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Hey Baby Luck! How are things?
Things are great! I’ve had a lot of fun being the featured artist over the last 4 years, and I’m very excited to finally release my debut solo EP with Plump Records!
What role does music play in your life and how long have you been involved in the industry?
Not to sound cheesy but music is my religion. From ancestors to people I’ve never met, music is how I connect with people, and myself. For me, music is evidence that we are all connected on a deeper level. And it’s been my companion since I was a baby – I slept with a small statue of Mozart when I was 2 years old. I’ve always danced, played piano, and sang. I made mix tapes for all my friends from elementary school on, including my best friend Kevin Knapp, and now I’m mixing records and making music with people I love, so it all feels very right, natural and aligned.
You have a great relationship with the Plump crew and you now release your own EP on the label, how did this come about?
Kevin is the closest thing to a big brother I have. We’re both only children, but we are chosen family members, and have been since I was 7 years old. Our parents are good friends, so my family would fly to visit Kev’s family from Oakland, California to Katy, Texas every New Year’s Eve when we were kids. During those trips, Kev and I would perform dance routines for our parents’ entertainment. We would play each other our favorite songs, and dream about one day making music together. We’ve always connected and maintained our friendship through music, even when we’ve lived very different lives on very different continents. When I got pregnant with my daughter in 2016, he called and said, “Ok, we have to finally make music together so we can stay connected” And so it was. Our first track was “Find Me” on Rebellion. It was so good, and so fun, and of course we’ve made a lot of music together since then. I’ve also directed award winning music videos for Hutchtastic, Kev’s partner in all things, including Plump Records, so it’s a natural next step to release my debut solo EP on Plump. I couldn’t be more happy about this, and can’t wait to share these bomb ass tracks with everyone!
What was your approach for these tracks?
I thought about how I wanted to feel, and what sounds I was loving at the time, and worked to create tracks that made it impossible not to dance. For Touchy Feely, my husband, rapper Old Man Saxon, and I created a song together, and selected one lyric from the song to be featured on the track. It’s crazy how one line can be pulled from an entire song and it just works, ya know? And for Fire, I was on the mic one night free styling and it just came to me – or the spirit came into the room – and it was easy to make a beat to work with those fuller lyrics. It’s always a dance between the lyrics and the beat – until you find that sweet spot and declare the song complete!
Do you have a preference between DJ’ing, producing, singing & directing?
I think everything is everything and all the creating feeds all the creating. When I’m writing for film or TV (my other job), it helps to mix records. Mixing forces me to stay digging’ in the crates, and I’m usually like, “Ok I can’t find something I love so I’m gonna make that shit.” And singing is always amazing – using my voice to create something from nothing is everything. I highly recommend it. It’s freeing and fun – like we are allowed to play – we are supposed to play – but we forget as adults that that’s what we’re made for. For me, singing is play. Directing, for me, is everything combined. It’s taking my producing background and my love of music and building a bridge between those worlds. I love collaborating – I love writing but it can get lonely – so directing is a chance for me to be with other humans in real time and make something magical. DJ’ing is so fun – sometimes I have to remember not to dance so much while I’m mixing! But for real, I envision DJ’ing quite a bit in the near future, and hope to see you on the dance floor soon.
What would you say is the proudest moment of your career so far?
As a vocalist, my proudest moment is seeing how many people loved “Drug Birds” (Sola). I couldn’t believe how well it was received – and it gave me the confidence to continue pursuing my dream of using my voice to connect with people and bring people together. In a fun, club environment ;). And as a music video director, when we won Best Underground Video at Clubbing TV Awards for my song with Kevin Knapp, “Cute” (Desert Hearts), I was so proud of our entire team! We made that video in March, right before COVID shut down the world, and it was a real labor of love and a bold statement of body positivity, performed beautifully by Hutchtastic. I loved making that video with our amazing cast and crew, and I love the message and boldness of the song, and I love putting music to images. So it was a true love affair inside and out.
