Tag Archives: New single

BLJ Releases Single ‘Friday I’m In Love’

May 17, 2024 Marshall Cullen

A new classic Cure Cover from the BLJ Production Team

One of the hot topics of conversation over here is what song to do next. We love The Cure, they write such beautifully crafted songs, and we wanted to do something really upbeat. So, we thought how about ‘Friday I’m In Love’, in a similar style to our restomod of ‘Just Like Heaven’.

Well, here it is. Andi’s vocal adaption is spot on, as always, and I’ve given it lots of slam, dressed with string arrangements. We hope it lifts you up and gets you groovin!

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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CB Ghost Releases Debut Single ‘Hollywood Hills’

May 2, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Dealing with an undiagnosed mental issue while navigating a failing relationship, CB Ghost serendipitously met and wrote Hollywood Hills with accomplished musician Justin Miranda. The song came together one sunny afternoon in a Forresters Beach kitchen overlooking Wamberal Lagoon, near Spoon Bay, not far from Avoca Beach and just north of Sydney.

Like a quest for happiness (and peace) the song focuses on giving up things that are unhealthy, including negative thoughts. The song, with an upbeat ocean country vibe, is a lesson to self, to heal and greenlight a better and happier life.

CB Ghost is a songwriter with an honest simple folk-rock style that captures the essence of a complicated existence with singalong tunes and poetic lyrics and sometimes a banger beat. CB Ghost has emerged from a close nit coastal surfing village in Australia. His background provides him with a deep connection to toe tapping Celtic, country and straight-ahead heart felt rock music mixed with salt water from the ocean.

A former pro surfer, CB Ghost is driven, bold and dedicated to his evolving sound and a deep love of blue-collar folk stories and sensibility – and most importantly playing live to crowds who love to drink, dance, sing and have fun.

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Kalen Hogan Releases New Single ‘On The Phone’

April 11, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Cracker new single from Central Coast artist Kalen Hogan

This song narrates the tale of a mate watching two separate friends lost on their phones, scrolling to date strangers, whilst he knows they would be perfectly matched, if they just got out of their phones and rooms.

The chords and melody for the track had been bouncing around in Kalen’s mind whilst he finished off the ‘Isolation’ album in 2023, but the story behind the lyrics had yet to unfold. Kalen believes ‘On the Phone’ has a bit of an attitude and would never have fitted in with his melancholier sounding tracks of the previous year.

Kalen Hogan debuted onto the local Central Coast music scene in late 2022. At age 17, Kalen proudly launched his debut album ‘Isolation’ in May of the following year. Keen to kick off the new year with new music, Kalen has emerged from recent studio time to release his latest single ‘On The Phone’.

Kalen says he is inspired by the 1990’s grunge movement, with a real reverence for bands like Nirvana, and describes himself as an alternative indie rock singer song writer. Kalen sings about the complexities of everyday life, with an open heart and keen observing eye. His pure vocal tone, with a moderately high pitch, may reflect why some tracks have been compared to Thom Yorke from Radiohead and the late Jeff Buckley.

You can catch Kalen live at various venues and events across the coast and stayed tuned for more single releases throughout the back half of the year.

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Big Merino Release Single ‘Second Hand Smoke’

March 21, 2024 Marshall Cullen

The first 2024 release for Sydney’s Big Merino

The song ‘Second Hand Smoke’ came about after the 2019 bushfires in NSW and Covid. It’s a bit of a lateral take on a story that a lot of people can relate to and it suggests why, in spite of everything, we get up the next day and give things another crack.

Recorded and mixed by Studio Legend Phil Punch, this is a great beginning for a range of singles the guys will be following with this year.

The band will be performing the new single Second Hand Smoke and a whole bunch of new songs on

Sat April 13 @ The Gasoline Pony

It’s Big Merino‘s first gig for quite some time … come and join us to celebrate the release!

@ The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
Saturday 13th April, from 7pm.
Book : trybooking.com/CQCRM

Formed in 2017, Big Merino play original music that blurs the lines between country, blues, roots, rock and pop. Despite an obvious passion for what’s often called ‘Americana’, their songs somehow manage to be very personal and quintessentially Australian – the words and sound shaped by the landscape and their own stories.

