After making an impressive debut earlier in the year, Oh My My shows his versatility with this latest release – a versatility that translates just as well in the live arena. Already a seasoned and established performer in rock circles as a part of Sydney quintet Bad Pony, Thomlinson has been in the spotlight with one of the east coast’s most exciting indie rock groups for much of this year.
“I knew Sydney indies Bad Pony were good live, I just didn’t know they were THAT good live. …I made full use of The Aussie BBQ’s relaxed Backyard to take in their urgent, unabashed sound and infectious energy.” The AU Review
His step out into solo territory as Oh My My introduces a different element of his musicality to music fans, proving a deft talent for songwriting and production in a totally different sonic field. Thomlinson-as-Oh My My is a totally different beast in this mode. Sydney is up first this September with an unmissable live show for So Far Sounds, but stay tuned for more Oh My My dates to be announced soon.
TOURING NATIONALLY IN SEPTEMBER, SECOND MELBOURNE SHOW ADDED + JUST ANNOUNCED ON FALLS FESTIVAL 2018! + SET TO PERFORM AT TRIPLE J’S ONE NIGHT STAND IN TASMANIA
The Queen of Australian hip hop, Tkay Maidza, is back with a brand-new EP and a whole new level of swagger. The new record – Last Year Was Weird Vol. 1 – is out now via Dew Process / UMA, and features the Adelaide emcee making a big splash across its eight tracks, including the previously released lead single, ‘Flexin’’ featuring US rapper Duckwrth.
“I think it’s a step of me coming into who I’m supposed to be,” Tkay says of the record. Indeed, the EP does mark a creative leap forward for the 21-year-old, as she branches further out in her variation of style and approach to both rapping and singing, solidifying her position as Australia’s best double threat behind the mic.
“This is how I want everything to sound and look and feel,” says Tkay. “For this EP I want people to react as if this is real and that I’m here to stay. I think the music is pretty dense and there are so many layers to it and you can tell it’s more connected. I want people to be like, ‘Oh this is a real thing.”
The range across the rest of Last Year Was Weird Vol. 1 only reinforces that further. EP opener ‘Big Things,’ which she premiered on triple j’s Good Nights last night, sees her embrace the reggae she was raised on, and even features her dad doing a guest appearance on bass, coming full circle after it was his interest in music that sparked Tkay’s own artistic aspirations. On the forthcoming single ‘White Rose,’ she really comes into her own as a singer – her voice displaying sultry, gentle tones that she’s never touched before on record. ‘Growing Up’ possesses a hazy, slacker vibe, while ‘Lullabies’experiments with an almost spooky melody that will send shivers through you. And finally, ‘Say It’embraces gospel choir samples alongside soothing organ chords, while Tkay spits fast through the verses, before tenderly singing the r’n’b’ hooks in the chorus. It may have a short running time, but not a single second of Life Is Weird Vol. 1 is wasted.
Alongside the EP’s release, Tkay’s poised to perform at triple j’s One Night Stand event tomorrow in St. Helens, Tasmania. She’ll be sharing the stage with a who’s who line-up of the Australian musical landscape, including Vance Joy, Peking Duk, Middle Kids and Alex The Astronaut. She then has as a string of national live dates that will see her performing both headline shows and make festival appearances throughout the rest of the year, including solo shows in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne (first show sold out and second show just announced) and Sydney, as well as festivals in Brisbane, RochfordVictoria, Roche NSW and Port MacquarieNSW. She’ll finish the year off with what is destined to be a massive set at Falls Festivals around the country, performing alongside the likes of Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Toto, Interpol, Mallrat, Amy Shark AND heaps more.
Last Year Was Weird Vol. 1 is AVAILABLE NOW via Dew Process / Universal Music Australia
Select Music and Five Four Entertainment present TKAY MAIDZA ‘FLEXIN’’ HEADLINE TOUR With Special Guests Kwame + Arno Faraji Tickets On Sale Now via www.tkaymaidza.com
FRI 7 SEPT – JACK RABBIT SLIMS – PERTH, WA – SELLING FAST!
