Tag Archives: New single

ChIPS release single ‘Frequent Flyer’

July 11, 2023 Marshall Cullen

“Frequent Flyer” is an atmospheric and emotive pop song created by young people from the Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS) service. The track powerfully conveys the experience of being a young person living with a chronic health condition and learning to cope with frequent stays in hospital.

ChIPS members were empowered to write, compose and record the song in collaboration with musicians/producers Luke Escombe and Benny Thatcher from “We Wrote That”. Luke and Benny are themselves “frequent flyers” living with chronic health conditions. Using music and song writing as a means of expression has been a powerful outlet for not only ChIPS members but also the musicians involved.

Check out the VIDEO to see the full story

Luke Escombe: “Frequent Flyer” was a true collaboration that evolved over many zoom discussions and writing sessions. It’s ended up being an expression of not just the individual tastes and talents of the group but of the underlying emotions we all feel about having a lifestyle that involves being in and out of hospital. It shows how powerful music can be in communicating ideas that are often too difficult or painful to put into words”.

The song was launched on 16 May at the NSW Health and Arts Framework Forum in front of NSW Health staff including Deputy Secretary Deborah Willcox. It was received with a standing ovation and the young people involved were invited to speak on their experience of using creative expression to amplify and elevate their voices.

ChIPS would like to acknowledge the support of Accessible Arts and Health Infrastructure NSW in this project.

Song Description

An indie tune put together by the ChIPS team from the Childrens Hospital and producer Luke Escombe. Some great sounds plus collaborative vocals from all the participants. Frequent Flyer is the term used for their frequent hospital visits. An important and special song which will help raise awareness.

About ChIPS

ChIPS is a peer support program that runs across Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network for young people aged 12-25 years who are living with a chronic illness or condition that affects their day-to-day lives. The aim of the program is to connect young people with shared experiences and provide them with opportunities for developing leadership and life skills through workshops, advocacy, creative projects, program planning and public speaking.

Since 2021, members of ChIPS have been collaborating with artists Luke Escombe and Benny Thatcher, of arts-in-health initiative “We Wrote That”, to write and record original songs that speak to the experience of being a young person living with a chronic health condition.

ChIPS – Frequent Flyer is out NOW July 14th through Foghorn/MGM

Download or stream

“We Wrote That” – Website with previous releases and ‘making of’ blog

https://wewrotethat.com.au/

Connect with Luke Escombe:

News and Touring

Jack Nolan’s Latest Single ‘Solo Sailor’ from Upcoming ‘Jindabyne’ Album and Live Launch

July 7, 2023 Marshall Cullen

Just ahead of the Album launch and release next month Jack Nolan will be Ross M Fear’s studio guest on Alive 90.5 fm Australian Spectrum Show 9pm Tuesday 11 July 203 featuring a steal preview of his latest album “Jindabyne”.

The new single is Solo Sailor – see below for details including the Live Album Launch

Documenting the loss of a distant complicated man, ‘Solo Sailor’ is a soft farewell capturing a send off, a silent understanding reached, of melancholy and a life lived by the water. With an acoustic guitar augmented beautifully with a simple electric line and understated backing band, this is an ocean journey where the writer asks all fellow mariners to give the man right of way as he makes his way home. In true singer songwriter style ‘Solo Sailor’ is surely an acoustic playlist contender.

A deep cut ballad from the new Jack Nolan album: Jindabyne (released 4 August). Solo Sailor features distinctive slide and picked guitar, lush backing vocals, ambient drum backing and more than enough ducking and weaving through the textures of the song arrangement and lyrics to hold your interest.

‘JINDABYNE Album Launch’

Book here – Tickets
Thursday 3 August, 2023
From 7pm
First 50 ticket sales will receive a copy of the LP on arrival.
Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Club
1 Ocean Street Clovelly, NSW 2031

Based in Sydney, Australia, singer songwriter Jack Nolan has been performing and releasing music and albums since the mid 1990’s. Along with a six-album solo catalogue Jack also fronted The Kelly Gang, with Rick Grossman, bassist for The Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus along with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitar player Martin Rotsey. Their 2004 album ‘Looking for the Sun’ is still considered a hidden gem, with an incredible line-up of musicians that delivered passionate and energetic live shows of the time.

