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Interview: Eyes of Bel on Melt, Love and Learning to Let Go

August 7, 2026

Sounds Like Community Radio Returns for 2026, Celebrating the Stations Championing Australia’s...

August 6, 2026

Queenscliff Music Festival Adds Babe Rainbow, The Pretty Littles, Merpire & More...

August 6, 2026

This Is Lorelei Turns the Chaos of the Road Into a Strange,...

August 6, 2026

Interview: Alex Lahey Reflects on 10 Years of B-Grade University “I’m So...

August 6, 2026

Jordan Rakei Is Bringing His Most Fearless Album Yet to Australia This...

August 5, 2026

@ Find Beauty in the Breakdown on Haunting New Single ‘Punish My...

August 5, 2026

Public Works Bottles the Chaos of a Summer Breakup on Explosive New...

August 5, 2026

#1 Dads Announces First Australian Tour in Six Years Alongside New Album...

August 5, 2026

DOMi & JD BECK Bring Their Boundary – Pushing WHO ASKED? Tour...

August 5, 2026
by the partae
People in the live music and entertainment industries are being severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of jobs have been lost in recent weeks as a result of the cancellation of concerts, festivals, tours and shows. Reported losses across the sector amount to well over $100 million and are rising daily.    While clearly necessary to protect the health of the nation, these cancellations have affected a huge array of music industry workers including artists, crew, management, promoters, agents, vendors, publicists, merchandisers, drivers, loaders, riggers and everyone else who relied on live events for their income.   The vast majority of these workers are independent contractors who do not have the luxury of sick leave or annual leave. Most live from tour to tour, or gig to gig and they have lost their ability to earn an income through no fault of their own.    Support Act is already being inundated with requests for crisis relief from people who have gone from having seemingly secure income over the coming months to suddenly having no way to pay their bills. Our Mental Health Helpline which provides free counselling to those in need is also reporting a surge in calls.     Many of the people who find themselves in this position are the same artists, crew and music workers who donated their time and talent to support others by staging benefit shows following the bushfire crisis just a few months ago.    As the most prominent music industry charity, Support Act is committed to doing what it can to help those in need but our resources are limited. We urgently need to build our own war chest in order to provide even a modest level of crisis relief to people who have been impacted.   Today we have therefore launched the COVID19 Emergency Appeal to accept donations from all sections of the Australian community. The target for the Appeal is $20million and Support Act has contributed $100k from its limited reserves to kickstart the campaign.   To donate, please visit our dedicated appeal page or follow the links from our website: supportact.org.au.   We ask music lovers across the country to support this appeal where possible, to help us raise the funds that will be needed to meet the expected demand. This could be through a direct donation or by directing proceeds from your own fundraising activities.     We also stand ready to work with all levels of Government. We hope they will recognise the special needs of this vulnerable section of the community and provide cash support to our campaign and to the broader entertainment sector. We also urge the Federal Government to expedite access to key government programs such as the Newstart Jobseeking Allowance.              Please help us to support our music workers through this difficult period and help them be in a position to bounce back louder and prouder than ever once the pandemic has passed.    Support Act acknowledges and thanks all the members of the music industry taskforce who are working so tirelessly and selflessly to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the music industry.   #soundofsilenceau   supportact.org.au   #SupportAct   About Support Act:   Support Act is Australia’s only charity delivering crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers as a result of ill health, injury, a mental health problem, or some other crisis that impacts on their ability to work in music.   Our assistance can take the form of paying the rent or the mortgage, buying a bed or wheel chair, paying for car repairs, medical / dental / phone / electricity bills, or a credit card debt.   We provide referrals to other support services; funding for funerals; and we support friends and family seeking to raise funds for a person through our Help a Mate program.   The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is a free, confidential 24/7 counselling service that is available to anyone working in Australian music who needs to talk about any aspect of their mental health. It can be accessed by calling 1800 959 500.   About CrewCare:   Support Act is pleased to work in partnership with CrewCare to ensure that live production crew gain access to our crisis relief and wellbeing helpline services.   CrewCare is a membership based, democratic, not-for-profit charity, whose mission is to effect change for the better in crew welfare - personally, financially and professionally. The CrewCare board is a collective of caring, like minded volunteers, dedicated to improving the welfare of Australian technical and creative live production professionals and their families. CrewCare's mission is to effect change for the better in crew welfare - personally, financially and professionally. https://crewcare.org.au/  

