Release sparkling new single ‘Chance’ via Mahogany [listen]
Debut EP set for May release
Named ‘One to Watch’ for 2020 by the legendary Abbey Road Studios
Set to play valentine’s day show at London’s Colors Hoxton as a 9-piece band [tickets]
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![Release sparkling new single ‘Chance’ via Mahogany [listen] Debut EP set for May release Named ‘One to Watch’ for 2020 by the legendary Abbey Road Studios Set to play valentine’s day show at London’s Colors Hoxton as a 9-piece band [tickets] Rayowa are proud to release ‘Chance’, their first taste of new music in 2020. It’s a shimmering cut of disco perfection following their bold first step, ‘Better Man’. ‘Chance’ is a confident follow-up, sounding like a lost Studio 54 disco classic that’s been hiding in a record shop. The chorus is unbeatable, featuring euphoric gospel touches and a winning vocal hook. On the track Rayowa say, “‘Chance’ is about seizing an opportunity and not letting self-doubt take hold of you. It’s a continuation on from ‘Better Man’ and the next part of a success story we want to tell and aim to live out. It’s about having the confidence within yourself to go on and achieve all your dreams". Rayowa are a band of three brothers, Dan, Reece and Luke who all share a love of soul, funk and pop music. Their sound is classic and contemporary: mixing the crystal-clear falsetto and chiming guitars of disco with slick production and effortless charisma. In a previous guise, the band gained praise from the ultimate hitmaker, Nile Rodgers. Late last year they released their debut single ‘Better Man’ [listen], a bittersweet disco roller with genuine lyrical depth. The band then went on to play their first show: a glitzy and triumphant affair at a sold-out Moth Club: a show that sold out even before they released ‘Better Man’. Rayowa are set to play a Valentine’s day show at Colours Hoxton. It promises to be another triumph from a band that are set to soar in 2020. Don’t miss out.](https://controls.islaoceana.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/3-piece-disco-collective-Rayowa-release-new-single-Chance-FFO-Jungle-x-Franc-Moody.jpg "3 piece disco collective Rayowa release new single ‘Chance’ FFO Jungle x Franc Moody")
Spencer. releases a new song ‘2much’ today, his second since joining 4AD.
A sparsely arranged languid ballad, ‘2much’ was written by the 20 year-old New York native in Los Angeles last summer. Spencer. explains, “I wrote this song in LA back in July last year, where I was doing a bunch of sessions every day for a month straight. This specific day I had the studio to myself, and it was on a day when it was unusually hard to deal with the distance between me and my personal life in New York. It started with the guitar, and the rest wrote itself. It’s kind of about the battle between wanting a person to stay because of comfortability and knowing that you’d be better off without them.”
Hailing from Rochester, NY, Spencer. credits the city’s rich and underappreciated creative scene for fostering his growth as an artist. Dropping out of college in the summer of 2018 and relocating to Brooklyn, he gave himself a year to get his career off the ground. “My parents were understandably upset when I left school,” he says, “but I promised them I’d go back if things didn’t work out.” Less than twelve months later, he’d racked up millions of streams on Spotify with the singles ‘Want U Back’ and ‘To Be You’, garnered glowing reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, and signed a record deal. “I don’t think I’m going back,” he says with a laugh.
‘2much’ and last year’s ‘Automatic’ will both feature on his forthcoming EP, WAYS U LIKE.
The music that Spencer. writes, records and produces almost in isolation comes alive as a 4-piece live band, bucking any expectations of a bedroom R&B artist alone on stage with a laptop.
Purchase / Stream ‘2much’: https://spencer.ffm.
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From there the song, which premiered overnight on triple j, only continues to ramp up and by the time the second chorus rolls around, it’s already an all-out yell like hell to the heavens moment. All bets are off – guitars are soaring, drums are raining down debris all around, vocal chords are tearing, and there’s nothing left to do except punch the sky, kiss your crush, get an impulse tattoo, and start the song all over again.
On their breakout 2019 EP, Gravis, and particularly its killer single ‘Lately’ feat. Carla Geneve, Sly Withers showed that they had tremendous potential to perhaps break free of the confines of the Australian punk and indie rock scene they were raised on, and make a name for themselves as their own unique entity. ‘Explode Into View’ is the fulfilment of that and then some.
