THE BUCKLEYS – Breathe

Today, Byron Bay siblings, THE BUCKLEYS release a remixed version of their second worldwide and fourth Australian single, “Breathe,” via Petrol Records / Universal Music Australia / Ume.

The song was recorded and co-written by Sarah Buckley and two-time Grammy Award winning producer and engineer Chad Carlson, whose credits include Taylor Swift, Jewel and the Hunger Games soundtrack.

“‘Breathe’ was our musical prayer to the world,” explains THE BUCKLEYS singer Sarah Buckley. “I wrote this song at a time when Australia was experiencing devastating find myself remembering these lyrics in moments where I just need to stop, close my eyes, listen to the sounds of world around me and just breathe.

Today this song has a far more personal meaning to us. This track was our label chairman and mentor Chris Murphy’s favourite song on our album, his passing earlier this year has been incredibly difficult to come to terms with, we performed the song at his funeral, and now it will always hold a very special place in our hearts.”

Linda Kury, VP Commercial Partnerships & Label Relations, UMG, “I have had the pleasure of watching THE BUCKLEYS develop an ever-growing fan base in Australia, the US and worldwide. The pandemic limited their ability to tour, but they launched their first single and toured the world, all virtually from Byron Bay. At every virtual club show, radio station visit, press interview and fan listening party, they have won over people with their music and charismatic personalities. They have built solid relationships due to their natural talent and sincere enthusiasm. Now, we look forward to introducing them in person to their fans around the globe.”

Over the past year THE BUCKLEYS have continued to impact the Australian and global media, their recent release of their up-tempo track “Money” saw the band transition to commercial radio and the young trio celebrated a series of additions across various radio networks.

Sarah Buckley has also spent the past 12 months working on her song writing and was this week shortlisted for the 2021 APRA Professional Development Awards that will be announced later this month.

Promoters began to book the rising stars on major festival stages and the band were recently announced to play at Byron Bay’s iconic Bluesfest in October later this year, as well as Gympie and Savannah.

“Every so often, something special comes along. Something so cool and authentic that the world has no choice but to sit up and take notice. THE BUCKLEYS are that special something.” American Songwriter

“Hottest Creatives to Watch in 2021.” The Australian

“Breathe seems built for American radio and stardom.” Sydney Morning Herald

“A blend of Country, Pop, Indie and Americana with a sprinkle of Fleetwood Mac…” Honey Pop

Benny Allen – Tired All The Time

A bout of insomnia and a couple of good mates have inspired Benny Allen’s new single, ‘Tired All The Time’.

“The song came to me at 3 o’clock one morning when I was lying in bed and my sarcastic inner voice was asking why I was so tired all the time,” the award-winning Victorian artist said. “The chorus came to me, then little verse bits as I thought about those mates we have who say they’re really busy working overtime, juggling family commitments and everything else and you wonder how they fit that all in.”

Originally written in a slower, ballad style, Benny worked on the song over a month and added a bit of a swing feel to it, and increased the tempo. The finished product has a honky tonk vibe and is a story that many listeners will connect with.

Produced by Michael Carpenter, ‘Tired All The Time’, features Benny on piano and vocals recorded in Melbourne, Michael on drums, acoustic guitars and bass, and Zane and Jy from The Banks Brothers on electric guitars and pedal steel. “I’m so excited about this song because I’m really happy with how it came together,” Benny said. “Mentioned in the song are a couple of good mates, too. I met Kim Wright and Aaron Jurd through the Academy of Country Music in 2018, and they fit the story in this song, so they’re mentioned.”

Although his previous single was a murder ballad, ‘Tired All The Time’ sees Benny return to a happier vein, in a similar vein, to an earlier single, ‘Lady Luck & Me’. “I want people to sing along with the chorus – my daughter has already told me it’s an ear worm and has been singing it to herself after just one listen!” Benny said.

“This is an anthem for the people who don’t get enough sleep.”

