Tag Archives: guitar

Silphie Releases Music Video for ‘Blossom Fairy Queen’

December 6, 2024 Marshall Cullen

An Australian neo-classical quartet, Silphie’s newest song is the quaint, old-worldly ‘Blossom Fairy Queen’ that carries a serene sensation of calmness, the delicate notes washing over the senses.

A blend of enchanting folktronica and haunting neo-classical tones melded to the gorgeous, operatic vocals of singer-composer Michaele Archer (who sings in English and Latin), ‘Blossom Fairy Queen’ will transport you to a medieval landscape in Renaissance Europe.
Rich in emotive strings alongside harmonium and classical guitar that carry poignant feels of spirituality, the song is centred around themes of eternal love, creation and the circle life.
Archer is joined by Rachel Whealy (cello), Giuseppe Zangari (guitar) and Gab Steele (viola) to form Silphie. “‘Blossom Fairy Queen’ was one of those gifts of a song that came all at once on a balmy spring evening,” shares Michaele. “The big theme of the song is the eternal, powerful nature of love.
“It’s also about the mystery of creation and the circle of life, so it’s beautiful that our viola player Gab Steele was pregnant with her first child when we filmed the clip.”

“Working with Benjamin Fraser, who I would describe as a genius Renaissance person, is a wondrous experience every time,” Michaele says. “Benjamin created hair and make-up (with Taylor Anne) and made the jewellery headband as well as the vision for filming and editing.
“Things are always an adventure as Benjamin loves to let things unfold spontaneously on the day within the plan. So sometimes unexpected things happen and Benjamin’s way of directing makes you feel comfortable, expressive and brave!
“We are super grateful and happy that our other film clip for this project created by Benjamin, ‘Sulpicia’s Birthday’, has received three offical selections in film festivals and an Award of Excellence in the Women’s International Film Festival.
“The lovely thing about this group is we are all old friends so our filming projects and rehearsals are joyous and chilled. There’s a lot of love!” Gab adds: “It’s always such a pleasure to work with everyone! I actually went to high school with Benjamin, so we met over 20 years ago!”
Set to release their album ‘Garland The Love Poems Of Sulpicia’ in February, Silphie have already enjoyed positive feedback about ‘Blossom Fairy Queen’.
“There is something about this song that seems to resonate with people,” Michaele says. “We played some new material from the album as part of the Tubular Festival/Gossy weekender recently and had amazing feedback.
“Maybe it’s the message of love and connection or the slightly Celtic feel. For people to let us know they felt moved and make such lovely comments makes everything worth it! We hope people enjoy the clip as well.”

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘La Rumba Flamenca’

November 7, 2024 Marshall Cullen

The joyous flamenco rumba is an immensely popular style, stemming from Cuba by way of the port of Cadiz in Spain. There are many types of Rumba which often share the characteristic of incorporating popular musical themes within their structure. In ‘La Rumba Flamenca’ the traditional melody Spanish Romance is integrated into the opening measures.

Set in the traditional format of three repeated sections, ‘La Rumba Flamenca’ can be described as an erotic, mischievous and salsified dance. Rumba is closely related to the flamenco tango and is one of the most accessible flamenco styles, danceable and lighthearted.

About Gareth

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Born in Milan, Gareth 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 scholarships for advanced guitar study at The Royal Madrid Conservatorium & the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music & has lectured in music across Australian & European universities.

In 2002 Gareth formed the first guitar supergroup with Karin Schaupp & The Grigoryan Brothers, Slava & Leonard. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to #1 on the Classical Music Charts and even featured on ARIA pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums & was Australia’s biggest selling classical act for several years.

Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & has released a succession of collaborative albums with Martin Kennedy & with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). His recent release ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 star review from The Sydney Morning Herald. Gareth’s current output has a strong rock bias with classical overtones & his writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music.

