OUT TODAY:
OCEAN ALLEY’S COMPELLING FOURTH ALBUM
LOW ALTITUDE LIVING
Watch the official ‘Double Vision’ visualiser
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Low Altitude Living tracklist:
1. Home
2. Double Vision
3. Touch Back Down
4. Perfume
5. Drinks And Cigars
6. Simple Pleasures
7. Parking Fines
8. Changes
9. Deepest Darkness
10. West Coast
11. Snake Eyes
12. Lapwing
Where are you currently based?
Melbourne.
How did you first start playing music?
I started with violin in primary school, moved to drums, piano, music theory and guitar in high school and beyond.
Please tell us how MayhemTom first came to be:
I started as a bass player vocalist, but moved to vocals alone as we got serious in a funk/rock band. The band was called Electric Mayhem, which is where Mayhemtom came from literally. I decided to put together songs for an album and came back to that name after trying to a few other names, only to find they were all taken!
What’s been happening recently with MayhemTom?
I have just released an album on streaming services, there is a vinyl edition on the way and we have been rehearsing for an Album launch taking place later this week.
Your album ‘The Art Of Flying While Falling’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
It is an amalgamation of styles including straight Indie rock artists like Radiohead and The National to more folk/singer songwriters like Paul Kelly and Sufjan Stevens. The songwriting came from a period of stress and burnout during work as an oncologist. I hadn’t played regularly or written anything for over 15 years prior. The sounds are largely organic instruments including drums, piano, strings, guitar. But I love electronic music too and there are some synth sounds blended in too.
How did you go about writing?
Alot of the song came from moods/poetry which were put to chords. Previously I built songs around chords and I always drifted away from standard I, IV, V chords or threw in weird dissonant chords and pulled melodies to match the chords. For this, I allowed the melodies in my head to find the chords, so it is a bit more accessible but there are also some complex arrangements. Even time signatures, such as in the track Alone, which switches between 5/4 and 4/4 was built to fit the lyrics.
What does this album mean to you?
It’s an emotional outlet and what I had dreamt of doing when I first started playing in bands. Getting back to music has been rediscovering myself.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
I gathered together some professional musicians (Maria Moles drums, Peter Burgess bass, Paul Zubrinich keys) and recorded in a studio in Melbourne called Oaklands. The album was produced by an experienced producer Dusty Teal. The initial recording occurred in May 2021, but we were hampered by several COVID lockdowns. So while the bass, drums and some piano was done then, the rest we pieced together over several sessions later in 2021/2022. Some were back in the studio, the synths were done from home. The vocals were tracked in the producer’s home studio. The strings and backing vocals were done in separate studio sessions.
How did you approach the recording/production process?
I put together some complicated demos with the instrumentation I was after tracked on synth including the string parts. We worked on them as a band and pieced together the arrangements to suit the music and that’s what we took into the recording studio to put down. I then added synths, guitars and flourishes towards the end. The final mix was then mastered using Cloudbounce an AI service.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
My favourites mix currently has Josh Pyke, Talking Heads, Spacey Jane, Gang of Youths and Courtney Barnett. But an album I have on repeat ATM is Samora Pinderhughes “Grief”.
What do you like to do away from music?
I am a busy oncologist, so I deal with a lot of grief and death. Which is why finding my back to music has been so therapeutic.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
We are looking at playing a bit more following the album launch including some local gigs as well as some smaller festivals over summer.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I don’t really have a favourite food, but I pretty much love most South Indian curries my mum cooks. The band have a bit of history hanging out at pubs around Brunswick such as the Rainbow Hotel, The Standard or The Rose, so it’s always nostalgic heading back there.
https://www.instagram.com/mayhemtomi/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3JlEDIzONLUVvUkCmRMmCA
https://www.facebook.com/mayhemtomi
Photo by: Cass Evans-Ocharern
The brilliant, and hypnotic musical creativity of Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets has returned in full bloom with latest single ‘Natural Ways’.
Soaring to new heights with genre-blending refinement, Ken Paolo’s latest single plays with various textures of RnB, funk soul to create a rewarding listen. The 5-piece band from Boorloo (Perth) find confidence with their fourth single, and showcase their jazz-laden grooves and stunning vocal acrobatics.
“‘Natural Ways’ is a high-energy affirmation about moving on from toxic situations. It is our most ambitious track with an addiction of a horn section.” Ken Paolo, Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets
Lyrically, ‘Natural Ways’ sees Ken Paolo more introspective than before, musing on the nuanced experience of love and loss and the ever morphing dynamics of relationships. This single is pulled from their forthcoming debut EP, a delightful taste of what’s to come.
