Jam packed with impassioned lyricism and arrangements, delivered with punch and heart – Sydney’s SoSo present their first EP release, I Wouldn’t Call This Success…But It’s Close Enough.
Having introduced themselves to fans last year with single releases in ‘The Henry Lawson Jive’, ‘Skywriter’, ‘(Shit) Love Story’ and ‘(Shit) Love Story – Unplugged’, the pop punk group were quick off the mark in doling out music that was equal parts intensely personal, but also a lot of fun.
The EP shows the brightness and spirit of the band – there’s something instantly familiar about SoSo, yet very fresh as well. It makes for the perfect first listen.
Featuring their first four singles, as well as their most recent releases ‘Yeah Nah’ and ‘The Great Escape’ in 2021, I Wouldn’t Call This Success… comes as a bundled up presentation of chaotic energy and chest-pounding singalongs, akin to bands like Trophy Eyes, Violent Soho and Luca Brasi.
“We called the EP I Wouldn’t Call This Success…But It’s Close Enough because we’re all in our mid 20’s and ya know what, when you’re younger, I think you really have a warped perception of where you’ll be by your mid 20’s. You think you’ll probably have things way more figured out, more money in the bank, less emotional baggage…you name it.”
“It’s easy to think you haven’t found success as you’re getting older, because you’re not meeting whatever your (or other people’s) standards of ‘success’. It’s easy for us as musicians to fall into that trap too, especially when we’ve each been in failed bands (except Tahlia, who’s not been subjected to that – and hopefully won’t.) But realistically, we still have the opportunity to make great music, to get involved in some seriously sick creative projects thanks to our friends and ultimately, that might not be deemed success…but it’s close enough, right? “
SoSo
Recorded at Sydney’s Electric Sun Studios, SoSo worked with producer Stevie Knight (Stand Atlantic, Yours Truly) as well as James Paul Wisner (Stand Atlantic, Saosin) and Grant Berry to bring I Wouldn’t Call This Success… to life.
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Don’t Kiss Ur Friends EP is out now, buy/stream it here
TRACKLIST
Amiinmyhead?
Swing Of Things
Central Station
Daffodils
Time I Love To Waste
Apricots
Swing Of Things ft. Powfu
Stay connected with MAY-A:
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After gaining noticeable recognition from their previous three releases, Like Angels return with another fun, hard hitting but relatable track. Their new single “Teenage Dream” is live now to accompany their upcoming self-taped docuseries “Almost Like Angels”, premiering on their YouTube channel late July.
Stream/Download “Teenage Dream” here: https://distrokid.com/
Multi-instrumentalist Rod Moore shines in his singer / songwriter persona, delivering a collection of catchy, cleverly written tracks layered in synth tones and drum loops as an intentional nod to the ‘80s. Having developed his stage and studio chops playing instrumental surf guitar music, Rod Moore had long pondered the idea of stepping out front. “You Never Know If You Never Try”, released in 2018, marked Rod’s vocal debut and the inception of THE ROD MOORE BAND.
Seeped in ‘50s and ‘60s influence, the four all-original numbers were recorded with the accompaniment of some recently graduated music college alumni. 2020 provided Rod with the opportunity to revisit a batch of songs he had shelved eight years prior, culminating in the album “7635 South West Boulevard”. These well crafted and eclectic modern pop songs represent a stylistic shift inspired by acts as diverse as ELO, Moby, and Ray Charles. THE ROD MOORE BAND’s third release was clearly influenced by the state of the world at it’s time of inception. “Lockdown EP” delves deeper into the musical themes introduced on its predecessor, while focusing on tighter arrangements and big budget production – “Lockdown EP” was recorded at Vancouver’s HippoSonic Recording Studio, the former home of the Legendary Little Mountain Studios.
“You Won’t Bring Me Down” was conceived while in Toronto during one of the deepest parts of COVID-19, and was definitely written out of frustration. It means exactly what it suggests – you won’t bring me down! I am a big John Carpenter fan, and the music he writes for his movies is always very unique, quirky and memorable. This song definitely carried some of that inspiration, which shows strongest in the opening, single tone riff. I recorded many of the core elements at home in my office, including the noisy guitar solo in the bridge.”
PLAY/LISTEN
Where are you currently based?
I’m currently based in the inner west. Gadigal land.