Who are your current favourite music artists?
Aside from Kevin Knapp and Old Man Saxon, obviously, I love Solange, Erykah Badu, Helado Negro, Demuir, Bach, Michael Bibi, Saweetie (I’m from Oakland so naturally I love her and hip hop), Kendrick Lamar, Shermanology, and Pote, to name just a few.
What else do you get up to outside of music?
I write for TV and film, I co-host Unsent, a live show where brave souls get on the mic to share messages they wrote but never sent! I direct movies and music videos, I dance, I’m a Voice Artist for podcasts, I do yoga, mother my two wild daughters, make bomb pesto, meditate and rest! I also write a crazy ass newsletter called The Overshare, so I stay writing. You should def check it out. I get very private in public.
What’s next for Baby Luck in 2022 and have you set any targets for the future?
I’m working on a lot of new music these days. Fun times. I plan to release more soon as a solo and collaborative artist, in both the electronic and hip hop spaces. I would love to collaborate more with artists I admire, as a vocalist, producer and music video director. I also plan to DJ at future Plump events when the stars align, so I’ll see y’all there!
Pre-Order Link: https://www.beatport.com/
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Previous Support For Joan & The Giants
‘Just For You’:
“Poignant, heart-felt, and achingly raw”
(Scenestr)
“An emotional ballad that scales the mountain and takes you with them.”
4 / 5 (Declan Byrne, Triple J)
“Another impressive one for 2021 from Joan & The Giants. They’ve zeroed in on an emotional centre point like a professional dart player throwing bullseyes at your heart.”
4 / 5 (Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J)
‘Bloodstream’:
“Fans of Middle Kids will melt for this new one from Joan & The Giants. Really pretty songwriting and harmonies. I love the way this track builds with so much ease.”
4 / 5 (Claire Mooney, Triple J)
“It’s eerily romantic which is totally my brand. The build and drops in instrumentation are thrilling.”
4 / 5 (Celline Narinli, Triple J)
“Injecting this right now!”
4 / 5 (Declan Byrne, Triple J)
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Follow Joan & The Giants Spotify | Apple Music | Soundcloud | Youtube |
Where are you currently based?
I’m mostly based out of Toronto, Ontario in Canada.
How did you first start playing music?
I’ve been singing since before I could walk, apparently. I have always loved music passionately. I started classical voice training when I was five years old and began to teach myself piano by-ear when I was around eight or nine. I started writing music seriously when I was around fourteen, and I haven’t looked back since!
What’s been happening recently?
I have been spending a lot of time in the studio as of late. I’m currently working on a lot of special projects! This summer is going to be packed, and I can’t wait to share it all with everyone.
Your latest single ‘But I Do’ arrived on May 13, please tell us what influenced the sound and songwriting?
But I Do is one of the most vulnerable songs that I’ve written so far. It touches on pretty well every single insecurity I have ever struggled with, and forces my quiet thoughts out into the open. It’s like a page out of my diary. Sonically, it matches the lyrics. I wrote the piano part to actually sound like it’s moving in continuous circles, spinning around in a dizzy wave. There is a constant pulse throughout the track like a heartbeat, and it never settles. The entire song sounds like how it feels to be overwhelmed, full of tension that never releases, even until the very end. I cry almost every time I listen, it’s very cathartic.
How did you go about writing But I Do?
I wrote But I Do just over a year ago, last May. I was struggling pretty heavily with loneliness and was trying to distract myself, ultimately to no avail. One night, I sat down at the piano in my living room where most of my songs have been written, and the song just kind of spilled out of me. It was like an overflowing of every emotion and thought I had been experiencing.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with
I recorded the song in October, 2021 with my producer, Steve Molella, out of his personal studio in Woodbridge, ON. The track was mixed by Jay Dufor, and mastered by Joao Carvalho – both out of Toronto, ON.
How did you approach the recording process?