Nothing between then and now has changed in the band’s make-up. Same four members – Mata (guitar / vox), Sam Blitvich (guitar / vox), Joel Neubecker (drums) and Shea Moriarty (bass) – using the same producer as Gravis (Matthew Templeman at his studio in Mount Hawthorn), but now they possess not only another hard year on the road of shows under their belts (including major sets at Falls Festival and supporting the likes of Amy Shark and Slowly Slowly), and a pulsating self-belief that can only be built on the back of hard work and a brotherhood forged in the trenches. The result is a towering sound that is much, much greater than the sum of its parts, yet reflects the depth of the emotional core of the band and the love they share for the music they make together.
Speaking about the song, Mata says, “”When I wrote this song I was on the brink of an exciting new relationship which, by no fault of either party, never came to fruition. Some things just aren’t meant to be, and sometimes irrational thinking gets the better of us. The song is about moving on with the feeling that things will never be as good as we imagined, that we seek closure we’ll never get, and how weeks, months and years down the track, a chance run-in or out of the blue text can send us spiralling out of logical thinking and right back to where we started. ‘Explode Into View’ is about finding moments of clarity in times of confusion.”
To coincide with the release of ‘Explode Into View,’ Sly Withers has announced they’ll be embarking on a national tour this May and June, starting in Hobart and working their way around capital cities and regional centres across the country. Tickets are on sale Tuesday, February 18.
Sly Withers’ New Single ‘Explode Into View’ Is Available Now Via Dew Process and Universal Music Australia
SLY WITHERS EXPLODE INTO VIEW TOUR 2020
Tickets on sale from www.slywithers.com
Pre-sale: Monday 17th 8am AEDT / On sale: Tuesday 18th 8am AEDT
Thursday, May 14, Altar Bar – Hobart
Friday, May 15, Barwon Club – Geelong
Saturday, May 16, Howler – Melbourne
Thursday, May 21, Solbar – Maroochydore
Friday, May 22, Vinnie’s Dive Bar – Gold Coast
Saturday, May 23, The Brightside – Brisbane
Thursday, May 28, Newcastle Hotel – Newcastle
Friday, May 29, Crowbar – Sydney
Saturday, May 30, UC Hub – Canberra
Thursday, Jun 4, Jive – Adelaide
Friday, Jun 5, The Rosemount – Perth
Saturday, Jun 6, The River – Margaret River
RESISTANCE Ibiza is back with another forward thinking and spectacular series of shows from 21 July to 15 September 2020. Returning for its fourth season, every Tuesday for nine weeks, the world’s largest nightclub Privilege will host RESISTANCE Global Ambassador Carl Cox for four special shows, as well as Main Room Resident Adam Beyer for five shows, and plenty more international superstars and residents to come.
2020 will take RESISTANCE Ibiza to new heights, with big names making welcome returns, new faces making debuts, annual events booked in and plenty of surprises all lined-up. Of course, Carl Cox will be back to bring the party on 28 July (Carl’s Birthday), 11 and 25 August and 15 September (Closing Party), while Drumcode label chief Adam Beyer is back for five shows on 21 July (Opening Party), 4 and 18 August, 1 and 15 September (Closing Party).
2019 was another landmark year for this game-changing party. Highlights included unforgettable Main Room shows from three iconic and legendary trios in Carl Cox, Adam Beyer and Sasha | John Digweed, while modern day greats such as Charlotte de Witte, Eats Everything and Hot Since 82 pushed things forward with their Terrace Residencies. Parties like Carl Cox’s birthday, Richie Hawtin’s PLAYdifferently takeover, and _Maceo Invites_ and plenty more all proved historic affairs. Live streamed sets reached hundreds of thousands of views and allowed those from all over the world to get a sense of the spine tingling live action.