Within Nolan’s music, mysterious and shimmering chords unite his sound. Once quaintly described as ‘Darlinghurst Country’ his sound unites elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and ambient atmospheres fusing Nolan’s passion for intensely charged electric guitar and finger-picked acoustic guitar.

Of recent years, the critically acclaimed 2018 album ‘Our Waverley Star’ was followed by the equally impressive 2020 outing ‘Gabriel’ – both long players being ethereal story books and rich song collections. It was these two outings that cemented Nolan’s love of the working town Nashville, an association with guitarist/producer Justin Weaver (Dixie Chicks/Wynonna Judd) that started with a one-off phone call and developed into an alliance that Nolan describes as “arriving in town, in the northern winter, when everyone’s off the road, with my swag of songs to greet all the boys again to collaborate”.

Performing in & around the traps, Jack’s Australian band includes Travis New (Andrew Farris/Imogen Clark) on guitar, Tim Samson (Christne Anu/Andrew Farris) on bass and long time drummer & Hamish Stuart (Don Walker/Ian Moss et al).

Stream Solo Sailor

Connect with Jack

News and Touring

Vanleer & Co. Release Single ‘I Still Think Of You’

June 30, 2023 Marshall Cullen

“I Still Think Of You” is a song that pulls at the heart strings of anyone having any kind of dysfunctional relationship. Whether it is with a spouse, a child, a sibling or even a long term friendship. “I Still Think Of You” was inspired by one of my children and the events surrounding the life choices they were making. This composition is my expression of my love and perhaps they will hear it and come to realise how much I have loved them all along.

The second single from Vanleer & Co features full Americana style band backing and lush female backing vocals. Duncan Toombs on guitar, Kayne Butler on drums, Andrew Beck on bass and engineer. The song is mid-tempo and along with the sentiment in the lyric has some catchy and tasteful electric guitar which lifts the tune perfectly.

William is a singer/songwriter based on the beautiful Central Coast of NSW. Originally from rural NSW, he was born the son of a coal miner who also played in a country band. His passion for music began early with his father teaching him to play guitar.

Since then he has performed for a variety of charity events held by the NSWRFS and Land Care organisations, as well as countless open mics along with band support roles in and around the Central Coast.

Download or Stream

Connect with William Vanleer

News and Touring

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

STREAM/DOWNLOAD

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“.

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.
The first 60 seconds of this video says it all here

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.’

Connect with JayBird:

News and Touring

Jessie-May K Releases Single ‘Do What We Want’

April 14, 2023 Marshall Cullen

‘When I was little there was one thing I would always say. I’ve always clung to my independence like a badge of honour too precious to lose. So when others tried to reign authority over me or tell me what to do, my answer was always the same. “I can DO WHAT I WANT!”.

As one might have already suspected, this personal, inner fire was both good and bad depending on the situation. However, luckily as I grew, it was more often a positive trait and ended up saving me from a life of cycle repeating, bad decisions and abusive relationships. I’m very grateful that I kept such a strong connection to my inner compass and that I never lost that part of me. I made my own choices, I chose my own path.

Concealed inside the electronic, synthetic pop, is a mantra for individualism all can express. And I can only hope that if anyone out there relates, that they never forget, you can be whoever you choose to be, no matter what you’ve gone through, where you started, or who’s tried to tear you down. The only thing that is in charge of you is you. Live authentically, don’t be afraid to express yourself, stand up for what you believe in, this is YOUR life. Let’s do what we want.’

Another modern pop gem from young Central Coast singer Jessie -May K. The song has an intriguing telephone sound on the vocal chorus plus brilliant backing created by producers Dave Hunt (Sarah Blasko) and Andrew Beck (Steve Kilbey, Natalie Gauci). Mid tempo, great beats, hooks and plenty of lush vocals.