I started workshopping the song with Steve in September, 2021. We fine tuned a few parts and then created a simple piano/vocal demo to share with my label. Everyone really loved the song, and so we re-tracked a few parts, and built the rest of the production around the piano and vocal.
What does this single mean to you?
I think this song is important to me because it marks a really pivotal moment in my life where I realized that no matter how busy or successful, etc I was, my happiness could not come from my circumstances alone. It wouldn’t matter how hard I worked, or how many people I pleased – I had to stop and let myself think for a moment. It was really within this tension of holding on and breaking down, that I remembered the things that actually mattered to me, and it set me down the right path again.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I have been loving Sigrid recently. She has created such a fun, fresh spin on pop music. As the summer approaches, all I want to hear are her good vibes.
What do you like to do away from music?
I love hosting people! To me, it’s a lot like a concert, it brings people together and connects them. Making a delicious meal and inviting people into your space, making them feel special, it’s such a good feeling. I’m not very good at small talk either, I love to hear people’s stories.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?
This year will be a busy one! I have a very special project coming this July, which I am extremely excited for. I also can’t wait to get out and perform this summer! It’s been too long.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
As long as I’m with the people I love, it doesn’t really matter where I am (to be a bit sappy). If I could choose, however, it would probably be a really massive brunch with my friends on a patio somewhere, or charcuterie on my back deck, or pizza on the beach – well, actually, I can’t decide!
Facebook: @sophiafracassimusic
Twitter: @sophiafracassi
Instagram: @sophiafracassi
Tik Tok: @sophia_fracassi
Website: https://www.sophiafracassi.com
Title: Turn The Lights Down Low
Label: CYB3RPVNK / Spinnin’ Records
R3HAB and Timmy Trumpet teamed up for their new single “Turn The Lights Down Low,” a dance-pop crossover record for which both artists embrace their international fanbase by releasing both an English and a Chinese version. With a dynamic psytrance-esque bassline and sassy topline, the track is perfect for playing to get ready for a night on the town or when you need a mood booster after not getting a text back. Singer/songwriter NINEONE# brings an extra special vocal performance to the Chinese version, highlighting the uniqueness of “Turn The Lights Down Low” and R3HAB‘s and Timmy‘s vision and creativity. NINEONE# has become a Weibo sensation in China and was voted as QQ Music’s Most Popular Female Rapper of The Year in 2020; she is also a fashion icon and has featured on the cover of Vogue China, Barzaar Men, Cosmopolitan and worked with such brands as Givenchy, Gentle Monster, Union Pay, Vidal Sassoon, Tide, Pizza Hut, DELL, Braun, Xiaomi, Olay and many more. “Turn The Lights Down Low” is the fourth time R3HAB and Timmy Trumpet have collaborated, and we look forward to more productions in the works. Read on for what each artist had to say about this exciting new track:
“This is the first track I’ve released in two languages, and to do it with superstars like R3HAB and NINEONE# is a dream come true. Music unites people from all cultures all over the world, and that’s my favorite part of the electronic music scene. I always love working with R3HAB, and as a producer, he is second to none. Making this track was nothing but fun, and I can’t wait to get it out there!” – Timmy Trumpet
“I’m excited to present “Turn The Lights Down Low” today, and I’m especially excited that we’re releasing it in two languages, side by side. I am a big fan of NINEONE#, and I’m so glad she joined Timmy and I on the Chinese version. I’m a big fan of Timmy too. This record marks my fourth collaboration with him, and we’re not done yet. The way music connects people around the world is powerful, and I’m so glad I get to experience it firsthand.” – R3HAB
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to work with R3HAB and Timmy Trumpet. I was beyond excited when I was presented this opportunity – I have always wanted to collaborate with international producers, and now my dream has come true! I really appreciate them for letting me be part of “Turn The Lights Down Low.” I hope my contribution will light up this Chinese version.” – NINEONE#
DJ, producer, and live instrumentalist Timmy Trumpet is undoubtedly one of the most prolific performers in the DJ Mag Top 100. An award-winning, multi-platinum selling recording artist, Timmy has forged his way to the top of the industry alongside influential artists taking the world by storm. His breakthrough release Freaks has reigned in over half a billion streams, reached six times platinum status in Australia, and dominated the charts in ten countries, becoming the highest selling track of all time on Ministry of Sound Australia. In 2020, after over a decade on the scene, the DJ producer issued his first album, Mad World. The set included the singles “911” with R3HAB, “Up & Down” with Vengaboys, and a cover of “Mad World” with Gabry Ponte.