From the huge staircase at the entrance to the massive iconic dome overhead, to the many dance floors and the cult favourite Terrace, the vast Privilege is one of the few places in the world where you can lose yourself in a labyrinth of rooms, each with its distinct character, all of them with the same electric excitement that ignites the entire club. During RESISTANCE parties, the production each and every week is out of this world, with immersive and spectacular lights, lasers and structures unlike any other all making it no wonder it was previously awarded the DJ Awards Winner for Best Ibiza Night, and one of the most unforgettable experiences on the White Isle.
To stay in the loop with all things regarding the residency, make sure to head to their website at resistanceibiza.com and subscribe for updates.
Perth’s Ben Catley launches new single ‘RUN’ after a huge year of shows and festivals all across Australia, New Zealand, UK, Holland, Réunion Island and The Philippines. With blistering guitar playing, huge vocals and an uplifting, infectious stage energy, Ben captivates crowds like few other solo acts.
The release comes directly after returning from his third tour around New Zealand, a Melbourne show and before heading to perform at festivals in India in February.
‘RUN’ is an up-tempo, guitar-driven summer track about Ben’s long-standing love for running, and using fitness as a tool for mind, body and spirit. The track suggests that just getting ‘out the door’ is often all it takes to change your frame of mind to quickly garner motivation, clarity and positivity.
Ben’s guitar playing on ‘RUN’ is energetic, the message is uplifting and the vocals are his best performance to date. Recorded in the Perth hills with Andy Lawson (Eskimo Joe, Tired Lion) and mastered by William Bowden (Gotye, Hermitude).
Originally from the north of England, he has been living in Perth for almost a decade – advocating his love for Western Australia and its music scene everywhere he tours, finding himself on huge international festival lineups with the likes of Xavier Rudd, Ocean Colour Scene, Skunk Anansie and more.
New single ‘RUN’ is available for download on all major online stores.
SATURDAY MARCH 28TH 12PM-10PM
FULL LINEUP:
Theo Parrish, Sister Nancy, Mella Dee, Anastasia Kristensen, C.FRIM, Cassettes For Kids, Lord Echo (LIVE), JESS B, Mildlife, Pink Matter, SK Simeon, Sophie McAlister, Wax’o Paradiso
Untitled Group, Crown Ruler, Moon Dog Craft Brewery & PBS 106.7FM are collaborating to bring the second edition of Abbotsford’s block party this March.
The 2020 edition will see an expansion of the event to run along Bond Street and Southhampton Crescent as well as Duke Street, meaning more room for punters to dance, move & dive into the high energy block party all-rounder.
Duke Street Block Party 2020 will be headlined by Detroit icon Theo Parrish, Mella Dee for his first tour of Australia, Dancehall pioneer and vocalist Sister Nancy, Russian selector Anastasia Kristensen, & more.
As well as showcasing live acts and DJs from around the globe, punters can explore the nooks and crannies of Duke Street. Local legends Hub Furniture are dedicating trade to the event with tucked away delights to discover, such as a unique wine bar experience.
The exceptional Moondog Brewery will be operating on the day and serving their local craft beers as well as hosting their very own selectors stage. Food will be provided by some iconic Melbourne institutions such as Good Gnocchi, Nhu Lan Bakery, Moondog OG Pizza, Real Jerk Chicken & more.
Theo Parrish
Theo Parrish was born in Washington D.C. in 1972 and raised in Chicago, where his passion for music developed. MIles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, George Gershwin, Bob Marley, as well as his uncle, jazz musician Dexter Sims, all had strong influences on Theo’s early musical life.
He began spinning and producing tracks in 1986, at the age of thirteen. In 1994, Theo Parrish moved to Michigan where he became heavily involved in Detroit’s underground music scene. Producing music and delivering his unique and dynamic sets in venues throughout Detroit and surrounding areas, as well as abroad he has gained the attention and respect of DJ’s, producers, listeners and dancers worldwide.
Sister Nancy
Sister Nancy, aka Muma Nancy, real name Ophlin Russell-Myers, (born Ophlin Russell, 2 January 1962, Kingston, Jamaica) is a dancehall pioneer and vocalist. She is known to the world as the first female dancehall DJ and was described as being a “dominating female voice for over two decades” on the dancehall scene. One of her most famous songs is “Bam Bam”, labeled as a “well-known reggae anthem” by BBC and a “classic” by The Observer.