After bursting onto the scene in 2021, the 5-piece band has launched into the hearts of music lovers and gained instant momentum. They’ve carved out a dedicated fan base with their incomparable live shows. Their genre-blurring mix of R&B, indie, electronica, pop and soul have made them “one of the state’s go-to live favourites” Pilerats.
Fronted by lead singer Ken Paolo, with the band – Cass on bass, Bob on keys, Kuda on drums and Persia on vocals, the band teamed up with up with Sam Ford (DICE, Siobhan Cotchin, Supathick) at Tone City Recording Studio for Mixing and Mastering. Fans of Kaiit, Ngaiire, and Jordan Rakei will find a new favourite in Ken Paolo.
Ken Paolo and The Space Cadet’s resume is slightly overwhelming for a band that only formed last year. Despite such a short time gigging, they’ve already found their groove, picking up national and local acclaim whilst they go. They’ve performed at RTRFM’s Winder Music Party, Hyperfest, Tonecity Recording label Launch, State Theatre Centre, KickstART Festival, Nannup Brewery Fest, and, not to mention sold-out headline shows at cherished venues Mojos, The Bird and 459 Rosemount.
Not only this, but in the truly supportive and collaborative climate of Western Australian music, they’ve played notable support slots for west-coast favourites such as Siobhan Cotchin, DICE, Supathick, Anesu, Nectar and King Blue.
This anticipated release follows up three previous singles ‘$4 Pizza’, ‘Heads at a Hundred’ and the groovy ToneCity Recording-produced ‘Dance With A Broken Heart’, which received strong community radio support and DSP editorial playlisting. Each previous single was added to Perth’s tastemaker station RTR FM’s esteemed sound selection alongside support from triple j, triple j Unearthed and 4ZZZ.
PRAISE FOR KEN PAOLO
“So lush and groovy. It’s still really tender but makes you groove”
triple j, Pip Rasmussen
“both Tyrone and I’s stank faces are getting a workout! Ken, your voice is out of this world and I’ve just added this song as a must-see live.”
triple j, Abby Butler
“Ken Paolo and company have been so generous to us with this one! Blessing us with their euphoric DIY disco, the band has harnessed the power of heart-healing funk.”
triple j Unearthed, Dave Ruby Howe
“Any aficionado of Perth’s live music scene would be quick to call Ken Paolo one of the most exciting artists in the city right now.”
Pilerats
NATURAL WAYS is out Now
Ken Paolo: triple j Unearthed | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
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HUNTLY LIVE SHOWS
Thursday, 27th October
The Retreat, Naarm (Melbourne)
FREE
Saturday, 10th December
Snug Rock Festival, Collingwood Yards, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
Huntly
Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp | YouTube
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Where are you currently based?
We are all based in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia
How did the band form?
Sarah met Jack and Connor through her singing Mentor (Susie Ahern), who happens to be their mum. Sarah intended to form a group of session players to support her solo career.
Sarah and Jay had been friends all through high school, (since they were 12 years old) and studied music together as well. Sarah asked Jay to also be a part of the session players as a pianist. They all became friends very quickly, sharing interests in the same genre of music.
There came a point where Sarah realized that their friendships and musical connections with each other were so special, so they all decided to become a band to continue sharing and creating that magic with each other.
What’s been happening recently?
We have been on a high from releasing our 2 latest singles ‘ I never liked you in the first place’ and ‘Okay’! These were accompanied by our first music videos, which has been exciting!
At the moment, we are playing a lot of live shows, supporting some amazing local bands as well as working on our online presence.
We also just finished recording another two music videos that are set for release at the end of 2022 and early 2023!
We are also hitting the studio again in November to get some music prepared for releases in 2023! A lot of great things are in the works since the pandemic and it feels great being able to create and release new music.
Your latest single ‘Okay’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
Bring me the Horizon’s ‘amo’ was one of the albums we were listening to a lot during the writing process, and also Issues album, ‘Beautiful Oblivion’.
We’ve always been influenced by Paramore and Bring me the horizon.
With songwriting, we usually just write straight from the heart.
Sarah usually does most of the lyric writing, and finds that it stems from lessons learnt and mental battles that people don’t really like to talk about.
How did you go about writing Okay?
