Showcasing his versatile production abilities across electronica, ambient, melodic techno and more, today Willaris. K has announced two new EPs and shared the tracklist for each. His six-track EP LUSTRE will arrive April 3, featuring two never-heard-before songs, ‘COBAKI SKY’ and ‘GET WITH MY LIGHT (with Tom Snowdon)’. The announcement follows his recent eclectic singles including ‘5 O’CLOCK’, ‘PAST LIGHT’, ‘INDIFFERENT (WITH GORDI’ and ‘DETACH’, which will also be included on the package, tying a nice bow around the last year of Willaris. K releases.
In addition to the April release, Willaris. K (Jack McAllister) sets his sights firmly on the club with the announcement of a forthcoming club EP titled Full Noise due out May 29. Drawing inspiration from late night sets and featuring an impressive lineup of well-regarded creators that have influenced his own sound, McAllister shows his chemistry with original Australian rave king Paul Mac, American rapper and sound designer WaveIQ and composer, producer, beatmaker and Seekae founder, George Nicholas (GN).
McAllister’s unique approach to production and arrangement and his commanding melodic craft earned him global record deals with Australian progressive tastemaker label Soothsayer, acclaimed US electronic label Astralwerks (Chemical Brothers, Alison Wonderland, Halsey) and UK counterpart Virgin EMI (Desiigner, Katy Perry, Vince Staples) who will continue to release his music outside Australia and NZ.
Willaris. K’s eclectic work has drawn him comparisons to a league of greats like Daniel Avery, Brian Eno, and William Basinski. His previous career as an electrical instrument technician led him to music as he worked across rural power plants in Australia, taking field recordings and turning them into ambient tracks – thus, Willaris. K was born. Since, he has showcased his versatility and range as a budding producer, from the cathartic ambient tones of ‘PAST LIGHT’ to the darker punchy percussions in ‘Natural Selection’.
The 2019/20 Summer saw him perform to packed-out dance tents at major festivals including Wildlands, Beyond The Valley, Output Super Club, Origin Fields and Castaway, after supporting RUFUS DU SOL on their SOLACE World Tour. Willaris played a benefit show at Melbourne’s Seaworks in February, which raised proceeds to the Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities.
Willaris. K was due to announce his biggest run of Australian headline shows to date, however due to current advice from officials regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, tour announcements will be held until further notice. He is still due to appear at US festivals Electric Forest in Michigan this June and CRSSD Festival in San Diego in September, however Willaris. K and his team are monitoring the developing situation closely.
For now, feast your ears on his latest euphoric techno track ‘DETACH’:
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Title: Where You Wanna Be
Label: CYB3RPVNK
Release date: March 13, 2020
R3HAB returns to his signature club sound on his new release “Where You Wanna Be,” with Russian talent and TV personality Elena Temnikova, which is out now on his CYB3RPVNK imprint. The new single is one of R3HAB’s first this year that can be classified as a real dancefloor-ready track, completed with bouncy melodies and a driving bassline that calls listeners to get moving. Brought to life by breathy, elegant vocals by Temnikova, the lyrics to “Where You Wanna Be” inspire a sense of adventure and spontaneity that will resonate with many of R3HAB’s adventurous fans, many of whom have traveled around the globe to see him perform. With warmer weather and festival season approaching, we can bet “Where You Wanna Be” will be a mainstay in the CYB3RPVNK shows this spring and summer. It follows R3HAB’s recent remix of Steve Aoki & Maluma’s “Maldad” and “More Than OK” with Clara Mae and Frank Walker.
