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A chain-stitcher working in the satin district of an unnamed city, a neighborhood of storefront tailors devoted to elaborate costumery for country-western, art rock, ye-ye cover bands that populate the street’s bars after dark. The narrator joins one such outfit, ‘Le Tex’ and feels a sense of belonging and momentum, movement beyond what was previously a stable, predictable life. A relationship with a bandmate materializes. Eventually, the group start to write originals. They generate goodwill and momentum, and venture out on the open road seeking new opportunities beyond what the satin district can offer. But the vibrational energy that got things moving is the same that shakes the whole thing apart: the relationship, and the band, disintegrate upon finally reaching their destination, the end of the road. The chain-stitcher heads back to the city, settling back into the rhythm of work, old standards and a familiar place.
The story is self-referential on purpose: it speaks to the absurdity of ego, codependency and shared visions even as it celebrates them. The Jacket finds Widowspeak navigating these contradictions, and although its ten tracks now trace a more abstract arc than the campier initial concept, strands of that earlier narrative remain: “stitches in satin”, American cities after dark, glimpses of the open road, dark bars, and backstages where things get left behind. The resulting album is a wizened meditation on performance and past lives from a band who’ve seen their fair share, hitting their stride now over a decade in.
Written in the months before and after the release of their critically acclaimed 2020 album Plum, The Jacket feels like a full-circle moment for the duo. Thematically, it considers Plum’s broader questions about the values ascribed to one’s time and labor through the more refined lens of performance and music-making. This is due in part to the band’s recent return to New York City, the site of their own origin story, where they recorded The Jacket at the Diamond Mine with co-producer and noted Daptone Records affiliate Homer Steinweiss. In addition to Hamilton and Thomas on guitars, the album features founding drummer Michael Stasiak, as well as J.D. Sumner on bass, and piano and keyboard contributions from Michael Hess.
Sonically, The Jacket finds the band at their usual and best: the album breathes deeply, balancing moments of open lushness with a straightforward, Velvets-y approach. Dynamics shift seamlessly between gentle, drifting ballads and twangy jams, built up from layered guitars, dusty percussion and ambling bass lines. Elsewhere: whimsical flutes, choral textures, and basement organs. Thomas’s guitar playing is as lyrical and emotive as it’s ever been, and Hamilton’s voice: comfortable and effortless. This seamless dynamic is amplified perfectly in the mix by Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beach House). The band still wears the same perennial influences on its sleeve: cornerstones like Yo La Tengo, Neil Young, Cowboy Junkies, Cat Power, and Richard and Linda Thompson. They expertly pepper in slow-core, dream-pop, pacific northwest indie, and outlaw country, resulting in a 60s-meets-90s aesthetic. But the duo also wield their own aesthetic feedback loop as a tool of its own, a way to better tell multi-layered stories in their own RIYL language. This sense of sonic nostalgia adds another layer to lyrics that reflect on old selves, invented and true.
The Jacket is a present and comfortable record, imbued with a sense of collective pause and the ease of a band at the top of their game. For all its familiar textures, it still feels entirely fresh within that canon: proudly a guitar record, a rock record, a songwriter’s record. A Widowspeak record.
DEBUT EP I.F.I.U & I.F.I.U (REMIX) EP OUT NOW
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Photo Credit: Sarah Piantadosi
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While some people imploded in the lockdowns and isolation of the epidemic, others were thriving. “I felt like I’d been in training for this my whole life,” says J Spaceman. He was referring to his fondness for isolation and when you reframe loneliness as “beautiful solitude” then it isn’t so bad. He would walk through an empty “Roman London” where “even the sirens had stopped singing” and where the world was “full of birdsong and strangeness and no contrails.” He used the birdsong walks to listen and try and make sense of all the music playing in his head. The mixes of his new record, a ninth studio album, weren’t working out yet.
“There was so much information on it that the slightest move would unbalance it, but going around in circles is important to me. Not like you’re spiraling out of control but you’re going around and around and on each revolution, you hold onto the good each time. Sure, you get mistakes as well, but you hold on to some of those too and that’s how you kind of… achieve. Well, you get there.”
Eventually the mixes got there and Everything Was Beautiful was achieved. The result is some of the most “live” sounding recordings that Spiritualized have released since the Live At The Albert Hall record of 1998, around the time of Ladies & Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space.
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Author: Allen Brown
Music is an art that is easily accessible to everyone. There are many different instruments, and it can be difficult when you do not know where to start. This guide will walk you through the process step by step so that you can enjoy playing music in no time at all!