Multi-Platinum DJ and producer Fadil El Ghoul, better known as R3HAB, has been trailblazing his way through dance music for the past fifteen years. From his breakthrough remixes for Rihanna, Drake, Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, to anthems such as Platinum-certified “All Around The World (La La La)” and “Lullaby,” to his collaborations with the likes of Ava Max, ZAYN, Luis Fonsi, Sean Paul, and more, R3HAB has proven to be one of the most forward-thinking artists in the game. His work has collected over 8B streams to date, including 1.1B in 2021 alone. R3HAB founded his label CYB3RPVNK in 2016, which has passed 4B streams across platforms since its inception. R3HAB continues to evolve and diversify his sound by working with artists around the globe, pushing the boundaries of dance music as he collaborates across genres and languages. He is Spotify’s Most Discovered Artist, one of Spotify’s top 200 most streamed artists, ranked #12 on prestigious DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs chart, and has earned over 70 Gold and Platinum certificates. R3HAB has embarked on multiple sold-out worldwide tours and was the first dance music artist to sell out 15 consecutive shows in China. On top of that, he performed at the world’s top festivals, such as EDC, Ultra Music Festival, Tomorrowland, Balaton Sound, Coachella, Summer Sonic Festival, DWP Jakarta. With his combination of innate artistry and innovative attitude, R3HAB has earned his place as a household name in dance music.
Title: Going Out
Label: CONTROVERSIA
Fresh from Alok‘s label CONTROVERSIA is ÜHÜ‘s new single, “Going Out,” which might just be your newest party anthem. Opening with lyrics about getting ready for a wild night on the town, the Brazilian producer wastes no time heating things up with funky melodies and a bouncy, upbeat bassline. The single is sure to put you in the mood to dress up, gather your crew, and dance until the sun rises, and with the pandemic subsiding, there’s no better time to do just that. “Going Out” is ready for the weekend, and ÜHÜ is here to be your club shaman, following up his previous releases – a single “Thinking About Ü” and a remix of Alok‘s “It Don’t Matter,” on which he joined forces with Alok himself.
Gabriel Murilo Mello‘s newest project for the post-pandemic era comes in the form of ÜHÜ, a bold brand with plenty of existing versatility and experience. Since 2010, Mello has been DJing and producing in his home country of Brazil, gracing the stages of festivals such as Tomorrowland Brasil, EDC Brasil, Green Valley, Dream Valley, PUMP, Rio Music Conference and more. His music has been supported by David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Alok, Tiësto, Steve Aoki, Hardwell, Showtek, and many others. As a producer’s producer, co-producer, and composer, Gabriel Mello amassed over 1 billion streams across all digital platforms. With all this information, ÜHÜ is born: a startup but already experienced artist whose musical identity brings references from deep house, progressive, and tech-house. Stay tuned for ÜHÜ‘s next release coming from CONTROVERSIA.
https://www.facebook.com/alyshabrilla
Your latest single ‘Nothing Left’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
‘Nothing Left’ was written on a zoom call with my friend Myles who has a background in production. When he sent through the first demo of our idea it had so many interesting midi sounds and was quite different to our style of music at the time, but we all loved it. We tried the song multiple ways – full band and stripped back but thought that the pop direction suited it best.
‘Nothing Left’ is a really exciting song for all of us. It was the first time we expanded our sound into the realm of production and was a whole new process of recording. This song helped us to step out of our comfort zone and be open minded which is so important as artists!
