Disco Shrine | Everyday

Described as a "pop spark plug" LA based Disco Shrine has continued to live up to her moniker with latest track, Everyday, an ode to the hard work that goes into pursuing the American Dream. Having spent years curating her sound from the safety of her bedroom, Disco Shrine has established herself as an artist who isn't afraid to play with hip hop inspiration, and synth punches, while letting her vocal range do the talking for her lyrics.

Disco Shrine, real name Jessica Delijani, has used Everyday as a follow on from her highly acclaimed single Up In The Air. The two tracks together, first exploring her parents' immigration to America before delving into the American Dream, Delijani has created a moving look at how taking opportunities is the best thing a person can do. Matched with her trademark party vibe, Disco Shrine has delivered another successful track with Everyday. Available everywhere, Disco Shrine is the gift that keeps on giving.

Scope EVERYDAY here.

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10 Influential Female Tracks | Deanna Devore

"I'd like to be known for my versatility and love to write in various different genres, while still maintaining a consistency."

A multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre, singer, songwriter, and producer, Deanna Devore continues to more than one-up anyone who aims for triple threat status. Based out of both Chicago and Toronto, Devore has recently released her seven track strong EP half and half offering fans a deeper dive into "the darkness and light of love and life".

Today, Devore has stopped by to share her 10 Influential Female Tracks. While she is far too modest to ever add herself to the list, number eleven could easily go to Seven Eight, the opening track from half and half.

half and half is available worldwide on Spotify now.

Mahalia - Sober (Jarreau Vandal remix)
This is the remix of the track not the original, but I just love the vibe. I heard this song on the HBO show "Insecure" and had to immediately know what it was. The beat with her vocal phrasing is so great, I had it on repeat.

Amber Olivier - When It's Over
I love the haunting, pretty melody in this track. [It had] great production.

H.E.R - Avenue
Another great minimal, downtempo RnB track. I listen to these type of tracks for their production.

Lianne La Havas - Ghost
Lianne La Havas is not only an amazing singer but what really strikes me is her guitar playing. So many people artists don't play guitar with such complexity. Her jazz roots come through and that's something I appreciate as I'm also more of a jazz guitarist. This song showcases her guitar work.

Daughter - Love
This song broke my heart when I first heard it. I had it on repeat - the lyrics and the outro gave me goosebumps.

Jorja Smith - February 3rd
Another song I heard on HBO's "Insecure". (They play the best music.) I remember when I first heard it, the track had apparently not been released yet. It's out now, however, and just a great RnB tune.

Maggie Rogers - Alaska
This song is all about that chorus; it pulls you right in. I like how she puts a bunch of genres into one track. I can relate to that with my own music. This song launched her career and I'm not surprised - the chorus is a great one.

Esthero - Lounge
This track off her 1998 album Breath From Another is probably one of my [favourite] albums. It introduced me to that trip-hop, jazz sound and I loved it. The production was fantastic and every song on the album is good. This album stands the test of time.

Lucy Rose - Shiver
A great acoustic song. I love songs that make you feel something. [It is] such a pretty song - I loved it so much that I brought it into my guitar classes to teach my students.

Laura Veirs - Fire Snakes
I love Laura Veirs because she's so unique. She has a very distinct singing voice and her songs don't sound like every other female singer/songwriter.

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Work Like That album | YoWo Music Program

YoWo Music is a Melbourne-based music program for young women and gender non-conforming youth. In their own words, YoWo is changing futures by highlighting 'viable pathways to a future in music'. Through semester-long programs, with mentoring from a range of industry professionals, Melbourne teenagers are taught skills in music and performance culminating in a gig to showcase what they've learnt. Ultimately though, YoWo shines a light on the need for more gender diversity in the contemporary music scene and is delivering candidates to fill this gap.

Negotiating the complexities of being a teenager in 2018 is a difficult task, but the debut album, Work Like That, is a nine-track is a celebration of the mess we all make getting through. From accepting yourself to navigating relationship drama, the girls and GNC of YoWo have pieced together an album that explores music as much as it does the personal stories behind each track.

Three of the voices behind Work Like That have stopped by to chat about their own influences. With this group of teenagers only just starting out, the future prospects of a diverse music industry are just fine.