We had a piano at my childhood home that I’d just baby hammer fist on some random notes and laugh at. I remember one evening my father played the Beatles song “Let it Be” when I was four and I was incredibly fascinated. He taught me for the first couple of weeks after that and then he decided to put me into piano lessons, the rest is history.
Lockdown . Gigs and sessions have cancelled so I’ve just been getting into a nice routine for my wellbeing . A fair bit of meditation , working out, creative writing, drinking and playing video games with my roommates.
The sound is pretty much a culmination of what I was listening to at the time which was a lot of Blood Orange, Frank Ocean, Mac Ayres and Bryson Tiller. The songwriting was influenced by one of my past relationships, it all just poured out one evening.
I love trying to make something different each time, whether it’s through different instrumentation or weird effects. I collated some songs I had a vibe on and they all sound different yet they are all embedded in the same DNA and have a cohesive theme
It’s never the same. Sometimes I recycle old songs and make a Frankenstein version, which could be quick or extremely crafted and slow. Other times I just catch a vibe, hear something and finish it quickly on the piano or guitar.
A whole bunch of trial and error.
Currently I’m bumping lot of Jai Paul, Steve Spacek, Milan Ring, Flwr Chyld and anything from My Analog Journal.
I love working out, FaceTiming my friends chilling with my dog, reading and listening to audiobooks. I’m into to this audiobook called PIMP: The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim. It’s ice cold.
Plans seem to change radically, so I guess I’m just going to stick to my health routine and release some more tracks.
Title: Fake People
Label: Purple Fly
Swedish bounce producer Behmer joins the ranks of Purple Fly with his debut track on the label, “Fake People,” featuring talented Asia-based producers Reverse Prime and Starjack. Much like NFT-fueled Purple Fly‘s previous releases, “Fake People” is hard to put in a box and innately stands out on the sonic spectrum; the track’s breathy vocals are offset by a slowed-down bassline and jazzy instrumentals. The combination makes for a pop-influenced, groovier version of Behmer‘s usual style, though its lyrics about the pursuit of authenticity in a world filled with much pretension will resonate with listeners of all genres.
“‘Fake People‘ is about the process of making your own music without caring about the money and what other people might think of it. Music should be a way of expressing your emotions through the creative process that is music production, and ‘Fake People‘ perfectly expresses this.” – Behmer
Purple Fly is an independent imprint utilizing cryptocurrency’s hottest frontier as a platform for the spectrum of electronic music. The label’s goal is to support collaborations of all forms of art, connecting music and stunning visuals for an immersive experience that spans the sonic realms of trance to trap. Purple Fly releases NFT directly on its official website with each music drop, enabling artists to have access to direct support from their fan base while expressing their creativity. Behmer, Reverse Prime and Starjack join Laidback Luke, BLVD., Fatman Scoop, Shaquille O’Neal, Sevenn, and more as part of the Purple Fly‘s family. Keep an eye out for more groundbreaking releases from the label in the near future!
Black Caviar Releases Groovy Vocal House Single “Collect Check,” Featuring EMIDA. Out Now on Dim Mak
Title: Collect Check feat. EMIDA
Label: Dim Mak Records
Black Caviar puts a cheeky spin on hustling for money with his new track “Collect Check” on Steve Aoki‘s Dim Mak. Featuring smooth, velvety vocals by EMIDA, this house gem opens with groovy melodies that gently meld into a deep, minimal bassline that feels right at home both on the dance floor or when listening at home. It was inspired by a relationship with financial instability, something that many people faced during the global pandemic, and the desire for success. “Collect Check” is Black Caviar‘s second release on Dim Mak, after 2019’s “Alright Alright, Okay / Zonin’” EP, who has also gained industry attention with releases on Atlantic Records, Universal Music, Casablanca Records, and more. Read on below for the full story behind “Collect Check“:
“When I first heard EMIDA‘s smooth vocals, I was blown away. Her style, tone, and delivery reminded me of Sade. I wanted to make sure the production sat in the right place that would compliment her vocal.” – Black Caviar
“The songwriting process was spurred from a period of financial instability. It led me to write about wanting to hustle out of that situation and aspire to a more opulent lifestyle. The lyrics’ collect cheque – run it back’ are about getting paid but still wanting more because It’s never enough. Ending with ‘run it forward’ – straight to the bank. It was a fun song to write because money can be quite a taboo subject. But with this track, I wanted to make it cheeky, sassy and cool.” – EMIDA
