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Stay connected with Raj Mahal:
Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Youtube | Soundcloud
Country music has always been a huge part of Paige’s life. Growing up listening to the classics, Paige found her love for country at a very young age. Growing up in Oakville, Ontario, 21-year-old Paige is an upcoming pop-country artist with a new, and unique sound in the music industry.
Paige first gained recognition in 2014, when she released her debut single “Someday.” She followed that up with her 2016, EP “Hey Girl” and won the artist showcase at Canada’s Largest Ribfest in Burlington in September 2019. She’s been recognized by the Country Music Association of Ontario as one to watch after playing events hosted by the organization – and she’s been making inroads into the industry since.
She’s starting out – but she’s set to make a big impact.
“Tell me” is a song birthed out of frustration. Frustration of this ongoing situation with being black. All the racism, systemic, micro aggresions etc. I have been seeing messages from folks I am connected to the last few months that disturb me. So I wanted to speak to that. “Tell me you know that everything’s different when you’re living black” Is the chorus of the song and I want that to ring home.
Duane Forrest is a singer-songwriter and multimedia artist from Toronto, Canada. His unique sound blending jazz, reggae, bossa nova, soul and smooth vocals draws on his experiences traveling the world, falling in love, and finding wonder in the joys and sorrows of a common human experience.
He first gained attention in 2017, when he debuted his first musical theatre production, Climb, a live album experience based on his concept album of the same name. Toronto Fringe Festival founder Gregory Nixon described Duane’s show as “an engaging, multilayered work of song, storytelling and movement” and “one of the highlights of this year’s Fringe.” His forthcoming double jazz and fusion album builds on themes of love, heartbreak, BLM, and self-discovery, reflecting musically Duane’s growth as an artist and a human being.
Aside from his innate drive to create beautiful things, Duane also has a passion for arts education. In 2011 he founded Genesis Community of the Arts, a registered Canadian charity offering music and arts education to marginalized children and youth in Toronto and Central America.
Sarah has done an impressive job at capturing the likes of country music fans all over the world with over 100,000 fans across all social media platforms. Currently, Sarah is in the studio finishing up her much-anticipated sophomore EP. Her sound has evolved from a sweet pop/country into a compelling country/rock combo with an infusion of pop & rnb.
Having struggled since adolescence with abuse and mental illness, songwriting has always been an outlet for Title to create meaning out of feelings of suffering. Her upcoming debut EP ‘Green’ is a minimalist acoustic project, using a lyrical style and sparse but powerful vocals to convey the blend of vulnerability, grief, compassion and hope that make up the recurring themes of the work. Inspired by a diverse array of genres and artists such as Adrienne Lenker, Fiona Apple, Stevie Nicks, Rose Cousins, Sarah Harmer and Courtney Love – Title is a fierce political activist whose music a depth that is INCREDIBLE.
Australia’s peak body for Artist managers, the AAM, has proudly launched the inaugural GROW Program, thanks to support from the Victorian Government Music Recovery fund, through Creative Victoria.
Grow is a 3 month virtual pilot program designed to support and empower womxn of all ages who are Artist Managers running their own business in Victoria.
The program consists of peer-to-peer mentoring with leaders in the fields of law, business and mental health and wellness and unique group webinars focused on business acumen. Participants will be supported to build new business plans, become more financially literate and build confidence in their leadership skills while also receiving a bursary to support their work. Grow has been designed using a broad range of research including the AAM’s membership survey results from 2020 which found that women in this sector still experience gender inequality.
The 2020 AAM members survey found retention and longevity for female managers decreases after age 35, APRA/AMCOS ‘Australian Women, Screen, Composers Career Barriers and Pathways’ 2017 research paper found that just 21.7% of their members are songwriters. ABC by the numbers 2020 showed that womxn musicians make up 24% of radio air-play. Music Victoria found barriers for women in the music industry to be lack of paid work opportunities, the casualisation of the work-force and the confidence gap. GROW aims to continue the progression of gender equity in Artist management through building business acumen, confidence and capacity.
Running in tandem with this will be a special Victorian edition of the Co-Pilot program. Co-Pilot is an annual national mentor program that is a core professional development activity of the AAM. The mentorship is open to all levels of Artist Managers. To ensure a robust and healthy Victorian Artist management community in the future, managers need to be supported to re-model, re-build and re-tool to have a sustainable and successful future.