Bridget O'Meara says...
Courtney Barnett is a singer/songwriter from Melbourne. She's an amazing artist who often bases her songs off her personal experiences. The way that she sings is so powerful, yet seems so effortless, and she tells stories through her punk/indie rock lyrics. I love that her songs sound so raw and free, and I find that so unique and inspiring.

Pearl Harnath says...
Sir Babygirl's vocals are slightly eerie but are so unbelievably beautiful. She is unashamed to be queer, which shows in her songs. Listening to Sir Babygirl feels like getting the advice you desperately need from your nonexistent bisexual, gender non-conforming, older sibling. I find myself always drawn to listen to Heels whenever it feels time for some personal reinvention. I imagine Sir Babygirl would play in the coming-of-age movie that is every young queer persons' life.

Abby Howes says...
My favourite LGBTQ+ artist is Adam Lambert; an amazing musician now touring with Queen in the place of Freddie Mercury. He has amazing vocal power and his personality and style is evident through his inspiring music.

The program's debut album, Work Like That, was released on November 23 and is available for purchase or to stream.

Find out more about YoWo Music here.

MAXON makes History

Fresh off the back of a "bloody special" single launch, MAXON's latest track History is making a name for itself. A pop rock anthem focussed on the dreaded, but often inevitable, cycle of grief. MAXON is the first to admit that her own songs can sometimes delve into only the healing, but History is as raw as they come. Born from a place of frustration, it's a headfirst diave into the hurt while also acting as a "first step...towards bravery and self-acceptance".

Available worldwide, the music video is a well honed visual accompaniment to the track. "I wanted the clip to mirror the song - keeping it raw, dark and brooding." As both a stand alone song, and as a music video, History is reminder to everyone that removing the burden of self-inflicted doubt is the best thing you can do. MAXON herself, and through History, is proof of this.

The diary entry feel of this track seems quite deliberate, how do you find the balance between personal and being relatable to an audience?
I don't really think about it to be honest. I write mostly from life experience and often when I'm pissed off or sad about something or someone. I suppose that's not the right answer. I guess I do feel like any story you're going to share will relate to someone somewhere in some way.

History is a powerful track but the emotions are obvious, too, is writing a song like this easier during the time it's happening or later with the addition of hindsight?
Ah I love this. It's different for me every time. I've written so many songs post history that reflect more on the healing rather than the hurt. Sometimes, it could be too soon to write about something and other times, like History, I was totally fed up with trying to help and understand the situation that it all just fell out then and there.

Now that it's out, how has the reaction been?
Good, I think. People have been really kind and generous to give the track [a] listen. I guess it's still early days so time will tell.

Is it more difficult to release a track so personal or are the emotions before a release similar no matter the track?
I'm always a nervous wreck with any song release. Your work is really like your children. I suppose it'd be a similar feeling when your child turns eighteen and enters the real world with high expectations. You develop this real fear of the unknown and it's hard not to put pressure on yourself to do well.

Why did you feel now was the right time to share History?
I've been sitting on this song for a while now, [I was] shit scared of releasing such a personal story and not knowing how to talk about it. I'm still struggling because I don't think it's okay to reveal the subject of your songs. It's a bit unfair and I would never want to shine a bad light on anyone. I think with this, I just wanted [to] express myself and a little of my history within the song itself.

The music video is so simplistic, why did you opt to do something so pared back?
Money. I also wanted to do something that felt raw and honest, just like the track. I think I'm at a point with everything where I just want to keep it really stripped back, real and simple. That could change for the next one. Some days I feel like getting my glitter on and other days I feel like sitting by a camp fire, having a beer and chilling the fuck out.

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Velvet Starlings | Sold Down the River

Velvet Starlings is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist, mega-talented, fifteen-year-old Christian Gisborne. Filled with gritty, 60s inspired rock and blues Velvet Starlings have already begun demanding - and receiving - attention. Drawing huge inspiration from the original 'British Invasion', Velvet Starlings boasts some impressive tracks and their latest, Sold Down The River has kept the ball rolling.

Stopping by to introduce himself, Gisborne chats the best album ever released, LEGO sets and putting off chemistry homework.