SAT 8 SEPT – FAT CONTROLLER, ADELAIDE, SA – SELLING FAST!
THU 13 SEPT – HOWLER, MELBOURNE, VIC – NEW SHOW ADDED
FRI 14 SEPT – HOWLER, MELBOURNE, VIC – SOLD OUT
SAT 15 SEPT – BRISBANE FESTIVAL – THE COURIER MAIL SPIEGELTENT, QLD
SAT 22 SEPT – OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY, NSW –SELLING FAST!
+ ALSO APPEARING AT SAT 1 SEPT – TRIPLE J – ONE NIGHT STAND – ST HELENS, TAS FRI 28 SEPT – SOUND ON FESTIVAL @ PERTH ARENA (U18’s EVENT) SAT 24 NOV – GRAPEVINE GATHERING – ROCHFORD WINERY, VIC SAT 1 DEC – GRAPEVINE GATHERING – ROCHE WINERY, NSW THUR 13 – SAT 15 DEC – FESTIVAL OF THE SUN – PORT MACQUARIE, NSW
THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2018/19 All details and pricing can be found at: fallsfestival.com Lorne VIC: 28 Dec, 29 Dec, 30 Dec, 31 Dec (est. 1993) 18+ event Marion Bay TAS: 29 Dec, 30 Dec, 31 Dec (est. 2003) All ages Byron Bay NSW: 31 Dec, 01 Jan, 02 Jan (est. 2013) 18+ event Fremantle WA: 05 Jan, 06 Jan (est. 2016) 18+ event
The Iron Eye are cleaning their conscience today with a videoclip to match up with their new single! The single, Conscience Cleaner, produced by the master of big fuzz n beats rock and roll, Tom Larkin, has been doing some serious work for the band – with the track being added to some of the BIGGEST official Spotify rock playlists in the world – All New Rock, Rock Rotation, Rock Out and more – taking their monthly listeners to over 50k.
Hand in Hand with that, they are about to embark on their “Cleaner Conscience” tour – which takes them to Brisbane, Melbourne and for the first time, to New Zealand – to Auckland and Christchurch. The NZ leg of the tour was inspired by the fact that they were added to high rotation on New Zealand’s largest Rock Radio station, The Rock – and they have been planning to get there ever since.
Bassist Dave Webster said of the dark, brooding and foreboding clip – “We aren’t going to pretend that the clip had any solid story at its inception. We just wanted an idea that would look like the song sounds, frantic and unstable. On reflection though, I think the message is that you can’t run from yourself, you just have to face it and own it.” Big, bold, and dirty enough to need a good clean, The Iron Eye’s latest offering “Conscience Cleaner” is a frenetic 3 minutes of fuzzed-out, self-diagnosed destruction.
Producer Tom Larkin described the trio’s new sonic assault as sounding like “The Prodigy.. if they were a rock band.” with a driving rhythm section flavoured with the tones of 90’s Drum & Bass pulsating under Nick Lythall’s punchy and energetic vocals. Exploring the downward spiral of mental uncertainty wrapped up in a crazed demeanour, “Conscience Cleaner” reveals The Iron Eye unleashing in a new direction.
The Iron Eye enjoyed a stellar 2017, both here and abroad – and this new single looks set to continue this spate of wins. Tracks from their 2017 EP were added to official Spotify playlists, enjoyed Triple J spins on Weekends with Gemma Pike and Home & Hosed, triple j unearthed radio spins, a tonne of spins on Jane Gazzo’s Triple M Homegrown, plays on the Ozmade show across the Grant radio network AND full rotation on NZ Commercial station THE ROCK. On the live front, The Iron Eye have supported the likes of Harts, DZ Deathrays, Dallas Frasca, Rival Fire, Shihad, Grenadiers and more. The ‘Conscience Cleaner’ single is live for purchase and streaming across all outlets now.
Ninajirachi leaps into greater territories today, signing to NLV Records and sharing her first release,“Pathetic”feat. Naah, from her forthcoming debut EP, Lapland.
