6. Star-Crossed Lovers (feat. Lisa Hannigan)
7. To The Shore
8. Eye to Eye (feat. Sarah Jarosz)
9. Just As You Are
10. The Fray (feat. The Milk Carton Kids)
11. She’s Doing Fine
12. One Day At A Time

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Darlinghurst

THEAUSSIEWORD.COM catches up with Aussie group Darlinghurst.

How and where did it all begin for you? What drew your interest to the music industry?

We all together through a mutual producer Pete Dacy, who knew all of us through separate projects and sessions. When he picked up on all of us liking the idea of doing original projects, he basically got us all in contact with each other to see what happened and if sparks flew. Now we are here!

What motivates or influences you in your quest to make great music?

I think for us what motivates us is the fact that we want to make the best music that we can and using the different styles that each of us bring to create something that is uniquely Darlinghurst

What are your biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist?

Our biggest goal is to be able to continue writing and performing and make a solid living doing what we love. For our songs to be universally recognised would also be very special

What can we expect from you in the coming months? Any plans to tour?

In the coming months we hope to start gigging a whole lot more. We are also in the process of finishing off our debut album. If we get the chance to tour in the near future that would be something we would absolutely love

Tell us a bit about your latest release and how would you best describe your music?

Our latest release is Called ‘Where Do We Go’ and it really about spending time with the ones that mean the most, travelling in the same direction and really enjoy every moment along the way. I think we would best describe our music is country with portions of styles from all 4 members blended together.

Give us an insight into your creative process. What gets you writing songs?

I think every song is slightly different. We are lucky that all 4 of us write and get inspiration from so many different spaces and experiences that we have been through. We are all so open to ideas that we all have to ultimately create something uniquely us.

Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music? 

Maybe… but if we told you it wouldn’t be hidden anymore. Haha

Success, what is the secret to it?

We have no idea. We love that we have the opportunity for write and sing together and do what we love and for us that means more than anything else.

What has been your biggest career highlight so far?

In our very short career thus far we have had some mind blowing highlights and opportunities from supporting some of Australia’s most iconic artists including The Black Sorrows, Thirsty Merc and Cad and Morris to performing on the red carpet at the Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth but I think the craziest thing we have down was playing at Rochford Winery with the one and only Jimmy Barnes.

Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring?

How much time have we got…? Haha no we find the most inspiring artists are the ones who keep grounded, respectful and really stands by their art and their vision.

Are there any new projects in the pipeline?

At the moment our main focus is finishing this debut album but we definitely have a few things up our sleeve but you may just have to wait for that.

The music industry is huge, where do you see yourself a few years from now?

Hopefully still all together, writing, touring and continuing our Darlinghurst journey

What is your favourite and least favourite part about this line of work and why?

Our favourite part would definitely have to be getting to do what we love and experiencing it all together. Not a lot of people get to do what they love and we are really blessed to be able to do that. The least favourite part would probably have to be being away at times from the people that we love the most but we are lucky that we have each other.

Name a few of your favourite Australian artists.

Wow this is a very hard question as we have so many. Jimmy Barnes, Thirsty Merc, The Myclymonts, John Farnham, Diesel, The Black Sorrows and ACDC would just be a very small start.

The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye?

As an artist there is a part of you that just has to go along with how things are changing to help get our music out there. I think though especially for us performing live is the most impactful way of getting our music out it is one of our favourite things to do and people can really see who we are and how much we love making our music and sharing with whoever will listen.

How do you plan on cracking the international market?

At the moment we are just focusing on getting our album finished and then we will start working on some sort of plan. The ongoing pandemic has obviously changed a lot of plans for everyone, but we will keep at it and we will find a way to put the word out there as best we can.

Do you collaborate with others? Who is on your wish-list?

Yes we do collaborate with others. A handful of our songs( including Where Do We Go) have been written with the acoustic/pop duo Dacy. We are always working out of the same studio and around each other so ideas have flowed during coffee breaks etc. They are very talented writers so we feel blessed we get to spend so much time with them. In regards to a wish-list, we’d love to collaborate with anyone that shares a similar vision and who’s just as excited about the writing process as we are.

What advice do you give for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

There is quite a lot of advice we could give to people wanting to do the exact same thing that we are trying to do but I think the most important things are patience, persistence and hard work. You can never be the best but if you constantly are working at your craft and working to better yourself and as a band you can’t go wrong. This industry is full of ups and downs and you just need to push through especially if the love is there. You definitely need to have a love of music over anything else to be in this industry. 

A message for your fans. How do you best interact and respond with your fans?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. If it wasn’t for people loving what we are doing and following our music, it would be so hard to build yourself in this industry. Fans and music lovers are the heart of it and if we can connect to people through our music then for us, that means the world. We try to interact in all ways whether it be through social media, through gigs and just people reaching out to us. We are so grateful for people enjoying our music, so interacting with them makes us really happy.

Any last words?

Love what you do and be kind. Right now in the world we live in, its so important to make the most of the life we have, so we need to grab and never let go.

Website & Tour Dates: darlinghurst-band.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/darlinghurstband/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/darlinghurstband/

NEW MUSIC: Kaitlyn Thomas – Make Your Move

20-year-old Victorian powerhouse, Kaitlyn Thomas, is taking 2021 by the horns and showing a completely different side to her music and a growth as a songwriter via her new single, “Make Your Move”.

Kaitlyn says the song is “about the state of being carried away by an unreasoned passion and tirelessly waiting for them to make the first move but eventually taking matters into our own hands by giving them an ultimatum so we can move on”.

While some songs take years to finish, “Make Your Move”, started out as a spontaneous moment in her kitchen.

“I was making a salad and I just started singing which lead to a vocal jam – complete with kitchen utensils – singing the hook of Make Your Move at the top of my lungs”, laughed Kaitlyn.

“The hook quickly became an ear worm that I just had to write the song to go with it”.

2021 has already started with a bang with performances alongside Darlinghurst and a main stage spot at the inaugural Road to Roma Festival in QLD.

“Make Your Move” is the third original country single from Kaitlyn Thomas and is out Friday 19th March 2021 via Red Rebel Music/MGM Distribution.