Mella Dee
Following the breakthrough success of ’Techno Disco Tool’; reaching number 1 in BBC Radio 1’s Dance Music chart, in addition to his Warehouse Music imprint winning the ‘Best Breakthrough Label’ award at the DJ Mag awards, Mella Dee is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after names in dance music. More recently, he was named one of Mixmag’s ‘Stars of the year’ for 2018 and also put out his debut Essential Mix for the legendary BBC Radio 1 series.
Anastasia Kristensen
Always the adventurer, the Copenhagen-via-Moscow producer has been at it for a while — finding inspirations from the likes of ballet to effusively digging for records to satisfy her curiosity. With her track “Spring Ballade” released on Nous Disques in 2016 and previous work with BLD and Monasterio, she only sought to move forward and carve out a path that would only broaden the scope for her reach as time goes on. It begins with her DJ sets – Kristensen starts with tone as the foundation; she weaves a web that incorporates barreling breaks, blistering techno and buoyant electro in scintillating fashion. With featured mixes on Mixmag and Red Bull, Anastasia is determined to take even bigger chances and leap farther into the sonic spectrum of underground music – by never staying in one lane.
Mildlife
Mildlife take the musical canvas, rip the lids off the paint tins, and throw vibrant splashes of colour into kaleidoscopic jams. The four-piece bonded over the desire to push musical boundaries on record, and develop a tight live shows bolstered by wild improvisation.
The bands mines jazz, psych and disco for its irresistible groove and their tracks have been a staple in Nightclubs and band rooms the world over for the last 2 years. Bringing the songs alive on stage is a process of transformation, the audience moulding the songs, the songs moulding the audience, Mildlife casting themselves as the cosmic funk house band for a party at the edge of the universe.
Lock it down for Saturday March 28th from 12pm-10pm and head over to the facebook page for full line up and more information: https://www.facebook.com/
Get connected:
https://www.facebook.com/
Untitled Group are the group behind Beyond The Valley and Pitch Music & Arts Festival, the collective also represents boutique event brands Ability Fest, Grapevine Gathering and Melbourne electronic hub XE54.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/
Between acts like soul-jazz icon Roy Ayers, Detroit house godfather Theo Parrish, and Chicago dance luminary Larry Heard, the Crown Ruler name has become synonymous with soulful underground music.
Presale Registrations Close Tuesday 12th February 4pm AEDT:
Sign up for presale:
Presale goes on sale Tuesday 12th February 6pm AEDT
General On Sale 12pm AEDT Thursday 13th February:
Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I’ve been based in Perth for nearly a decade now and there is so much amazing music here. Being quite an isolated part of the country, and indeed the world, I think it makes for quite a unique scene and artistry.
How did you first start playing music?
I was about 8 years old and my Aunty gave me an old acoustic guitar with only a few strings on it. I got hooked pretty quick and started trying to learn by myself in my bedroom. I think I first started writing music when I was around 13.
What’s been happening recently?
I’ve recently returned from my third tour of New Zealand, which was wonderful. I love playing shows over there. And I’ve just put out a new release, which is always an exciting time.
Your new single ‘Run’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for this track?
Running, aswell as music, is probably my longest-standing love, so I thought it was time I wrote a song about it. I wanted the lyrics to be a bit poetic and ambigious, and the sound to be uplifting.
How did you go about writing Run?
I started writing it when I was up in Exmouth for a show and a friend of mine had his guitar in a different tuning. I started playing around with a riff in that tuning, then while I was on tour in the UK, I was sat in my bedroom in the town I grew up in and it just came pouring out. Then I went for a run with a big smile on my face.
Where and when did you record and who with?
I recorded it back in October with Andy Lawson at his wonderful studio (Debasser Studio) out in the Perth hills. He is so great to work with and the natural surroundings up in them there hills are so nice to be around while you’re creating music.
How did you approach the recording/production process?
I’d road-tested the song at a few UK festivals, which was helpful. I just wanted the track to have a really driving, energetic feeling to it – to try resemble what I feel when I go out for a run. I played the song acoustically to Andy and then we experimented with a few sounds. I had a fair idea of how I wanted things to sound, but I love the spontaneous nature of how the recording process can completely change how you imagined your music would turn out.