Song Description

Acoustic southern vibes abound in this new single from Big Merino. Bass, drums, guitars and a driving snare beat keeps this bluesy track afloat with plenty of sing-a-long moments, even handclaps. Up-tempo, happy and feel good, a great first of the year for these Sydney locals.

Out March 22 Foghorn/MGM

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Kilbey Kennedy Release New Single ‘That’s Gotta Hurt’

March 7, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Both of these guys are on a post covid roll, The Church’s Hypnogogue Album has received worldwide acclaim and Martin’s work has been far ranging and prolific as always.

Building on the success of Jupiter 13 (2021) and The Strange Life of Persephone Nimbus (2022), Steve Kilbey and Martin Kennedy are about to releases their latest epic, ‘Premonition K’. The album unveils sumptuous sonic soundscapes courtesy of Kennedy paired with Kilbey’s lyrics that delve into the dark and enigmatic realms that exist between the boundaries of life and death.

Steve Kilbey, best known as frontman of legendary Aussie post-prog rockers The Church, infuses each track with an emotional resonance and sense of mystery. Martin Kennedy co-pilots this sonic odyssey with Steve Kilbey, weaving an intricate musical bed for Kilbey’s lyrical dreamings. Drawing from his twenty years of soundscaping with All India Radio, Kennedy adds layers of sonic complexity, at once warmly familiar and mysteriously strange, creating an immersive experience for the listener.

The first single from the new album ‘That’s Gotta Hurt’ – upbeat jangle-guitars and Kennedy’s familiar electronic swirls provide the stage for Kilbey’s trademark lyrical magic.

Steve Kilbey says, “That’s Gotta Hurt is about the existential pain of loving and losing and of attachment to the roles we play in this theatre of the absurd.”

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Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds – Photograph(Official Video)

Video March 1, 2024 Marshall Cullen

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Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds Release New Single ‘Photograph’

February 29, 2024 Marshall Cullen

The second single from the forthcoming album following the success of ‘Anchor’ last year.

‘Photograph’ is a delicate and broody alt-folk song full of melodic hooks and echo harmonies, featuring introspective verses, and soaring choruses. The Lyrebirds’ ethereal harmonies combine with Bec’s lead vocal to create a haunting effect, meditating on how hard it can be to forgive and forget in a relationship.

The Video for single was just premiered on Scenestr

Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a five-piece alt-country pop band from Canberra. Described as Seeker-Lover-Keeper-meets-Nashville-the-TV-show, their “twangy, Australiana” sound combines with “charming melodies and lyrics brimming with heart” (Scenstr). They are a band with incredible musical chemistry, with soaring harmonies and a rich instrumentation of guitars, piano, drums, bass, banjo, mandolin, and occasional cello parts, which complement Bec’s heartfelt songwriting.

Consisting of versatile musicians with rich experience in different genres, the Lyrebirds are Hannah Beasley (PaintonPaint), Sam McNair (JD McNair, The Burley Griffin), Sophie Chapman (Brass Knuckle Brass Band, Andy and George Band) and Grahame Thompson (Cracked Actor, BabyFreeze, Mr Fibby).

There’s two shows in March to launch the single and plenty more coming later in the year

– Saturday 9th March 7pm – Cancophany at UC Refectory hosted by Enlighten Canberra – Tickets

https://enlightencanberra.com/program/cancophony/?

– Thursday 14th March – Photograph Launch House Gig at Hannah’s in Canberra (tickets below)

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Rumba Flamenca Arabe’

February 23, 2024 Marshall Cullen

With around a quarter of a million streams already this series of Flamenco Guitar from one of Australia’s best is ready for a new brilliant track to start 2024,

The rumba is an upbeat & rhythmically syncopated flamenco style, ideal for dancing & festivities. It is an incredibly flexible genre, able to assimilate a multitude of influences such as Latin, Arabic or pop-contemporary. The rumba is arguably the most recognisable & widely listened to of all flamenco music. It’s lively tempo & irresistible groove, make it hugely popular around the world.