Support Act Music Charity announces COVID-19 Emergency Appeal with $20 million target

ROCK'N'ROLL RESCHEDULE! ENDLESS BOOGIE DATES AND THE AUSTRALIAN DEBUT OF HOWLIN’ RAIN (FEATURING COMETS ON FIRE’S ETHAN MILLER) MOVED TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER.

ROCK’N’ROLL RESCHEDULE! ENDLESS BOOGIE DATES AND THE AUSTRALIAN DEBUT OF HOWLIN’ RAIN (FEATURING COMETS ON FIRE’S ETHAN MILLER) MOVED TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER.

Italian duo Supernova returns to Gorge’s and Nick Curly’s imprint 8BIT. After their hot releases in 2020 on Defected and Downtown Underground early this year, they drop ‘My Vision’ EP. The duo, that now owns 3 labels Lapsus Music, Downtown Underground and Blackboard, has always demonstrated a breadth of influences across their impressive catalogue, ranging from Chicago house and acid right through to hip-hop, funk and jazz. The pair bring together a raw house solid beat with an “old school feeling”. Added to this is driving strings pattern topped by the wonderful vocals of UK singer Medusa. The result is a record that will certainly stand out.   The second track “Deep Side Of Things”, shows Supernova’s deepest side of production with a more minimalist approach to drum beat construction. Play ‘My Vision’ below and LISTEN HERE.

Supernova – My Vision EP – Out On 8BIT

OCEAN ALLEY RESCHEDULE 2020 NATIONAL TOUR DATES DUE TO COVID-19

OCEAN ALLEY RESCHEDULE 2020 NATIONAL TOUR DATES DUE TO COVID-19 – shows rescheduled for February and March 2021

Festival Director Peter Noble OAM declares Bluesfest 2021 is on!   “We will find a way to continue and present in 2021. I am a veteran; having been in this incredible industry since the 60s I have never experienced such a dire situation. As a premier event we need to present another Bluesfest not only for ourselves but also for the entire entertainment industry to see that there will be a brighter day, and that as an industry we will come back from this. We are humbled by the incredible response we have received by the outpouring of love from our ticket-holders, music industry and importantly from our local community.  We are in discussions with all the agents representing the artists who were due to play this Easter on what has been our greatest bill ever. Whilst we currently don’t know ‘who’ all our headliners will be in 2021, we have received feedback from over 30 artists off this year’s bill confirming they are ready to reschedule for 2021. Their level of support and goodwill is inspiring and I foresee a great event to come.   2021 will be the year for everyone who cares about the arts, music and the entire entertainment industry that we all love, to come out and show their support for each other. We call on our industry, the musicians, the agents and the managers to get in touch with us and help us show the solidarity of strength that we have as a combined force. We are all in this together, and together we will go on and get through these troubled times. Since the ban was announced last Sunday we have gone from having a deep case of the blues to presenting the blues for you again in 2021. This much we know.  Time is a healer and one day this will be behind us. It has not been easy and we are still in what is a lengthy process working out the details. Representatives from our insurance companies have advised that our claim is being processed and ticket refunds or the option to roll over to Bluesfest 2021 will be available soon. We will constantly keep our patrons updated in this area and thank them all again for the patience they have shown. In the meantime we wish you all good health and to remain strong and positive in these very trying times. See you at Bluesfest.”                                                                                                          Bluesfest 2021 will be held from 1 - 5 April 2021. Keep in touch via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Festival Director Peter Noble OAM declares Bluesfest 2021 is on!