What programs/instruments did you use to record?
I do believe Andy uses Pro Tools. I used only my acoustic guitar, but we included a few drum elements and some bass synth to add some weight and atmosphere.
What do you like to do away from music?
Well I like to run a lot, mainly so I can feel less guilty about having plenty beers with mates! I also love some rock climbing, getting away on roadtrips and to new countries, good food and plenty of ocean time.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Cowboys From Hell by Pantera just came on my Spotify radio there, haha. Bit of a blast from the past. But today I’ve been mainly listening to Tycho. I adore the atmospheres that man creates with blends of instruments and electronic elements.
You have a tour coming up, where are you headed and when will you be hitting the road?
Next show is in Margaret River on Friday Feb 21 at The River. It’s a co-headline show with my good mate Michael Dunstan. If you haven’t heard his music already, you should absolutely do yourself that favour. And then I hav a Fremantle show at The Aardvark on Saturday Feb 22.
How do you prepare for live shows?
I try to do vocal warm-ups, but sometimes I’m too lazy. I usually just have a beer, chill and chat to people.
What’s planned for 2020?
I’ve been back in the studio starting on some new music. My old electric guitar has made an appearance for the first time in many years. I’m excited! And I’m looking at more Australia shows and a UK festival run again in August.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
All the food – super healthy goodness, pizza and all things spicy are definitely favourites. And hanging anywhere by the ocean or in nature.
Not one for slowing down, Green Buzzard has revealed a remix EP of his debut album Amidst The Clutter & Mess is in the works with Sydney DJ and producer Ash Moses aka Tunnel Signs, aptly titled Masquerader Versions. Today, Buzzard shares the second cut from the EP in the form of the synth soaked ‘Country Life (Masquerader Version)’.
Tunnel Signs is the nom de plume of Australian born lover, fighter and romantic, Ash Moses. With a taste for playing and producing records that embrace the darkness, Moses parts the sea and finds the wonky middle ground between reverb drenched postpunk, hypnotic techno and spaced out disco. He’s most recently worked with seminal Australian heroes Cut Copy releasing a record on their label Cutters.
Masquerader Versions is an acid tinged reimagining of Amidst The Clutter & Mess, and the product of many late nights spent between Tunnel Signs and The Buzzard himself. Bonding over their common ground, the EP finds the sweet spot between the duo’s two contrasting musical worlds:
“We wanted to make something inspired by our combined love of Andrew Weatherall’s longform Primal Scream reworks, acid house and 90’s breakbeat. A throwback to the hedonistic baggy excess of Madchester.”
Following the first remix ‘Clutter & Mess (Masquerader Version)’, ‘Country Life (Masquerader Version)’ is a sparkling and heady remix that masterfully intertwines vocal samples and found sound with tweaked out 303s, endless feedback and rolling 909 snare fills. The result is a textured, intellectual track that pulses through your body like an electrical current.
Green Buzzard’s debut album Amidst The Clutter & Mess saw global acclaim, reaching an impressive #7 on the US Commercial Specialty radio charts and #66 on the overall US college radio album charts with additional support from CLASH, The FADER and Elicit Magazine. Locally, the album saw strong backing from community radio around the country, triple j and Rage.
With Masquerader Versions, Buzzard hopes to bring his music to even more ears as he presents a collection of reworked tracks that will take you from afternoon drinks to the club.
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Image: Ed Mason
Though news of their forthcoming album Flip Phone Fantasy is out in the ether, Ocean Grove have been tight lipped about its release date. Today the band are drip feeding more visuals from the release however, with the reveal of new single and video ‘NEO’ and the album cover, detailed below.
Just shy of two minutes long, ‘NEO’ (STREAM HERE) bursts out of the gate before spiralling into a wobbly, distorted breakdown and ramping back up again. Bassist Twiggy Hunter, who swaps the bass for frontman duties with Dale on this track, explains that ‘NEO’ is the “sonic boom of bedroom angst”.