Reuben Koops – Oblivious

After a three year hiatus and a recent single in late 2020 ‘Like the Movies’, Reuben Koops is back with another new single Oblivious, due for release on March 12. Sonically a step up from Like The Movies, Oblivious is a new direction for the Australian singer/songwriter; a move he has been planning for some time.

Still focused around Reuben’s captivating acoustic guitar and vocal, Oblivious introduces more production, co-produced by Jack McLaine (Sumner). Reuben explains the process, “this was a fun one to work on. It had a strong personality before production; after working with Jack it went to another level sonically that I’m really happy with. I love the beats that Jack framed around the acoustic and vocal. Ben Edgar (Angus & Julia Stone, Passenger) played the stunning guitar parts; they add so much vibe. The heavier production on this track is eluding to where I see my sound heading in the future.”

Luke Hodgson (Washington, Ecca Vandal) played the bass parts. The single was mixed by John Castle (Gretta Ray, Cub Sport) and mastered by Grammy Award winner William Bowden (Gotye, Winston Surfshirt ).

Speaking of the song, Reuben adds “this track is another one I’ve had with me for quite a while. It’s about losing someone or something important to you. Maybe someone or something you knew wouldn’t last forever, but when that time comes, it’s always harder than you expect”.

After his 2017 release Higher Ground (produced by David Ryan Harris), Reuben decided to spend some time working on writing, co-writing, working with different producers and writing for other artists. This single is the perfect follow-up to Like The Movies and shows a sign of what’s to come. Speaking of the future, Reuben explains “more music is my plan. There are many more songs to come and I’m excited to be in the mode of making and releasing music again. I’m hoping to continue being productive and purposeful in releasing more singles this year”.

salem ilese – (L)only Child

Northern California pop singer and songwriter salem ilese’s shares new EP (L)only Child – out now via 10K Projects/Homemade Projects/Virgin Music Australia. The EP features brand new single and video ‘Dinosaurs (S4E7)’, alongside previously released tracks ‘(L)only Child’ and ‘About A Breakup’.

On ‘Dinosaurs (S4E7) ‘, salem asks “did the dinosaurs see it coming?” and grapples with mortality, climate change and the general uncertainty of life. The title of the song, as well as its music video, directed by Jason Lester (Lauv , Cautious Clay), references the iconic final episode of the 1990s show “Dinosaurs” that shows the dire consequences of disrupting nature in favour of profits, a message more relevant now than ever. Watch the video below…

Salem’s new project arrives on the heels of her recent writing credit on TikToker-turned-popstar Bella Poarch’s ‘Build a Bitch’ single, which has been streamed more than 7M times on Spotify, this week alone. Similar to salem’s very own smash hit ‘Mad At Disney’, Bella’s ‘Build A Bitch’ is an anthem of female empowerment, turning establishment led gender norms on their heads.

A strong proponent of environmentalism and social justice, salem hopes to spread awareness about important issues through catchy pop songs. This mission included her breakout single ‘Mad At Disney’ (174M Spotify streams, 15 weeks on Today’s Top Hits) which unpacked Disney’s harmful stereotypes of women as well as her EP, (L)only Child, which is full of coming-of-age electro-pop anthems about self-acceptance and the social issues plaguing our world.

The Million – why we’ll never be together EP

Central Coast indie-pop band The Million have unleashed their second EP ‘why we’ll never be together’, a lively, genre-tripping project that fuses emotionally direct lyrics with slick hooks.

‘why we’ll never be together’ is the anticipated follow-up release to their breakthrough project ‘Hydration Station’ and follows two singles that demonstrated the breadth of the EPs vast range. From the funk-tinged stylings of ‘Somebody Better’ to the reverb-soaked honesty of ‘Check Up’, they began telling the story of a break-up that unfolds in full over the course of the whole project.