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28TH 12PM-10PM FULL LINEUP:  Theo Parrish, Sister Nancy, Mella Dee, Anastasia Kristensen, C.FRIM, Cassettes For Kids, Lord Echo (LIVE), JESSB, Mwanjeè, Pink Matter, SK Simeon, Sophie McAlister, Wax’o Paradiso After being postponed due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, Untitled Group, Crown Ruler, Moon Dog Craft Brewery & PBS 106.7FM announce that Duke Street Block Party 2020 has been rescheduled to take place on the 28th of November. Almost all artists have been confirmed for the new date, including Detroit icon Theo Parrish, Mella Dee for his first tour of Australia, Dancehall pioneer and vocalist Sister Nancy, Russian selector Anastasia Kristensen, & more. Mildlife will unfortunately not be able to play the new date due to previous commitments, a replacement will be announced in the coming weeks. For ticket purchasers, their ticket will remain valid for the new date. Those who cannot attend the new date will be able to secure a refund via Untitled Group. The 2020 edition will see an expansion of the event to run along Bond Street and Southhampton Crescent as well as Duke Street, meaning more room for punters to dance, move & dive into the high energy block party all-rounder.  As well as showcasing live acts and DJs from around the globe, punters can explore the nooks and crannies of Duke Street. Local legends Hub Furniture are dedicating trade to the event with tucked away delights to discover, such as a unique wine bar experience.  The exceptional Moondog Brewery will be operating on the day and serving their local craft beers as well as hosting their very own selectors stage. Food will be provided by some iconic Melbourne institutions such as Good Gnocchi, Nhu Lan Bakery, Moondog OG Pizza, Real Jerk Chicken & more. Theo Parrish Theo Parrish was born in Washington D.C. in 1972 and raised in Chicago, where his passion for music developed. MIles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, George Gershwin, Bob Marley, as well as his uncle, jazz musician Dexter Sims, all had strong influences on Theo's early musical life. He began spinning and producing tracks in 1986, at the age of thirteen. In 1994, Theo Parrish moved to Michigan where he became heavily involved in Detroit's underground music scene. Producing music and delivering his unique and dynamic sets in venues throughout Detroit and surrounding areas, as well as abroad he has gained the attention and respect of dj's, producers, listeners and dancers worldwide. Sister Nancy Sister Nancy, aka Muma Nancy, real name Ophlin Russell-Myers, (born Ophlin Russell, 2 January 1962, Kingston, Jamaica) is a dancehall pioneer and vocalist. She is known to the world as the first female dancehall DJ and was described as being a "dominating female voice for over two decades" on the dancehall scene. One of her most famous songs is "Bam Bam", labeled as a "well-known reggae anthem" by BBC and a "classic" by The Observer. Mella Dee Following the breakthrough success of ’Techno Disco Tool’; reaching number 1 in BBC Radio 1’s Dance Music chart, in addition to his Warehouse Music imprint winning the ‘Best Breakthrough Label’ award at the DJ Mag awards, Mella Dee is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after names in dance music. More recently, he was named one of Mixmag’s ‘Stars of the year’ for 2018 and also put out his debut Essential Mix for the legendary BBC Radio 1 series. Anastasia Kristensen Always the adventurer, the Copenhagen-via-Moscow producer has been at it for a while -- finding inspirations from the likes of ballet to effusively digging for records to satisfy her curiosity. With her track "Spring Ballade" released on Nous Disques in 2016 and previous work with BLD and Monasterio, she only sought to move forward and carve out a path that would only broaden the scope for her reach as time goes on. It begins with her DJ sets - Kristensen starts with tone as the foundation; she weaves a web that incorporates barreling breaks, blistering techno and buoyant electro in scintillating fashion. With featured mixes on Mixmag and Red Bull, Anastasia is determined to take even bigger chances and leap farther into the sonic spectrum of underground music - by never staying in one lane. Lock it down for Saturday November 28th from 12pm-10pm and head over to the facebook page for full line up and more information: https://www.facebook.com/dukestreetblockparty/ Get connected: https://www.facebook.com/untitledgroupau/ Untitled Group are the group behind Beyond The Valley and Pitch Music & Arts Festival, the collective also represents boutique event brands Ability Fest, Grapevine Gathering and Melbourne electronic hub XE54. https://www.facebook.com/pg/crownrulers/ Between acts like soul-jazz icon Roy Ayers, Detroit house godfather Theo Parrish, and Chicago dance luminary Larry Heard, the Crown Ruler name has become synonymous with soulful underground music. Tickets on sale now:  https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/duke-street-block-party-2020-tickets-94081834299