Hey, my name is... Christian Gisborne of Velvet Starlings

I'd describe myself as... a 15-year-old singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, music producer, Beatles aficionado and avid builder of LEGO sets to keep a good life balance. You are never too old and it's a good contrast from non-stop rocking.

My music is... Blues and British based Indie Rock n Roll.

I write songs because... I write songs and play music as it's a form of therapy for me and let's me escape to somewhere I love to be. I like to just sit in my room or outside with an acoustic guitar and tune in to something out there and let the emotions, lyrics and melody pour out. I write about my life experiences and by song writing I get [to] go on melodic searches and analyse what's going around my head, get a sense [of] what I'm trying to say, then finally ring out that sponge onto a demo recording.

Sold Down The River is... a single on our debut EP which is lyrically one of our more thought-provoking tunes. It definitely shows my love for [John] Lennon and [Bob] Dylan as it's got a bit of poetic political commentary here and there. It began as an acoustic song that we then decided to add full band and production to it.

I'm most inspired... by my own real life experiences and people and anything cool from the 1960s. I'm currently working on a time machine so I can get back there soon. I just need one of those UK red phone boxes.

I know a song is ready for release... when I feel like the band has it down 100% live and I'm 70% happy with the way it sounds. Also [when] I can read the lyrics back as spoken verse and not feel like they a re-write. If the master sounds loud and proud.

A song I wish I'd written... It's a toss up between A Day In The Life by the Beatles and The Zombies' She's Not There. Both songs are just green light songwriting all the way through. They are songs that have it all: great melodies, a bit of danger in the lyrics, organs and Rhodes. A Day In The Life is just another Lennon masterpiece. These are perfect examples of timeless songwriting and why The British Invasion was so successful.

The best album... in my opinion is easy to pick. It's the Beatles' Sergeant Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band followed by Revolver or Magic Mystery Tour. Oops that's three, can't narrow it down to one.

If I could join any band... Depends, living of legends? Living would be Jack White's new band that he hasn't started or thought of yet. Come on, Jack! I've got some great tunes ready for the first jam. I am sure we can come up [with a] legendary band name, too. Legends, it would have to be either a fifth Beatle position, including songwriting and studio, or being Brian Jones replacement and touring with The Stones through all of their various states.

I could listen to anything by... The Beatles, The Kinks, The Animals, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Zombies, basically the whole British Invasion. Not at all forgetting Jack White, Simon & Garfunkel and The Doors. Can't forget the D, Tenacious D - first album mainly.

People should stick around... because the best is yet to come. The live show is getting to that point where you can just enjoy it and the new songs are ace. I think every songwriter says that about new songs though.

And finally... it's time for me to hit my chemistry homework that's due tomorrow. I will focus in with a psychedelic Beatles playlist I've made, so in go my headphones. Stay tuned for more Velvet Starlings music as there's plenty more of it coming soon.

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Jade Alice is In The Deep

"I do try to find a balance, and make sure that when people listen to it, they can still identify it as a Jade Alice song. I think that lies in my vocal arrangement, no matter what vibe or speed the song is, I always focus on vocal layering and incorporating that into my production. 

Jade Alice is the powerhouse that just keeps going. Following the success of her previous release Heartbreak Club, Alice recently dropped new track In The Deep a dreamy, dance inspired tune moving seamlessly between genres. Weaving between ballad and soft electronic, Alice has crafted a tune about the first moments of attraction and the feeling of connecting with someone new.

Your previous track, Heartbreak Club, has only been out a few months, how do you keep the momentum going while also keeping the songs fresh and unique?
It's funny because Heartbreak Club and In The Deep sound so different from each other, but they were written around the same time. I have a few songs I've written in the past year that I'm really excited to put out. It's just been a process of figuring out the timeline and putting in the same amount of effort into each release. I like to make each song I write sound unique to itself; like they each have their own personality and story. Especially in terms of production, I always go with whatever direction or sound elements I think would enhance that song best, and whatever those are may be completely different for another song of mine. 

How has the reception to your music been like so far?
It's been very positive overall. When the reception isn't coming from friends and family but people you've never met from across the globe, that's the most fulfilling and rewarding feeling. It's been interesting to hear what people's favourites are, because the songs do sound so different from each other. It makes my day when I receive a private message from someone telling me how my music has made them feel.