We recorded ‘Nothing Left’ in October last year with our amazing producer Joel Quartermain. He set up his gear in my living room and we had so much fun playing around with different synths and midi sounds. It was really special being able to record from home, we even set up a make shift vocal booth made from clothes racks and rugs! Myles sent through stems from our original demo which we worked into the track too. It was mixed by Cam Parkin and mastered by Leon Zervos.
Our booking agent pitched us for her supporting act and we were so excited when she said yes!! It’s going to be such a nice way to explore the WA coast, play live and listen to some amazing music!
We all have family that live in Denmark so we’re really looking forward to the Albany show. It’s always nice seeing familiar faces out in the crowd!
It’s nice being able to spend so much time together and gig consistently – we really gel as a band playing live so often! It’s so rewarding to share our music with new people and play in unfamiliar places. Touring can be pretty go go go, so it’s a challenge to get in your 2&5 and 8 hours of sleep but we try our best!!
Our live show has evolved a lot in the last few months! We’ve got a bunch of new songs in the set and use backing tracks for parts we can’t play live which really enhances our sound! You can expect lots of harmonies, stripped back songs to full on pop – hopefully there’s something for everyone!
Our road trips will always have some Holly Humberstone, Olivia Rodrigo, MAY-A, Samia, Eliza & The Delusionals and Clews in the mix! We’ve created our own playlists through our Spotify if you want to hear more of what we’re listening too!
Can’t believe we’re already half way through the year! You can definitely expect new music and more touring! First up we’ve got a bunch of rural WA shows supporting Amy Shark throughout May/early June. We’re looking forward to jumping back in the studio soon, working with other song writers and continuing to explore our sound.
Saturday 1st October – Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley, WA
Sunday 2nd October (Public Holiday Eve) – Serafino Wines, McLaren Vale, SA
Saturday 8th October – Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC
Saturday 15th October – Roche Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW
Sunday 16th October – Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
Australia’s favourite wine and music pairing Grapevine Gathering have just announced they will be expanding to South Australia and Queensland, confirming dates for 5 wineries around the country.
Loveable Instagram celebrities and all-round legends ‘The Inspired Unemployed’ will be hosting Grapevine Gathering at all 5 shows, performing changeover DJ sets, and various other shenanigans.
For their first foray at festivals, they hosted Grapevine Gathering VIC back in January, taking sweaty shoes from random punters and doing shoeys on stage. They also hosted a segment of ‘The Bachelorette’, performed an acoustic version of ‘Drops of Jupiter’ and gave it a crack at DJing the changeovers. The general consensus was their dancing skills were much better than their DJing skills. Hopefully they learn to DJ before October comes around….
The lineup is yet to be announced, but past headliners have included the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Flight Facilities, The Wombats, Tkay Maidza and The Veronicas so we’re sure Grapevine Gathering has something special up their sleeves.
Introducing Grapevine Gathering’s new partners in wine….situated in the heart of McLaren Vale and only a 45 minute drive from Adelaide CBD, Serafino Wines will welcome Grapevine Gathering to its charming vineyards for the inaugural South Australian gathering.
Sirromet Wines, located in the picturesque Mount Cotton, the Queensland edition is only a short drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Grapevine Gathering will also be returning to its homes at Roche Estate in the Hunter Valley, Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley, and Sandalford Wines in Swan Valley.
Grapevine Gathering is brought to you by Untitled Group, the largest independent music promoter in Australia and the masterminds behind festivals such as Beyond The Valley, Pitch Music & Arts, Grapevine Gathering, Wildlands, For The Love, Ability Fest & more.
Get Connected:
https://www.