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Gareth Koch Releases New Single ‘Song For Stevie Nicks’

August 30, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Song for Stevie Nicks draws inspiration from the Rumours album by Fleetwood Mac, a band in which Stevie is a member and songwriter. Gareth’s guitar work on the track is reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsay Buckingham’s style, while the song itself is cast in the gentle yet intense mood of the ballad Landslide.

Gareth’s signature style pervades the song, with subtly nuanced playing & classical influences on display. Song for Stevie Nicks is imagined & created as a song which Stevie herself might have written.

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Silphie Releases New Single ‘Mea Lux’

July 26, 2024 Marshall Cullen

After separation and misunderstandings Sulpicia and her secret lover reunite. As she reflects on the reunion Sulpicia regrets that she was on her guard. “My love, my light” if she could go back in time she would stay the night. Mea lux is the penultimate poem in the Garland series written by Sulpicia and sets up the story of the final poem “Tandem venit amor” (At last love has come) where Sulpicia and her lover Cerinthius finally come together.

Michaele Archer is an Australian classically trained singer and composer and has performed nationally and internationally in Opera, Oratorio and concert. Michaele loves collaboration and unusual projects and highlights have included performances of “Brackish Songs” by indigenous composer Christopher Sainsbury and the first live performances of Schubert’s “Erlking” with a sand animation by Californian creator Benny Zelkowicz. Her original recording project “Galatea” was released in 2019.

Silphie is a collaboration with Michaele Archer (composer/vocal and harmonium), Rachel Whealy (cello), Giuseppe Zangari (guitar) and Gab Steele (viola). The name Silphie comes from the ancient world’s herb Silphium which was used for everything from perfume and cooking to medicine. The latest recording project by Silphie, “Garland, the love poems of Sulpicia” is inspired by rich, raw sounds of analogue, alto instruments and ancient Latin poetry.

Sulpicia is a female voice that was lost for many years and her 6 love poems form the text for this project. Sulpicia lived around the time of Augustus in the first century BCE and her work is one of very few written by a Roman woman to survive. Her poems were published in a collection by the Roman male poet Tibullus and were originally attributed to him. Sulpicia’s Garland of poems tells the story of a secret love affair.

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Song For George Harrison’

July 4, 2024 Marshall Cullen

The second in Gareth’s dedication series and with a stunning review already live thanks to Big Take Over magazine in NYC.

“The song itself is a lustrous jaunt. clocking in around three and half minutes, the instrumental piece is acoustic, with strumming guitars and lithe bass keeping the beat. ” David Browne HERE

The inspiration for Song for George Harrison was to channel and imagine the spirit of George and infuse Beatles DNA into the compositional process. The mood is an informal jam vibe, as if the studio producers are absent, but microphones are left on with tape rolling while George plays and improvises with friends.

Gareth opens the track with George’s beloved instrument, the ukulele, supported by a keyboard mellotron sound subtly referencing a partial Beatles tune. The sitar Gareth plays is a vintage Sri Lankan instrument, played in reverse in some of the mixes, as a tribute to the spirit of experimentation of the 1960’s Abbey Rd Studios.

The three mixes reference the evolution of 60’s mixing technology, with the Spectre Mix taking a deep dive into the massive and live ‘Wall of Sound’ aesthetic, faithfully recreated with period correct vintage studio and live equipment from the Beatles’ heyday.

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

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Gareth Koch Releases Album ‘French Medieval Journey’

June 21, 2024 Marshall Cullen

A new style of song, whose themes were love and myth, rose to prominence in 11th-century Europe. The songs of the French Trouveres in particular dominated medieval music in Europe. These songs were performed by roaming scholars and footloose clerics who thronged the roads of the Middle Ages.

In French Medieval Journey, Gareth’s aim has been to create a new body of music for guitar, based on music from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the recurring themes in French Medieval music is the recounting of myths and legends.