“I’ve been following artists and music from Russia for many years and recently got in contact with Elena Temnikova over the Internet. It seemed like a perfect time & combination to work on stuff together and I thought about the Where You Wanna Be song right away. It’s perfect for her vibe, voice and this collaboration which is a cool 2020 sounding record bridging the 2 worlds we come from” – R3HAB
“Our collaboration was literally born in the digital world. Fadil liked my photo on Instagram, I liked his one, and then we started messaging. We both liked each other’s early songs. I generally get crazy from his EDM work and listen to it for many years. After a while, he suggested doing something cool together. That’s how we started to work on ‘Where You Wanna Be‘” – Elena Temnikova
Over the last eight years, the Dutch/Moroccan artist Fadil El Ghoul – better known as R3HAB – has established himself as a leader at the forefront of modern electronic music. His talent has been called the “future of the craft” by the likes of Forbes and Billboard, and he’s circuited the globe’s best clubs and festivals, all without the backing of a formal record label. In 2017, R3HAB independently released his debut album “Trouble” through his imprint CYB3RPVNK, which amassed over a half-billion streams globally and officially placed R3HAB among electronic music’s heavy hitters. He made number 14 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 list in 2019, topping the charts with tracks like “Lullaby” and “Hold On Tight,” while his sophomore album “The Wave,” revealing more complex, emotional and experimental layers of himself, has amassed over 250 million streams on Spotify alone. In 2019 R3HAB’s “All Around The World” with A Touch of Class quickly became his biggest ever record already topping 200M streams across platforms and achieving gold & platinum status in 8 countries. Stay tuned to see what this ever-evolving artist has up his sleeve next!
Today, legendary Melbourne punk rock band Bodyjar drop their new single Big Shot.
For nearly 20 years now, Bodyjar have built their local & international following with relentless touring demonstrating their blistering high energy live shows, that have made them one of the most respected punk rock bands in the world.
New single Big Shot sees Bodyjar in peak form, calling on all their experience over the years, resulting in one of the bands strongest and most politically charged songs to date.
Produced by Bodyjar and Sam Johnson (Northlane, Luca Brasi, Camp Cope, The Bennies), this track is the first piece of new music from the band since their 2017 EP Terra Firma. This is also the first release with new bass player Nick Manuell (The Sinking Teeth, Hawaiian Islands).
“ This song is about the lack of leadership on either side of politics and the major corporations that control them. Constantly filling their pockets at the expense of planet earth! “ Guitarist Tom Read
Bodyjar are currently working on a full length record to be released later in 2020.
Tell us about your management company?
I have been an artist manager for over eight years. I have mainly focused in the genres of pop and country. I am self employed and have had a few partnerships with other management companies over the years. I have managed artists such as : Eleven Past One , Eric Ethridge. I now manage Meghan Patrick , Buck Twenty , Nicole Rayy , Dylan Burk , Kris Barclay and consult for many other artists.
What do you do in re: to not only managing your artists, but to empower them as well?
I am very passionate about the acts I work with. I believe it’s my job and duty as a manager to help an artist feel confident and strong when showing off their talents. I try to really make sure my artists are comfortable discussing struggles and frustrations so I can try to find solutions to over come those obstacles with them. There are a lot of highs and lows in the industry and I really believe in celebrating all of the small victories too. All of the artists I associate with and work with are very hardworking and I give them the encouragement to reach their goals and achieve success in all its forms. An artist / manager relationship is extremely important if not the most important in an artist’s career. Artist managers should be your biggest fan of your music and be able to sell your music and brand as well as you can. It takes one yes over a thousand rejections and it can really be hard for artists to find security in their path without a stable manager and sounding board.
What drew you to the music management business?
I actually worked for a manager/ promoter as his personal assistant for my first job. I observed him for a year and became interested in his day to day operations. He trusted me to help build tours for his artists and gain experience. It was after that job I knew I had the personality and networking skills to be able to live out the dream of artist management. I couldn’t see myself doing anything but managing now. No plan B for me !
How do you want to grow your business?
I am trying to expand my business to the USA. I am predominantly working in the country genre and Nashville is where I hope to call home. I’m hoping to expand on the artists I have by building their careers and growing their audiences to create successful businesses in North America. I love developing acts and I think I’ll always have a development project within my roster if all of the artists I currently work with grew to stardom ( that’s the dream !). I hope to have some help with hiring staff and eager people who share the same values and skills as I do in artist management. I would also like to have an actual office ! I have been working out of my home since I started.