It’s an unwavering EP full of raw, vivid lyrics that centre around an emotionally turbulent time for lead-singer and lyricist Jacob Thomas. Specifically, it’s the story of the breakdown of a relationship and all the motions that you go through afterward from bitterness to liberation.

The EP title, as Thomas says, “summarises all the emotions.”

“I came out of it feeling like that’s life and these things happen…Fuck it. I don’t ever have to see you again,” he says.

We move from the regret and nostalgia of ‘Last Call’ to budding new love on ‘Stop/Go’. Thomas covers all the emotions surrounding budding and disintegrating love through stories both fact and fiction. ‘Stop/Go’ was the first song written for the record, painting a sunny picture of a young relationship. ‘Last Call’, on the other hand, was one of the last songs written and is regretful, depicting a relationship that’s ended. “Should’ve put us before anyone else,” Thomas sings.

‘Stop Go’ is tense and sweaty capturing the sexual attraction of a new relationship with sticky guitars and spoken vocals. In stark contrast, ‘Last Call’ draws on ’80s synth-pop, leaping along at a heart-raising tempo. It’s a heartbreak anthem but the sounds are liberating, leaving all bad feelings on the dancefloor.

‘why we’ll never be together’ came to be over the space of a few years, as the band experimented with new producers and new places. From Australia to LA, Thomas challenged himself with opening-up in an attempt to tap into the emotional honesty that permeated the music he was inspired by.

“I was listening to music that was making me cry and music that was making me feel things. I needed to make music that made me feel something” he says.

A writing trip to LA was a formative experience that added up to a flood of experimentation. The openness of the new people that Thomas and the band worked with made him, “realise there’s no right answer to anything.” Thomas stopped second-guessing himself and found himself having a “therapeutic” experience.

On the EP, the band worked with revered US producer Colin Brittain (Hands Like Houses, All Time Low) as well as Australian producers Chris Collins (Middle Kids, Gang Of Youths) and Dylan Nash (Dean Lewis, Angus & Julia Stone). They are joined by a far-reaching and esteemed list of producers including Dom Craik (Nothing But Thieves) who worked on ‘Last Call’ and Nick Anderson (The Wrecks) who added additional production to ‘Somebody Better’. UK mixer Stephen Sedgwick (Gorillaz) and writer Lucy Taylor (Dua Lipa, Friendly Fires, Dagny, Ellie Goulding) also contributed. All the collaborators encouraged an environment of experimentation and the band, “were never afraid to try anything,” as Thomas puts it.

The result is a project that moves seamlessly from slick pop to fuzzier alternative moments. As bitter and frustrated as the lyrics can get, the soundscapes remain buoyant and immediate – a juxtaposition that was especially important for Thomas.

“That’s my favourite combination,” he says, continuing, “when the lyrics are morose and the sound is happy and positive. When you get that blend right there’s something that hits a bit harder.”

In many ways, this EP has been a lifetime in the making for the band as they have altered their line-up and honed in on their sound. Thomas met drummer Jay Stewart in high school. Despite, initially butting heads over a girl, they were forced together in a school band kickstarting a long-standing musical relationship.

Thomas and bassist Tamon Mashimo also met in their teens though lost touch until they were reunited at a Paramore concert. Members had come and gone but Mashimo arrived as the missing piece they had been looking for.

They are now joined by a freshly anointed fourth member McKinley Payne who has been a touring member for 2 years. According to Thomas, “He’s always there. He’s always on time. He’s always providing feedback,” and so his permanent appointment was a “no brainer”.

This EP is made for the stage just as much as it is intimate solo listening. It’s the mark of a band that has stepped into a new era of confidence, embracing risk-taking both within their sound and lyrics.

“We’re actually talking about real things that have happened to us,” Thomas says. “There’s growth in the lyrics and music. There are real stories being told.”

Amber Lawrence & Catherine Britt – I Am Woman

For Amber Lawrence, the passing of iconic Australian singer-songwriter-author-actress-activist-mother, Helen Reddy last September, was the moment she truly felt the gravity of the lyrics of her global women’s rights anthem, “I Am Woman”.