DUKE STREET BLOCK PARTY ANNOUNCE NEW NOVEMBER DATE WITH THEO PARRISH, SISTER NANCY, MELLA DEE & MORE 19 | 03 | 2020

Showcasing his versatile production abilities across electronica, ambient, melodic techno and more, today Willaris. K has announced two new EPs and shared the tracklist for each. His six-track EP LUSTRE will arrive April 3, featuring two never-heard-before songs, ‘COBAKI SKY’ and ‘GET WITH MY LIGHT (with Tom Snowdon)’. The announcement follows his recent eclectic singles including ‘5 O’CLOCK’, ‘PAST LIGHT’, ‘INDIFFERENT (WITH GORDI’ and ‘DETACH’, which will also be included on the package, tying a nice bow around the last year of Willaris. K releases. In addition to the April release, Willaris. K (Jack McAllister) sets his sights firmly on the club with the announcement of a forthcoming club EP titled Full Noise due out May 29. Drawing inspiration from late night sets and featuring an impressive lineup of well-regarded creators that have influenced his own sound, McAllister shows his chemistry with original Australian rave king Paul Mac, American rapper and sound designer WaveIQ and composer, producer, beatmaker and Seekae founder, George Nicholas (GN). McAllister’s unique approach to production and arrangement and his commanding melodic craft earned him global record deals with Australian progressive tastemaker label Soothsayer, acclaimed US electronic label Astralwerks (Chemical Brothers, Alison Wonderland, Halsey) and UK counterpart Virgin EMI (Desiigner, Katy Perry, Vince Staples) who will continue to release his music outside Australia and NZ. Willaris. K’s eclectic work has drawn him comparisons to a league of greats like Daniel Avery, Brian Eno, and William Basinski. His previous career as an electrical instrument technician led him to music as he worked across rural power plants in Australia, taking field recordings and turning them into ambient tracks - thus, Willaris. K was born. Since, he has showcased his versatility and range as a budding producer, from the cathartic ambient tones of ‘PAST LIGHT’ to the darker punchy percussions in ‘Natural Selection’. The 2019/20 Summer saw him perform to packed-out dance tents at major festivals including Wildlands, Beyond The Valley, Output Super Club, Origin Fields and Castaway, after supporting RUFUS DU SOL on their SOLACE World Tour.  Willaris played a benefit show at Melbourne’s Seaworks in February, which raised proceeds to the Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities.  Willaris. K was due to announce his biggest run of Australian headline shows to date, however due to current advice from officials regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, tour announcements will be held until further notice. He is still due to appear at US festivals Electric Forest in Michigan this June and CRSSD Festival in San Diego in September, however Willaris. K and his team are monitoring the developing situation closely.  For now, feast your ears on his latest euphoric techno track ‘DETACH’: WILLARIS. K

WILLARIS. K ANNOUNCES TWO NEW EPs LUSTRE OUT FRIDAY 3 APRIL FULL NOISE OUT FRIDAY 29 MAY + FEATURING TOM SNOWDON, GORDI, WAVEIQ, PAUL MAC AND GN (GEORGE NICHOLAS)