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CROOKED COLOURS: AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR
Supported by Pacific Avenue & Kinder
For more info, visti: https://www.crookedcoloursmusic.com/
Pre-sale: 1pm AEST Thursday 12th May
General on-sale: 1pm AEST Friday 13th May
THURS 28TH JULY, MEOW, WELLINGTON NZ
FRI 29TH JULY, TUNING FORK, AUCKLAND NZ (ALL AGES)
SAT 30TH JULY, STUDIO, AUCKLAND NZ
FRI 19 AUG, FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, FREMANTLE WA
FRI 02 SEP, FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE QLD
SAT 03 SEP, HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SA
FRI 09 SEP, MARGARET COURT ARENA, MELBOURNE VIC
SAT 10 SEP, HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY NSW
For more info on Crooked Colours, visit:
FACEBOOK I YOUTUBE I TWITTER I INSTAGRAM
U.S. BOTTLEROCK FESTIVAL IN MAY
[Photo: Luke Henery]
With their Australian tour underway and their debut album NOW AND THEN in the wings, waiting to be unleashed, Eliza & The Delusionals return today sharing the lead single from the studio album: the addictive ‘Bed Song’.
Released as a follow up to February’s ‘Give You Everything’ and ‘Halloween’ at the top of the month, ‘Bed Song’ is another masterclass in how songwriters Eliza Klatt and Kurt Skuse balance emotionally driven lyricism with fresh and dynamic songwriting arrangements.
As an indication of what the wider NOW AND THEN album is like, ‘Bed Song’ is a prime example of Eliza & The Delusionals in their natural element – harnessing rich indie and alt-rock influences in producing something completely their own.
A song about relationships and the different ways we navigate them, ‘Bed Song’ was recorded between Brisbane’s Airlock Studios and the home studio Kurt and Eliza built during the initial waves of the pandemic; as well as the studio of acclaimed producer Konstantin Kersting (Tones And I, Mallrat, The Jungle Giants).
“’Bed Song’ was an idea that started off so differently, and I’m really glad we came back to it and worked on changing it because it quickly became one of my favourite songs on the record. This song is really about Kurt and myself finding similarities in our past relationships and bringing those ideas together in a way where we could understand each other’s perspectives.”
Eliza Klatt, ELIZA & THE DELUSIONALS
2022 has proven to be a busy return to live touring and forward planning for Eliza & The Delusionals. Currently working their way around the East Coast on their headline ‘Give You Everything Tour’ after playing some incredible rooms earlier in the year with The VANNS, the band is thriving as they hurtle confidently towards album release and their return to North America, where they will kick off their international campaign with an appearance at the Napa Valley’s Bottlerock Festival alongside the likes of Metallica, CHVRCHES, Twenty One Pilots, BANKS and more.
Their journey to this point has been one of many successes in the face of constant pauses to scheduled tour and relocation plans. Since the release of their 2020 EP A STATE OF LIVING IN AN OBJECTIVE REALITY, Eliza & The Delusionals have been consistently establishing themselves as an Australian act with legacy potential; dropping a string of singles throughout 2021 and 2022 that bolstered their reputation as a vibrant powerhouse.
The release of singles ‘YOU’, ‘SAVE ME’ and ‘NOTHING YET’ elevated Eliza & The Delusionals’ presence in Australia and abroad (‘SAVE ME’ accruing over 750k combined streams worldwide alone, as well as 30+ editorial playlist spots and the cover of Front Left on Spotify). The band currently enjoys over 92k monthly listeners on Spotify, with recent release ‘Give You Everything’ racking up over 109k worldwide streams since its release and the official music video accruing over 15.8k views to date.
Now, with the release of ‘Bed Song’ coming just ahead of NOW AND THEN, Eliza & The Delusionals are giving fans one final taste of what’s going to be their most defining effort to date.
PRAISE FOR ELIZA & THE DELUSIONALS
“I’m not afraid to say it. This is just about the best song Eliza and the Delusionals have ever released.”
Triple J Unearthed, Tommy Faith (‘GIVE YOU EVERYTHING’, 2022)
“Eliza & The Delusionals mix nostalgic and euphoric better than anyone else. I’d be holding a lighter up high if only I wasn’t drying my eyes.”
