The Lazy Eyes are a Sydney four-piece who create prismatic, sprawling psychedelic rock. ‘Cheesy Love Song’ is the lead single from their debut EP, the first of a number of releases over the coming year. Listen and watch HERE.

Harvey (vocals, guitar, keys), Itay (vocals, guitar), Blake (bass) and Noah (drums) have been playing together since they were 15, having met each other while attending Newtown Performing Arts High School. In between then and now, news of the band’s playfully jam-filled and constantly morphing live show has spread throughout their home city like word-of-mouth wildfire, building up a fervent, cult following. Now done with high school, The Lazy Eyes are finally ready to share their music with the wider world.

Showcases at Bigsound 2019 saw The Lazy Eyes take that buzz national, drawing praise from Home and Hosed’s Declan Byrne and seeing triple j, Happy Mag and more, name them as a future act to watch. They have also recently played Fairgrounds Festival, Newtown Festival and are set to perform at Laneway Festival in Sydney in February.

A patient, slowly unspooling track built around languid piano, echoing guitar lines and vintage soaked vocal melodies and harmonies, ‘Cheesy Love Song’ is content to take its time introducing the band, letting its tonal and textural choices lazily mutate from flourishes of soft strings and warm synthesizers into heavy-handed drumming and wild guitar sirens. As a debut single, ‘Cheesy Love Song’ is a wonderfully blooming introduction to The Lazy Eyes that surreptitiously disguises its true sense of ambition and skill.

With their debut release, The Lazy Eyes present themselves as part of the second generation of Australia’s burgeoning psych-rock scene. Bringing a meld of pedal-effected psychedelia, 60’s pop-inspired chord progressions, the tenderness of The Flaming Lips, and the pocket symphonies of Brian Wilson, The Lazy Eyes create emotive and expansive alternative rock. The type of music ideal for introspection, ‘Cheesy Love Song‘ is a small, insular universe unto itself.

The debut also comes with the announcement of management, distribution and agent signings with Travis Banko at Lunatic Entertainment (CHVRCHES, Baker Boy, Skeggs) and The Orchard signing for the world. On the live side, the band will be booked by Matt Bates at Primary Talent (Alt-J, The 1975, Wolf Alice) for UK/Europe/Asia bookings, Ryan Craven at Paradigm Agency (The War on Drugs, Lorde, CHVRCHES) for North America & Evan Davis at Village Sounds (POND, DMA’s, Hatchie) for ANZ.

‘Cheesy Love Song’ by The Lazy Eyes is out now – buy/stream it here.

Stay connected with The Lazy Eyes: 
Instagram | Facebook

THE BRAVE
ANNOUNCE THE BREAK OUT
TOUR DATES

Fledgling Melbourne and Castlemaine act The Bell Streets make their debut with the first of 10 songs to be released in 2020, the slick bedroom pop number, ‘Fragile’. Birthed from the somewhat inevitable partnership of Nick Batterham (The Earthmen, Blindside, Cordrazine) and Josh Meadows (The Sugargliders, The Steinbecks), The Bell Streets started writing songs together about a year ago after a collective three decades or so working and playing throughout the Melbourne music scene and beyond.

Having known each other since the early ’90s when they were both in prominent bands on the long gone but not forgotten Melbourne indie label Summershine Records, Josh and Nick have played on the same bills, toured together, borrowed each other’s instruments and have become great friends.

That friendship is about to bear fruit with the anticipated release of The Bell Streets’ debut album Monument, set to land Friday 3 April via Popboomerang Records. For now though, fans of Nick’s signature moody melancholy and Josh’s distinct pop sensibilities can revel in the first released material from the album on the new single ‘Fragile’. After writing the opening phrase and accompanying ascending piano line, Josh took his humble idea to Nick who quickly put flesh on it, adding loungey licks and melodic charm, to become the pop lullaby that is ‘Fragile’.