Amassing over 300M Spotify streams, New York City‘s Black Caviar has been solidified in the dance music world with genre-bending music to fans across the globe. Since the release of the 2017 hit single “Coco,” which has totaled over 18M plays on Spotify alone, the trajectory has only gone up from there. Originals, including “El Camino” and “What’s Up Danger” with Blackway, which was the lead track on the “Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse” soundtrack, found massive success in the form of a Gold Record Certification along with a Grammy Nomination. Coming off the heels of a momentous soundtrack accomplishment, Black Caviar was chosen to produce the official remix of the “Charlie’s Angels” theme song to be used in the 2019 update of the classic film. In addition to originals, Black Caviar‘s extensive track catalog includes a momentum-driven house twist on Dillon Francis‘ “DFR,” fresh rendition of Louis The Child and Foster The People‘s “Every Color,” and a popular vibrant rework of the Modjo‘s classic “Lady (Hear Me Tonight),” to name a few. Other high profile artists, including Lizzo, Tiesto, R3HAB, Jason Derulo, and more, have recruited Black Caviar to remix their tracks, and his catchy sound has also touched the commercials of Apple, eBay, McDonald’s, Victoria’s Secret, as well as various movies, Netflix, and TV series. Keep an eye out for more new music and live show announcements coming soon!
Adelaide’s own female chanteuse, George Alice joins a line-up of international heavyweights on the release of Original Sin – The 7 Sins soundtrack.
Petrol Records/UMe recently celebrated the release of short film, Original Sin – The 7 Sins featuring the songs and music of INXS.
The accompanying 13-song soundtrack features a wealth of INXS-related material, including some dramatic reworkings and reinterpretations of some of the band’s most iconic tracks including, George Alice’s edgy take on “Suicide Blonde.”
Releasing her first song at the age of 15, George Alice’s debut track ‘Circles’ took the triple j Unearthed High crown . Since then, ‘Circles’ has been streamed over 8 million times and climbed to #1 on Australia’s viral charts; hit #31 on Spotify’s GLOBAL Discovery Chart and sat in the Top Ten of triple j’s Most Played.
After striking a global deal with LA based label Loma Vista Recordings (Denzel Curry, St. Vincent, Soccer Mommy) her second single ‘Stuck In A Bubble’ was added to triple j rotation in its first week; also picking up a National Nights add on Australia’s Hit Network. Sir Elton John also picked it up for a spin on his ROCKET HOUR show on Apple Music 1.
Other soundtrack highlights include Michael Hutchence‘s sultry, Spanish-flavoured cover of Eric Burdon & War’s 1970 collaborative classic “Spill The Wine,” Tricky‘s rapid-fire rumination on “Mediate,” the sultry vocals of Sweden’s Ida Redig on “Taste It” and “Kill The Pain” and Trevor Jackson’s pleadingly personal “Need You Tonight” along with international electropop sensation Loane‘s otherworldly French lead vocals on “Mystify.”
GRAMMY Award-winning Music Producer Giles Martin collaborated with Film Director, Amy Tinkham to develop the original concept along with Academy Award-winning sound engineer Chris Jenkins who mixed the 5.1 reimagined audio for the soundtrack.
Original Sin – The 7 Sins soundtrack is available on all major digital platforms HERE
Framed with minimal narration, the unscripted short film runs close to 26 minutes and is a story of isolation and love, inspired by the songs and music of INXS, as a young woman is catapulted through the 7 SINS to find true love and heal her heart. Original Sin reflects the world’s current state of affairs and the universal quest for reconnection and romance. The short film is harmoniously intertwined with the symbolically poetic music of rock icons, INXS.
“We are honoured that our music inspired such a beautiful and innovative short film. INXS has always explored the marriage of our music with visuals, and we welcome the reimagined versions of our songs performed by a roster of contemporary and up-and-coming global artists. These versions of our songs are a perfect accompaniment to the film,” said Kirk Pengilly of INXS. “Knowing that ‘Original Sin’ was Chris Murphy’s last passion project makes it even that much more impactful. We are deeply grateful that we are now able to share Amy’s emotive and thought-provoking short film with our audience. Play it loud…”
“Amy Tinkham’s artistic vision using our music within the film is refreshing and truly inspired, the global & diverse artists who brought their imagination through their interpretations of our songs really complement the film while still respecting our original music. It’s such an honour to have these incredible artists cover our music!! I’m humbled by their passion and in awe of their talent.” Said Tim Farriss of INXS.