Nina’s production is well beyond her years, mastering and finessing her summery, pastel-hued electronica with every release. Premiered on triple j’s Good Nights, “Pathetic” follows a beautiful, gentle melody, melding an intricate mix of pop and gentle drum beats that glow with unwavering joy. Glimmering in sound is a purposeful production choice, offsetting the disappointingly real and all too relatable lyrics from Swedish vocalist Naah, of developing unrequited and involuntary feelings for someone, be that male or female.
Ninajirachi on the single: “Naah sent me a message on Soundcloud around October last year saying she had written a song with some friends and would like to collaborate on it. I don’t usually meet collaborators in this way, but her music/voice is super nice and I loved everything about Pathetic. She is based in Stockholm, so she sent me stems with which to build the track and we emailed back and forth. When she first hit me up I was mid-HSC exams, so I was pretty slack on replies/music and I didn’t finish the song until around February, but I really love how it came together in the end.” Having got the triple j tick of approval, not once but twice as a finalist in triple j’s Unearthed Highcompetition in both 2016 and 2017, Nina’s production has been described as “lush and ethereal” (The Indie Shuffle) and as “strikingly unique” (Wonderland Magazine). Her debut single, “Pure Luck” feat.Freya Staer, topped the Spotify Australia Viral Charts, received support from Zane Lowe Beats1 and was added to triple j high rotation before she even had a chance to graduate from high school. Her latest collaborations have seen her work with her label boss Nina Las Vegas on their track “Thursdays”from the Lucky Girl EP.
Nina has already found her feet on some of Australia’s biggest festival stages, having toured with Listen Out Festival in 2017, performed at Falls Festival, Mountain Sounds Festival and Groovin the Moo, and recently supporting Mallrat on her sold-out In The Sky Australian Tour.
Today she joins the NLV Records helm to work alongside the likes of production heavyweights Swick, UNIIQU3, Kota Banks and Nina Las Vegas herself. With collaborative projects in the works and her debut EP Lapland around the corner, “Pathetic” feat. Naah is just the first taste of the new Ninajirachi phase.
Fiona Grey drops her new music video Entitled ‘Dirty Dream’ the song is an upbeat, dance worthy anthem, portraying the obsessive tendencies we have have with falling in and out of love. Produced by Grammy award-winning Mike Schuppan (Paramore, M83, Ziggy Marley) and mastered by Dave Cooley (Fitz & The Tantrums, Stone Temple Pilots), the release is packed with powerful storytelling and imaginative visuals.
Emerging vocal sensation Fiona Grey has been writing and performing music with Los Angeles as her backdrop. Originally from Chicago, Grey utilizes the earnest nature of her raw vocal quality and defines her sound as “dirty pop,” teased by shades of sultry, soulful melodies. Drawing inspiration from the world of Hollywood, it’s unrealistic expectations and the vices that people use as a form of escapism, Grey hopes that her music will help listeners aim to be the most pure and honest versions of themselves. “There is a lot about living in a pop culture centered world that we deem as ‘normal behavior’. I hope that the music can remind the listener that this follower-centric, alternate persona universe we live in is all temporary happiness,” reveals the songstress who is known for her dynamic glittery performances.
Grey’s highly anticipated upcoming EP Cult Classic vocalizes these cultural issues and expresses Grey’s vulnerability and anger towards the world we are living in and her desires for the world we are shaping. Produced by Grammy award-winning Mike Schuppan (Paramore, M83, Ziggy Marley) and mastered by Dave Cooley (Fitz & The Tantrums, Stone Temple Pilots), the release is packed with powerful storytelling and imaginative visuals. Grey admits, “Each song has its own identity and story it wants to tell”. Sonically the EP is built around organic instrumentation, fusing modern electronic soundscapes while ensuring that the production doesn’t take away from the honesty of the music. Featuring string arrangements, full choirs and authentic instruments, the release delivers listeners with a dynamic and dimensional experience. Having been described by Galore Magazine as “bringing Hollywood glamour to a sultry story of love, drugs and vanity” and adding theatrical elements, Grey is essentially the Elizabeth Taylor of the modern pop music industry.