“Fragile. A song in praise of fragility and vulnerability – qualities that are not highly valued in the world we live in, where brashness, bravado and self-confidence dominate. To be vulnerable with each other is to be truly human. But, of course, to be vulnerable is to leave ourselves open to being hurt. So our inclination is to harden up, to close ourselves off, to keep our true selves hidden. The song is about honouring the fragility in another person.” – Josh Meadows, The Bell Streets

Emerging from weekly songwriting sessions in Nick’s studio, the 10 songs of Monument are genuine collaborations, with the pair sharing lyric writing and singing duties. The Bell Streets’ voices harmonise easily, as if they had been singing together for years. As they’ve worked on the record, making themselves vulnerable to each other (as songwriting requires), the two have grown closer. Sometimes Josh has come up with the key line to one of Nick’s lyrics. Sometimes vice versa. The resulting sound has a classic feel, but remains fresh and new. The Bell Streets’ songs are poppy, yet have substance. They are born from experience, rejection, steadfastness and unfaithfulness, playfulness, pleasure, forgiveness, new beginnings and gratitude.

Written and performed by Nick Batterham and Josh Meadows
Vocals by Josh Meadows
Recorded and mixed by Nick Batterham
Mastered by Adam Dempsey at Deluxe

‘Fragile’ single is out now via
Bandcamp / iTunes / Apple Music / Spotify

Tour Artwork by Jonathan Zawada

“One of the leaders of the New School”
– Zane Lowe – Beats 1

“He’s the movement’s youngest by age, but arguably its most visible by virtue…”
– triple j

 “Kwame has long been on our radar of international MC’s to watch.”
– Highsnobiety

Today, Ghana via Sydney rapper and producer Kwame releases the cinematic visuals for his latest single ‘NOBODY feat. E^ST’ and announces his first headline shows of 2020 – which will see Australia’s leading hip-hop prospect hit four metro cities around Australia. The upcoming tour, presented by triple j, kicks off in Melbourne on March 28 and is followed by three further metro shows in Brisbane (The Triffid, April 3), Sydney (Metro Theatre, April 4) and Fremantle (April 11). Enlisting the help of renowned graphic designer Jonathan Zawada (Flume, The Presets) on poster art duties, was a no-brainer for Kwame who is a longtime fan of his work and is their first collaboration together. These shows mark the first headline tour since Kwame’s completely sold out 2019 EP dates and are expected to fill up quickly. They also land off the back of Kwame’s most recent single, ‘NOBODY feat. E^ST’, which was premiered by Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1, and the second taste of his forthcoming third extended play. The track is a powerful anthem of self-belief; an ambitious leap in lyrical content and production, born out of Kwame’s frustration with life, the creative industries and those who think they know it all.   “It’s a reminder for myself and anyone else to listen to yourself, outside opinions are irrelevant,” says Kwame. This theme rings true for the visual accompaniment to the song also landing today. Filmed in Marrickville and directed by Zain Ayub and Kwame, this stunningly raw short film follows a life-changing narrative for a young, troubled Ghanaian boy facing hardships. “His new found friends mentor and nurture the courage within him so that he may move beyond despondency and feel free.” says Kwame. “The choice to shoot majority of the film in Marrickville reflects its raw texture, sense of realness and celebrates the multicultural background the suburb holds – which is synonymous with the films ideologies. The themes explored represent the diffusion of cultural and societal gaps thereby creating a more universal and globalist experience. The messages within the film are that race, age and status shouldn’t matter when one’s back is against the wall.” With such a strong and universally applicable message, it’s no surprise Kwame’s ethos is connecting all over. With huge performances at Splendour in the Grass, SXSW and appearances alongside industry heavyweights such as Migos, Skepta, 6lack, AJ Tracey and Peking Duk, Kwame has also been announced as support for A$AP Ferg’s March 4  Melbourne show. This will be Kwame’s first show of 2020 and an opportunity for fans to see his live set prior to his tour. It’s difficult to find a corner of the Australian music scene that hasn’t been taken over by Kwame. Further expanding his already diverse catalogue, the collaborations have been immense for the Ghanaian Australian producer, writer, artist and engineer. Teaming up on party track ‘Summer Rain’ with Wave Racer, Kwame then joined Matt Corby on Triple One’s ‘So Easy’. ‘NOBODY feat. E^ST’, is arguably his most reflective work to date and a clear indication of the heights this boundary pushing artist is hoping to take Australian hip-hop to. Tickets for Kwame’s ‘Please, Get Home Safe’ Tour are on sale 9am AEDT Thursday 23 January at thatboykwame.com