Where would you like to see your business ten years in the future?
I would like to help create other managers within a successful company. I would love to have a stadium artist or break multiple artists by that time. It’s important as a woman in the industry to show other females that this industry can be a place for a women to create a career within. I would love to be travelling world wide and having a great team to be able to share in any success. The dream would to be different offices around the world supporting music of all genres.
What has been a pivotal moment for you in re: to building your business?
Age and experience. I was never taken seriously until the age of around 25 or 26. I worked hard networking and building good relationships that I still have and remain. It took a lot of my money and time developing acts I believed in to gain or start to gain a name now. I knew when I began having artists I had developed reach the radio waves that people in the industry cared to play the music. One moment in particular that stands out was when I began consulting.. I had artists coming out of the wood work who actually really wanted to hear my advice and work with me. I think then my confidence grew and manifested in to a now a great business and it’s helping the artists in turn.
What have been some of your favourite memories so far?
Ahhhh there have been so many. I think when Eleven Past One reached GOLD status on pop radio across Canada and they soon after got signed to Warner Music Canada ! . Meghan Patrick took a chance on me two years ago when she was fully established but it was a big win when she was nominated this year for a Juno and asked to perform on a record I got to work with her. Eric Ethridge independently reaching millions of streams independently on his debut album we released in the summer of 2018 ! The list goes on but these ones I’ll always remember !
![With its laid-back delivery and effortless charm, Mantell serves up a brand new taste of music in ‘St. Louis’. As the band’s first offering for the year, the single is bright and airy, giving listeners another insight into the band’s take on indie music of that sun-drenched variety. Recorded in Melbourne at the band’s own studio - West End Studios - with drummer Connor Tuan on engineering duties, and David Turner (Delta Riggs, Dan Sultan) on mixing and mastering, ‘St. Louis’ came to fruition very much under the band’s own scope of control and direction. Wanting to explore more ideas and different musical pathways, Mantell pushed themselves further during these sessions than they had in the past. “In the past, we’ve found ourselves sticking with the first idea that arises, but this time we allowed ourselves to take things all the way to the end. All of the recording was done in our private studio, engineered by our drummer Connor. This gives us a freedom that not all artists have, free from time constraints and financial pressures hanging over our heads.” Mantell Making their debut in 2018, Mantell have wasted no time in generating hype for themselves on the Melbourne scene and elsewhere up and down the coast. Their music, mirroring the likes of Lime Cordiale and Methyl Ethel, envelops the listener with ease. Injecting indie melodies with dashes of psych and pop makes ‘St. Louis’ an instant charmer. Built off the back of a recent holiday Connor embarked on, the song is inspired by reflection and memories made. Yearning meets nostalgia. A longing for one of a kind experiences. “They [Connor and his partner] bought a disposable camera and took a bunch of photos. When he came back he showed the rest of the band and we were all super inspired by the feeling, serenity and charm of them. They somehow brought on a feeling of longing and nostalgia in all of us.” Mantell PRAISE FOR MANTELL “With their latest single ‘Can I Set It Right’, Mantell prove they’re well on their way to securing a place as one of the most exciting up-and-comers to navigate their way through Melbourne’s notoriously overwhelming music scene.” Happy Mag “I’m in with that beautiful zone between awake and asleep and there’s no distractions around.” Triple J, Declan Byrne “Blissfully chilled out. Going back in for another dip now.” Triple J Unearthed, Dave Ruby Howe ‘St. Louis’ is out now! Facebook | Instagram |Spotify | Triple J Unearthed | YouTube](https://thepartae.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Melbourne-indie-group-MANTELL-return-with-dreamy-new-single-ST.-LOUIS.jpg "Melbourne indie group MANTELL return with dreamy new single, ‘ST. LOUIS’")
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AV (Ann Vriend) is known most for her virtuosic, soaringly powerful vocals, and not far behind that for her multi award-winning abilities as a songwriter — and she ain’t too bad at the piano, either. She has been delivering her unique brand of old-school, inner-city soul to audiences around Europe, Oceana, Asia, and North America throughout her under-the-radar but consistently award-winning, critically acclaimed career. A “musician’s musician” and equally compelling solo as with a full band AV has sold more than 20,000 albums off the stage, independently, and can somehow turn even the most difficult rooms to her attention, which she attributes from having cut her teeth playing bars — solo, and with exclusively original music— in small towns in Alberta, Canada.