Leading single ‘Money’ focuses on the cultural infatuation with pop culture and the hierarchy of the “influencer era”universe we live in. The bold single is a clear indication of Grey’s staple sound of ‘dirty pop’, using dramatic strings and powerful lyricism to underscore it’s powerful message. Another stand-out track on the EP, ‘Dirty Dream,’ showcases the range of Grey’s songwriting. It’s an upbeat, dance worthy anthem, portraying the obsessive tendencies we have have with falling in and out of love. “It’s a dance through the breakup type song”, admits Grey. Grey has found success having performed with Charli XCX on her North America tour, she has performed on some of the worlds biggest stages including Ravina (Chicago), Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles) and Irving Plaza (New York). She has also had airplay on tastemaker stations such as KCRW, as well as having toured internationally including heading three successful European tours. Fiona Grey continues the next chapter of her vivid and infectious musical career, with Cult Classic set for release Fall 2018.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBvHqKBeJpQ&feature=youtu.be
ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM “BLOODY BANKS OF THE SWAN” RELEASED FRI SEPT 28th – PRE-ORDER NOW
DOUBLE A-SIDE SINGLE “LAWYER | I WANT AN AXE TO BREAK THE ICE” OUT NOW
Premiering his new single ‘Lawyer’ on Short.Fast.Loud on triple j, XIII releases today his double A-side single Lawyer | I Want An Axe To Break The Ice– Available Hereandannounces his debut album Bloody Banks Of The Swan will be released Friday September 28th – Pre-Order Now
XIII is the solo project of Dan Sanders (Gyroscope) and Bloody Banks Of The Swan is a 13-track collection of songs of despair, loss, hate, rage, isolation and drunken lust; the work of an artist desperate to evolve his craft. Some of these songs sound like nothing he has ever done before.
Want An Axe To Break The Ice’ was written after the death of Sanders lifelong musical hero David Bowie. He recalls, “I went to my studio and I’ve never done this before, but I wrote and tracked the song ‘I Want An Axe To Break The Ice’ in its entirety. I had everything plugged in, I was necking red wine, and that was musically a total Bowie thing. It absorbed me.”
The video for the abrasive punk rock venom, ‘Lawyer’ was directed, edited and created by Dan. Filmed at his personal recording studio ‘The Cabin’, which is fitting as Bloody Banks Of The Swan was predominantly recorded at his home studio. With over 100 songs written since 2008 at The Cabin, some of the demos were so good they made the final record, while others were re-recorded with the aid of Dave Parkin (Jebediah, Bob Evans) at Perth’s Blackbird Studios, where Sanders also captured his vocals.
“I wanted that live vibe and sound not as shiny as maybe I’m accustomed to, and to let my hair down a little, that’s how I captured it in my studio,” he says.
Best known as guitarist-vocalist for Perth band Gyroscope, Sanders was keen for his solo project to still have a band feel. He was determined to play all the instruments himself. “I sort of did a crash course,” he laughs. “I don’t even know guitar and vocals, that well, but the luxury of having a home studio meant I could come up every night and become proficient on bass and drums.” Along with his own drums and bass, good mates Drew Goddard (Karnivool) and Jon Stockman (Karnivool) laid down additional drums and bass, respectively.
“I always wanted to try make it sound like a band, but not really,” he adds of the recordings. “The only thing I had to go off was Foo Fighters’ self-titled album, where Dave Grohl played everything. You can really feel that it’s just Dave jamming with himself, having fun, having that freedom.”
THE 2018 & TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL FALLS FESTIVAL LINE-UP IS HERE! Bless the rains and hold the line! Flying past the quarter-century mark and making a fearless leap into its 26th year, Falls Festival lets loose with another ecstatic excuse to join thousands of friends old and new at Australia’s best New Year’s party! With an all-star line-up landing amongst the glittering sunsets, cobalt coastlines and disco docklands of Australia’s heartland, artists from across Australia and around the world are primed to transform our rolling natural amphitheaters and inner-city stages this summer.
Warmer weather is just around the corner and with the return of the sun comes the arrival of renewed optimism and feverish expectations for 2019. Falls Festival aims to capture this reborn positivity and blast it skyward from stage to crowd, creating an unforgettable celebration of the very best music, arts and good times.