About Jessie

Jessie-May K is a young, Singer, Songwriter, Director, Actor & Artist. Most successful as an internet personality, Jessie has released four singles and a collection of episodic works that accompanied their 5 track EP Zone Out (2020).

Originally trained in Musical Theatre, Jessie transferred to music when they were 16, teaching themselves guitar from YouTube to elevate their musical career, as they had been writing songs with lyrics and melody since they were 5 years old.

Jessie is passionate about social justice and activism, often releasing music about movements that are important to them, raising awareness and sharing donation links in the hopes it will make a difference. Jessie is Neurodivergent and was born with ASD, ADHD, OCD and developed PTSD as a result of their early hardships and extreme childhood trauma. Jessie believes that the world thrives on diversity and that benign individuality is something to be celebrated and not feared.

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

The Sheyana Band Releases Single ‘Big Hearts’

March 24, 2023 Marshall Cullen

After a forced recording break during covid Tassie’s premier Blues/Rock outfit ‘The Sheyana Band’ is back to full strength with a brand new mini album and live local launch’s to support.

Heres the first single ‘Big Hearts’

Having already performed at festivals such as Party in the Paddock and played with Meg Mac, The Hoodoo Gurus, Gang of Youths and more the band are looking at extending the reach into mainland festivals from late 2023-2024.

Big Hearts is where Big Love comes from. A place where you use your Big Heart to look after your planet and each other. ‘I was out of my comfort zone in unfamiliar territory when I worked on that complex riff and unusual tuning. I bunkered down in Penguin, Tasmania and wrote “Big Hearts” with a fine wine, channelling Greg Allman & Foo Fighters for inspiration.’

Big Hearts is a band favourite song on The Sheyana Band’s ‘Ricochet EP’. After the Covid restrictions eased, the band started working the song into shape in production sessions with sound engineer Russell Pilling. It went from beating it out on a cardboard box at rehearsal to pouring our heart and soul into the recording.

We recorded drums, bass and acoustic guitar at Red Robin Recording at Leith, Tasmania, getting that live feel down along with “no stress” recording sessions. The band recorded electric guitars in the loungeroom and vocals in the doorway of a tiny library at Studio 90 in Penguin. Big Hearts is more than Big Love, it’s a higher love.

An outstanding recording effort with smooth and snappy production on this up-tempo single. Full band, rocky and catchy with a big chorus and riffy hooky guitars. Sheyana’s voice cuts through the mix beautifully for the sing along chorus.

About

Influenced by the classics and drawing inspiration from their deep Tassie roots, The Sheyana Band are like a fine wine. A ripe fruity musical banquet, fusing stylistic flavours from Australian Rhythm & Soul, American Funk & Blues, English Pop/Rock & Punk, with a dash of Southern Country/Folk.

The Sheyana Band shake it up, roll it on the rocks, pour it in the groove and serve it with passion. Delighting audiences with an exciting delivery of powerhouse vocals, brilliant musicianship and heartfelt song writing, their captivating live shows have seen them share the stage with Australia’s finest.

London born, Tasmanian based singer, songwriter and guitarist, Sheyana, has been hooked on music since early childhood. The soulful Celtic/Sri Lankan storyteller brings flavour to the table with her stellar band, featuring Wayne Rand on lead guitars/vocals, Dan Jeffrey on bass & Leigh Hill on drums/vocals.

Having national and international recognition and airplay, the band have supported Deborah Conway, Hoodoo Gurus, Neil Finn, Meg Mac, Mojo Juju, Gang of Youths, Renee Geyer, Diesel, The Angels, Kevin Borich, Ian Moss, Bill Chambers and Fanny Lumsden. Nationally they won “The Chris Wilson Award” for Emerging Act of Year” with their album Big Love in 2018.