Artists: R3HAB & Elena Temnikova Title: Where You Wanna Be Label: CYB3RPVNK Release date: March 13, 2020 Download / Stream R3HAB returns to his signature club sound on his new release "Where You Wanna Be," with Russian talent and TV personality Elena Temnikova, which is out now on his CYB3RPVNK imprint. The new single is one of R3HAB's first this year that can be classified as a real dancefloor-ready track, completed with bouncy melodies and a driving bassline that calls listeners to get moving. Brought to life by breathy, elegant vocals by Temnikova, the lyrics to "Where You Wanna Be" inspire a sense of adventure and spontaneity that will resonate with many of R3HAB's adventurous fans, many of whom have traveled around the globe to see him perform. With warmer weather and festival season approaching, we can bet "Where You Wanna Be" will be a mainstay in the CYB3RPVNK shows this spring and summer. It follows R3HAB's recent remix of Steve Aoki & Maluma's "Maldad" and "More Than OK" with Clara Mae and Frank Walker. "I've been following artists and music from Russia for many years and recently got in contact with Elena Temnikova over the Internet. It seemed like a perfect time & combination to work on stuff together and I thought about the Where You Wanna Be song right away. It's perfect for her vibe, voice and this collaboration which is a cool 2020 sounding record bridging the 2 worlds we come from" - R3HAB "Our collaboration was literally born in the digital world. Fadil liked my photo on Instagram, I liked his one, and then we started messaging. We both liked each other's early songs. I generally get crazy from his EDM work and listen to it for many years. After a while, he suggested doing something cool together. That's how we started to work on 'Where You Wanna Be'" - Elena Temnikova Over the last eight years, the Dutch/Moroccan artist Fadil El Ghoul - better known as R3HAB - has established himself as a leader at the forefront of modern electronic music. His talent has been called the "future of the craft" by the likes of Forbes and Billboard, and he's circuited the globe's best clubs and festivals, all without the backing of a formal record label. In 2017, R3HAB independently released his debut album "Trouble" through his imprint CYB3RPVNK, which amassed over a half-billion streams globally and officially placed R3HAB among electronic music's heavy hitters. He made number 14 on DJ Mag's Top 100 list in 2019, topping the charts with tracks like "Lullaby" and "Hold On Tight," while his sophomore album "The Wave," revealing more complex, emotional and experimental layers of himself, has amassed over 250 million streams on Spotify alone. In 2019 R3HAB's "All Around The World" with A Touch of Class quickly became his biggest ever record already topping 200M streams across platforms and achieving gold & platinum status in 8 countries. Stay tuned to see what this ever-evolving artist has up his sleeve next!

R3HAB returns to his club sound, teams up with a Russian TV personality Elena Temnikova (out now)

Today, legendary Melbourne punk rock band Bodyjar drop their new single Big Shot. For nearly 20 years now, Bodyjar have built their local & international following with relentless touring demonstrating their blistering high energy live shows, that have made them one of the most respected punk rock bands in the world.  New single Big Shot sees Bodyjar in peak form, calling on all their experience over the years, resulting in one of the bands strongest and most politically charged songs to date. Produced by Bodyjar and Sam Johnson (Northlane, Luca Brasi, Camp Cope, The Bennies), this track is the first piece of new music from the band since their 2017 EP Terra Firma. This is also the first release with new bass player Nick Manuell (The Sinking Teeth, Hawaiian Islands). “ This song is about the lack of leadership on either side of politics and the major corporations that control them. Constantly filling their pockets at the expense of planet earth! “ Guitarist Tom Read Bodyjar are currently working on a full length record to be released later in 2020. 