Connor actually came up with the main guitar riff, and then we all put our own personal touches on the track.
Before each song we have a pre-production day with our producers, where we all throw our ideas in, we would bring forward songs that we’re currently working on. Pre-production really helps us strive for a goal for each song and makes sure that we all have the same vision.
We originally brought our producers a different song that we were working on, but ended up scrapping it half way as we didnt feel it matched the energy we wanted to portray.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?
We recorded/produced and co-wrote this song with Ash Daws and Evan Lee at The Loud Noise Estate in Melbourne, in early 2020.
We have always loved working with them as we feel they bring out the absolute best in us!
We have an amazing creative relationship and friendship with them, which we find very special and are super grateful for.
Please tell us about the Ultravlt mention on WILLOW’s social media?
At the time, we had just established ourselves as Ultravlt, but since it was in the height of the pandemic we began creating an online presence as a new band, so we decided to do our own renditions of songs that we were loving.
One of the songs we did was ‘Transparent Soul’ by WILLOW. We had heaps of fun making it!
Jack’s fiance (Molly), called Sarah at 7am to tell us that WILLOW re-posted the cover on her profile. All of us were in shock as we didn’t expect her to see it, let alone share it on her page! This opportunity gained Utravlt many new followers and expanded their audience internationally. We are incredibly grateful and were ecstatic.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Sarah is obsessed with Demi Lovato’s latest album “Holy Fvck”, as well as her usual favorites The 1975’s, Paramore, Gretta Ray and currently loving Cat Burns.
Connor is listening to Sleep tokens “This Place Will Become Your Tomb” and Stand Atlantics “F.E.A.R”
Jay is always listening to either The Garden or Death Grips. Anything experimental is always up their alley.
Jack is currently listening to Forest Claudette, Sleep Token and hundredth. Loves to listen to a bunch of different genres.
What do you like to do away from music?
Music is a very big part of all our lives, so it’s very rare for us to do much else.
Sarah loves acting and is currently working on her acting career, she also loves to go on long drives and spends every other moment with her dogs.
Connor is very passionate about cars. He loves modifying them and working on them. Connor also likes to spend his time doing graphic design.
Jack loves to spend time with his fiance and dog. He is also passionate about fish, and is obsessed with his fish tanks. Jack is always creating and writing music in many different genres.
Jay is a big book nerd and is just finishing up their masters in librarianship. They love the contrast of spending evenings at loud gigs, and days in the quiet coziness of a library.
What’s planned for the future of Ultravlt going into 2023 and beyond?
Ultravlt do plan on continuing to write and release tracks as well as continue to work on their online content. We aim to do bigger shows and hopefully get to tour one day!
We plan on having some headline shows coming and continue to create a household name.
Favorite food and place to hangout?
Our favorite foods are pizza, American BBQ, Chinese, and KBBQ.
Our favorite places to hang out are Philip island and bed.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
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Released on Fiji Day today, Joji shares some background on the album art, explaining “There is sat a Fijian woman with the dollar notes stuck on her. Each note, from every single cover, has a bit about myself and the various things I enjoy, for example, ‘Themesong’ alludes to my love of football and ‘Count To 10’ alludes to my love of effects pedals. I had this idea of what the album cover would be and worked backwards from there. I’ve probably been more conceptual about the artwork than I have been with the music itself.
“The cover art,” he continues, “is meant to depict a Fijian woman taking part in something called ‘Fakawela’ which is a Tongan word adopted into our culture. There’s a bit of crossover with Tonga, especially in my family. The Tongans colonised the Fijian island of Lau and despite being a part of Fiji, is still quite Tongan with its language and customs. Within the Fakawela, a select group of young people at any significant or celebratory function will dance either in tapa (traditional material with patterns) or a curated item of clothing and rub oil on their upper body. The significance of the oil is to capture the dollar notes that the elders of the event would place on the dancers as they dance.”
Above all, Pei’s Pageant is reflective of someone just trying in life and art, fading through memories of a childhood spent in Fiji, displays of beauty and brawn, and pure creative expression for the sake of it; a cacophonic introduction to Joji Malani as he is today, best reflected in the album focus ‘Medicine‘ – “This is me, you know?” he explains. A song that speaks to loss across multiple forms, this sentiment is harnessed through ‘Medicine‘s music video, starring Alexander Hodge (Insecure, Resort To Love), directed by Jonathan Zerger and assisted by Sosefina Fuamoli – WATCH ABOVE.
