To celebrate the release of MorningMaxwell’s new single ‘Complications’, MorningMaxwell will be conducting a 2-week campaign with the Partae celebrating the topline over alternative beats (One new beat a day) from samples the legend has recorded around his house.
New Song Debuts on Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, Out On DSPs Listen HERE
“I’m like a bird in a cage and I’m going cuckoo…”
Global quirk-pop master and Eurovision champ (2018 with “Toy”) Netta is back with her new song “Cuckoo”, a devastating heartbreaker of a ballad that feels eerily poignant given the state of the world currently. The song debuted as a part of Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light which aired in Australia and a further 45 countries on Saturday and included a touching video of Netta performing the track with a custom-made music box. Also released now on DSPs is the official studio recording “Cuckoo”, which will also appear on the forthcoming EP, out this summer via S-Curve Records/BMG.
A noticeable shift for the Israeli artist/composer/songwriter who has made a name for herself (and notched over 1 billion streams globally!) for her bombastic, colorful and high-adrenaline pop, “Cuckoo” is a soulful ballad about feeling self-awarely stuck in a stalled relationship.
Whether over heartbreak or feeling emotionally disconnected during this current pandemic, the choral refrain is melancholic brilliance: “I’m like a bird in a cage and I’m going cuckoo”.
“This song was written about the feeling of being stuck in a loop, that you don’t know if you created yourself or someone else built for you. We decided to recreate this feeling with a music box. We worked over three months to build a custom-made music box, which was very tricky, because it’s an instrument that was manufactured by hand back in the 16th century. I’ve had this image stuck in my mind for a long time – a ballerina stuck inside a jewelry box, spinning around forever in a loop. Just like I’m afraid I might be,” said Netta. “Cuckoo is my confession. It reveals a vulnerable side of me, which I’ve never let anyone see before. I am in a place where everything happened to me really fast, and I can’t help but doubt.”
Listen to Netta on Switched On Pop earlier this week HERE discussing her personal journey as an artist and what it takes to make the perfect Eurovision song. She also recently was spotlighted by BUST who called her the “soulful singer creating escapist videos you didn’t know you needed” and Hey Alma who praised her as a “role model”. She will also be Facebook’s “Artist Of The Day” on May 18th.
Check out Netta’s on-the-spot ingenuity in this recent video for iHeartRadio where she covers hits by Eiffel 65, Flo Rida, and Soulja Boy’Tell Em.
NETTA ONLINE
Homebrew is a long-running PBS program representing independent artists from Australia and New Zealand. Maddy and Kurt genre hop through stacks of new releases and old favourites every Monday afternoon at 3pm.Maddy Mac and Kurt are both really committed to local and Australian music and finding themselves at as many live gigs as possible.
“With fewer gigs and sponsors contributing to the station and the arts sector taking a huge hit, making sure that bands can still be heard and supported means a lot to us, and we feel so lucky to be able to do so on Homebrew! You can help us keep going by signing up as a member now.”
MADDY
Solid, euphoric dance beats that bring the juicy joy, and a most sexy video clip
Hot hip-hop from Sydney’s West sung loud and proud, ‘I feel like an aux chord, how I’m fittin all these stereotypes’
Frank’s voice is always stunning, and I love the layers in this piece – adding electronic elements, percussion patches, harmonies, field recordings. That might sound busy, but it combines so well.
I find myself humming the chorus quite.a.lot. Guitar lines that will waft you off into the sunset.
A great fun slice of power pop – off-kilter guitars, an element of mania, great deep voice.
KURT
1. Mystery Guest – Alibi
There’s just something completely mesmerising about Melbourne via Adelaide duo Mystery Guest, and their song Alibi has been swimming around my head since I first heard it in 2019. I caught a live set early on in their live game and was instantly a fan, though I had seen both members play live previously in other killer bands, including Peak Twins and Prefect (formerly Bitch Prefect). Mystery Guest is a unique mix of catchy hooks, hypnotising vocals, danceability and clever production, without any pretension and without things getting too complicated. Their debut album, Octagon City, is flawless. I highly recommend checking out a live set, when that’s a thing again.