In setting this music for guitar the French trouvere melodies are used as a point of departure. The compositions however are completely original, yet retain the flavour and ambience of French medieval music. Gareth: ‘I have sought to reanimate some of the myths and legends in musical terms, leaving the imagery and symbolism to the discretion of the listener. Through the medium of music the listener is invited into a medieval dreamscape or otherworld.’

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BLJ Releases Single ‘Make You Feel My Love’

June 14, 2024 Marshall Cullen

This is the song that got Burger Legs Joe ft Andi started. He’d been doing some guitar samples for the Dance Around and Be Stupid EP, and as thanks, I said pick a song and we’ll record it. He chose Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan. I hadn’t heard it before, so I was a blank page. I recorded Andi singing with his guitar and arranged the song out from there.

We had so much fun doing it that we just had to do more. It’s a beautiful song, with such heart-felt lyrics. I was surprised when I heard the original later and discovered where we’d taken the song to. I think Andi’s dreamy vocals work so well, and the instrumentation makes for an absorbing, romantic, ballad groove. Well, I hope you feel that. Relax and soak up the romance.

The avatar of an unidentified Music Producer, Burger Legs Joe is on a mission to restomod (restore and modernise) outstanding retro songs for your grooving pleasure. Treasuring the essence of what makes each track so fabulous, they’re re-energized to a modern perspective; weaving rhythms and melodies in BLJ’s distinctive ear grabbing style, that lingers in your head, and puts beats in your feet.

Mesmerised by the voice of friend and vocalist Andi Bracken; together they have set out on a journey to blow the dust off some of the great songs of the past.

Burger Legs Joe says – “The way Andi ‘owns’ the song is amazing. You just instantly accept the new version. Fond memories of the original seem to disappear in that moment. The inspiration of Andi’s vocals on a song I love makes it so much easier for me. The arrangements just seem to regenerate around them, naturally building to a butt kicking finale that elevates the song and Andi’s voice.”

Bangers to ballads, and anything in between, Burger Legs Joe featuring Andi’s tracks are infused in reimagined retro joy and romance.

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Song For Taylor Swift’

May 23, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Song for Taylor Swift is the first in a series of dedications to influential artists of the modern era by Gareth. There is a rich history of one artist acknowledging another in music, ranging from Beethoven to David Bowie, the latter having written his Song for Bob Dylan.

Song for Taylor Swift explores the gentler side of her output, with a recurring fragile interlude subtly reminiscent of her ballad-like material. The resonator & lap steel guitars reference Taylor’s occasional country influences, as does the cover art of the release.

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JayBird Byrne Releases New Single ‘The Wolf’

September 22, 2023 Marshall Cullen

Once upon a time, long ago. A bright, young, determined pup named Jackman witnessed his first full moon. He was at the tallest mountain within seconds to try and notice this new unknown silver ball in the sky, but he could not reach it; no matter how high he jumped, he couldn’t. Eventually, he lay down, tired from his antics.

However, the moment he dropped, he heard something. It was a wolf howling. Jackman had never socialised before, and although it was a scary step, he needed to make this step. Slowly he stood up, and with all the energy he could muster, he shouted his life stories into the night.

JayBird: ‘In this song I am using my guitar instead of Jackman’s howl to tell his stories. Jackman is a German Shepherd with almost unlimited energy who wants simply to run free. He is also a gardener, worker, protector and strangely enough, a master thief (with an uncanny ability to find and steal anything and everything of value). This song is a reincarnation of his perks, quirks and totally unique personality. The rapid and consistent tempo represents his heartbeat, the whammy bar noises represent his howling, and the first solo simulates his sharp teeth tearing through anything you value. I do hope he settles down. Hopefully, my song sets him up for that with a soft section that feels like he grows wise and becomes a mentor to other young dogs just as naughty as him.’

JayBird Byrne, a 13-year-old guitarist, has been captivating audiences with her extraordinary talent since she started playing the guitar at the age of 8.