BODYJAR DROP NEW SINGLE BIG SHOT

Jordyn Elliott

Jordyn Elliott

With its laid-back delivery and effortless charm, Mantell serves up a brand new taste of music in ‘St. Louis’. As the band’s first offering for the year, the single is bright and airy, giving listeners another insight into the band’s take on indie music of that sun-drenched variety.    Recorded in Melbourne at the band’s own studio - West End Studios - with drummer Connor Tuan on engineering duties, and David Turner (Delta Riggs, Dan Sultan) on mixing and mastering, ‘St. Louis’ came to fruition very much under the band’s own scope of control and direction. Wanting to explore more ideas and different musical pathways, Mantell pushed themselves further during these sessions than they had in the past. “In the past, we’ve found ourselves sticking with the first idea that arises, but this time we allowed ourselves to take things all the way to the end. All of the recording was done in our private studio, engineered by our drummer Connor. This gives us a freedom that not all artists have, free from time constraints and financial pressures hanging over our heads.” Mantell  Making their debut in 2018, Mantell have wasted no time in generating hype for themselves on the Melbourne scene and elsewhere up and down the coast. Their music, mirroring the likes of Lime Cordiale and Methyl Ethel, envelops the listener with ease. Injecting indie melodies with dashes of psych and pop makes ‘St. Louis’ an instant charmer.  Built off the back of a recent holiday Connor embarked on, the song is inspired by reflection and memories made. Yearning meets nostalgia. A longing for one of a kind experiences. “They [Connor and his partner] bought a disposable camera and took a bunch of photos. When he came back he showed the rest of the band and we were all super inspired by the feeling, serenity and charm of them. They somehow brought on a feeling of longing and nostalgia in all of us.” Mantell PRAISE FOR MANTELL   “With their latest single ‘Can I Set It Right’, Mantell prove they’re well on their way to securing a place as one of the most exciting up-and-comers to navigate their way through Melbourne’s notoriously overwhelming music scene.” Happy Mag “I’m in with that beautiful zone between awake and asleep and there’s no distractions around.” Triple J, Declan Byrne “Blissfully chilled out. Going back in for another dip now.” Triple J Unearthed, Dave Ruby Howe ‘St. Louis’ is out now! Facebook | Instagram |Spotify | Triple J Unearthed | YouTube

Melbourne indie group MANTELL return with dreamy new single, ‘ST. LOUIS’

AV (Ann Vriend) is known most for her virtuosic, soaringly powerful vocals, and not far behind that for her multi award-winning abilities as a songwriter -- and she ain’t too bad at the piano, either. She has been delivering her unique brand of old-school, inner-city soul to audiences around Europe, Oceana, Asia, and North America throughout her under-the-radar but consistently award-winning, critically acclaimed career.  A “musician’s musician” and equally compelling solo as with a full band AV has sold more than 20,000 albums off the stage, independently, and can somehow turn even the most difficult rooms to her attention, which she attributes from having cut her teeth playing bars — solo, and with exclusively original music— in small towns in Alberta, Canada. Growing up in a household that was on the one hand counter-culture and hippie but on the other hand fundamentally religious and sheltering, AV has always written songs about confusion, searching, and questioning -- of herself, and the culture around her. The outcome is what she half seriously, half jokingly calls “existentialist gospel,” drawing from emotionally intense and rhythmic gospel and soul styles of African American culture, as well as from her parents’ vinyl ‘70s folk/pop collection, from artists such as Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, and Leonard Cohen. Often compared to her vocal hero, Aretha Franklin, AV’s most recent song, “Hurt People Hurt People”, which has been released only in Germany to date, peaked at #55 in the Main Pop Charts in Germany, reaching the top 10 on some stations, and reaching #1 on Bayern1, which has a listenership of approximately 3.3 million.  Well-known and beloved radio host Werner Reinke from Germany’s HR1 station presented an hr-long live recording and interview with AV this past February and actually cried during AV’s performance. Coming from a humble background on Edmonton’s east side, and for the past decade calling Edmonton’s troubled and somewhat notorious ghetto neighborhood of McCauley home, AV does not shy away from addressing serious social issues that face her and her community.  This setting is the microcosm from which she writes, weaving the issues facing people in this scene into her own life struggles— and yet, specific as they both are, her songs appeal to her audience worldwide.  She draws from the rich tradition of classic soul artists who have delivered stunning recordings that are both contagiously fun AND socially thought provoking, such as Curtis Mayfield, Ray Charles, Bill Withers, Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and all the way up the line to Sharon Jones, Charles Barkley, Amy Winehouse, and Alicia Keys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwjX7dXr4ZE&feature=emb_logo https://open.spotify.com/track/0tbrMoCaDr7Gbgz22cSECp http://www.annvriend.com/index.html https://www.facebook.com/AnnVriend https://www.instagram.com/annvriend/ https://www.youtube.com/user/AnnVriend