Amber decided to include the song in her set at her first post Covid lockdowns live show. The response was overwhelming so when the time came to hit the road with her good friend, Catherine Britt, for their Love & Lies Tour, she floated the idea to include it as a duet. It didn’t take much to convince Catherine who too was a big fan of the iconic song.

“Catherine and I are proof that women can and do – do anything. We’re both working mums, run our own businesses, we tour manage, drive ourselves, load in the gear, perform the show, then load out and drive to the next town to do it all over again”, says Amber.

“We’re consistently asked after the show “who is minding your kids?” The men on tour with us have children too – but are never asked that same question”.

“I believe in equality and that women should receive the same level of respect and understanding as men do”, says Catherine.

“The message is as important and powerful now as it ever was. It’s a reminder that even today, women are still struggling with the same issues they were when this song came out 50 years ago”.

In making the decision on whether to record such an important and iconic song, Amber and Catherine both had to have very strong reasons to do so. The key reason came when they looked out into the audience when they performed it together for the first time and realised just how many young girls and women were coming along to their shows.

“Many came up to us afterwards saying ‘wow what an incredible song’ and how much truth it spoke. It felt right to take on the huge challenge”, says Catherine.

“Once we agreed that we would record it, we had to work out how to make it our own and take it to the next level in order to pass the baton of female strength and independence on to the next generation of women”, says Amber.

Amber Lawrence and Catherine Britt have certainly delivered on their promise and their stellar version of “I Am Woman” is released through ABC/Universal on Friday 28th May across all digital platforms.

Andrew Shapiro – MINT GREEN (Radio Edit)

“The 2009 album Numbers, Colors and People (recorded in one day at Philip Glass’s studio) is all instrumental piano and the album’s standout track Mint Green would go on to define Shapiro’s early career. The track is a furtive, arcing and pacey piano solo which rises and falls delicately, its melody slowly emerging from a Debussy-like haze of almost-hesitancy. No matter how many times it’s heard you have to return to its cascading style.

Mint Green’s astonishing success on the Internet and as a regular soundtrack on American television belies its origins; Mint Green was directly inspired by the Cocteau Twins’s track My Truth from their 1993 album Four-Calendar Café.”

-Mark Prendergast, author, The Ambient Century

Andrew Shapiro writes:

I was a young artist making my first album and was amazed a piece of art-music could find the reception that it did. But it was in the way that it did I continue to find fascinating.

Mint Green, an ode to mint chocolate chip ice cream, has resonated with fans of a number of disparate artists and genres. It’s Classical, Ambient, Emo, Pop and Trance simultaneously. One could make the case that this is really a piece of Electronica realized by a human on a piano…

When the piece reached into mainstream territory -initially on Coldplay’s Pandora station- I started hearing from people all over the world. Here I’ve created a remastered and shortened version (four minutes); the one I play on TV and in other appearances.

Eddie Rawk Band – One Last Time

Fresh from the success of their previous singles ‘Take Me Home (Red Dirt Road)’ and ‘Memories’, Eddie Rawk Band returns with a brand new track for 2021, ‘One Last Time’.

Produced and engineered by Daniel Kelaart (The Paper Kites, Simple Plan, Guy Sebastian and Tyler Hudson ) at Clique Studios in Melbourne, ‘One Last Time’ poses the question “why are toxic relationships the hardest to let go of?” Eddie explains: “‘One Last Time’ is a song about the too familiar love that we feel for someone special to us, however knowing deep inside yourself that the person is not right for you. The song addresses the emotions and intense feelings of love for a past relationship. The tension of the song comes from the desire to take a risk on a love that was once broken. Should you follow your head, or follow your heart’s desire?”