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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Extra Time Receives Extra Accolades in Europe

February 5, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Extra Time Receives Extra Accolades in Europe with their Video Now in the Berlin Film Festival

The brand new release ‘Where Is The Light’ from Brendan McNamara’s project, Extra Time, is already scoring goals since its release on 22 January. The first single from the second album, ‘Songs With Long Titles’, is beautifully supported by an animated film clip created by renowned Sydney based Brazilian artist, Gabriel Gareso. The film clip has just been officially selected for the Berlin Lift Off Film Festival, screening in Berlin, Germany between 15 and 25 February.

‘Where Is The Light’ speaks of the Japanese ‘Hikikomori’ – a severe social withdrawal most prevalent in young adolescent males whereby they isolate themselves in their rooms for months on end. A highly relatable concept in today’s modern era and especially apt given Brendan’s day job as a video game creator and director.

The clip is the freelance 2D animator and illustrator’s first music video, so he has certainly made his mark being included in the international film festival.

“My goal was to delve into the emotional aspects of loneliness, highlighting that despite being more virtually connected than ever, loneliness and depression also seem stronger than ever. The main challenge of this project was to create an engaging visual interpretation of the song while keeping it within budget. 4 minutes of animation is a LOT. The band’s creative freedom was crucial, making the entire process exceptionally smooth.”

To date the video has amassed over 84,000 views! A unique opportunity to be part of the interactive release of Extra Time’s latest album is to look out for billboards featuring the album cover art created by German artist Lucas Zimmerman popping up worldwide. Extra Time invite you to take a selfie with one of the billboards and post it on social media tagging @extra_time_music in your post.

The vinyl release is available now for preorder – a beautiful gatefold presentation released globally on Foghorn Records, recorded and mixed at one of the industry’s leading spaces Damien Gerard Studios at West Gosford, featuring ex Los Angeles engineer Andrew Beck and mastered by Grammy Award Winner William Bowden.

WATCH THE FULL MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘WHERE IS THE LIGHT’

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Silphie Releases Single ‘Sulpicia’s Birthday’

February 1, 2024 Marshall Cullen

Featuring Silphie’s sublime highly trained vocals, a Harmonium, cello, viola and nylon string classical guitar, the debut release for this neo classical/world music act from the NSW Central Coast is sure to have ears lighting up. The quality of the recording, the players, the juxtaposition of the vocals switching from Latin to English and the overall sound of this track will put you in a medieval soundscape that could be part of a beautiful old film shot on 70mm.

Sulpicia was a female poet who lived in Rome in 40BC. Sulpicia’s Birthday is the second in a series of six poems. The story describes her ecstasy, as Sulpicia writes to her lover to tell him she has arranged for the two of them to spend her birthday together, frolicking in Rome.

Photo Credit-Lisa Haymes photography

Michaele Archer graduated (with distinction) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Opera School and has performed nationally and internationally. She also attained a Masters in Applied Science, researching breathing techniques for opera singers from the University of Sydney.

Her research in breathing techniques was presented in Paris at the International Congress of Voice Teachers. Recently Michaele has been performing and studying in Los Angeles and Switzerland with vocal expert Robin de Haas and has been certified as an Advanced Breathing Coordination practitioner.

Lisa Haymes photography

Michaele’s love of ancient instruments and language led her to the work of Sulpicia, a female poet who lived in Rome in the time of Augustus. ‘Garland, the love poems of Sulpicia’ is her latest recording project.

Sulpicia’s poems were included in a publication of the famous roman writer Tibullus and originally attributed to him. The mystery around Sulpicia as a young woman breaking taboos, writing of a secret love affair and the rich sound of the Latin text drew Michaele deep into the project. The poems form the text for the album. Written for harmonium, guitar, cello, viola and vocals, Michaele’s recordings embrace a tone palate that is analogue, raw and dark.

Silphie is a collaboration with Michaele Archer (vocal and harmonium), Rachel Whealy (cello), Giuseppe Zangari (guitar), and Gab Stelle (viola). The name Silphie is inspired by the ancient world’s herb Silphium which was used for everything from perfume and cooking to medicine.

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Video premiere

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