Ann Vriend ‘Hurt People Hurt People’ Premiere

Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there? I’m in Ottawa, Ontario. There’s always work to be done to improve the local scene, but I feel like it’s getting there. There’s never been a lack of talent in the region, and I’m pleased to see so many thoughtful artists trying to support one another.  How did you first start playing guitar/music? Initially, I started out on drums. I guess I wanted to be Peter Criss or something, so my parents enrolled me in drum lessons for a few years. Eventually I decided guitar was my true love, but those early lessons have proven valuable as a writer and an overall musician.  What's been happening recently? I have been working on the 5th music video in support of my new album, “Lifting the Curse”. I’m hoping for an early-May release date – keep an eye on my Youtube channel! I’m also working on a follow up album, with plans for a fall 2020 release.  What influenced the sound and songwriting for your new album? The album was a form of personal therapy and healing for me during the recovery of a car accident that profoundly complicated my life, to put it mildly. I spent a lot of time trying to connect with nature, and the entire summer of writing and recording was almost like a sort of spiritual awakening – not meaning to get all deep here or anything – but that is why I called it Lifting the Curse. By the time it was done, I realized I had a piece of work I was tremendously proud of, and in the process of creating it, I had left a lot of the negative energy in the past.  How did you go about writing the music? Most songs started out with guitar parts and expanded from there, although I will occasionally start with a drum groove to stimulate some creativity. I am always writing little notes and ideas on my phone, or using the voice memo feature to capture an inspiration before it disappears. I’ve been writing songs with lyrics and vocals for as long as I can remember, so my approach to writing this instrumental album was actually very similar. Most of the music follows similar arrangements that we are already familiar with – verse, chorus, etc., and I don’t think any of the songs even surpass four minutes in length. Obviously I took the liberty to spill over the structural edges a little because the confines of a vocal composition were absent, but I don’t see it as a progressive album at all.  Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with? Other than the fantastic Emily Dolan Davies, who played drums on the track “was it something I said?”, no other musicians were harmed during the recording process. I recorded the bulk of the album over the summer of 2019, entirely from my home studio. I set a deadline for completion, and for certain goals to be met during the process. There’s certainly some self-discipline required when you’re producing it all yourself. It’s important to be realistic though, when setting those goals, otherwise you’ll get discouraged when life gets in the way. Allow yourself sick days, and days when you really aren’t into it, because that will happen.  What programs/equipment did you use to record? I actually recorded everything through Garageband. You can do a lot with programs like that if you spend enough time learning the details. I have a long way to go, but I’m still really pleased with the overall production! The cherry on top is always getting the music professionally mastered, which I did through H-Bomb Mastering. I used some of the stock instrument plug-ins with the program, and also my live guitar rig, to get a nice blend of guitar tones. The guitars were almost entirely tracked with my Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul. The bass was all played on a Fender Precision.  What do you like to do away from music? I try to read as much as possible, and I love all kinds of movies (I lean toward the horror genre a lot). That keeps me occupied during the winter when I don’t enjoy the outdoors very much! In the warmer months, I try to get out in nature every chance I get, cycling, hiking, kayaking, and herping (Google it – it’s not what you think! Haha!)  Who are you listening to at the moment? I’ve been listening to The Darkness and The Muffs. I have also been alternating between Youtube videos by Skating Polly and Fleshgod Apocalypse.  What's planned for 2020? The release of my second instrumental solo album, along with plenty more troublesome music videos! I am really hoping to get this show on the road too, if time permits!  Favourite food and place to hangout? Well, I’m not sure if this will give me street cred or not.... But if I’m actually hanging out anywhere, it will probably be the library. I also work there, so I’m definitely not winning any wild rockstar points! I love lots of different food, spicy and sweet. I make a killer plate of nachos. I’m a huge fan of ice cream and have an incurable weakness for sweets.  http://www.darrenboyd.com https://www.youtube.com/user/thewhorrorcanada https://instagram.com/darren.michael.boyd https://www.facebook.com/darrenmichaelboydmusic