“Medicine is the first song I have attempted to write,” Joji reveals. “I had written the first verse and chorus back in 2013 over a simple loop I put together with my sister’s little keyboard and a line 6 DL4. The song is very simple but to me, it’s the best and most meaningful thing I’ve written thus far. When I started writing this track, I had just experienced my first real heartbreak. Fast forward to 2019 and the song took on a new meaning, I had lost a few people in my life and life just didn’t feel the same without them. They were unreplicable types who make society and the world better. People who I not only adored or respected but people who objectively make the world a better place. Social and relational cures. Like an antidote. I liked alluding to these people as medicine as I come from a strong medical family and am named after my Father’s brother who is a doctor.”
Pei’s Pageant moves with grace, harnessed by Joji’s heartfelt, direct and confident vocals at the project’s core. Its persistent pacing keeps us hypnotised within the fantastical, musical world etched through vibrant and slick arrangements including ‘Honest‘, ‘Themesong‘ and the recent ‘Count To 10‘. Pulling from the deep crevasses of his life, here reflections on relationships, romantic and otherwise, are balanced with with free creative experimentation.
Weaving contemporary indie, pop and rock influences with the memories and influence of his Fijian culture with natural ease, lifting his stage name from the Fijian word for baby, Pei’s Pageant arrives produced alongside Fitz, backing vocals from Hannah Joy (Middle Kids) arrangements from Macie Stewart (Whitney, Ohmme, SZA, Chance the Rapper), mix engineered by Antonia Gauci (Daine, Troye Sivan, Kesha) and mastered by Grammy-nominated Ryan Schwabe (Pussy Riot, Shamir, Oneohtrix Point Never). Where some consider infancy a daunting prospect, Pei’s Pageant harnesses the humility and reward that comes with learning to take your first steps, a second time.
Pei’s Pageant LP is out now via Broth Records, buy/stream it here.
TRACKLIST
Themesong
Honest
Count To 10
Trying
Sila
Generous
Growth
Medicine
Moce
Stay connected with
Pei: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
Broth Records: Website | Facebook | Instagram
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Whether performing as a duo or with a full band, the undeniable musical chemistry of Oceanique has seen the sister act building their audience through touring and selling out shows across their home state, and sharing stages with WAM award nominees Tracey Barnett, Tanya Ransom, and Emily Barker. Their dedicated following spans across the country, with radio support from Double J and community radios stations 4ZZZ, Triple R, PBS, RTR FM, ABC Southwest, Denmark FM, and more. Do not miss your chance to catch this cherished Western Australian duo for their ‘Like I’m Living’ tour, stopping in Albany, Margaret River, Manjimup, and more.
‘Like I’m Living’ Out Now via Gyrostream
‘Like I’m Living’ Tour Dates
Saturday 29th October
Support: Ellen James
The Retreat Hotel, Brunswick, VIC
Music from 3-5pm
Free Entry
Saturday 15 October
Godfrey Park, Bruce rock (Duo)
Set Times: 4:30pm + 5:15pm
Friday 25 November
Support: Tracey Barnett
Six Degrees, Albany
7pm – Doors
8pm – Tracey Barnett
9:45pm – Oceanique
Free Entry
Saturday 26 November
Support: Tracey Barnett
Gatsby’s Skyline, Manjimup
8:30pm – Tracey Barnett
9:45pm – Oceanique
Free Entry
Sunday 27 November
Support: Tracey Barnett
The River, Margaret River
Doors TBA
Free Entry
All tickets via oceanique.com
STAY GOLD
ICONIC MELBOURNE VENUE’S
FOURTH BIRTHDAY KICKS OFF THIS WEEK
FEATURING A WEEK OF INCREDIBLE ACTS INCLUDING
BETWEEN YOU & ME
THE GETAWAY PLAN
DAILY J
TYLER RICHARDSON (LUCA BRASI)
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Above & Beyond are returning to Australia for a headline set. Featuring a stellar, curated line-up of artists from their labels: Anjunabeats, Anjunadeep & Reflections. The camping festival, Group Therapy Weekender Australia will be held at Yarra Valley Estate for the band’s first ever multi-day festival down under.
Taking place between Friday 16 December and Sunday 18 December in Victoria’s breathtaking Yarra Valley, ‘Group Therapy Weekender Australia’ is an intimate camping getaway for Australia’s ‘Anjunafamily.’ There will also be a program of wellness activities and workshops to enhance the experience, surrounded by the picturesque landscape that surrounds the region. There will also be an offering of the very best food and drink, from Yarra Valley and beyond.