The Native Cats is another duo, and another one that needs to be seen live to completely understand why they’re so incredibly special. I’ve always been a fan of (The Native Cats’ singer and programmer) Chloe Alison Escott’s music, and while my focus is rarely on lyrics when I’m listening to music, she’s one of my all-time favourite lyricists. Again, it’s the simplicity of these songs that is key – it’s not basic, but these two pick a theme and run with it, and I like that a lot. Run With The Roses is off The Native Cats’ latest 7”, Two Creation Myths, which also features the great b-side, Sanremo.
SuperEgo is a collective of producers, rappers, singers and multi-instrumentalists based in Fremantle, originally making a name for themselves as POW! Negro. They changed their name in 2018 coinciding with a more collaborative approach to themes that the group were expressing through their lyrics and music. Their 7-track EP, Nautilus, is an exceptional debut, but the standout track is Outer Body Stranger, in no small way thanks to the contribution from Sampa the Great. Everything she touches turns to gold.
NGAIIRE’s singles have always been strong, but for me Boom is timeless. It’s a perfect R n’ B track on par with or better than anything else like it happening around the world right now, and I could easily have this track on a loop for life. Boom makes me really excited to see what she does next. While Boom will be hard to top, I reckon NGAIIRE is only just getting started.
CB Radio, the solo project of Carsten Bruhn, is dropping album-length, home-recorded demos relentlessly via Bandcamp, and it’s a wild ride following the trajectory. His songwriting is succinct and smart, but I can’t go past the contagious belter, Time Goes Slow. Time Goes Slow features Carsten’s partner (and his partner in running Roolette Records) Kahlia Parker, who was on guitar and vocals in much-missed Melbourne 3-piece Girl Germs. I’d love to see this power pop hit machine be the new direction for CB Radio, but I know that he’ll continue to surprise us with future releases, and I’m OK with that.
Melbourne brat-wave band Hearts and Rockets recently released their single, You Don’t Know What You Have Until You’ve Had Enough, on one side of a split 7″ with Zig Zag in March via Roolette Records and Psychic Hysteria. They followed it up with a killer video clip which has since been seen on Rage. Now, four of the band’s contemporaries have re-imagined the track for this special digital only remix EP – Had Enough Remixed.
Available for download now at heartsandrockets.bandcamp.com
https://heartsandrockets.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/heartsandrocketsband
http://instagram.com/heartsandrocketsband
During school holidays, my family would go and work on my Grandfather’s farm in Nothern NSW. Having just bought a new laptop and not having any internet access in the area, GarageBand never stood a chance. I would catch my family while they were sitting around the TV and play them my demos and because they are incredibly polite, they said they were good!
I have just purchased some very sexy studio monitors and am setting up a small home studio to begin writing an EP for release in early 2021. I have also been really excited to find some other Australian artists to work with, either as a feature or to co-produce.
I was really loving the amazing music coming out from Golden Vessel and wanted to create a similar sort of electronic pop track with some toplines that you could sing/rap along to at home! For the chorus, I wanted an off-kilter sort of Flume’esque synth sound and reworked the original synth line to create the organic sounding lead synth in the final version. The song is about two friends who become more than friends, leading to love, happiness but eventually ends in trouble.
The track was recorded over a few months at the end of 2019 and early 2020. Although Lucie lives in Brisbane, she was actually on a student exchange studying music in Los Angeles at the time and had to record her vocals in her bedroom. While we would normally record at my University’s recording studio, COVID-19 meant we needed to find an alternative. For Declan’s (Zeplyn) verse, we recorded in a closet at my house on a disgustingly hot day and although the conditions were dreadful, it resulted in a great performance!
I would be absolutely thrilled to work with Emerson Lief, Upsidedownhead, Luboku and Jadu Heart – all have amazing styles and I think working with them would result in some really unique and fun music!