Triple J Unearthed, Dave Ruby Howe (‘GIVE YOU EVERYTHING’, 2022)
“I’d happily let Eliza & The Delusionals soundtrack my entire life.”
Triple J, Claire Mooney
“Australian rock band Eliza & the Delusionals are masters of using rock and pop-inflected sound to elicit emotions and pour their hearts out.”
Atwood Magazine
“…the type of track that pushes forward, reminding us of better days, and sparking excitement for what’s to come.”
Vanyaland
‘Bed Song’ is out now.
‘Now and Then’ is released Friday, May 20th
Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed
Where are you currently based?
I’m based in the hills district in Sydney.
How did you first start playing music?
I’ve always gravitated towards singing and performing from an early age. There is much evidence of this eg. home videos of me trying to entertain guests by singing ABBA into a paper towel roll. In terms of songwriting, that began at about age 10 when I received a digital piano for my birthday and started to write tunes in my bedroom.
What’s been happening recently?
The Sydney music scene is flourishing again so I’ve been busy doing all sorts of gigs (originals, covers and playing in other bands), teaching and working on my next releases. You definitely need to wear a lot of hats in this industry but I’m really grateful to have enough opportunities to make it work as a full time musician.
Your debut single ‘Hearticulate’ was released on the 6th of May, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
It ain’t no secret that I love 70s music so there are definitely some yacht rock influences in there. Think Steely Dan, Bobby Caldwell and Valerie Carter. I also listen to a lot of current R&B artists like Raveena and Kali Uchis as well as soul/funk revivalists like Silk Sonic and Vulfpeck so there may be some traces of that in there too.
How did you go about writing Hearticulate?
I’m mainly a keyboard player but the initial idea for the song actually came to me on the guitar. I was noodling around in my studio and came up with the arpeggiated chord progression you can hear in the chorus. I then transferred the chords onto the piano and wrote the melody and the lyrics in my bedroom.
What does this debut single mean to you?
This one is a special one for me. I feel super aligned with it stylistically and just ran with my creative instincts which sometimes tells me to do things like play a spacey synth solo. It’s important to me to create from an authentic place and use songwriting as a tool to discover and articulate what’s true in my heart 😉
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
The song was actually made entirely at home as I happen to live with a couple of fine musicians – my Dad and brother. We all have our own studios at home so the song hopped between three spaces. The track was produced by my brother Alex Ertler and I and mixed and mastered by my good ole man John Ertler.
How did you approach the recording process?
The song has been through a few iterations. The first was for a uni assignment in 2020 during lockdown. A year later I revisited it, upped the tempo and added new instrumentation. My fickle self ended up thinking it was better and had more groove in the first demo so I returned to the original tempo and gradually replaced all the instruments and vocals. It wasn’t the smoothest process but I’m glad that I waited until 2022 to perfect the track as I felt more confident with my skills and artistic vision for this project.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022?
I’m getting ready for my headline show at Lazybones on the 9th of June! It’s gonna be a groovin’ time playing with a full band and celebrating the release of “Hearticulate”. There may be some Cuervo gold, there may even be some keytar. I’m also preparing the next batch of tunes.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I recently saw Donny Benét at Manning Bar so I have been blasting his disco grooves in the car a lot. Some old school stuff too eg. The Chi-lites and The Crusaders. I listen to a lot of local Aussie artists too. Recently I’ve been enjoying AnnaLina, Gemma Navarrete, Julian Munyard and Chuey.
What do you like to do away from music?
I feel like most of my time is consumed by music but I also enjoy being in nature, clumsily rollerskating, reading, watching films and travelling which I hope to heck I do this year.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I’d say my favourite hangout spot is Frankies. Delish pizza, elite whiskey & apple. They also used to host Tuesday karaoke nights. I recall singing some TOTO and Deep Purple up there. In terms of restaurants, I love Colombian and Japanese food so I’d recommend Tentaciones in Surry Hills and O’Uchi in the CBD (get the green tea creme brûlée).