Tag Archives: Tasmania

The Sheyana Band Release Single ‘Remarkable Man’

August 19, 2023 Marshall Cullen

The new uptempo cracking’ single Remarkable Man lifted from The Sheyana Bands EP Ricochet.

The band went into the studio to record a Johnny Cash style country & western ditty, but sound engineer, Russell Pilling, suggested changing the original Americana feel to a tougher AC/DC – Aussie Rock feel. Bingo!! It was like a brand new song and the track fitted like a glove into their new EP ‘Ricochet’.

Sheyana explains: “When I close my eyes, this is how the imagery of the song plays in my mind; show yourself friend or foe! Remarkable Man lines up with both barrels, bullets of pleasure and pain – shining bright, cutting deep, demanding to be loved and loathed. Cover your trusting heart! Do you have the superpowers to survive the impact?”

The track has become a band and fan favourite.

A full throttle country rock number from Sheyana, a very worthy single to follow up to Big Hearts. The song begins with the full band straight in, its up-tempo, catchy and full of riffs and hooks from the very competent guitar section, foot tapping all the way to the end.

The Sheyana Band’s recent EP, ‘Ricochet’, came together during covid lockdown in Tasmania. Making the best of a bad situation and with time for reflection, Sheyana and the band focused on songwriting, and the music emerged out of conflicting times.

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.

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.

Following the release earlier this year of their EP, the band embarked on a series of sold out single & album launches across Tasmania. The EP is getting national airplay, charting on Australian Blues and Roots Chart, and received some great national and international album reviews.

The first single & music clip Big Hearts was premiered by Australian music group Scenstr. Internationally, YESFM Sri Lanka recently premiered the track and came in Top 20 on the Yes Home Grown Charts. The band are releasing a second single from the EP, ‘Remarkable Man’ and planning to tour East Coast Australia in 2024, along with some live shows in Sri Lanka.

The Sheyana Band had a top ten hit in Sri Lanka in 2015 with their single ‘Keep the Change’. 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 the Fresh Air ABC National Song writing Competition. The Sheyana Band are a favourite act at major Tassie events: Skyfields, Forth Valley Blues Festival, Party In The Paddock, Fruits of the Roots, Festival of King Island, Junction Arts Festival and Riverbend Blues.

The band have supported Deborah Conway, Hoodoo Gurus, Neil Finn, Meg Mac, Mojo Juju, Gang of Youths, 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.

Stream/Download Remarkable Man (Foghorn/MGM) August 18

https://ffm.to/remarkableman

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The Sheyana Band Release New EP ‘Ricochet’

April 14, 2023 Marshall Cullen

The Sheyana Band’s EP, ‘Ricochet’, came together during covid lockdown in Tasmania. Making the best of a bad situation and with plenty of time to reflect, Sheyana and the band focused on song writing, and the music emerged from those strange, uneasy times. The songs were the lights at the end of the tunnel, at a time when we were both separated and unified. Through the music and the artwork, this EP is a tribute to the loved ones we’ve lost along the way, and the big hearts working towards a higher love and respect for one another and our planet.

Song Descriptions

Remarkable Man
A full throttle country rock number, a very worthy single to follow up to Big Hearts. The song begins with the full band straight in, it’s up-tempo, catchy and full of riffs and hooks from the very competent guitar section, foot tapping all the way to the end.

My Darlin’
Another full band tune with a Beatles-esque intro, the song then quickly hits the classic americana/country references with the addition of some Hammond and backing vocals to the full band arrangement. Up-tempo and yet another killer tune from this release.

Ricochet
A pumping rhythm section intro starts this up-tempo rocker. Great electric guitars, Hammond organ and the usual strong lead vocal set the tone for this one. You can imagine this being a live favourite, very accessible and plenty going on all the way to the end.

About

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.

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.

The Sheyana Band EP ‘Ricochet’ is Out Now via FOG/MGM

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Gareth Koch and Peter Bonner Hit Note Of Success

October 25, 2018 Marshall Cullen

With their debut release Don’t Tempt Me coming out last month on Planet/MGM, this new Tasmanian Duo have been pleasantly surprised to find a warm welcome for their collaborative effort.
Both Local and National interviews from the ABC to Commercial and Community Radio have been ongoing as well as a noteworthy piece in the local newspaper.

“From the opening verse of their title track, Don’t Tempt Me, the seamless mix of Koch’s classical guitar and Bonner’s pop-rock vocal delivery manages to give listeners a glimpse into a songwriting partnership that takes in hundreds of years worth of influences.”
The Launceston Examiner (full article)

Community Radio Syndicated Show Aussie Music Weekly were quick to jump on the case interviewing the guys for a forthcoming broadcast and featuring the EP in their new release section.

Hear the interview

The Don’t Tempt Me EP has also been sent out to over 1000 Aussie Cafes via cafe music network Soundslikecafe and found an immediate popular fit with enough cafes to achieve a number 1 on their featured album charts.