Underneath the Falls hood you’ll find: world class music · creative installations · visual arts performances · pop-up bars and beer gardens · pass outs all festival long · thoughtful camping facilities · comedy clubs · daily beach access · glorious gourmet fare · makers’ markets · local traders · beauty parlours · holistic yoga and well-being, plus loads more to be announced!
A line-up packed to the brim with red-hot international and national artists has been carefully curated and the sites in Lorne, Marion Bay, Byron Bay and Fremantle will be whipped into shape in readiness for another New Year’s special. With every show selling out last year, there’s no doubt that after two and a half decades, Falls remains as vital as the summer sun. THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2018/19 NATIONAL LINE-UP:
ANDERSON .PAAK & THE FREE NATIONALS · CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN (ONLY AUS SHOWS) · VANCE JOY · CHVRCHES · HILLTOP HOODS · TOTO · INTERPOL · 88RISING FEAT.RICH BRIAN, JOJI, NIKI & AUGUST 08 (ONLY AUS SHOWS) ·FLIGHT FACILITIES · AMY SHARK · DMA’S · KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD · GOLDEN FEATURES · FIRST AID KIT (ONLY AUS SHOWS) ·OCEAN ALLEY · HOCKEY DAD · CASHMERE CAT (ONLY AUS SHOWS) · THE VACCINES · CUB SPORT · RUEL · JACK RIVER · BISHOP BRIGGS · MALLRAT ·BRIGGS · TOUCH SENSITIVE · TKAY MAIDZA · DERMOT KENNEDY · TIRED LION · HOBO JOHNSON & THE LOVEMAKERS · SOCCER MOMMY · ODETTE · MAHALIA · HATCHIE · WEST THEBARTON · SAM FENDER · TIA GOSTELOW · KOTA BANKS · TRIPLE ONE · ALICE SKYE · HEAPS GAY DJ’S & FRIENDS + PLUS LOADS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED +
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE! YOUR CHOICE: Falls Festival is a proud partner and supporter of Your Choice, working to create a safer and more enjoyable live gathering environment for everyone.
2018/19 EVENTS: Lorne VIC: 28 Dec, 29 Dec, 30 Dec, 31 Dec (est. 1993) 18+ event Marion Bay TAS: 29 Dec, 30 Dec, 31 Dec (est. 2003) All ages Byron Bay NSW: 31 Dec, 01 Jan, 02 Jan (est. 2013) 18+ event Fremantle WA: 05 Jan, 06 Jan (est. 2016) 18+ event
TICKETS TO FALLS: Friends of Falls pre-sales will commence at12pm (local time) Friday 31 August VISA Checkout pre-sales will commence at9am (local time) Monday 03 September General Sales will commence at 9am (local time) Thursday 06 September Local Tasmanian in store sales will commence at 9am (local time) Thursday 06 September All details and pricing can be found at: fallsfestival.com
PHONE APP: Take a Tour de Falls and download the #fallsfestival app! Download for iPhone Download for Android
THE FIX UPS debut self titled album is a genre mashing pop freakout! Like an 80s Trans Am sports car through the French Riviera this is opulent pop with a sense of style. 2000s indie dancefloor bangers, and new wave synths is just the beginning as the gentle lead vocals lure you to your death like a siren of the sea. It’s art pop and punk dance. And it’s not taking any prisoners.
Doing a 17 date tour across the USA isn’t how most bands would start, but then again THE FIX UPS aren’t most bands. Marlene Samson and Nikos Shannon, criss-crossed the continent from Boston’s Cheer Up Charlie and New York’s Piano’s, down to New Orleans The French, and across to San Francisco‘s Brick and Mortar, the bands baptism by fire directed their musical output to what got the best reactions on the road. This attitude fuelled the duos creative fires and upon returning to the land of Oz, the band set up a makeshift studio in a Templestowe farmhouse and began tracking their debut album.
With drummer Ash Meaghre now in tow the 8 songs that emerged are anything but boring. Mimicking their USA adventures the band likewise criss-cross genres with tactical precision and ease. It’s pop but not as you know it. It’s dance without DJs and incredibly fun!