“…it’s the fist through the wall to expose what lies on the other side of teenage aggression,” he adds. “It is the learning of one’s depression through anger and confusion and trying to find your place in a world of distortion. It completes the spectrum of human emotions that ‘Flip Phone Fantasy’ seeks to explore.”
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CONNECT WITH OCEAN GROVE:
facebook.com/
instagram.com/oceangrovemelb
oddworldwide.com
unfdcentral.com
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Good things must come to an end and to celebrate 11 years of a remarkably iconic career, Dream On Dreamer are hanging up their hats and are bidding farewell. But before they do, they are celebrating with the release of their fifth and final studio album, What if I Told You It Doesn’t Get Better out March 27 via Believe.
PRE ORDER WHAT IF I TOLD YOU IT DOESN’T GET BETTER HERE
First single, Feel So Empty is a track that encapsulates the feeling of self destruction. Being caught in a negative space in which you seem to end up sabotaging yourself and making poor decisions. The track is an anthem to anyone who has hit rock bottom and needs to know that they are not alone in what they are feeling, we all have our moments and we have to remember that there is always hope that things will get better. A reminder to just sit back and ride out the storm and not make any hasty decisions that might be clouded.
Recorded in-house by guitarist Callan Orr, the band left no stone unturned in the production of the track to ensure every moment has its purpose – Delivering with maximum emphasis what the band feel to be an important message to anyone who might be feeling lost.
“When we were writing this song I guess it came from a pretty low place. We’ve all been through a lot of shit in the last few years and it’s all manifested its way onto our next release in some way or another. I think being in that state of mind needs to be given a name or something to embody it. Some call it their demons. In this song I named the darkness Reaper. Sometimes we gotta crash and burn all the way to rock bottom before we can push up again. There’s been times I hope to see the bottom. I’ve been ready to look the reaper in the eye and give him this weight. One piece at a time.
In the end If we beat this shit and fight through. The weight is lifted and we can live to see a brighter day” explains Zachary Britt, Rhythm Guitarist & clean vocalist.
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WORDS: Kirsty Argento
PHOTOGRAPHY: Nate Hill
https://www.natehillphotography.com.au/
Laneway is a festival you always leave deeply satisfied with because you take away a collection of new artists to binge through on Spotify afterwards. Your own interests expand in a day as unique acts flout genre boundaries and open you up to new ideas musically. Reading Melbourne right, the 2020 line-up was peppered with new and underground talent from home and abroad – allowing the festival to hold true to it’s identity amidst it’s massive expansion from it’s dirty humble 2004 block party.
UK’s Col3trane and America’s Omar Apollo started the sunny day right with their pleasurey soulful voices followed by confident Benee, the 20yr old NZ superstar who’s upbeat vibe brought everyone to their feet stomping happy place.
Tones and I’s set was all voice and left of centre sounds. Of course captivating the crowd with Dance Monkey makes you appreciate her creativity but more so you’re hit hard by the depth of her vocal talent. Australian group DMA’s induced the crowd with their can’t hate Britpop rock adding to the days diversity.
Sultry RnB singer songwriter Mahalia couldn’t have been a better soundtrack to the pink sky sunset. Representing the global rise of new wave female soul-pop-RnB artists, UK’s Mahalia has garnered international fame since her 2017 hit ‘Sober’. She carried and moved the crowd with her lyrical honestly that made you feel like she was an old friend. Melbourne has championed her sound since her debut performance here in January 2019 and it showed in stage turnout.
Charlie XCX’s performance was on another level. Pulling all the pop treats she awakened the audience with a crafted set that only experience can bring to the table. Her intense vocal expression blew her synth pop tracks up in this stunning live performance.
Honouring Laneway’s essence is difficult with their transition to huge staging and lowering the age to 16+. Performances were solid but crowds are young and swarming, sets less intimate. Lucky for spaces like the Russel Athletic Lockeroom, that showcased the likes of emerging local artist Jordan Dennis out on the grass with a small crowd working his MC talent. Maybe Laneway’s still got.
WORDS: Kirsty Argento
PHOTOGRAPHY: Nate Hill
Together with the New York based Made Event, ID&T will continue to set the bar for quality electronic music events globally with this new partnership.
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