The Victorian music industry is arguably the state hardest hit by the pandemic, with stage 4 lockdown in place for most of the year. Both GROW and Co-Pilot (Victorian Edition) deliver tailored professional development for those who need it most. All participants will receive generous bursaries to continue their work beyond the program and encourage them to continue to make community connections. Both programs will also give participants access to years of industry know-how through working with the most established Australian Artist Managers.
Grow and Victorian Co – pilot are accessible to Victorian AAM members for specific eligibility details please click the links below.
To apply for Grow, click here
To apply for Co-Pilot, click here
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“..the band have arrived to fill a radical void in the industry.” – Sniffers “left us all wondering where the bloody hell they’ve been hiding all this time.”– Blunt Magazine “genre-bending” – NME “both captivating and packing an emotional punch” – LWA “it goes hard” – Music Feeds “they push the limits like no-one else” – Pilerats |
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THE RIOT’s new video for single ‘Same Blunt’ explores the three-piece in substance-influenced mode through a warm slightly nostalgic lens. It’s a psychedelic journey. The blunt connects everyone in the room. It removes pretending. It reveals authenticity so that people glow their own real colours. Director Nick Waterman captures the feeling of everyone being on the same shit and super tuned into each other – totally, messily in-sync. “The trippy visuals really bring this feeling to life in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way. At the centre of this beautiful chaos are The Riot who are giving an epic and unhinged performance.” ‘Same Blunt’ is about returning to who you are. |
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THE RIOT ‘Same Blunt’ Official Video |
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‘Same Blunt’ was written in a spontaneous fury, coming together in a single day over cheap beers and weed. Beginning with a thrashing guitar riff before descending in an indelible mix of buoyant reggae, biting rap and boisterous punk, the new track is a testament to the band’s genre elasticity. ‘Same Blunt’ is a pummeling polemic about the perils of groupthink and the way immoral institutions can disempower individual thinking. The band are throwing an exclusive Same Blunt Halloween Video Launch Party this Sunday, November 1st . Hit the band up through their IG post for details – HERE |
THE RIOT’S NEW SINGLE
‘SAME BLUNT’ IS OUT NOW
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| Everything Is A-OK Violent Soho Album out now through I OH YOU Available to buy/stream here Everything Is A-OK tracklisting:
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“One of the fiercest live forces in the country right now” – Pilerats
“One of the most unforgiving and unapologetic bands on the scene today, the four-piece have managed to set themselves apart as an intense musical powerhouse, backing it up with stunning live performances” – Tone Deaf
“Exciting, energetic and entertaining, the group are brimful of musicianship, savage wit, charisma and confidence” – The Music
“Rock-n-trash, left wing BS with no respect” – Trump Supporter (YouTube)
Canberra’s fearless and uncompromising punk-rock activists Glitoris‘ blistering live album, The Slut Power Sessions – Live at the Basement is out today via Buttercup Records / MGM.
Expertly recorded in June 2020 at a sweat-drenched hometown show, The Slut Power Sessions – Live at the Basement features live cuts of widely applauded singles ‘Slut Power’, a raging call-to-arms signalling the insidious nature of violence against women, ‘The Policy’, a modern-day, self-empowerment rock anthem featuring soaring stadium-sized harmonies, driving guitars and relentless rhythm, and the satirical ‘Cock Rock’, boasting a hurricane drum solo that would make John Bonham hang his head in shame.
The Slut Power Sessions – Live at the Basement is yet another reminder of why the raging quartet is widely noted as the most fiercely political, uncompromising and unforgettable live forces in Australia today.
Glitoris
The Slut Power Sessions: Live at the Basement
Buttercup Records
Friday 30 October
1. Warriors
2. The Policy
3. Trump Card
4. Slut Power
5. Cock Rock
6. Sex Video
7. Pole
Today, Melbourne ska punk band The Resignators drop their new single Bluebird Tattoo. The song tells the story of Melbourne’s most unique music and fashion movement of the 1970’s, the Sharpies.
The Sharpies were a multicultural group of “pre-punks” (localised to Australia and primarily Melbourne) that embraced a very specific style of fashion, haircut and dancing. They heralded the beginning of Aussie Pub Rock, and despite negative press due to their tendency to rumble between rival Sharpie gangs, they lasted over a decade and contributed to the rise of careers of AC/DC, Lobby Loyde and the Coloured Balls, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs.