I am hoping to keep experimenting with sounds and styles this year, releasing a few more singles in preparation for an EP in early 2021. I am also trying to collaborate with more local artists and keep working my way into the wider Australian music scene!
Stream Link: https://gyro.lnk.to/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
To celebrate the release of MorningMaxwell’s new single ‘Complications’, MorningMaxwell will be conducting a 2-week campaign with the Partae celebrating the topline over alternative beats (One new beat a day) from samples the legend has recorded around his house.
The Electorateoriginally formed as school kids with a love of melody, contortion and the energy of skewed pop. They played as The Templebears, kicking around the traps and releasing EPs but as they prepared to record their debut, they splintered. The individual members went off to play in bands like Big Heavy Stuff, The Apartments, Knievel, Atticus, Reality Instructors, Imperial Broads. They re-assembled for a one off gig and got sucked back into the universe their songs had created, and set about recording the album they were always meant to make.
To celebrate the release of MorningMaxwell’s new single ‘Complications’, MorningMaxwell will be conducting a 2-week campaign with the Partae celebrating the topline over alternative beats (One new beat a day) from samples the legend has recorded around his house.
Today, Lil Lotus drops All My Little Scars Vol. 1 which features two new tracks “Rigor Mortis,” “Last One” and the previously released “I Don’t Even Like You,” and “Never Felt Better.” All My Little Scars Vol. 1 is the first of a three-part series and Lotus’s first EP since 2017’s influential Body Bag EP (featuring GothBoiClique’s Cold Hart and Nedarb).
LISTEN TO ALL MY LITTLE SCARS VOL. 1 NOW
A pioneer of the alternative rap scene, Lotus is known for blending confessional lyrics, pop-punk melodies and rap beats. Like his namesake the lotus flower that blooms in muddy waters, Lotus’s music grows from the pain of real-life experiences.
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The global pandemic may have shut down many aspects of life as we know it, but PBS 106.7FM’s annual Radio Festival is not one of them. The good folk at PBS are once again calling on its listeners to dig deep and support the station that supports them, with its oh-so-apt 2020 theme ‘You Can’t Stop The Music’. Bringing you the best emerging, independent, specialist and underrepresented music 24-hours a day, 365 days a year for over four decades, PBS is the antidote we all need in these trying times, and is seeking your help to keep the station alive and the tunes spinning long into a post-COVID future. So alert the group chat, bombard your next zoom meeting and call everyone you know, because this is going to be a big one!
From Monday 18 May to Sunday 31 May you can join up or renew your annual PBS membership, or simply make a donation via the PBS website, during the station’s biggest online and on air fundraiser of the year. Tune into 106.7FM to catch tales from PBS’ past, cherished memories, guest appearances and your favourite PBS presenters sharing their thoughts on the many, many benefits of being a PBS member including, of course, a treasure trove of prizes.
“PBS has supported the Melbourne music community for over 40 years. Over that time most of the station’s income has been derived from sponsorship and membership. With many businesses closed due to COVID-19, most of our traditional sponsors are not in a position to support us at this time. Therefore, it is important for our survival that listeners sign up as members and that current members renew. Many people affected by the current restrictions are finding a sense of normality in listening to PBS. I urge them all to dig deep and support us with memberships and/or donations during our 2020 Radio Festival. You Can’t Stop The Music!”
– David Heard – Acid Country Presenter
The 2020 major prizes on offer to all those who join up or renew their PBS membership from Friday 1 May are:
– A Primavera 125 i-GET Vespa in classic white with tan saddle trim valued at $6,990* ride away, courtesy of Peter Stevens Motorcycles
– A Clingan Guitar Tone handmade ‘Goldfinger’ electric guitar with SKB road case
– A Gett by Funk turntable with F7 tonearm and AT cartridge courtesy of Audiophile
– A Giro F2 bike with Ortleib accessories from My Ride Collingwood
– An entire year’s worth of PBS feature albums
Stacks of prizes are up for grabs for all tiered memberships including performers, businesses, pets, juniors, Friends for a Decade and Friends for Life. Become a performer member and you could score a Baked Goods live session video recording, or sign up your business for the chance at $1000 worth of custom merchandise printing from Das T’Shirt Automat. Perhaps your pet’s membership has expired, renew your furry friend and you could be the proud owner of a hand painted pet portrait by Archibald finalist, Cameron Potts.