The Sheyana Band received a top ten hit in Sri Lanka in 2015 with their single “Keep the Change”, along with a Best Act nomination. Sheyana scored a blues award with the OzSong International Song Writing Competition in 2011 for her song “Two Birds”, which also made it to the finals in “Fresh Air” ABC National Song writing Competition. The Sheyana Band are a favourite act at major Tassie events: Skyfields 2017-2018, Forth Valley Blues Festival 2018, Party In The Paddock 2018-2019, Fruits of the Roots 2019, Festival of King Island 2020, Red Hot Summer after party 2021, Junction Arts Festival 2021, and Riverbend Blues 2023.

Stream the single

Connect with The Sheyana Band

News and Touring

Jack Nolan Releases Single ‘She Knew’

March 17, 2023 Marshall Cullen

SHE KNEW is the fourth cut from Jack’s next LP set for release mid ’23.

What started as a little fingerpicker became one punchy alt folk pop number that grabs you from the top. Featuring Jack’s Gretsch fingerpicking hanging off Justin Weavers powerful electric guitar hooks, this song moves along at the pace of a storyteller running away. Like so much of Jack’s music, regret, joy, love, and redemption all play a part in this poetic soundscape.

Jack Nolan has delivered a true rocker for his new single. Electric guitars start the tune, a fast drum beat and classic arrangement make the tune ear catching and accessible straight away. This one would sit alongside classics Tom Petty, Paul Kelly and Springsteen for sure.

“Driving down to my mining town

I was swerving

I turned the wheel

I was drifting lanes

He’d broken down in traffic

I told her I loved her

She Knew”

And when all is said and done you can only do what’s possible; you can only be responsible for yourself.

About Jack Nolan

Based in Sydney, Australia, singer songwriter Jack Nolan has been performing and releasing music since the mid 1990’s. Along with a five-album solo catalogue Jack also fronted The Kelly Gang, with Rick Grossman, bassist for The Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus, along with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitar player Martin Rotsey. Their 2004 album Looking for the Sun was critically adored along with their energetic live shows.

Once quaintly described as ‘Darlinghurst Country’, his sound unites elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and ambient atmospheres fusing Nolan’s passion for intensely charged electric guitar and finger-picked acoustic guitar.

The critically acclaimed 2018 album ‘Our Waverley Star’ was followed up by the equally impressive ‘Gabriel’. It was these two American outings that cemented Nolan’s love of Nashville and built from a connection with guitarist/producer Justin Weaver that started with a one-off phone call and developed into an alliance that Nolan describes as ‘Team America’. What’s now become a regular jaunt is an opportunity for Nolan to get away from all the distractions of home, and “arrive in town, in the northern winter, when everyone’s off the road, with my swag of songs to greet all the boys again to collaborate”.

Jack’s new album – JINDABYNE – is set for release thus year. This album has waited in the wings while lockdowns and rules meant the guitar took on a whole new meaning. “I arrived home from Nashville in early March 2020 with ‘Gabriel’ ready for mastering. One week later, the world turned on its axis and – lockdown. This created a sense of urgency in me, so I made a conscious decision not to waste the time and went to work writing JINDABYNE. As soon as the plane could fly I was booked and took off back to the US”.

Stream/download

Connect

News and Touring

Vanleer and Co Releases Single ‘Time Machine’

March 3, 2023 Marshall Cullen

Central Coast artist William Vanleer AKA ‘Vanleer and Co’ release the debut single …..

This song was written as William’s way of honouring the loss of two close friends. As the song unfolded, it took William on a very personal journey, reminding him of things unsaid and always an unfulfilled desire to spend more time with a loved one or someone who has a special place in your life.

‘Time Machine was to be the song I needed to write and always wanted to write. It was to be the song I had been long since searching for from the very depths of my emotions; a song that would connect me with my past, my present and my future. A song that commemorates all those I have ever lost without being able to see them again or getting the chance to say goodbye along with those I am sure to lose in the near future.’ – William Vanleer

A mid-tempo Nashville sounding americana cut from William Vanleer. Electric guitar layers, bass, drums and a lyrical story everyone can relate to. This debut release sets the tone for many more to come from Vanleer & Co. Memories of the days of Kris Kristofferson and more recently Sturgill Simpson.