1.Pick the equipment you want
The first step is to pick the equipment you want. This doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should work for your style of playing and comfort level. As mentioned at https://www.allstringed.com, if you prefer a guitar, you can purchase an acoustic, electric, or classical guitar. Learning guitar is not difficult, so you can pick any style.
If you prefer a piano or keyboard, go with an electronic model that is easy to use and has multiple features. You can also find portable keyboards that are lightweight and easy to carry with you.
If you want to try a different instrument, such as the violin or banjo, do some research on the best models for your playing level and budget. It’s essential to get quality equipment, so you don’t develop bad habits from the start.
Once you have chosen your equipment, take some time to read the included instructions carefully. Familiarize yourself with all of the features to use them effectively when practicing.
2. Learn the basics
Once you choose an easy instrument to start with, it’s time to learn the basics. You can go through tutorials online or join a music school near you for better guidance. If you’re getting started on an instrument, it would be best to take classes from professional teachers who have ample experience teaching beginners how to play musical instruments.
You may also want to read about the instrument you have chosen to play. This will help you understand how it works and what techniques are used in playing it.
There are plenty of instructional materials out there that can help beginners learn the ropes quickly. YouTube is one great source for free video tutorials, while books and DVDs usually come with instructional audio CDs. If you’re willing to spend some money, online lessons could be a good option for you – many teachers offer Skype sessions or interactive live streams that make learning easy and fun.
3.Practice!
Once you’ve learned the basics of playing your instrument, it’s time to practice some more! The only way you’ll get better is by actually getting out there and practicing. Even if you don’t feel like doing so or have a busy schedule, remember that this step will be the most important one in becoming a master at what you do.
For your practice, you can start with simple things. Make sure you do your warm-up exercises, as these are the best ways to ensure that you don’t injure yourself while playing. Another thing is making sure that you practice regularly and without fail—for example, if possible every day or at least three times a week.
If this sounds like too much for now, start practicing once a week until it becomes more natural for you to play daily!
You can bring friends to your practice sessions to make it more fun, too. The better you get at playing your instrument, the easier it will be for you to find people interested in learning how to do so!
4.Perform
It will help if you find a way to perform your music. You can do this by:
- joining an ensemble and performing regularly as much as possible
- playing for smaller groups of friends and family
- performing at open mic nights in coffee shops or other similar venues
If you can get yourself out there, it will also help with a recording that people can listen to. This could be creating a YouTube channel or doing it somewhere else online where others can access it easily.
Performing is a great way to improve your skills and get feedback from others.
5.Know how to take care of your equipment
Music equipment is an investment, and like any other investment, you want to take care of it to last. Ensure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning and storing your instrument.
Therefore, after your practice session, make sure to clean your instrument. Don’t use water on the drum heads; instead, use a damp cloth or a particular cleaning solution if needed. If you want to be careful with your cymbals, wipe them down with rubbing alcohol after each practice session and before putting them away in their case.
Learning to play musical equipment can be very rewarding. It can allow you to communicate your feelings and emotions through melodies and rhythms. Not only that but learning an instrument can also provide a great form of exercise for the mind and body. By following the guide above, you can learn to start playing your favorite instrument.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
The countdown is officially on! In just two weeks’ time, Tarwin Meadows will be heaving with the colossal sounds of UNIFY 2022 and the festival just got bigger! UNIFY is stoked today announce that Trophy Eyes have been added to the already mammoth weekend of heavy music goodness.
This huge news comes as the festival also releases the lineup for Maton Sunday Sessions and set times so you can get planning your return to heavy music Christmas now!
Just over five years since Trophy Eyes’ universally acclaimed sophomore album Chemical Miracle, the band are celebrating by playing the record in full at UNIFY 2022! Released in October 2016, Chemical Miracle was welcomed with rave reviews as it peaked at #8 on ARIA Australian Albums Chart. Chemical Miracle paved the way in getting the punk rock band from Newcastle to where they are now – conquering the globe with headline tours across North America, the UK and Aus, playing festival dates at Reading and Leeds (UK) and Disrupt Festival (US) as well as filling huge support spots on tour with Bring Me The Horizon. Trophy Eyes recently released new singles ’27 Club’ and ‘Bittersweet’, following up on their 2018 album The American Dream which enjoyed huge success at triple j, achieving Feature Album and lead single ‘You Can Count On Me’ breaking into the Hottest 100. No doubt about it, UNIFY is going to be electric when Trophy Eyes perform on the mainstage ahead of The Amity Affliction on Friday night!
When the carnage of the weekend has left you feeling a little worse for wear, it’s time to grab a coffee, sit back and relax to the sweet stripped back sounds of some of the country’s finest musos at Maton Sunday Sessions!
Kicking off from 10:15am – 1pm on the final day of UNIFY, Maton Sunday Sessions will round off a stacked weekend of killer sets and moshpit antics with unplugged sounds from…
BEN STEWART (SLOWLY SLOWLY)
BUGS (ACOUSTIC)
ALEX MOSES (COLUMBUS)
JOSHUA O’DONNELL (BANKS ARCADE)
Leading the charge is Slowly Slowly’s frontman Ben Stewart with his vivid lyricism and emotionally charged vocals. There’s an unshakable sense of comfort and resonance that takes a hold when Ben performs, be a part of it as he closes out UNIFY with his stunning set.
Bugs will amaze you with an acoustic performance of their heartfelt and authentic pop rock slowed down to help ease you into the real world after a whirlwind weekend of heavy music chaos.
Join Columbus’ vocalist and guitarist Alex Moses as he stuns you with acoustic renditions of the rock-trios earnest and relatable ballads.
That’s after Banks Arcade frontman Joshua O’Donnell warms up the stage, backing up the band’s debut UNIFY set with peeled back versions of their boundary breaking music.
ICYMI, Trophy Eyes and Maton Sunday Sessions artists aren’t the only additions to UNIFY lately with Slowly Slowly and Stories also added to the bill recently. UNIFY 2022 really is going to be one hell of a time!
Now it’s time to get your camping essentials together and plan your UNIFY weekend hustle because the 2022 set times are finally here!
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Where are you currently?
Clef – Gibsons, BC, Canada, planet Earth
Dolly – Vancouver, B.C.
Lin – Sunshine Coast, BC
How did you first start playing music?
Clef – I’ve been playing for so long that I don’t remember! But I’ve always been involved in something, whether it’s high school jazz band, composing an indie film score, a neo-soul vibe project, an extemporal spectacle band, or Bae Baracus!
Dolly – Learning to play the tin whistle in school…
Lin – Playing recorder, violin and piano as a kid
What’s been happening recently?
Clef – Mostly baby-raising, tryna live in the moment.
Dolly – A long break in Dublin, Ireland, where I’m from. Been surrounded by lots of trad music, maybe that will come out in future writing.
Lin – Not much right now, just coming out the other side of the holiday break, with the kids home from school (more local Covid measures) against the same intense backdrop that ended 2021…<grimace>
You’ll be releasing a remix and video of your single ‘Flex’ on Jan 14, what originally influenced the sound and songwriting for Flex?
Dolly – Being disconnected from people during the pandemic (and before, to be honest). Frustration at trying to communicate online and how it takes away the human element. People communicate much differently when they have to look into each other’s eyes, rather than from behind a screen. That sincere message is delivered in a slight tongue in cheek wrapper, as you can see from the video.
Clef – I think it was a tongue-in-cheek approach but I’ve learned that nothing serious comes out of taking yourself too seriously.
Lin – We wrote & recorded our album in a weekend last summer, and wanted some songs with an element of fun & danceability, in anticipation of live shows and people needing to let off steam. A couple of the songs had a nod to old piano-house and the basis for Flex also has a retro vibe. For some reason, it made me think of the 90s Berlin scene (no idea why as I’d never even been there) but Dolly had lived in Germany and we decided to try a ‘persona’ to deliver the message, which we thought worked really well for the track.
Why did you decide to remix Flex?
Dolly – It’s the clubbiest song we’ve done so far, it cries out for remixing.
Lin – Yeah, this is one of our faster songs at 125bpm and I wanted to do a moody half-time kind of approach as a b-side
How did you approach the remix process?
Dolly – For my part, I added more primal vocal sounds and swirls to add another layer
Clef – Shout out to Lin for remix! I just blipped and blooped on the remix 
Lin – Like all our tracks, this came together super fast and I threw it down in a couple of hours. Dolly sent some additional vocal parts and Clef sent some of his inimitable OP1 work… Our approach as a band is to not overthink things nor obsess over details, which I think is one reason why we have so much fun creating together.
What influenced the video concept?
Dolly – We agreed that if we were going to sing about flexing, the video needed to be fun and funny, kitsch and campy. Like “Physical” by Olivia Newton John.
Clef – I think that the concept for the video was pretty much there from the jump, what remained to be seen was how we’d pull off a concept as ambitious as that, and I gotta say, I am amazed by the outcome, I think this video is hilarious!
Lin – this has been a tough couple of years for everyone, and we just wanted to lighten things up a bit and keep things fun. Also, knowing that we were going to release in January, where traditionally people think about working out, it felt like this was the right route. The original concept had a whole cast of extras and a massive nightclub scene, but ya know, lack of budget, time and a pandemic scuppered that 🙂
Where and when did you film and who did you work with?
Lin – Massive thanks to Gibsons CrossFit for letting us have freedom to play in their amazing gym! And also to Tallulah for shooting and directing us. I edited the video and the team at LyricVids.Com in Toronto did some colour correction and VFX to give it added sparkle.
What did you find most rewarding and challenging whilst creating the video?
Clef – From my end the process was really easy and I was just excited to be there, but it felt like a good time all around and energy at the set was super positive and exciting. The difficulty for me was getting there in the cold, straight from a bartending shift.
Dolly – Rewarding: getting to perform and be silly in a CrossFit gym with a great group of people! Challenging: finding a time we were all available..
Lin – I’m not a video editor, but I’ve cut most of our videos out of necessity, so that presents some challenges but that said I’m really happy with how this turned out. The most rewarding thing was having 3 hours in this amazing gym, going in with not much of a plan, but just having the freedom to play! I’ve kept myself pretty isolated through the pandemic so it was amazing hanging with Dolly, Clef and Tallulah and letting loose a bit 🙂
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Dolly – Róisín Murphy and Fontaines D.C.
Clef – My buddy got me on the latest Yves Tumor LP from 2020 and WHOAMEMY
Lin – I’m loving Shad’s latest album ‘Tao’ and Little Simz ‘S.I.M.B.I.’
What do you like to do away from music?
Clef – Music is like religion for me so it’s hard to say I could do anything “away” from music but there are other things I’d like to do around music, especially in the technology domain. I’m very interested in how tech-driven solutions could give more control to artists in the production and distribution of their work and how to implement my IT knowledge into a musical space.
Dolly – Riding my motorcycle and my bicycle.
Lin – Growing vegetables without the use of chemicals.
What’s planned for 2022?
Dolly – Live performances, hopefully!
Clef – It’s gonna be a crazy year, a lot of things need to work out to make it tenable or else I’m gonna have to get off this planet!
Lin – Really hoping for us to play some live shows and to bring the fun vibe of Bae to some clubs and festivals later this year.
Lin – Pizza or Curry… I love being in the woods of British Columbia. Pizza or curry in the woods would be a magical thing, in fact that’s a pretty achievable goal for 2022.
https://www.facebook.com/baebaracus
https://www.instagram.com/baebaracus/
https://twitter.com/BaeBaracus
Where are you currently based?
I am currently based in Etobicoke, ON (just outside of Toronto), but Hamilton, ON is my hometown.
How did you start playing music?
I got started playing music in my hometown at Hamilton’s yearly music awards. Each year they held a Rising Star competition for up and coming artists to enter, and when I was about 15 I decided to give it a go with a song I had written. Having grown up playing piano, I always enjoyed being musical, but had never performed for the public out of fear.
That year I ended up placing third, and I don’t know what it was about that moment, but I decided right then and there that I wanted to pursue music as a career. A music degree and a bunch of milestones later, I’d say it’s going pretty good so far!
What’s been happening recently?
Recently I’ve been doing a lot of writing! The whole “pandemic” thing has really dwindled down the opportunity to perform live, so I’ve been trying to use the time to figure out what I want to say musically and work out a new show and material for 2022!
Your new single ‘Dial Tone’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
The idea behind “Dial Tone” actually came from an episode of Letter Kenny. It’s slang for “a dull, boring person”: ie) John has all the personality of a dial tone. When I heard it used in that show I always thought that would make a good song title. Fast forward a few years and a couple boring conversations I couldn’t escape from; “Dial Tone” was born!
How did you go about writing ‘Dial Tone’?
When I decided to finally write it, I reached out to my friends Jesse Slack and Daryl Scott to co-write it with me because I knew the way they wrote would be a good fit for the tune. We really wanted to go for something lazy feeling but also sassy and luckily this was one of those songs that just seemed to come together really easily.
Where and when did you record/produce/master the single and who with?
“Dial Tone” was actually recorded this July! I was so excited about the song after we wrote it in March that I wanted to get it out right away. So I reached out to my producer Jeff Dalziel (who also mastered it) and we got cracking! Everything was recorded at his house, other than parts from the players that didn’t live locally who just recorded at their own houses. It’s crazy how much you don’t need a studio anymore to get the job done.
How did you approach the recording process?
This recording process was approached in what I would call a very typical modern country way. I sent Jeff a demo of the song with the idea and vision I had for it and he worked his magic! By the time I came to record my vocal, the track was basically completely put together. Atypical to that, is me getting to play the acoustic line in the song and add some creative input, which I really enjoyed getting to do on this track.
What’s the weirdest gig you’ve ever played and why?
OH MAN, just one? Lol. I’ve played in a few dive bars where I’ve gotten to see some pretty interesting things but I think the weirdest gig I ever played was the first gig I ever did with my band.
Right when I was first starting out, my college roommate, who I admittedly didn’t know very well, had her relatives in our dorm one time and they asked me if I wanted to play a private party they were throwing. I told them I’d love to, but my band didn’t yet have enough material to fill an evening. We knew 6 songs, to be exact. However, they said that that would be enough and hired me for the evening.
A few weeks later, my country band and I showed up to their event and proceeded to play 3, 2-song sets, where in between they had a classical pianist perform. It ended up being a really fun night but it was definitely the weirdest event I’ve ever performed.
How do you prepare for shows?
To be honest, I don’t really have a ritual that I do! Performing has become pretty second nature to me now (trust me, it never used to be) and usually I just show up and do my thing. I am lucky enough to have a band that I’ve been playing with for years, so that really takes away any worry that I might get before stepping on the stage.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I am ALWAYS listening to Kacey Musgraves. I am pretty sure she will be my favourite artist until the day I die. But aside from her new album, I’ve been really digging what Ingrid Andress is saying, as well as Tennille Townes.
What do you like to do away from music?
I really like being creative, so in my time off I find myself doing things like scrapbooking, photography, web design, interior design, etc. Pretty much anything with the word “design” after it lol. I’m also a huge environmentalist, so I’ll spend a lot of time trying to make my lifestyle a bit more waste free, or educating myself on ways an individual can create a positive impact on sustaining this big ol’ body of water we call earth.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2021 going into 2022?
Most of 2021 will be about getting “Dial Tone” to as many ears as possible, but I will say that I’ve also got a little EP in the works that I’m hoping to get out to the world sometime in 2022.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Ouuuu. A few different answers. My favourite place to “get” food is Valiant’s in Barrie, ON. My favourite food in general is pizza, and my favourite place to hangout I’d have to say, is my local watering hole TJ Osheas Irish Snug in Etobicoke, ON.
Twitter: @DiveBar_Diva
Facebook: /MackenzieLeighMeyer
Instagram: @divebar_diva
Website: www.mackenzieleighmeyer.com
A BIT OF A FIASCO: FANCYNORMAL to release Pop-Bop Pavlova piece, FIASCO
Miscommunication, misinterpretation & misunderstanding, well, we’ve all been there, and Melbourne duo FancyNormal have summed it all up in their latest pop-spritzer bop: FIASCO.
It’s a messy and chaotic ode to miscommunication & trying to understand your significant other. Like being a contestant in a rigged gameshow, where ‘every door you choose you lose’, FancyNormal raises a pinot noir to those who are just tired of guessing what the other is thinking in a relationship that lacks verbalisation.
The duo have had a momentous first year previously releasing their debut EP ‘Starters & Appetizers’ and an engaging remix EP release with Skio Music for their single, Ultra Passion. FIASCO is the cherry on top of what has been an incredible year of releases for Fancy.
Speaking about the single, the band says “it’s not an anti-lovesong per se, but more of an anti-rose-coloured-glasses view of what a real relationship looks like.” Guaranteed dance-a-bility, the track will make you feel heard and maybe even say omfg.
Feel like you’re just spinning a wheel, hoping you’ll open the correct suitcase sometimes? This is the song for you – a power-bop ballad filled with plenty to get grooving to. FIASCO will be released on all platforms this September 30.
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Courtney Barnett – ‘Before You Gotta Go’ (Official Video)
Listen / Download: https://courtney-
Courtney Barnett – ‘Rae Street’ (Official Video)
Listen / Download: https://courtney-
Courtney Barnett
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