Her passion for performing is matched only by her unwavering dedication to practice, making her a rising star in the guitar world. Under the guidance and mentorship of Simon Gardner, JayBird has refined her technique and honed her song writing skills, benefiting greatly from his expertise.

Drawing inspiration from legendary guitar virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani, JayBird has developed a unique style that showcases her admiration for these influential figures.

Her debut single, titled ‘Convergence’, received widespread acclaim, earning her the prestigious First Prize with Honours at the International Youth Music Competition in the Modern & Contemporary Category. The judges praised her composition, describing it as “impressive work at such a young age”. They also commented on the excellent balance of instrumentation and texture, and highlighted her remarkable precision and mastery of the guitar.

Despite her tender age, JayBird delivers performances with an intensity and spirit that surpass her years. In 2022, she secured the coveted title of ‘Best Guitarist’ at the RockFEST competition, leaving the judges astounded. They hailed her performance as “fantastic” and an absolute showstopper, acknowledging her incredible energy and mind-blowing level of ability.

JayBird Byrne is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, and her musical journey is poised to captivate audiences worldwide.

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13-Year-Old Guitar Prodigy JayBird Byrne ABC Appearance and Single ‘Pups At Work’

June 23, 2023 Marshall Cullen

JayBird Byrne, a 13-year-old guitarist, based in Redcliffe QLD, home of the Bee Gees in their younger years, has been captivating audiences with her extraordinary talent since she started playing the guitar at the age of 8.

Following her debut on ABC TV last month on the 100 Instruments Countdown featuring in the Electric Guitar section with her own interview and live performance Jaybird Byrne now releases the single ‘Pups At Work’ a guitar instrumental drawing on her extreme talent and the many high pedigree influences she draws on.

A recent shoutout from another young Australian guitar prodigy Taj Farrant has helped to boost her profile even further.

This up-tempo electric guitar instrumental with full band backing comes right out of the box from the start and never lets up. Think Joe Satriani meets Hendrix but then add that JayBird is 13 years old, and you get the ‘wow’ factor. This girl is one to watch.

Pups at Work-Instrumental (Foghorn/MGM):

OUT NOW JULY 7

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Now her skills have attracted the attention of Australia’s National Broadcaster…

Tripe J Radio and ABC TV have just completed shooting with Jaybird for the 100 Countdown with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to be aired on Sat 24 of June 2023. Time Slot is 7.30pm. This comprised a 7 hour shoot and interview at Team Musicare in Queensland. Jaybird is one of the features of the show.

JayBird said“Im so excited to be asked to be included in the National broadcast on ABC. We were in shock when we heard Triple J and ABC had been in touch with my management. Its quite surreal for me. I’m very grateful to all my team and especially my parents who have helped and supported me from day one.”

Her debut single, ‘Convergence’, received widespread acclaim, earning her the prestigious First Prize with Honours at the International Youth Music Competition in the Modern & Contemporary Category. The judges praised her composition, describing it as “impressive work at such a young age,excellent balance of instrumentation and texture … guitar playing skills are fantastic and precise“.

Her passion for performing is matched only by her unwavering dedication to practice(4 hours a day), making her a rising star in the guitar world. Under the guidance and mentorship of Simon Gardner, JayBird has refined her technique and honed her song writing skills.

Drawing inspiration from legendary guitar virtuosos and already receiving comparisons to Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani, JayBird has developed a unique style that showcases her admiration for these influential figures.

JayBird Byrne is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, and her musical journey is poised to captivate audiences worldwide.

JayBird will be on iView on Saturday 24th June at 7:30pm this Sat (AEST).

WATCH LIVE: https://iview.abc.net.au/collection/live-streams

Her new single ‘Pups at Work’ will be out on July 7

Song Description

JayBird – ‘Pups at Work’ is all of my dog training experiences expressed as an instrumental rock guitar song. The song’s progressive rock feel represents the training and unpredictability of the ‘pups at work’. According to my pup, it is: Dog training, but on my human’s guitar.’

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