"It's so personal, they are giving you back that same vulnerability that you put into the song.

In The Deep is a lot more dance heavy than some previous releases, how are you going about finding your sound?
It is and I'm working on finding a sweet spot that combines pop and electronic dance music. The influence has stemmed from working with dance producers and writing vocals for their tracks. Some of my future releases are definitely heading in a similar direction with this production. I love the energy of it and I find it so empowering using these big, heavy electronic sounds. Especially in a live setting, I just get so excited.

There's so much going on in the music scene at the moment with artists bending genres, has this movement impacted on your own style at all?
Yes for sure, I've always been a fan of blending genres together! It's very inspiring hearing so many fresh ideas from people and sounds that I could never have imagined. The possibilities we have with technology now are endless, but that can be a bit intimidating when you're trying to create something new. 

"I love that bending genres has been embraced so warmly in Australia and that it has allowed musicians to bloom and grow.

What are you feeling most inspired by lately?
At the moment a lot of my inspiration comes from Scandinavian artists like Aurora, Susanne Sundfor and Sigrid. They have the most amazing pop instincts and sensibility. I love the way they write lyrics, too, when English isn't their first language and they phrase things in such a beautiful, quirky way.

Find In The Deep //
Connect with Jade

Meet TAMMA | New Artist Spotlight

Australia has plenty of exciting pop newcomers and adding to the growing list to watch is TAMMA. The skateboarding sweetheart has recently dropped her debut track, Beat You Down, and it's one to pay attention to. A triumphant song, both musically and conceptually, TAMMA has overcome more than her fair share of the tough stuff in recent years, but now she's here to make her mark and share some serious replayable tracks.

Hey, my name is... TAMMA aka Tammy Martin.

I'd describe myself as... an outgoing person. I have a big heart for people and fierce passion for life and love. My family and friends are my everything. I'm a curious person and I love connecting with other humans. I don't like routine too much and spontaneity is my [kind of] thing. I love sunny weather and beaches, holidays and travel. Music is my greatest love. I love singing for people, except when they ask me to do it in an Uber or something.

My music is... I write a mixture of vibrant pop or raw soul. My music is authentic and about my experiences in life.

I write songs because... it heals my soul and makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. I write with the hopes it connects with others and they can feel uplifted or empowered when they need a little pick me up. I want people to remember they aren't alone when they are going through tough times.

My song, Beat You Down, is... written for my nieces and nephews to send them a message as they navigate through life to stay close to their loved ones; to rise above trivial things or toxic people and that they will get through the hard times with persistence, resilience and the people who love them to guide them. It came from the hardest, most brutal time of our lives: the loss of my little nephew. When you have to face that kind of pain it puts life into perspective. I am so glad that the song has gone beyond their song and that it's resonating with thousands of people.

It's my debut single because... it means so much to me. It represents the time of my life and got me through the darkness.

The music video is... filmed in Venice Beach in LA. I found Damien Blue, the director, on Instagram and decided to send a message asking if he would be keen to fly to LA to shoot the clip. We shot the whole thing on skateboards and also in my bestie's back yard in their Airstream caravan. It was heaps of fun. I chose skateboarding because I wanted a visual representation of something that shows persistence and resilience. Skateboarding is an art form that requires courage to master: you fall off, eat shit, get up again until you nail it. Society [as] a whole treats it as an annoyance and again it requires you to rise above it so you can nail that move.

A song I wish I'd written is... oh that's a hard one! Probably Thriller by Michael Jackson.

The best album... another tricky one, can I pick three? I'm loving The Teskey Brothers Half Mile Harvest, Babe Rainbows Double Rainbow and Kruangbins Con Todo El Mundo at the [moment].

If I could join a band... well band wise it would be Kruangbin, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and to jam with Ray Charles. Some artists I really want to collab with are Diplo, Childish Gambino, Post Malone and Chance the Rapper!

I could listen to anything by... Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse.

People should stick around because... I have plenty more up my sleeve for you, [I'm] working on my second single to release over summer.

And finally... being kind and taking time to get to know people and their journey, caring for others and not judging is what life is about.

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