Not a bad start for what started out as a side project!

The Tasmanian-based songwriting team of Gareth Koch and Peter Bonner draws inspiration from medieval music to post-modern psychedelia, with every imaginable influence in between.? Bonner and Koch have a strong and immediately recognisable musical identity, a new sound and aesthetic that comes with a fluid movement across genres. The result is an array of catchy pop tunes, soulful ballads, blues grooves and rock songs.

Gareth: “Mine is an unusual musical trajectory. I play in the Australian Guitar Trio and also in a hard rock band. So these two audiences are quite different. One is there to listen, the other is there to dance and sort of listen! The songwriting partnership with Pete Bonner is a separate project again. A great creative outlet for me, a chance to allow a flow of ideas to take form without the need to ‘tailor’ in a specific way.”

Peter: “I think a crowd can expect a diverse music experience with rock, blues, classical, folk and pop flavours. I love a wide range for genres from the heavy rock sounds of Jethro Tull, the jazz/funk of Steely Dan, the country ballads of James Taylor through to the country/rock influences of Bonnie Raitt.”

GARETH KOCH + PETER BONNER – DON’T TEMPT ME was expertly mixed at Damien Gerard Studios Sydney and superbly mastered by Grammy Award winning Wiliam Bowden. It is out now on Planet/MGM.

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Jessie May Kitchen – QnA with Foghorn

July 26, 2018 Marshall Cullen

Jessie May Kitchen is a 17 year old singer/songwriter who just released her debut single “Coffee Shop,” We got a chance to chat with Jessie about her start in the music industry and the new single.

Make sure to check out her self-produced video for “Coffee Shop” here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP_AUQL74F8

“I describe myself as confidently clumsy, confidently messy, confidently goofy, and confidently dreaming. I’ve never fit in with the crowd. I take this as a gift from life as uniqueness is good. Those adjectives are the best ways I can describe myself. I’m confidently clumsy. All ways have been – I can trip over air, knock and spill things like a champ! i’m confidently goofy – making other smile with my loud, silliness, and crazy shenanigans. I’m confidently messy – life’s too short to be perfect. My closet has three options. Clothes stained with dirt, stained with food, or stained with paint. I’m confidently dreaming – always. You can never dream too big or have too much imagination. I’ve been told my whole life I’ve got my ‘head int he clouds,’ people don’t realize that’s where you fly,” – Jessie May Kitchen

QnA with Jessie May Kitchen

Foghorn Records: Tell us about the moment you decided to become a singer/writer. What did your family have to say?

Jessie May Kitchen: I wanted to become a singer/songwriter when I was 5 years old. I remember seeign people singing on TV and thinking “Hey! That’s me,” My parents told me I could be anything I wanted as a young girl, but like most families panicked in my high school years telling me I “should find a plan B” or go for something, you know, is “easy, safe, or guaranteed money,” So, for a while i was lost and didn’t write for years. Until one day in 2016, I realized that I’m happiest in song writing and singing; that this is who I’m supposed to be. So, I picked up a guitar and was me again. My parents are much more supportive of me now that I’m older. And even if it’s not the “safest” road to travel, it sure is the sunniest.

FR: What inspired you to become an artist and whoa re your early influences?

JMK: I can’t remember a time that something had made me think, “ya know what? Let’s be an artist!” I always just was. I’ve forever created to express myself and because I love it. I did watch a lot of musical shows when I was small, such as The Wiggles, H.R Puff n Stuff, The Naked Brothers Band, and Hannah Montana, so I feel that probably influenced Younger Me.

FR: Tell us a little about your writing process. How does a song come along? What gets you going creatively?
JMK: I usually write songs about how I feel or my thoughts about life at the time. A good song comes from the heart. Sometimes I’ll be venting out a whole song. Other times I’ll be out and about busy when a lyric will come to be, so I crawl it down on a notepad or write it in my phone to put in a song later. I also write songs that are stories I’ve made up. I see or hear something I like then let my imagination run wild.

FR: Your bio mentions growing up in a split family. Tell us what went on there.

JMK: I grew up in a truggling split family: when my parents were together they would abuse each other drunk. My father’s an alcoholic and my mother’s a party girl. They would bash each other up, leaving blood on the wall and police at our door frequently. They split up when I was 9. Me and my mum has a rough relationship. We got into fist fights because I was a troubled child and missed my dad, so one day she dropped me off at his house to live. Living with my dad for 7 years wasn’t a piece of cake because of his alcoholism. My dad tried his best to look after me, he is a good parent enslaved by his addiction. Some nights I had to look after him as if he were a moody cild, other nights he would get abusive. At 16, I got tired of it and repaired my relationship with my mother to move in and help my other siblings. My oldest sister by then had also become a bit of an alcoholic, her depression alongside our parents’ genes caused her to lash out violently when drunk. This eventually led to me calling the police after she threatened to murder me, and I believed her as we’ve had very violent arguments in the past. The police put an AVO against her for a year. We have recently resolved our conflict and repaired our relationship. Still struggling, my siblings and I, often let on our own, help pay for groceries with the money they get in their part time jobs, whilst I busk in the small-town streets with my guitar and the songs I write for money. The hardships and challenges I’ve had to face can give the wrong impression, I love my family no matter what and appreciate all the positive things they have done for me. I wouldn’t trade places with anyone ever, despite how wild we are. It’s just the luck of the draw, some people are sheltered and some aren’t.