Darren Michael Boyd Interview

KWAME 'PLEASE, GET HOME SAFE' TOUR CANCELLED

KWAME ‘PLEASE, GET HOME SAFE’ TOUR CANCELLED

“Thanks everyone for all the love over the weekend, especially to triple j listeners for the huge support we’ve been shown over the years. We’re four working class blokes from Brisbane who get to share our music with you all and (can’t stress this enough) the love we receive back means the absolute world. It means everything. We were going to announce a tour today, but in light of the current climate it didn’t feel right to do so. Instead, here’s ‘Pick It Up Again’, another taste of our upcoming album ‘Everything Is A-OK’. We love you all and promise to throw some huge parties when it’s clear that it’s safe to. Till then, take care of ya selves.” – Violent Soho Hot off the back of a huge weekend for Violent Soho with their 2013 single ‘Covered In Chrome’ landing the #4 spot in triple j’s Hottest 100 of the decade, I OH YOU are stoked to share ‘Pick It Up Again’, another taste of Soho’s forthcoming fifth studio album Everything Is A-OK, which will be released on Friday 3 April.   ‘Pick It Up Again’ is a loud exhale of a track about finding resolve and moving on, ‘Whatever you say, whatever I am / It’s all the same, I got a good health plan’. The accompanying video is a staunch nod to the band’s early DIY videos, showing the band cruising around Brisbane, knocking on the doors of locals to give them a special preview of Everything Is A-OK. The song was one of the earliest written for the album, “We got to try it out at Big Pineapple Festival in 2018. We rarely get to try new stuff out live, so it was great to see an instant reaction. After we played it, we knew it had a place on the record.” ‘Pick It Up Again’ follows the band’s sweltering single ‘Lying On The Floor’ which saw immediate support from the likes of Consequence Of Sound and NME, was added to full rotation at triple j and was added to countless playlists at Spotify and Apple Music. The band’s first official single since 2016’s WACO, ‘Vacation Forever’ instantly struck a chord with Australia, becoming the sixth most played track on triple j over the summer, landing at #69 in the Hottest 100 of 2019. Now, with Everything Is A-OK, Mansfield’s favourite sons have drawn a metaphorical line in the sand. Five albums into their career, equipped with a renewed self-confidence, they know not to follow a rule book written by other people. ‘Pick It Up Again’ is the epitome of this renewed confidence, a declaration that this is who Violent Soho are – take it or leave it, they’ll still be here shredding it out to whoever will listen. Ahead of the release of the new album, Soho fans can also go in the draw for a chance to win $250 to spend at their favourite record store with the band! To enter they simply need to pre order ‘Everything is A-OK’, then email shoptilyoudrop@iohyou.com with proof of purchase, the city you live in, and tell us in 25 words or less which Aussie indie record store is your favourite and why.

VIOLENT SOHO DOOR KNOCK AROUND BRISBANE IN VIDEO FOR NEW TRACK ‘PICK IT UP AGAIN’ + ‘COVERED IN CHROME’ LANDS AT #4 IN THE HOTTEST 100 OF THE DECADE! + NEW ALBUM EVERYTHING IS A-OK OUT 3 APRIL

DREGG SIGN WITH EPITAPH RECORDS

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