“We wanted to record these songs as quickly as possible to capture the energy of writing them. The sound jumped an order of magnitude with the addition of real drums. And recording the whole album in two days was stamina provoking.”
Marlene – THE FIX UPSAlbum opener ‘Monkey Dance’ drops obnoxious synth bass on you like a tonne of bricks. It’s heavy and throbbing. Coupled with angular post punk vocals, the tune is a dancefloor thumper reminiscent of The Knife.‘Fearless’ takes quite a different tact, it’s all cute, dream-pop that’s groovy and cool. Vocals are glistening and beautiful with melodic twists and turns the song takes you on a journey as it skips along.
Along with ‘Mushroom Tea’ these two lay down plenty of soft synth lines and with their super melodic hooks it’s hard not to fall in love while dancing along!‘It’s Your Life’ takes a page out of Blondie’s book and ramps up chunky punk guitars with a party tune that bashes the life out of you. ‘Secrets’ takes it one step further adding healthy dose of attitude, you will think it’s a lost Yeah Yeah Yeahs classic.The group, throw every influence at this album from psych, new wave, grunge (and even reggae in their album closer ‘Do What’), with a synth heavy base and a keen sense of pop melodies. However counteracting the brash attitude of some and punky guitars are beautifully delivered vocals of Marlene Samson and acoustic drums that give the album depth that most high produced pop is lacking.
True to their genre mashing penchant they’ve taken a sharp turn on the coastal freeway off a cliff into the ocean and come up with a haunting video for the synth ballad ‘Breathe’.Gone are the dance beats and angular guitars but in its place is ghostly whispers and meandering melodies that wrap around you like a blanket. It feels like Goldfrapp and Sarah Blasko as they weave soundscapes and dreamscapes with gentle vocals from Marlene who woos you into a sense of security only to drag you to your death.The video is haunting and confusing as you wonder if a murder taken place and who is the murderer. Or is the person just going mad?
“Breathe is about inner reflections, connecting to the elements and getting away from the rat race life can present at times. It was written by the beach in winter, where we were doing exactly that, as well as being inspired by the mysteries of the unknown. The film was made by UK filmmaker, Katy Milner and shot along the river Thames in London. Katy and I lived in a warehouse together back in the day and she asked us if there was a song that she could shoot a video for. Breathe fit the imagery she wanted to film perfectly with the images of winter and inner reflection, as well as adding a bit of suspense. It is a story about how a woman accidentally shoots her friend and is haunted by the gun.”Marlene – THE FIX UPS
This album is for fans of local heavyweights Architecture in Helsinki, Heatwave and indie pioneers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ting Tings and Goldfrapp.
Their live shows are half punk and half dance floor. Check them out as they launch their album in Melbourne.
THE FIX UPS ALBUM LAUNCH Thursday September 13th The Gasometer Hotel Melbourne With Dayelle and The Substance, Glass Diamonds TICKETS
THE FIX UPS self-titled debut drops on all digital retailers Friday August 31st.
Sydney-based indie-electronic artist, Billy Fox has just unveiled live dates and his sweeping new single ‘Echo’ – mixed by Chris Collins (Gang of Youths, Middle Kids, Ruby Fields) and mastered by Steve Smart (Vance Joy, Tash Sultana, Dean Lewis).
On ‘Echo’, Fox’s gospel-laden vocals instantly reminisce of future-soul counterparts James Blake, Sam Smith and James Vincent McMorrow. Glimmering with spacious and intricately textured production, the soul-infused track glows with funk-laden grooves and sultry R&B.
Billy Fox talks about the meaning behind ‘Echo’:
“‘Echo’ is essentially a love song. However, it pays particular attention to that moment of realisation in a relationship when you understand just how in love you both are. At the infant stages, you would never had known where this was going to take you, and you don’t know what you’ve got yourselves into. We need the courage to let go and let it happen”.
To celebrate the release, Billy Fox has announced two intimate performances in Melbourne and Sydney. The hometown gig will coincide with a conceptual art exhibition; in line with themes of the song.
GD FRNDS, The Neighbourhood & PS Music Group Presents