Plus each day of Radio Festival from Monday 18 May to Sunday 31 May, there’ll be a different spread of daily prizes to be won including merch packs, food and drink hampers, tickets, vouchers and more, all kindly donated by local businesses, venues, and generous members of our community. Some of the seemingly endless daily prizes up for grabs in 2020 are:
– A handmade Anna Cordell tailored suit with consultation and two fitting sessions
– The Blues Train Queenscliff Experience dinner and show for four
– Music on the Hill double pass, plus a bottle of wine or 4 beers and a signed poster
– A Sonos special edition HAY One Speaker in red
– A one month Shining Light yoga membership
– Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) yearly membership and double session pass
And at least 100 more!
“PBS has spun The Teskey Brothers since we first started releasing music in 2016. We definitely wouldn’t have had such a good start without their early support. It’s really important that this great radio station can continue to support bands like us forever so please sign up to be a member during this year’s Radio Festival.”
– Sam Teskey of The Teskey Brothers
Every year PBS releases its coveted Sounds of Studio 5 Live compilation album featuring exclusive live recordings of guest artists from the year that was. All new and renewing members who join up during this year’s festivities will receive a digital copy featuring the likes of Surprise Chef, Pinch Points, On Diamond, Coda Chroma, Clowns, Dyson Stringer Cloher, Deline Briscoe, Karate Boogaloo, Ghost Note and many more. Plus, get ready to slide into your next zoom meeting in the latest PBS Radio Festival T-shirt designed by local artist Jase Harper. Simply join up as a passionate member or above and be the envy of all your half-dressed mates this iso.
PBS Radio Festival 2020: You Can’t Stop The Music
May 18 – May 31 2020
For the full list of daily prizes or to join head over to www.pbsfm.org.au
If you are having trouble renewing online, you can email info@pbsfm.org.au or try calling (03) 8415 1067 between 10am-6pm Monday to Friday and PBS will do their best to answer your call
Like PBS 106.7fm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
#PBSRadioFestival #YouCantStopTheMusic
Thank you for supporting PBS.
How did you first start creating music?
I don’t have a musical background and was generally discouraged in this regard growing up. I got to point in my life where I simply had too much bottled up inside myself and had to find a medium through which to get it out. Rap seemed like the genre with the easiest entry level and I set myself the goal of creating a mixtape. I learned as I went, approaching and overcoming obstacles such as not being able to sing, and not having any references of someone creating contemporary rap with an Australian accent. I haven’t stopped since, and I now think the lack of musical training is actually an asset forcing me to be more creative with how I approach my work.
Your latest single ‘Dirt On the Name of Steven’ is out now, what influenced the punk trap sound for this track?
The song itself is nostalgic, looking back at a period of time I am now distant from and comparing it to where I stand today. The Emo/Pop Punk instrumentation by Lil Aaron is reminiscent of the music I listened to in the years during the events expressed in the song’s lyrics.
You have an EP on the way, what different creative elements do you have in store for us?
After the release of my EP I’m going to be focusing on finalising my book. It will be a collection of my ritual photography as well as a snapshot of my personal philosophy as it is in this moment.
But before then I have my most ambitious videoclip yet planned for the first song on the EP, it’s my most favourite song on the EP “Lava”. I don’t want to give it away, but I think it should make people smile, we all need a little bit of escapism right about now.
How has The Zheani Sparkes EP progressed or differed from your previous releases?
I think I approached it with a slightly tighter concept than other projects. I aimed to provide context about my past and give people more insight into the background that shaped me. It came out extremely grim so at the very end I sprinkled a bit of positivity like adding sweetener to medicine.