One of the most common icons for the Sharpies was a bluebird tattoo, the song tells the story of how many years later, two Sharpie lovers remember each other fondly every time the see their bluebird tattoos. When they danced they could make it fly!
Bluebird Tattoo sees The Resignators at the peak of their form combining ska punk with rock on what is without doubt one of the bands finest songs to date. Blistering guitars, thumping bass, melodious keyboards, driving drums, a military like horn section capped off with one the most anthemic choruses from a ska punk band you’ll hear this year.
Bluebird Tattoo is a more balanced blending of ska punk and rock without becoming too much of one or the other. The Resignators’ take on ska is heavy and they tend toward raucous rock with something of a ska twist, but most of all they make you dance!
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Where are you currently based?
We are currently based in North London.
How did Théa Marie form?
I began my music carrier as a singer songwriter simply called ‘Théa’. As I started studying in the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London, I realised I needed a band to portray my songs exactly how I wanted. One thing lead to the next, my flatmate Julianna became my drummer and our friend Peter became my guitarist. They both add a ‘rock style’ to my soul/jazzy compositions, which I absolutely love. Two years later, we created Théa Marie – a soul rock trio from London.
Your band members are based around the world, how does Théa Marie operate as a band?
Yes, Julianna is Franco English, Peter is American and I am Franco American! It’s crazy to think we all just randomly met in our uni in London. We are very good at getting the job done and concentrating on our music. We operate very well together because we are first of all friends and have the same work ethic.
For rehearsals, I will bring a new song, sing and play it on the guitar and we’ll all just jam on it and feed off of different ideas.
You released an album a few months ago, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
Some songs on the album were written about five years ago, while others were written two years ago. They all express the emotions I used to have like homesickness, loneliness, falling in love for the first time… This is why the album is called ’THEN’ – emotions of the past. The songwriting was influenced by folk artists like James Vincent McMorrow and soul artists like Amy Winehouse.
How did you go about writing the music?
I find a progression of chords first, then melodies and lastly lyrics. Usually, my best melodies and lyrics will be written late at night. For some reason, the emotions that I’ve felt throughout the day become more intense in the evening… I don’t know why. In a way it’s great because it means I have more inspiration for my writing.
How did you approach the recording process?
So we recorded the album in two different sessions: one in December of 2018 and one in April of 2019 – we took our time. I kept all the stems of the album for a long time because I wanted the perfect person to mix the tracks – someone who understood the atmosphere I was going for. Luckily, I spent the London lockdown with my flatmates and Jimmy, a brilliant sound engineer and producer. He was nice enough to mix the whole album within 2 weeks – amazing! He now has his own mixing/mastering/production studio called Vakant Studios, you should check him out!
Where did you record?
We recorded in the recording studio of my university.
Please tell us about your latest collaboration:
I wrote ‘Settle Down, Love’ with The Dunwells, two brothers from Leeds. We met in 2018 during one of my school’s events and have kept in touch since. During our songwriting session, I was very anxious by my life. I was explaining to them that I wished I could calm my mind and tell it that everything will be okay. That’s how the idea of ‘Settle Down, Love’ started. We personified my anxious mind and built a conversation with it trying to settle it down.
As soon as we finished writing the song, we knew we had to release it. We knew that so many people would connect with it.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I am still listening to James Vincent McMorrow, I love all of his albums. I recently discovered Lucy McWilliams – her sound is so groovy, chill and elegant.
What do you like to do away from music?
I love finding new places to hang out at. When I’m free, I love walking around London and finding cute places I can come back to later.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?
We’re preparing a new set up for our live sets: I play bass instead of guitar, and Julianna and Peter do backing vocals while they play their instruments. It’s fun to change it up and it adds more spice to our authenticity and style of music.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Théa: Favorite food is the Bufala pizza from the Salusbury Food Store in Queens Park. Favorite place is at the top of Alexandra Park on a clear day.
Julianna: Favourite food is the veggie breakfast at La Diva Kilburn and favourite place to hang out is on Primrose Hill on a warm evening.
Peter: Favourite food is a vegetable red curry from Spicy Basil – Kilburn’s hidden culinary gem, and favourite place to hang out is Hampstead Heath on a sunny day.