SYDNEY – HORDERN PAVILION SHOW
Above & Beyond make their return to Sydney on Friday 16th December. This is the group’s first show in Sydney since 2019 and their third time playing at Hordern Pavilion.
Catch the guys before they head to the Yarra Valley for their camping festival.
This is the Anjuna’s first festival event in Australia and follows on from the success of ‘Group Therapy Weekender’ at The Gorge, Washington State, which welcomed 23,000 campers last July and ‘Group Therapy Weekender’ London at Dockyards.
One of the world’s best-loved electronic groups, ‘Above & Beyond’ have headlined arenas around Australia over the last decade, bringing their anthemic dance songs to tens of thousands of fans.
About Above & Beyond
‘Above & Beyond,’ or Jono, Tony and Paavo as they are better known to their legions of fans around the world, have been at the forefront of electronic dance music for two decades.
Founders of the iconic ‘Anjunabeats’ and ‘Anjunadeep’ record labels and hosts of the weekly radio show ‘Group Therapy,’ (which reaches millions of dance lovers every Friday), the trio have earned two GRAMMY™️ nominations for anthems: ‘Northern Soul’ feat. Richard Bedford and ‘We’re All We Need’ feat. Zoë Johnston. In 2018, the band’s fourth electronic album, ‘Common Ground’ debuted at number three on the ‘Official Billboard Album Chart.’
Described by UK music bible ‘Q Magazine’ as “the world’s biggest cult band,” Above & Beyond’s enviable list of sold-out shows, includes headline performances at historic venues such as: ‘Madison Square Garden’ NYC, ‘The Hollywood Bowl’ LA, ‘The Sydney Opera House’ Sydney, ‘Royal Albert Hall’ London, ‘Red Rocks Amphitheatre’ Colorado and record-breaking turnouts for their own festival events on LA’s Huntington Beach and at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington State.
Songwriters first, producers second, ‘Above & Beyond’s’ unwavering commitment to their craft, has fuelled a career that many electronic artists today might only dream of. With four acclaimed studio albums under their belts, 14 compilation albums, two ‘acoustic’ albums and a stand-alone album for yoga and meditation, not to mention innumerable club cuts and dance remixes, the band continue doing what they love and bringing happiness to their countless fans all over the world.
Group Therapy Weekender Australia:
Friday 16 December – Sunday 18th December – Yarra Valley Estate, Victoria
Saturday 17 December Line-Up:
Above & Beyond
ALPHA 9
Genix
ilan Bluestone
Jaytech
Mat Zo
Naz
Oliver Smith
Sunday 18 December Line-Up:
Cri DJ Set
Durante B2B HANA
James Grant & Jody Wisternoff
Juno Mamba
Luttrell
Marsh
OLAN
YARRA VALLEY:
Buy Tickets Now: https://www.aboveandbeyond.nu/australia
Artist Press Kit – Click Here!
SYDNEY:
Friday 16 December – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Buy Tickets Now: https://linktr.ee/symbioticpresents
Photography + Words – Darren Chan
UK indie-pop band The Kooks have stayed the distance. Their Australian tour marks 15 years since their iconic debut album “Inside In / Inside Out”.
To a packed crowd at Festival Hall, The Vanns opened the evening unleashing their brand of loud and proud alternative rock. They didn’t hold back from delivering a short but energetic live set, complete with plenty of ear bleedingly loud fuzzed out guitar solos.
The Kooks hit the stage to cheers, performing the first six songs from the debut album. Starting their acoustic anthem “Seaside”, rolling into the guitar-driven “See the World”, “Sofa Song”, “Ooh La”, and “You Don’t Love Me” had the crowd dancing.
The crowd chanting “Ohh Aah” in unison to the start of the anthemic “Bad Habit”, then leading into the catchy “Sweet Emotion” off their 2014 album “Listen”. The band showcased a few tracks off their latest “10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark” with “Modern Days” and “Connection”.
Singer Luke Pritchard thanked and acknowledged the fans in attendance, with guitarist/keyboardist Hugh Harris remarking “it felt like coming home”.
The band didn’t disappoint fans as they played more tracks from “Inside In / Inside Out” finishing with their hit song “Naive”.
The Kooks mentioned in a recent tv interview that at their stage of life, they chase nostalgia. And for myself and those who attended, hearing their music was a flashback to our youth.