FR: What is the first record you bought and why?

JMK: My first record was the Spongebob Squarepants Soundtrack I bought at 9 years old because I was a big fan of the show. I still am!

FR: What current Australian acts inspire you and why? What international acts?

JMK: I’m really into Russel Morris as an Australian artist because I feel like I really connect with his music. The uplifting music he plays often brightens your mood. Having the power to change the way someone feels through music is real magic to me. As for internationally, I’ve always been inspired by Miley Cyrus because she used her platform to speak up about society’s issues and fights for change. I also admire how she puts 100% of her energy into her shows and spreads the message of acceptance through her music.

FR: Tell us a little bit about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show?

JMK: My music fits into the pop rock, rootsy, indie categories. It’s a way I express myself through lyrics and melodies. Each song has its own message or story to tell. My songs, to me, are my ultimate way of being myself. My live shows include positive energy, because performing’s all about the entertainer and audience collectively having a good time. And honesty because a lot of my songs have my authentic emotions and thoughts put into them.

FR: Favourite artists of all time?

JMK: Bob Dylan is a favourite singer/songwriter I’m highly enthusiastic about, because the lyrics to his songs are so wise. The first time I listened to Blowing in the Wind I fell in love with his music. He is a true artist and poet, expressing his understandings on the world around him through the medium of song. Cat Stevens has always written amazing songs that I grew up listening to. He’ll always have a special place in my heart because I’d practice singing to Moon Shadow and Father and Son when I was quite young. Bob Seger is another of my favourite artists. I’m a big fan of his music. i listen to him on long road trips or early morning to start the day right.

FR: Favourite film? Book? Place? Animal or pet and story is there is one?

JMK: My favourite film ever is The Greatest Showman because it’s inspiration, uplighting, and optimistic. It stand for everything I believe in, such as unity, the thrill of putting on a show, and celebrating differences. Plus, the soundtrack’s amazing! My favourite book series would be The Blood of Eden Trilogy by Julia Kagawa, it’s about a post-apocalyptic world overrun by vampires. My favourite place is high in a tree. I’ve always loved climbing trees because it makes me feel closer to nature and it’s nice to be up high, away from everything and everyone for a little while. Climbing is the closest thing humans have to flying. My favourite animals are bumble bees because they are cute, fluffy, yellow, and make me honey (which I drink in my cuppa tea every day).

FR: Favourite food or drink?

JMK: My favourite food is pancakes because they were the first thing I’d learnt to make as a 10 year old. They are so simple to make. I used to eat them at elast every day during school holidays whilst my dad was at work. They taste so good! Spread some butter, sprinkle some sugar and you’re in heaven! My favourite drink is tea. I can’t go a day without it! It warms your soul. The stronger the better. I double bag, even quadruple bag it. I first had a cuppa tea when I was 5 or 6 years old. It was at my next-door neighbour’s house. My little sister would waddle over there daily as a toddler by herself. A nice old lady with dementia, called Vi, lived next door and would let her in. If we couldn’t find Toot we knew she’d gone to visit Vi. I was sent to go fetch her back, when I got there they were drinking tea and having toast for breakfast. She offered me some and I loved it. Vi having dementia meant we would drink quite a LOT of tea at her house. You’d finish a pot and she’d forget we’d ever had any, so she’d ask, and to be cheeky we’d say we hadn’t to get more tea. Drinking teas probably somewhere in my blood anyway. My grandmother’s from Ireland – the number one tea drinking capital, and my dad’s from England – which comes a close second.

FR: You’re backstage with Miley Cyrus. What do you say?

JMK: “Hi! Oh my gosh, no way! NO. WAY. I’ve always been a MASSIVE fan of yours. Thank you so much for everything you’ve ever done. You and your music helped me growing up. Sorry if I’m over excited and too much of a fangirl, I just want you to know you have such a kind soul and help so many people in so many ways,”

FR: What’s the one thing you want/need that you think will make you a successful artists and why?

JMK: I want people to connect to my music. I’d love to attract my tribe of people because I feel we’d be a pretty fun, whacky bunch. I don’t feel I need anything to be a successful artist. The way I see it – there’s public eye successful which yes would be nice, or there’s success of the heart. Your success as an artist can’t be measured by anything or anyone else. THere’s no secret goals and lines you have to cross to become successful. As long as I can make others happy and create songs that I’m passionate about then I’m already successful.