Top 5 songs from childhood, that are even better than I remember them.

 

My name is Mani Blü, I am an artist from Melbourne. I have always grown up listening to music, one of my first memories was me sitting in the car listening to the Cranberries “Dreams” on the radio, and watching MTV in the late 90s, I was only very young, but the fact that those musical moments stick out the most are super interesting. I started classical training for singing when I was 6 years old, up until I was about 13, it created a technical foundation, but I was always into pop music and theatre, and when I discovered Bowie, I started to find my own sound and experiment. I have such a love for 70s glam rock, when I listened to Queen and Bowie for the first time, I was  instantly captivated, they captured everything I love about art, fashion and music and put it into one. I was involved in theatre a lot in high school, I had a lot of different kinds of projects going on atonce, I did all the school musicals, I was constantly making videos and was studying theatre so I was making sets and props also, I have always been interested in all the aspects of show business and art.
Now as an artist, I think I subconsciously collide all my inspirations together, from Andy Warhol to Marilyn Manson, but a lot of my idols have a lot of similar characteristics, and I believe it is the innate need to create and be free through art.

 

MY TOP 5 MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS

1. David Bowie

This is a video of Bowie shot in 1973, where he performed as Ziggy Stardust for the very last
time, his band didn’t even know until later, this was the moment he killed Ziggy. This clip of
him singing Rock N Roll suicide is like watching all those rock stars who died from drug use
being embodied into one person, it is strikingly powerful.

 

1. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga for me is what Bowie was for his generation, I grew up listening to Lady Gaga’s
music and following her career as a teenager, her music, art, fashion and messages of love
was always very inspiring. This video is one of my favorites, so symbolic and theatrical.

 

3. Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson is more of a recent inspiration of mine, I started to listen to and appreciate
his art a few years back a lot more, he is a very intelligent self-aware person, who denies
societal pressures and just creates pure honest art. The Dope show music video is probably one of my favorite music videos of all time, it is so powerful and honest, there is beauty behind what some people might perceive as madness.

4. Culture Club

Boy George is someone who I very much look up to, he is another person who is very
unapologetic which I admire. He was one of the people who was at the forefront of the New
Romantic movement, which is where a lot of my favorite new wave bands come from like
Spandex Ballet. The first time I saw this film clip I think I was changed forever.

1. SOPHIE

Sophie for me is part of the future of music, she is doing crazy stuff that no one else
is doing, she is helping lead the way for a new kind of pop movement, a place of
equality and art in pop music, we have been there before, but I know it is going back
there again, but even stronger than before.

 

Watch Mani Blü ‘s latest single ‘ Frankenstein here

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZsUjoaIwwP0

Since Papaya Tree’s conception two years ago they have toured Australia extensively, playing boutique festivals Psyfari and Wollombi.

The Papaya Horn Section Zac Olsen: I’m the saxophone player in the Papaya Horns alongside Jordy. I play as a session saxophonist around Sydney but also play many other instruments in different projects suchas synths/keyboards, vocals, guitar, etc. I’m a huge fan of any music which is unique, has very distinct sounds and is unlike anything I’ve heard before.

Jordan Tulinksy: I play the little saxophone or the trumpet in the Papaya Horns. I play around Sydney as a session trumpet player and I study jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium alongside Zac. The music that gets me going are very well thought out and groovy horn lines from the likes of bands like Chicago and early Michael Jackson (Off the Wall). I also have a huge crush on hip hop/soul and other styles akin to that.

Jordy: Steely Dan – The Caves of Altamira: Part of what I love about the horn work in this song is that there isn’t actually a huge amount of it. Aside from some belting high notes in the opening, they stay completely out of the way for the verses and most of the chorus. When they do come in however, what they play is beautifully constructed and meaningful. Each chorus ends with head spinning sax hits, before the trumpets come back and smack out those high notes we heard at the start. However, the true genius of this track, lies in the bridge/outro. Here the Horns play a new hook, based off melody to the opening lyrical phrase of the first verse “I recall when I was small// How I spent my days alone,” which is an amazing example of song writing.

Chicago – Street Player This epic dance odyssey represented the start of a new era for the Chicago, their final statement before deep diving into the 80’s. The tune has all the elements of brass writing/playing that make Chicago so lovable. Super long phrases (akin to those you might hear in a big band jazz setting) that take you on a journey, but not at the expense of hard hitting, shorter hooks. The beauty of Street player is that while keeping these authentic Chicago brass elements, it’s a straight up Disco Banger! The groove is infectious and difficult not to dance to, while the horn artistry, particularly that of Trumpet Player Lee Loughnane leaves your ears steaming and wanting more.

Zac: King Krule – A Lizard State: Many of the boys in Papaya are huge fans of the ginger genius that is King Krule. I alwaysfind myself revisiting his self-titled debut album and the angsty, English punk and grime induced ska undertones of his track Lizard State. This track has so much depth, it gets the testosterone flowing through its wailing sax lines and its sharp and jagged instrumentation but is lyrically so vulnerable and visceral. King Krule’s musical aesthetic and uniqueness has changed the way I go about instrumental writing. It puts me in the frame of mind of servicing the emotional intent of a song, whether it be through timbre, harmony, rhythm or just playing something out of pure emotional response to a musical stimulus such as the lyrics.

Fela Kuti – Water No Get Enemy My first introduction to Fela Kuti was through writing an essay about one of my heroes King Krule, who stated him as an influence. The first song I put on was Water No Get Enemy and I instantly screwed up my face in delight. There’s just something magical about African drumming and a fierce horn section. Trumpet and baritone sax are the perfect brass duo, as the phat low end and the parallel octaves create so much sonic depth. The main riff develops perfectly, is super catchy and just makes you want to dance your ass off. Whilst the song is a whopping 10-minute jam over three chords, they manage to make it interesting the whole way through, which deserves some serious respect.

Jordy and Zac: Baldwins – Goldbrick One of the most criminally underrated bands in Sydney at the moment. Made up of some seriously talented musicians we have the pleasure of knowing, their track Goldbrick has an insane groove coupled together with powerful vocals from their singer Courtney and an amazing horn hook. This tune funnily enough helped inspire the horn line to our single Radar, through its descending laid-back cadence which changes ever so slightly to keep the track chugging forward. Everything from this track is perfect, the hip hop/neo soul/jazz undertones, the chord progressions, the attention to detail of the timbre of the vocal melodies and of course the brain melting trombone solo from our boy Tim Coggins.

 

PAPAYA TREE YOUTH LAUNCH PARTIES

FRI 30 NOV | THREE EIGHT SIX @ CHASERS, MELBOURNE VIC

SAT 1 DEC | WAYWARDS NEWTOWN, SYDNEY NSW

Port Royal proudly wear their vintage rock n roll influences on their tie dyed, flowing sleeves. In an era where everything old is new again, the quartet channel rocks forefathers and put them on display for a new generation to fall in love with.

My Fave bands by Connor Arnold  (drums)

Spectoral, the stage name of producer singer-songwriter
Andrew Bitto. Combining his trademark future-soul vocals with textured and detailed production techniques, Spectoral has spent the past few years honing his craft with a plethora of notable industry heavyweights. Readying a sophomore EP with names such as Tim Watt & Tim McArtney (George Maple, Flume, Touch Sensitive), Ben Feggans (The Kite String Tangle, Ngaiire), Sebastian Ivanhov (Alius, Blake Rose), Robin Waters (Darling James, Ella Hooper) and Klaus ‘Heavyweight’ Hill (Pnau, Kilter, Ministry of Sound Australia), Spectoral is positioned to kick increasingly ambitious goals in 2018.

Spectoral’s Top 5 Collabs

KESMAR is a new chapter for Sydney musician Nathan Hawes. Having first picked up a guitar
in 2006, Hawes spent over a decade serenading audiences with his folk tunes with great
success. Considering his musical background, Hawes’ latest evolution into KESMAR comes as
an eyebrow-raising surprise. He’s traded his acoustic guitar for swirling synths, introducing a
more disco-oriented chapter of his career. Conceived from writing sessions in 2016, where
he “basically fell in love with learning production and vintage synthesisers.”

 Top 5 Artists I played in the last month

New to the scene, Sydney duo Darling are your latest obsession. Together they make acoustic love songs and get you right in the feels. Darling began writing songs together after Seryna Jane saw Rudy Bilani busking in Sydney. Bilani brought the song to Seryna to help craft ‘Until It Hurts’ into their first single, accompanied by stunning visuals. She added her own poetic touches to the lyrics, as well as her talent for composing stunning harmonies.

 

We ask Darling who their favourite music duos are below.

 

Angus & Julia Stone –

 

This brother and sister duo’s raw emotional lyrics and style are mesmerising, and the way they blend their voices creates a distinct sound that is like no one else in the industry. They’ve managed to bring indie folk to the mainstream and relate to a wide audience, which is a feat we hope to accomplish with our own music. Timeless lyrics and melodies are one of our aims, and these guys give us plenty of ideas for our own musical creativity.

The Civil Wars –

 

Their exquisite harmonies and beautiful (and somewhat dark) messages conveyed in their songs are so deep and thought-provoking that it’s almost impossible to listen without repeating. We love the contrast in their voices and the way they can take an upbeat song and strip it back to suit their style. Their cover of Billie Jean remains a favourite of ours.

Us the Duo –

 

Their fun attitude and creative approach to song writing is contagious. They make music look so fun, and the way they marketed themselves on social media platforms such as YouTube over the years is admirable. We love the way they take time out for writing retreats to free their mind and focus solely on writing new music, and this is certainly an idea that has inspired us. They are young and enthusiastic (just as we like to think we are).

Simon and Garfunkel – 

 

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel came together to be greater than the sum of their parts. Even as their relationship became tumultuous, they were dedicated to their craft and even made their most successful studio album after reuniting following a break up. In addition to writing beautiful melodies and singing haunting harmonies, their poetic lyrics deeply influenced an entire generation and continue to impact people today.

 

Steely Dan – 

 

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen brought a dedication to perfectionism to all the music they crafted as Steely Dan. Their clever, biting lyrics managed to bring humour and satire to some intense subject matters. They also infused their pop music with a jazz sensibility that made their work stand out from their peers in the 1970s, and their technical abilities as musicians are a master class for any aspiring songwriters.

Darling’s debut EP ‘The Rise’ is slated for release in November this year. Their Ep launch will be
held on Saturday 24th November, 6pm doors, music start at 7pm at Gasoline Pony 115 Marrickville
Rd, Marrickville.

Lachlan X. Morris is dropping his psychedelic doomsday record Premeditations this Monday. We’re going to be sharing his tracks one by one ahead of the release this weekend with exclusive insights from the self-proclaimed “Dad Rock Artist”

BODY N SOUL

 I found the fragment of the idea for this one at a friend’s house. He was borrowing a Moog Little Phatty and I was strumming along on an acoustic while he bounced between D and A. Really simple stuff, but I loved the simplicity of it. Definitely aligns with the lyrical content of living minimally. I also loved the idea of the song starting and ending with discordant merry-go-round chords.

https://soundcloud.com/lachlanxmorris/body-n-soul?in=lachlanxmorris/sets/premeditations

Like what you hear?” Lachlan is taking Premeditations on the road with a mass of shows this November