What did you find most challenging/rewarding during the creation of the EP?
Most of what I speak about on the EP is deeply embarrassing. These are memories I tried very hard to suppress and forget. Making music out of these memories is like alchemy, I take something terrible and make art out of it. Then the memory is out there for everyone to experience and I am no longer as ashamed. Transmutation.
I hope this process will allow me to finally leave all that baggage behind, rather than having darkness hidden inside, I want it out of me. I genuinely want to be a happy person. I hope the reward for my transparency will be getting to move on.
What direction can you see your music taking next?
I want to take a moment and work on some more light-hearted music. However, I’m also considering taking some time to myself in preparation for working on my first album. Technically I’ve released an album-length project, but I’ve never approached them as such.
What are you listening to at the moment?
City Morgue, Grimes, Nicole Dollanganger, Aphex Twin, Young Thug, Bright Eyes, Tracey Chapman, Neil Young, 100 Gecs.
What do you like to do away from music?
Cooking, gardening, audio books, stretching/laying horizontal… Waifu Shit.
What else do you have planned for 2020?
It all depends on when they let us out of the country ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Zheani Sparkes EP is out on May 29. Stream the latest single ‘Dirt On The Name Of Steven’ here.
Follow Zheani:
@askulloffoxes
facebook.com/zheanisparkes
twitter.com/askulloffoxes
zheani.com
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Glinting jangle-pop churned with the soft-edges and everchanging colours of early summer sunsets, PENDULUM is the latest dopamine hit of hazy melody from multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, James Holt, released on Fri 15 May 2020. A reputed musical revolutionary otherwise painting his own signposts to an artistic peak, Holt switches from self-determined isolation to unholy alliance by enlisting The Coral’s song-wrangler, James Skelly on production duties for the first time alongside the mixing talents of Chris Taylor.
Slide-guitar whines into verses dressed with the tinsel of gently played glockenspiel and gossamer-light, finger-picked chords dance over the ballast of Holt’s acoustic rhythm playing, all vacuum-packed into concentrated dose of melody. As an antidote to malaise, Pendulum’s effects are reminiscent of medications prescribed by legendary pop/rock clinicians Johnny Marr, Crowded House, Squeeze and Jeff Lynne. A straight kid walking into a psychedelic orgy, part of his native Lancashire and part the sounds of the sun-kissed West Coast, Skelly described Holt during sessions at Liverpool’s Parr Street Studios as “like Scott Walker backed by Echo and the Bunnymen.”
“The song is generally about the endless cycle of revenge,” James said speaking of the lyric content. “There are so many cool ideas that feed into the ‘Pendulum’ theme of the song, like the way the opening riff revolves back and forth around two chords and how the story ends where it began to create a narrative loop. It packs a punch and gets the point across in so few words, I like songs like that.”
Theoretically and spiritually tuned into numerous instruments and a prolific creator, Holt played everything barring drums on the track, with Skelly offering backing vocals. Holt has been praised by other esteemed peers, including Brian Eno for previous releases and performances, with the legendary ex-Roxy Music musician and prolific producer describing him as “fresh and exciting.” Based in Bolton near Manchester, Holt has garnered a strong following in his home city playing to sell out audiences at various venues including Deaf Institute, while also selling out the Hope and Anchor, London and taking to festival stages including Kendal Calling, Sound City and Head For The Hills. His next performs live in a headline appearance at Band On the Wall, Manchester on Fri 23 October 2020.
Holt’s achievements in music, beyond each accomplished note of tracks like Pendulum, yield further, deserved admiration by the fact that he was diagnosed with bilateral moderate-to-severe hearing loss at the age of four.
Connect with James Holt online at:
https://twitter.com/jamesholtmusic
To celebrate the release of MorningMaxwell’s new single ‘Complications’, MorningMaxwell will be conducting a 2-week campaign with the Partae celebrating the topline over alternative beats (One new beat a day) from samples the legend has recorded around his house.