The single comes with a video featuring the band playing up a storm on a stage that is always a welcoming venue for them. Eddie says: “The video was directed by Daniel Kelaart and Nick Marris and filmed at the Oak Tree Tavern in The Basin, Victoria, a favourite venue regularly hosting Eddie Rawk Band. The clip was recorded over two nights of drinking with the pub’s locals who volunteered to be crowd extras and really got into their roles”.

Eddie Rawk Band achieved great success with their previous single ‘Take Me Home’, peaking at No.2 on the AMRAP charts, and gaining airplay on stations including Australian Country Radio, PBS FM and 2TM.

The band have played to packed houses at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and have also performed at the Basin Music Festival, The Whittlesea Country Music Festival and the Hats Off to Country Online festival during the pandemic. They have performed alongside Carter & Carter and Jetty Road at the Taste of Tamworth and have also supported Australian household names The Choirboys and Rose Tattoo.

Drawing inspiration from Luke Bryan and Keith Urban, Eddie Rawk Band blend a modern country sound with an upbeat party vibe and have produced a single that is infectious. This won’t be the last time we will hear from them – be sure to catch their performance at Neon Horse in Stanthorpe on 19th June, and the VDM Festival in Queensland later this year.

Hoodoo Gurus – World Of Pain

It’s a big day for Hoodoo Gurus fans! Alongside the announcement that the band will be hitting the road in celebration of their 40th Anniversary since their first live show back in 1981, come the release of the brand new single ‘World of Pain’.

“‘World Of Pain’ is a combination of glitzy glam rock and dirty barroom blues. It has a swagger and a cocky attitude, although the song’s narrator is clearly having a very bad night. The poor sap – he thinks he’s having fun!” said frontman and songwriter Dave Faulkner.

“‘World Of Pain’ is a slightly fictionalised story about the aftermath of a big night on the town that got way too big. I’ve personally lived out everything described in the song (I’m not proud of that fact). Luckily for me, the events described in the lyrics didn’t occur in exactly this order or over the one night. Nevertheless, it’s all true. Oh, and before you ask, the answer is: yes, I have been punched in the face in a nightclub when I was a bit drunk one night” he continued.

‘World of Pain’ is the fourth single release from the band over the last couple of years following 2019’s ‘Answered Prayers’ and 2020’s anti Trump anthem ‘Hung Out To Dry’ as well as the song to all the non-conformists ‘Get Out of Dodge’. The Gurus also let out another nugget for fans today by announcing they will have a new album in time for the tour.

It is Hoodoo Gurus evocative and relatable lyricism, peerless song writing – with a hint of punk attitude – placed in a distinctively Australian context that has provided a careful balance of critical success and enduring mainstream appeal for 40 years.

Since their formation in 1981, Hoodoo Gurus’ boast 9 x ARIA Top 20 albums, 9 x ARIA Top 40 singles and a swag of multi-platinum albums – they’re mainstays on the live scene, and perpetually influential to a new generation of artists.

The Gurus kick off their 40th Anniversary Tour, along with The Dandy Warhols at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Wednesday 1 December, before heading to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday 3 December. Next up is Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Saturday 4 December, before they head across to Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre on Thursday 9 December, and close out the tour at Perth at the Belvoir Homestead & Amphitheatre on Saturday December 11.

“We are thrilled to be going around Australia to play for our fans again. Even better, we are honoured to be accompanied by our admirable friends, The Dandy Warhols from the US. Between the two of us, there are gonna be plenty of opportunities for crowd singalongs, and after the turmoil of the last year and a half, that’s gonna be incredibly therapeutic for everyone. You can be certain that both of our bands will be fired up and rarin’ to go.”

‘…Dave Faulkner’s crunching surf guitar riff took us straight back to the heaving beer barns of the 1980s in which the Gurus made their name. …Rick Grossman’s roiling bass, Brad Shepherd’s fanging rhythm guitar and Nik Rieth’s martial drumming kicked in… a tribute to the Gurus’ tightness, showmanship and sheer number of well-known tunes.’ – Sydney Morning Herald 2020