Growing up in a household that was on the one hand counter-culture and hippie but on the other hand fundamentally religious and sheltering, AV has always written songs about confusion, searching, and questioning — of herself, and the culture around her. The outcome is what she half seriously, half jokingly calls “existentialist gospel,” drawing from emotionally intense and rhythmic gospel and soul styles of African American culture, as well as from her parents’ vinyl ‘70s folk/pop collection, from artists such as Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, and Leonard Cohen.
Often compared to her vocal hero, Aretha Franklin, AV’s most recent song, “Hurt People Hurt People”, which has been released only in Germany to date, peaked at #55 in the Main Pop Charts in Germany, reaching the top 10 on some stations, and reaching #1 on Bayern1, which has a listenership of approximately 3.3 million. Well-known and beloved radio host Werner Reinke from Germany’s HR1 station presented an hr-long live recording and interview with AV this past February and actually cried during AV’s performance.
Coming from a humble background on Edmonton’s east side, and for the past decade calling Edmonton’s troubled and somewhat notorious ghetto neighborhood of McCauley home, AV does not shy away from addressing serious social issues that face her and her community. This setting is the microcosm from which she writes, weaving the issues facing people in this scene into her own life struggles— and yet, specific as they both are, her songs appeal to her audience worldwide. She draws from the rich tradition of classic soul artists who have delivered stunning recordings that are both contagiously fun AND socially thought provoking, such as Curtis Mayfield, Ray Charles, Bill Withers, Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and all the way up the line to Sharon Jones, Charles Barkley, Amy Winehouse, and Alicia Keys.
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I’m in Ottawa, Ontario. There’s always work to be done to improve the local scene, but I feel like it’s getting there. There’s never been a lack of talent in the region, and I’m pleased to see so many thoughtful artists trying to support one another.
How did you first start playing guitar/music?
Initially, I started out on drums. I guess I wanted to be Peter Criss or something, so my parents enrolled me in drum lessons for a few years. Eventually I decided guitar was my true love, but those early lessons have proven valuable as a writer and an overall musician.
What’s been happening recently?
I have been working on the 5th music video in support of my new album, “Lifting the Curse”. I’m hoping for an early-May release date – keep an eye on my Youtube channel! I’m also working on a follow up album, with plans for a fall 2020 release.
What influenced the sound and songwriting for your new album?
The album was a form of personal therapy and healing for me during the recovery of a car accident that profoundly complicated my life, to put it mildly. I spent a lot of time trying to connect with nature, and the entire summer of writing and recording was almost like a sort of spiritual awakening – not meaning to get all deep here or anything – but that is why I called it Lifting the Curse. By the time it was done, I realized I had a piece of work I was tremendously proud of, and in the process of creating it, I had left a lot of the negative energy in the past.
How did you go about writing the music?
Most songs started out with guitar parts and expanded from there, although I will occasionally start with a drum groove to stimulate some creativity. I am always writing little notes and ideas on my phone, or using the voice memo feature to capture an inspiration before it disappears. I’ve been writing songs with lyrics and vocals for as long as I can remember, so my approach to writing this instrumental album was actually very similar. Most of the music follows similar arrangements that we are already familiar with – verse, chorus, etc., and I don’t think any of the songs even surpass four minutes in length. Obviously I took the liberty to spill over the structural edges a little because the confines of a vocal composition were absent, but I don’t see it as a progressive album at all.
Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with?
Other than the fantastic Emily Dolan Davies, who played drums on the track “was it something I said?”, no other musicians were harmed during the recording process. I recorded the bulk of the album over the summer of 2019, entirely from my home studio. I set a deadline for completion, and for certain goals to be met during the process. There’s certainly some self-discipline required when you’re producing it all yourself. It’s important to be realistic though, when setting those goals, otherwise you’ll get discouraged when life gets in the way. Allow yourself sick days, and days when you really aren’t into it, because that will happen.
What programs/equipment did you use to record?
I actually recorded everything through Garageband. You can do a lot with programs like that if you spend enough time learning the details. I have a long way to go, but I’m still really pleased with the overall production! The cherry on top is always getting the music professionally mastered, which I did through H-Bomb Mastering. I used some of the stock instrument plug-ins with the program, and also my live guitar rig, to get a nice blend of guitar tones. The guitars were almost entirely tracked with my Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul. The bass was all played on a Fender Precision.
What do you like to do away from music?
I try to read as much as possible, and I love all kinds of movies (I lean toward the horror genre a lot). That keeps me occupied during the winter when I don’t enjoy the outdoors very much! In the warmer months, I try to get out in nature every chance I get, cycling, hiking, kayaking, and herping (Google it – it’s not what you think! Haha!)
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to The Darkness and The Muffs. I have also been alternating between Youtube videos by Skating Polly and Fleshgod Apocalypse.
What’s planned for 2020?
The release of my second instrumental solo album, along with plenty more troublesome music videos! I am really hoping to get this show on the road too, if time permits!
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Well, I’m not sure if this will give me street cred or not…. But if I’m actually hanging out anywhere, it will probably be the library. I also work there, so I’m definitely not winning any wild rockstar points! I love lots of different food, spicy and sweet. I make a killer plate of nachos. I’m a huge fan of ice cream and have an incurable weakness for sweets.
https://www.youtube.com/user/thewhorrorcanada
| Kwame and his team are devastated to announce the cancellation of Kwame’s ‘Please, Get Home Safe Tour’ Australian Tour. With the recent developments surrounding COVID-19 we have no choice but to cancel the upcoming shows which were due to take place in venues over 500 cap.
Current ticket holders can apply for a refund from their place of purchase. We are working to announce some new shows in the future and will make an announcement about this once they are locked in. So many artists are affected by this and we send our best to everyone doing it tough at the moment. From Team Kwame “One of the leaders of the New School” “He’s the movement’s youngest by age, but arguably its most visible by virtue…” “Kwame has long been on our radar of international MC’s to watch.”
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“Thanks everyone for all the love over the weekend, especially to triple j listeners for the huge support we’ve been shown over the years. We’re four working class blokes from Brisbane who get to share our music with you all and (can’t stress this enough) the love we receive back means the absolute world. It means everything.
We were going to announce a tour today, but in light of the current climate it didn’t feel right to do so. Instead, here’s ‘Pick It Up Again’, another taste of our upcoming album ‘Everything Is A-OK’. We love you all and promise to throw some huge parties when it’s clear that it’s safe to. Till then, take care of ya selves.” – Violent Soho
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Epitaph Records welcomes Melbourne, Australia based anomalistic collective DREGG
“It’s super humbling to be joining such an innovative yet true to its roots punk label that isn’t afraid to take risks and do things their own way,” says DREGG. “To be added to the list of greats that we grew up listening to is absolutely mind blowing. In the spirit of the culture, it’s refreshing to see a label of such magnitude allowing their artists to have so much creative freedom. We’re as excited to be a part of Epitaph records as we are to watch the label grow into the new era of punk we’re endeavouring into.”
DREGG make powerfully energetic music, driven by themes of fierce individualism, with a sound that hungrily consumes metal, hardcore, and rap, only to heave it back up in a colourful rainbow of bombastic brutality and iconoclastic absurdity, lovingly fed to the audience like mother birds. The thought provoking five-piece, known for tongue-in-cheek take on the current state of the world, continues to push the boundaries of hardcore with their new single “Hectic.” A song that explores the current state of the music scene, criticisms the band has received, and their journey of signing with Epitaph.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: LUCAS PACKETT
30 Years and Rippin! Southern Californian gods Lagwagon returned to Melbourne for a night of legendary punk singalongs.
The Ottawa and Toronto-based musician and songwriter wrote, performed and produced the album. Boyd has signed with MTS Management Group for promotion of the LP.
They say that laughter is the best medicine, but for Canadian guitarist and songwriter Darren Michael Boyd, music has been the ultimate cure. After a life-altering car accident, the Ottawa and Toronto-based musician created his debut album, “Lifting The Curse,” as a therapy for the physical and psychological complications that followed the accident.
Painstakingly writing, recording and producing the 9-track album himself, Boyd only called upon outside help for one track, “Was It Something I Said,” which features drums by Emily Dolan Davies (The Darkness, Kim Wilde.) Mastering was done by Harry Hess at H-Bomb Mastering (Barenaked Ladies, Danko Jones, Monster Truck.)
MTS Management Group has been brought in to promote the album and first stress track/video, “The Earth Is B Flat.” MTS President Michael Stover says, “Darren is a rock star…there’s no doubt about that. He’s got the look, the attitude, and the chops to pull it all off. I’m really excited about this album! Boyd blends the theatrics of bands like KISS, Alice Cooper and Queen with technical playing and melodies around every corner, with a modern twist to the sound. This is definitely not a ‘throwback’ record. Guitar fans are gonna flip!”
Website: www.darrenboyd.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darren.michael.boyd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrenmichaelboydmusic/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/THEwHORRORcanada
Hailing from Sydney, Jordan F creates a distinct style of retro synth driven electronic music with a modern fidelity. While his sound could be easily likened to the soundtracks from Stranger Things, Drive or Blade Runner, his knack for retro flair without the limitations of genre create a unique sound that is instantly recognisable as him.
He released his debut album Slipstream in 2014, which racked up a very impressive 3.5 million streams on Spotify alone. This was followed up in quick succession with the release of his sophomore album Timelines in 2016 on NRW Records, which again impressed the scene with a whopping 4 million plus online Spotify streams.
2017 saw his music featured in the Netflix psychological thriller ‘Death Note’, while also releasing a collaboration EP with Sydney duo Vast Hill. In the wake of 2018 he released his third full length album Oblivion – an adventure into spacey, ominous sounds and Lovecraftian horror.
Returning today with a brand new single, Jordan is over the moon to present ‘Without You’ (feat Gryff) out via GD FRNDS. The tune follows on with vibe we’ve best come to know from Jordan F – splashy drums, big verbed out snare hits, beautiful arps and those lovely pad like synths.
Taken from his upcoming fourth record ‘Memory Collision’ , Without You sees Jordan team up with QLD swooner Gryff, who delivers a retro style of vocal delivery that is reminiscent of a blue light disco in the summer of 1988. A track filled with uplifting scenes that give inspiration of being confident with ones self. Jordan F describes how the track came about;
“Without You (feat. Gryff) was one of the first tracks I wrote for the new album. I wanted the track to complement a scene to an 80’s heartbreak movie that existed only in my head. It’s about letting go and just being happy and confident by yourself. I approached Gryff with a finished instrumental and he came back with all the lyrics and recordings. We were pretty much done after one take. His Phil Colins and David Bowie inspired vocals really transformed the track into an upbeat state of euphoria.” – Jordan F
Friday 29 May | Baderhaus, Berlin
Saturday 30 May | Golden Krone, Damstadt
Saturday 06 Jun | Underbelly Hoxton, London
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