KWAME ‘Please, Get Home Safe’ TOUR SAT 28 MAR | Corner Hotel, MELBOURNE, VIC  FRI 3 APR | The Triffid, BRISBANE, QLD  SAT 4 APR | Metro Theatre, SYDNEY, NSW  SAT 11 APR | Freo Social, FREMANTLE, WA

CONNECT ONLINE WITH KWAME

January 22, 2020 0 comments

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Top Arts 2020
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square | 13 March – 12 July 2020 | Free entry

The annual Top Arts showcase returns for its 26^th year presenting artworks from Victoria’s brightest emerging student artists at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 13 March 2020.

Drawn from over 1,700 submissions from schools across Victoria, Top Arts 2020 presents artworks from 43 students who have excelled in VCE Art and Studio Arts.

Themes explored by the exhibiting artists include mental health, the impact of technology on everyday life, diversity and identity.

Working across mediums including painting, sculpture, performance art, theatre, photography and animation, students have undertaken comprehensive research to create innovative and complex artworks.

Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV said ‘Top Arts 2020 showcases the amazing breadth of young artists using their voice to speak out against injustice and generate awareness of issues and ideas that concern the youth of today. This is our 26^th year of Top Arts and we’re so proud to continue to support and celebrate art education and provide more opportunities for students to engage with the arts and share their art with peers.’

Artworks in the exhibition are selected by a panel of four judges: Rachael Miller, Victorian Curriculum And Assessment Authority (VCAA) State Reviewer VCE Art; Giuliana D’Angelo, VCAA State Reviewer VCE Studio Arts; Julie Bond, VCAA Regional Representative and David Menzies, NGV Educator and Top Arts curator.

Exhibition highlights include Zach Smyrnis’s Progress Comics 2019, a vibrant series of comic book covers titled The Patriarchy Punishers, The Uni-Diverse Command and The LGBTeam. Influenced by street artist Keith Haring and comic book writer Frank Miller the work showcases characters inspired by modern day activists such as Malala Yousafzai, Antoni Porowski, and Lizzo fighting for gender, sexuality and race equality.

Race and identity are resonant themes throughout the exhibition. Angelo Ooi’s ceramic vessels Transience 2019 and Manifestations 2019 draw inspiration from his Australian upbringing and Malaysian-Chinese heritage. Dusty Diddle’s interactive protest artwork An Index of Childhood Memories, Anger and Intervention 2019 features 32 hand drawn postcards stored in a filing cabinet reflecting the artist’s wish to positively challenge racism, having experienced it firsthand.

Portraiture also features extensively, including Shae Jones’s Portrait of Murrundindi 2019, a large scale painting depicting Wurundjeri Elder Murrundindi. In her self-portrait patchwork 2019, Cat Distell combines different materials and textures to challenge our understanding of the fabric of identity.

Presenting a unique exploration of technology’s influence on society, Ignatz Cady Freer’s absurdist theatre film Tubularis Acrobatics 2019 features three screens with actors performing repetitive tasks in which their actions become more interactive but also increasingly disconnected as the film progresses.

In a moving reflection of suburban life, Lucy Randall takes inspiration from her 87 year-old neighbour as he runs around the streets of Hampton in the hyper realistic sculpture The Shuffler 2019.

Building on the success of Top Arts 2019, which welcomed over 25,000 students and teachers to exhibition and learning programs and events, Top Arts 2020 will be complemented by a dynamic schedule of social and learning opportunities including artist presentations and virtual tours for students in regional and remote areas. Programming also includes introductory talks and folio viewings to inspire and support current VCE students in their Art and Studio Art studies.

Top Arts is a part of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s (VCAA) annual VCE Season of Excellence showcasing outstanding VCE and VCE VET students through a festival of concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and a research presentation program.

Top Arts 2020 is FREE and on display from 13 March 2020 – 12 July 2020 at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square. Additional information is available from the NGV website: NGV.MELBOURNE