What’s the creative process like for you?
It varies! I’m a big believer of the idea that a song knows where it wants to go, and will reveal itself in due course. If I wake up wanting to write a song, I likely won’t write a song that day, or at least a half-decent one. I do have some methods I use to help eke a song out, like being in a room with a writer far more talented than me, or sitting behind my piano alone and crying about something that happened yesterday.
Your single Pretty Young has a pretty cool music video with the story of your life playing out in a cinema. Can you tell us how this idea came about and what it represents?
The song itself has the ability to be seen as a young person reminiscing about being young, which it is in a way. But for the music video, I really wanted to capture my childhood as much as possible, to show the viewer/listener how much I have changed since I was a kid. How joyous and uninhibited I was. My mum has always had a harddrive of old photos on it, but it wasn’t until I went through it that I found all these videos of me as a kid that I’d never seen before. Seeing yourself as a child, knowing it’s you, but not remembering ever doing what you’re seeing on screen, is such a trippy experience.
Can you tell me a bit about your inspiration for ‘Pretty Young’?
As I said, this whole EP was brought together by songs I either wrote with someone more talented than me, or wrote sat behind a piano, crying. Pretty Young came from the latter. You never know where a song is going to go when you start writing, obviously, so I started penning this really nostalgic look back on when I was a kid, but got to the end of that first stanza and realised how silly I thought it was to be nostalgic for something that was so recent. That’s how the song turned into me comparing just how different and similar I am now, compared to when my age was still single-digits.
You have a new EP coming out on August 13 titled Pretty Young, what can we expect from it, and what’s currently your favourite track?
I love writing about personal experiences. I believe a song hits twice as hard if you know it’s about something the artist had to get through and learn from. The whole EP is filled with those songs. Little diary entries of my life so far. It’s so hard to pick a favourite song, but if I go by the song that means the most to me, it’s Pretty Young. It’s the only track on the EP that I wrote fully myself from start to finish, so it holds a special place in my heart. The unreleased single too, Everything to Lose, is such a groovy, funky song it’s ridiculous. Completely out of my comfort zone and such a tune.
I heard that you recently moved back to LA for a new role, and contracted the Delta Strain of COVID-19, can you tell us more about that experience?
Yes, and yes. I was living in the States for two and a half years and eventually moved back to Australia for a few months in April of this year, to expand my fanbase there and see family and friends again. I came back to LA mid-July, and a week and a half later I tested positive for COVID. It just sucked so much, timing-wise and the physical sickness part, obviously. Three days of the worst flu I’ve ever had times 10. At the peak, I couldn’t lift my head off my pillow without feeling faint. I’ve seen some people calling me out for complaining about my symptoms, which is entirely not the point I’m trying to make. I’ve got a platform, specifically targeted towards young people, and I want to use it to tell people to get vaccinated. I was lucky to have gotten vaccinated when I came back to the States, and it still hit me off my feet. Who knows how bad it would’ve been if I was unvaxxed.
So we know you can act, we know you can sing, what do you do in your spare time? DO you have any spare time??
I’m lucky to have two simultaneous careers that stemmed from hobbies! I love music and movies, and I get to make both of them, insanely lucky. I like playing sports and video games too, mainly as social activities. I like being with people whose company I enjoy, no matter what we’re doing. Alcohol is encouraged.
What does the next 5 years look like for you?
Who knowwwwwws! I used to be one of those people who planned year by year schedules, knowing what I wanted to do in 2025 before 2020 even started. The pandemic changed my whole mindset there, I’m much more of a daily person now. I focus on what I can do today to make tomorrow better for me and the people around me. Sticking to that has done me well so far.
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with?
I’m in the fortunate position of being able to think about both actors and musicians I’d like to work with in the future. I’ve always wanted to work with Tom Hanks. I just love how he works and his humility and kindness on set. He’s definitely someone I try to mirror when I’m on set. Him, Taika Waititi and Florence Pugh are actors I’d love to work with in the screen industries. Music-wise, being onstage with Lewis Capaldi, Aloe Blacc or Billie Eilish is my absolute dream.
What bands have influenced your sound?
I feel like, sound-wise, I’ve been told which artists I’ve been influenced by by other people more than realising my sound influences myself. Artists like George Ezra and James Bay have been thrown at me, both of which are massive compliments. I’ve always felt like I was influenced more by the artists I listened to while I was growing up. Less in a sonic way, moreso in how my love of music was formed from a young age. I would go on road trips and short drives with my family and listen to their favourite artists, like my dad’s The Eagles and America, my mum’s Kenny Rogers and Poison and my brother’s Triple J tastes. Those drives are where I believe my passion for music started growing.
WEBSITE TWITTER TIKTOK YOUTUBE APPLE MUSIC
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‘Theory’ by Teether & Kuya Neil
out now on Chapter Music
Listen: https://ffm.to/
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Molly explains that ‘You Cut Me So Much Slack’ was the genesis of her coming project Slack, representing a shift in both her mindset and lyricism with a renewed focus on self-reflection and accountability. Molly explains; “You Cut Me So Much Slack is a song I wrote initially for my EP Porcupine, but decided just before it came out that it fit better in this project. In Porcupine when I wrote about friendships and relationships I was placing a lot of blame on other people, whereas my coming project Slack is more self-reflective and centres around taking responsibility for your own faults in order to grow. My anxiety used to make it almost impossible to communicate and express my feelings to someone, and when I tried it would never come out the way I wanted it to. That’s what this song is driven by, that frustration and desperation of wanting someone but not being able to tell them.”
The thematic shift is one that mirrors Molly’s return to her roots. Originally intended to be a short stay, her time in Aotearoa / New Zealand was extended as UK lockdowns prevailed. As well as spending time with the friends and places she left as a teenager, it also fuelled her resolution to reconnect with the memories and tribulations of her past, and process them through her songwriting. Revolving around the adage of looking back in order to move forward, she describes her coming output as “honest, reflective and hopeful.” Her time back home also allowed her to rediscover the catharsis of playing live, with Molly performing a series of full-capacity headline gigs against the backdrop of NZ’s low Covid rates and eased restrictions.
‘You Cut Me So Much Slack’ is out now, buy/stream it here.
Stay connected with Molly Payton:
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
I Know Leopard are back with their second single for 2021, this time dialling up the emotional intensity in their new hyper-coloured shimmer pop setting with “Day 2 Day” which premiered on triple j’s Good Nights.
As with their previous 2021 single, “Lover Automatic”, “Day 2 Day” was produced by lead vocalist and main songwriter Luke O’Loughlin and was co-produced and mixed by Konstantin Kersting who has made a name for himself behind the board for Tones & I, Jungle Giants, Mallrat, The Rubens, Tia Gostelow and WAAX.
With its driving piano riff, pulsing synths, gliding violin and uptempo sampled drums “Day 2 Day” manages to be musically inspiring and even anthemic while paradoxically, the lyrics address a relatable feeling of persistent self-doubt. The acclaim to the band’s pivot from the ‘70s soft rock inspired Love Is A Landmine 2019 album to a sweet but smart take on alt-pop has been near universal, and the band have more new music to release this year and into early 2022.
As with most Australian other live music of late, due to ongoing COVID restrictions the trio of O’Loughlin, bassist Rosie Fitzgerald and violinist / vocalist Jenny McCullagh have had to reschedule both upcoming Sydney and Melbourne shows. The anticipation for the return of the band has been high as the shows will be the first time they hit the stage in two years.
Reactions to “Lover Automatic”
“It’s a stellar comeback with their left field, suave, pop slant sounding ace with hip hop kinda drums and a romance fuelling those grooves”
Declan Byrne, Home & Hosed / Triple J
““Lover Automatic” is one of those tracks which sucks you in with repeat listens. It has an infectious pop hook with sweet falsetto vocals from Luke O’Loughlin….The violin of Jenny McCullagh is always a joy to hear, and Rosie Fitzgerald on bass reminds us why she in such high demand.”
AU Review Track Of The Week
“It’s a taut and unpretentious three-and-a-half-minute pop package, devoid of fat but still able to accommodate a wonderfully wobbly 35-second synth solo right in the middle of it.”
Double J
I KNOW LEOPARD
‘Day 2 Day’
OUT NOW
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