About William Vanleer

He would spend much of his younger years harbouring a burning desire for his father to teach him to play, but wouldn’t pick up his first guitar until the age of 14 after being placed into foster care. While in care, William met his foster brother, Terry, who taught him to play Little Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Written for a Walt Disney Mickey Mouse cartoon.

In the mid 80’s William began composing, but it was not until he found a collaborator/friend and poet, Frank, that he was able to complete compositions that he was happy with. In 1989/1990 they entered two compositions into the steel city songwriter’s competition that ran Australia & New Zealand wide, both pieces making it into the final.

Since then he has performed for a variety of charity events held by the NSW RFS and Land Care organisations, as well as countless open mics along with band support roles in and around the Central Coast.

Download or Stream

Connect with William Vanleer

News and Touring

Kalen Hogan Releases Single ‘Stoned and Cold’

February 17, 2023 Marshall Cullen

A news report about a young missing person gave Kalen the inspiration for this track. The missing person was someone his own age and the weather that day was miserable. Kalen felt a connection to how the teen’s family’s thoughts would go to the worst-case scenario. Were they worrying and imagining their daughters fear? Was she lost and cold in some unknown location?

The track’s sound is filled with pensive sadness and regret. Unusually the song ends with a final verse, rather than a chorus, leaving the listener hanging just like the imagined family. ‘Stoned and Cold’ is Kalen’s third single release. His album is due for release in March.

An acoustic guitar and vocal starts this Jeff Buckley-esque tune, once the drums come in its a very easy smooth listen until the song builds to a fine falsetto bridge and verse outro.

Kalen Hogan is a 17 year old solo guitarist singer songwriter, living a very chilled out life an hour north of Sydney, near Wamberal Beach.

Influenced by his musical uncle, Kalen started out jamming on a ukulele as a toddler, before advancing to his first acoustic guitar in primary school. Now in high school, Kalen is composing songs and recently began recording tracks at Damien Gerard Studios, in Gosford.

Kalen’s has been performing regularly at local venues, showcasing the tracks he has been recording. He released two single late in 2022 and is working on an album scheduled for March 2023.

Download or Stream:

Connect with Kalen:

News and Touring

Jessie-May K with Miguel Cullen-Green Releases Single ‘My Type’

February 17, 2023 Marshall Cullen

Jessie-May K has never been one to follow the crowd, so it’s no surprise that conventional beauty standards hadn’t been implanted into their psyche, the same way they have affected the masses through media consumption and cliquish social paradigms.

My Type was inspired by the beauty Jessie sees in the unconventional and in support of the underdogs and nerdish types. They find themselves often discarded by society and labelled as unattractive and inadequate, when it comes to mankind’s idealisation of relationship partners and cultural paradigms.

The song was written in collaboration with Miguel Cullen-Green who is an excellent artist himself and a friend of Jessie’s. Although My Type is their first musical project together, Miguel is an actor as well as musician and has been featured in some of Jessie’s music videos.

Jessie-May K is a young Singer, Songwriter, Director, Actor & Artist. Most successful as an internet personality, Jessie has released 4 Singles (2018-2021) & a collection of episodic works that accompany a 5 track EP titled ‘Zone Out’ in 2020.

Originally trained in Musical Theatre, Jessie transferred to music when they were 16. As they had been writing songs with lyrics and melody since they were 5 years old they taught themselves guitar off YouTube to elevate their musical ambitions.

Jessie is passionate about social justice and activism, often releasing music about movements that are important to them, raising awareness and sharing donation links in the hopes it will make a difference. Jessie is Neurodivergent & was born with ASD, ADHD, OCD and developed PTSD as a result of their early hardships and extreme childhood trauma. Jessie believes that the world thrives on diversity and that benign individuality is something to be celebrated and not feared.

Download or stream:

Connect with Jessie-May Kitchen: