Gareth Koch – Farruca Andaluz

April 6, 2022 Marshall Cullen

The Farruca Andaluz is a dramatic & virtuosic flamenco guitar solo, recorded in a single take on a beautiful Ignacio Rozas flamenco guitar, hand-built in Madrid.

The track is dance-centric, characterised by virtuosity, high-energy playing and dramatic shifts in tempo. “Farruco/a” is a slang term used in Andalucía and Latin America to refer to someone from the Spanish provinces of Galicia or Asturias who is far from home. The flamenco Farruca however has little to do with the music of northern Spain, though some of the melodic themes associated with the Farruca are reminiscent of tunes from Galicia.

Based on the Tangos Gitano (gypsy tango), Farruca is a four-count form with a strong emphasis on the first beat. It is in a minor key, as opposed to the major Phrygian mode usually associated with Tangos Gitanos.

For many years Farruca was performed exclusively by men and without singing. Leading male artists, including Vicente Escudero, Antonio Gades and José Greco have created famous versions of this dance. Great women dancers such as Carmen Amaya and the contemporary dancer Sara Baras have also created well-known versions of the dance.

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a diverse repertory across multiple albums spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
Born in Milan, Koch began his musical studies on piano and clarinet, and at age 12 was accepted into the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before winning a scholarship for advanced guitar study at the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music.
In 2002 Koch formed what might be termed the first guitar supergroup. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to number 1 on the classical music charts and appeared on the pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums.
Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & in 2020 released two collaborative albums with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church).

Farruca Andaluz is OUT NOW – via MGM
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CJ Shaw – Belconnen Arts centre album launch, radio rotation and video

March 29, 2022 Marshall Cullen

Since releasing the album All Sorts in 2021 and iconic Australian Story Stop Animation Video ‘Ain’t Many Like Lennie’ to be aired on SBS CJ Shaw has built on these success’s to move into 2022.

Album launch -Canberra This Weekend April 2

CJ Shaw’s latest album ‘All Sorts’ has been very well received by critics and fans alike (4 1/2 STARS BMA Magazine). Launching his album with two shows at the Belconnen Arts Centre on 2nd April 2022, CJ is excited to be playing these songs live. Dubbed “the ultimate family gig”, the first show has already sold out so get in quick.

ABC Canberra placing ‘Adelaide’ on rotation:

CJ Shaw’s single Adelaide is gaining frequent airplay on ABC Canberra radio. This song about the birth of CJ’s first child draws on the nuances of living in the Nation’s capital, evoking a sense of place. The hand- drawn video clip to accompany the song, referencing the scenery of the Capital was accepted by the Canberra Short Film Festival shown at Palace Cinemas.

Australian Spectrum Show Live in Person Interview April 5

Ross Fear’s internationally acclaimed album show will feature CJ and his acoustic guitar, plus album tracks and a hefty chat on the show next week April 5. Broadcast from Sydney’s Alive 90.5 and streamed worldwide.

Ain’t Many Like Lennie:

CJ Shaw’s latest single and video clip ‘Ain’t Many Like Lennie’ has gone from strength to strength.

With the support of Arts ACT, Canberra animators Eleanor and Giovanni created a music video with felt puppets following the journey of legendary 9 year old Lennie Gwyther and his horse Ginger Mick travelling unaccompanied for 600 miles to witness the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

SBS has selected this music video ‘Ain’t Many Like Lennie’ to be aired on April 1st 2022 and will feature on SBS on Demand streaming platform. The video was also shortlisted in the Munich Music Video Awards 2021 and is a finalist at the Animate Film Festival.

Tony Mott photo shoot

Earlier this year, CJ Shaw had an artist photoshoot with Tony Mott who is Australia’s premier music photographer. CJ Shaw said working with Tony Mott was a ‘career highlight’. Taken over one day, these photos will form the press kit for his future publications.

Latest Review

Nominated for a 2020 Music Teacher of the Year ARIA, CJ Shaw is an unadulterated, unashamedly Australiana rather than Americana singer-songwriter, sort of Shane Howard meets Fred Smith if you will. Shaw keeps it all pretty simple too, two and three chords at most as he spins his stories, some aimed at younger listeners – as you’d expect from a teacher – rambling, cheeky ditties full of whimsy – others serving more mature musical tastes with tales that ponder life as it’s lived in this wide brown land. “We would all do a lot less harm,” he suggests in ‘Choose to Chew’, “If we ate our Coat of Arms” – which makes sense of the recipe card for CJ Shaw’s Fair Dinkum ‘Roo Bolognese included! Obviously one of his children’s songs, but hey, we all need a bit of fun once in a while. ‘Werewolves’ straddles the generations, delivered straight-faced yet obviously not to be imbibed in that spirit. The seraphic Hannah Czaben takes the vocal spotlight on ‘Full on Heart’, another gentle two-chord stroll, a rumination on separate lives that could have been more lived more happily together that, along with songs like ‘Lonely Road’, is proof that when he allows himself, Shaw is quite the poignant singer-songwriter.

Michael Smith

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Drawing Arrows Release – This Space Between

March 28, 2022 Marshall Cullen

The new single and video for Drawing Arrows is Out Now on Foghorn/MGM

Have you felt like you in the same space as someone, but somehow a thousand miles apart? ‘This Space Between’ focuses on the feeling of how we are more connected and yet more isolated than ever.

The song itself feels like a rock anthem hiding inside a more radio-friendly track. Building to an amped up reprise at the end.

Drawing Arrows is a love letter to rock music. Not one band, not one decade, but the whole effect. With multiple influences – from Australian rock’n’roll, US grunge and flamenco guitar to Britpop rock and amped-up punk.

With band members from Spain, the UK and right here in Australia, each member brings their own unique influences. Sidney (vocals) and David (bass/guitar) have previously worked on an experimental dubstep project (Milo Firewater). Drawing Arrows is a creative outlet – a way to channel all their experiences – not just musically influences. The aim – to create music that feels good to play and to listen too.

Powderfinger, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Nothing But Thieves and Queens of the Stoneage all inspired an authentic live sound that sits as well on stage as it does in your headphones.

This Space Between OUT NOW(Fog/MGM)

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Throwing Shapes Releases New Single ‘Repeating Patterns’

March 17, 2022 Marshall Cullen

It’s about the ‘Repeating Patterns’ of thinking and behaviour, that dominate our lives and determine how we feel, and the direction of our life. Sometimes we need to change those patterns in order to move forward and progress.

Throwing Shapes is Fox Shannon: a musician, DJ and producer from Perth, Western Australia. Unique and forward thinking electronic music.With influences from Pendulum, Sub Focus and Shock One to Disclosure, Deadmau5. Pink Floyd and David Bowie.

Throwing Shapes have performed alongside other well established D’n’B artists such as Terrence & Phillip at local dance music festivals such as Reawakening and Back2Funk. Their energetic performances and catchy dance floor hooks have seen them feature on numerous compilations and won growing interest from community radio, with air play around the country and some US stations.

Song Description

Repeating Patterns

Hi-energy EDM blasts into 2022 for Throwing Shapes new single, the first in a series. Classic beats, keys and bass synth combine with some hooky top line keys and there’s a bit of vocoder for good measure. The mix really pumps along and will get the dance floor jumping.

‘Repeating Patterns’ is out NOW March 4th
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Fiona Joy Hawkins and Rebecca Daniel Present Heavenly Voices

March 10, 2022 Marshall Cullen

Australian musicians Fiona Joy Hawkins and Rebecca Daniel team up once again to create a remarkable acoustic new age album titled Heavenly Voices. Recorded and mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Cookie Marenco and released under Marenco’s own label Blue Coast Records, Heavenly Voices sounds close and present. The entirety of the album was performed live in Blue Coast’s Extended Sound Environment (E.S.E.) and recorded straight to DSD256 (1). Expert recording techniques combined with the high definition audio bring to life every rich keystroke and string vibration. Heavenly Voices is a testament to what great musicianship and audio engineering can accomplish.

Pianist Fiona Joy Hawkins has won several awards including Album of the Year by Zone Music Rewards, Best New Age Album by Independent Music Rewards, and her song “Grace” was featured on a Grammy Award winning album in 2014 (2). Violinist Rebecca Daniel has performed around the world. The Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney invited her to join their ranks where she held duties as the Orchestra Leader for several of their productions (3). Both virtuoso in their own right, together Hawkins and Daniel make for an incomparable team.

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Hawkins’ pensive piano playing lays the foundation for Daniel’s expressive violin work. Listeners will become immersed in the evocative melodies and harmonies, where the piano and violin have their own emotions that they wish to convey. Tracks such as “Sugar Plum Ghost,” “The Lightness of Dark,” and the title song “Heavenly Voices” also feature Hawkins’ and Daniel’s voices, adding a greater ethereal element. Though every part was performed live, much of the album sounds other-worldly, as though Hawkins and Daniel are pulling back the curtain to reveal a glimpse into the afterlife. In a way, Heavenly Voices is a lament. It evokes feelings of grief and loss, though not without a ray of hope, as if the very impermanence that causes our mourning is also the source of beauty upon which we gaze.

Expertly crafted in composition, performance, and production, Heavenly Voices is an album that fans of contemporary classical music will not want to miss. We’re sure once you hear the music this will be a MUST HAVE!

This is how the piano and violin were meant to sound!

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Gareth Koch releases new single ‘Zambra Flamenca’

March 3, 2022 Marshall Cullen

Gareth’s second flamenco single for 2022 is the Zambra Flamenca – an upbeat, high adrenaline, skirt-swirling flamenco guitar solo. The track was recorded in a single take on a beautiful Ignacio Rozas flamenco guitar, hand-built in Madrid.

The Zambra is a style of flamenco dance, typical of the Gypsies of the provinces of Granada and Almería in Andalusia. It was often danced during wedding ceremonies, although nowadays it is frequently performed in the caves of Sacromonte in Granada and in the caves of Almería. It is danced barefoot with finger cymbals; the blouse is tied under the bust and the skirt is very tight around the hips, then flares out and has a ruffle at the end.

Song Description

Gareth’s Zambra Flamenca shows the mid-tempo side of Spanish flamenco nylon string guitar. This allows for more intricate finger picking and a deeper emotional message from the music. Gareth’s delivery is nothing short of astounding and the sounds capture you straight away. Highly recommended.

Zambra Flamenca is OUT NOW – via MGM
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Slide Milligan Releases Debut single – Feelin’ Fine

March 1, 2022 Marshall Cullen

For fans of Classic Australian Pub Rock, Pink Floyd & Waylon Jennings, ‘Feelin Fine’ is the first single from Slide Milligan. The track is an undeniable summer anthem in the vein of the Sunny Boys, Australian Crawl & The Church and features vocals by Slide’s daughter Lani.

Slide Milligan’s musical journey has been half a life in the making but sounds as exciting as the latest Australian Rock & Roll export being paraded around the world. After years and years of playing in bands through the late 80’s/90s, Dave “Slide” Milligan gave up his musical dreams to pursue a trade in rural fencing and woodworking. To unwind after working all day in the paddocks of rural Australia and his sawmill Dave built himself a lap steel guitar.

Over the years he started to write a collection of exceptional songs that weren’t your usual “roots” music fare, mixing his hard rock background and his ability to tap into that authentic Australian sound. Despair and dread mixed with sunshine and water he caught the ear of local producers and with some help with production from Indie impresario Andy Clockwise (He was working on a fence on Clockwise’ farm when he was back from LA and the two lit a bonfire in the paddock) “Slide” has produced a psychedelic slide guitar masterpiece called “Blood Red River”. A pastiche of outlaw country, psychedelic post-punk & a different approach to the slide guitar. This music sounds familiar yet fresh in the current musical landscape. At the ripe old age of 52, this new artist is sure to make a splash in the country-indie-rock crossover here and abroad. Blood Red River will be released later this year.

Feelin’ Fine is OUT NOW on Foghorn/MGM

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Daxton Releases New Album ‘Electric Satellite’

February 18, 2022 Marshall Cullen

Long Awaited New Electric Blues album from slide and blues man Daxton out today February 18

Daxton releases his new album ‘Electric Satellite’, a twelve-track slide blues album with up-tempo spacious songs produced by Pat Dow and Marshall Cullen. Daxton has worked with Pat on many projects – someone who has a keen ear for Daxton’s rustic blues mixed with psychedelic pop/rock sounds.

The new album is Daxton’s seventh following the release in 2018 of ‘In Verses’ which features songs covering his favourite themes: life and death, the yin and yang of life, love and loss, while still keeping his always positive and up-tempo vibe.

Producing and playing music since his early teens, Daxton’s passion has kept him continually creating new material both for his band and solo career. On stage, Daxton comes across like he was born to play, his unique guitar style blending perfectly with heart-warming vocals.

Daxton has appeared at major festivals including the Sydney Blues & Roots and Tamworth Country Music Festival where he supported artists such as Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole. He also has had one of his tracks ‘Moody Liz’ featured in the popular American TV series Doll House.

Based in Sydney, Daxton is best described as a blues/rock artist with a twist of pop and rock. He plays slide guitar rock/blues songs with a fresh and innovative sound. The new album ‘Electric Satellite is a heavy, rustic blues rock album with psychedelic pop/rock sounds.

Song Descriptions

Electric Satellite
The title track to the new album is a frenetic up-tempo post punk folk blues anthem. A full band and all the rocking bells and whistles to make it work.

High As A Kite
Bluesy slide guitar starts this classic Daxton tune. Catchy backing vocal ‘ooh ahs’ and full band including the classic Hammond organ, complete this mid-tempo tune.

Bad Tmes
Down and dirty blues from Daxton, featuring blues harp, slide guitar. Mid-tempo drums and bass, snappy guitar licks and riffs and the whole thing comes in at a rockin’ 2mins 47seconds.

Daxton – Electric Satellite is out NOW February 18th
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Kaijin Solo Releases New Single ‘Pretty Cool Hat’

February 11, 2022 Marshall Cullen

Pretty Cool Hat started as a response to anonymous emails from internet dating services. From there Kaijin moved to the search for the mystery that makes human relationships. Rather than complaining about what is wrong with Sydney, Kaijin reminisces about ‘The Cross’ and ‘Darlo’ in the 80’s.

Kaijin Solo is a contemporary singer/songwriter based on the NSW Central Coast with a blues rock influence.

He has been working and honing his craft for many years with various band line-ups and the plentiful bread and butter busking jobs and pub/club gigs around the coast (most recently at Link and Pin in Woy Woy). With the advent of Covid, Kaijin spent the downtime working on new material which resulted in the recording and release of a number of tracks last year.

Song Description
Pretty Cool Hat
Strong drums, bass and guitar start this retro rock tune from Kaijin Solo. Mid-tempo with a driving chorus full of catchy hooks. Kaijin’s Dylanesque vocals and lyrics weave in and out to complete the picture.

A Night In Sydney
Mid-tempo classic rock from Kaijin Solo comes to life on this narrative song of Sydney back in the hey days of Kings Cross and Darlinghurst by night. The band are rocking and Kaijin’s Marshall stack powered guitars puts the cream on the cake.

Pretty Cool Hat is OUT TODAY February 11th – via MGM
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Driftwood Releases New Video & Single ‘Bremfields’ Feat. Still Greedy

February 11, 2022 Marshall Cullen

Endlessly prolific, multi-disciplinary artist Driftwood has a remarkable new single BREMFIELDS featuring British rapper Still Greedy. It’s a truly creative and thoughtful track, a glowing addition to this growing artist’s impressive discography. In addition to being an innate singer-songwriter, his videos are self-directed and self- published, all with his readily identifiable stamp of authenticity, perfection and professionalism. Fiercely independent and intriguingly enigmatic, Driftwood proves over and over again that he is someone to watch.

Screen Shot 2022-02-10 at 5.02.43 pm

BREMFIELDS evokes feelings of Kanye West at his most exciting and most innovative. Classic Ye albums My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Yeezus have both clearly influenced the electronic/RnB stylings of Driftwood during the creation of this song, yet BREMFIELDS still feels fresh, unique, and new. The song arcs creatively, synths spiking in unexpected moments, while Driftwood and Still Greedy’s vocals provide the smooth melodic, rhythmic anchor. Speaking on the otherworldly inspiration behind the song, Driftwood says, “This single is about breaking the fourth wall. It’s about the idea that there could be subterranean energies and other factors operating within other paradigms of consciousness. It’s about feeling like I’m trapped within this paradigm, and I don’t belong here…the one thing I love about art is I have a licence to explore ideas, no matter how crazy they may seem.”

The video for BREMFIELDS is the perfect visual representation of this exchange and exploration of energies. Slow, deliberate shots of bodies moving purposefully in the just-risen, just-set sunlight peppered throughout with closed shots of darkly lit bars and eerie cliff faces, one step away from oblivion. It’s a beautiful triumph, created by an artist completely in charge of his own vision, as Driftwood explains, “I direct and edit all my videos now. I came up with the idea and the aesthetic behind the visual as well. They represent the ebb and flow, the push and pull, the yin and yang of energies which are manifested within the material universe…my creative team is small, but we get it done. Too many bodies fuck up the flow and a lot of the time are unnecessary for what I am trying to accomplish.”

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These are wise words from an artist who’s been in the game long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. To be so immune to the chaos and noise of the modern music industry and so completely, totally immersed in one’s art is no mean feat, but Driftwood does it all with ease. He offers more wisdom on the subject as he reflects, “I’m just an artist creating pieces of work I want to create and doing it independently. I’m not signed to a major record deal, and up until late last year, I did everything on my own, with the help of a few friends, and without any backing. You don’t need to be signed, or in the cool crowd to create what you want to create. No one has a monopoly on art.”

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‘Repeating Patterns’ is out NOW March 4th Foghorn/MGM

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‘Repeating Patterns’ is out NOW March 4th
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