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.

Instagram | Website | SoundCloud

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.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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.

YouTube | Instagram | Website

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.

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

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.

Stream | Watch | Connect

Artist Takeover | Spectoral on the Top 10 Influential 2018 Tracks

"I think these days it's becoming a lot more difficult to call something straight up "RnB" or "hip-hop". [Now] you get a lot of tracks that straight up trap beats or as soulful as D'Angelo but which could be classed as electro-pop or singer-songwriter tracks. All these genres are just becoming so blurred, but that's what I love about music today: everyone's out to break the rules and carve out little niches of their own.

I didn't want to make a list of the most obvious singles of the year from Post Malone, Drake, Kanye, and Childish Gambino. Instead, here's a list of 10 deeper cuts that are total stand-outs of 2018. They all influence and inspire me.

Cautious Clay - Cold War
A producer singer-songwriter out of LA, this track is driven by a deep, cruisy, arpeggiated bassline while being awash with super long-tailed reverberated harmonised vocals and buried guitars.

The Weeknd - Privilege
The thing that stood out about this track, besides the super moody 'two red pills to take the blues away' hook Abel Tesfaye does so well, is that it has such an atypical structure. It's under three minutes long and repeats no part of the song. One verse, one pre-chorus, one chorus, a breakdown, then it ends. But man, it leaves you wanting more.

Alexander Vincent - I Won't
So what genre is this song? [For the] first 30 seconds you'd think it was a soul or RnB track, but nope, it ditches the urge to break into trap beats or high hats and instead turns full indie electronic with the glitchiest of grooves. Total magic.

Nas, The-Dream & Kanye West - everything
What an epic seven and a half minutes. This is a deep, reflective journey that includes probably the best singing from Kanye all decade, the prettiest pre-chorus hook from The-Dream, some deep-as bars by Nas, and, I think, the most gorgeous outtro I've heard all year.

Joji - Yeah Right
It's funny because this Japanese-Australian record producer was releasing super-explicit comedy trap last year under his alter ego Pink Guy. [However] he abandoned it, and his millions-strong YouTube persona Filthy Frank, to bet it all on a serious RnB/hip-hop singer-songwriter career as Joji. And man, is he kicking goals.

Ric Wilson - Sinner
There is no way on planet earth you're not going to like this song the second you put it on. It's like a little funky slice of Andre 3000 meets Childish Gambino meets BROCKHAMPTON and it deserves a hundred million streams. That pitch-bent keyboard synth gets me turnt!

Lennon Stella - Bad
This is the perfect example of how to craft a bittersweet 50's pop inspired single cleverly blending into modern trap/hip-hop. She's got such an earworm of a single here and her sultry vocal delivery makes it 10/10.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Not In Love We're Just High
The last two UMO albums before this also had at least one unignorable modern classic on each. So Good At Being In Trouble, Multi-Love and now this. This is probably going to get one of my [Triple J's] Hottest 100 votes it's so good. It's like Stevie Wonder collaborated with Tame Impala.

Lily Allen - Come On Then
I love this track from Lily because she's uncompromisingly honest in this thing. It's tragic, it's sad, she tears herself apart all over this track, god damn. But you don't get the downers about it because she's juxtaposed it around all these amazing electronic, euphoric synths thanks to her working with Fryars, one of my favourite singer-songwriter producers.

Matt Corby - No Ordinary Life
Rounding off this list is the genre-defying Matt Corby with this masterpiece. If this doesn't make it into the Hottest 100, I don't know what I'll do. As always his voice is soulful, the lyrics are all reflective about the dream of, I guess, the call to settle down into the predictability of a typical life. Then the whole thing is lifted into the stratosphere with that gorgeous production by Dann Hume.

Buy | Watch | Connect

Meet Tales | The Winter Gypsy rebranded

'We wanted to change our name for a few reasons - "gypsy" is an outdated term and we want to stay relevant and respectful. We also felt that being locked down by our name to an indie folk image wasn't something we wanted in the long term.'

The always dreamy folk from the band formerly known as The Winter Gypsy, Tales have entered a new era; with a new name and new release fronting the charge. Under the mentorship of Aussie label Wonderlick, the indie five-piece have taken the South Australian Music Awards "Best Folk Artist" category. Through their mentorship, the band have established themselves and have a clear direction to follow. '[It's] really helped us pave a path for our next step in what we hope is the right direction,' explains lead singer Tushar Singh.

Having had a stellar 12 months, the lads are continuing to grow into themselves and it's showing in their music. The boys' latest track, So Blue, is busy but focussed. Singh explains further, 'For us, it's essentially about living with free minds and not letting little issues strike us down in times of vulnerability'.

Coldplay - Yellow
Not only is Yellow one of the best songs of all time, but the entire Parachutes album was one of Coldplay's best albums to date. That album, and this song, will stay with me for a lifetime.

Syzmon - Golden
Rest in peace to one of the best up and coming artists to grace this world. Unfortunately, his passing was tragic and he never got to play any shows; but this song and his album will live on. This track is nothing but golden! Trust me.

Mr Jukes ft. Charles Bradley - Grant Green
Mr Jukes was the lead singer from one of my favourite bands, Bombay Bicycle Club. I remember trying to find out what he'd been up to, then I stumbled onto his new project, Mr Jukes. Grant Green  was the first track I listened to, and I instantly fell in love. Such a feel good track, and the video itself is filled with so much colour. Definitely check it out.

Tony Orlando - Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole' Oak Tree
I just had to put this one in the mix. I just remember my mum and dad always singing this one whenever it came on the radio. [It's] definitely a nostalgic and happy tune from the past for me.

Michael Jackson - Black or White
My whole family loved Michael Jackson. Unfortunately I was the only one that didn't see him live, however I was also not born yet. I can remember my brothers always playing his albums and watching his tour DVDs. He was truly the King of Pop. Rest in peace, Michael.

Watch | Listen | Connect

My Polar Dream by Jade Hameister | Review

Title: Nine Perfect Strangers
Author: Liane Moriarty
Release Date: 18th September 2018
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Source: Proof copy from the publisher

Fourteen-year-old Jade Hameister had a dream: to complete the Polar Hat-Trick.

In 2016, she skied to the North Pole.
In 2017, she completed the Greenland Crossing.
In 2018, she arrived at the South Pole.

This is the story of an adventurer who never gave up - who set herself incredible challenges beyond her years and experience. An adventurer who endured extremes of cold and blizzards; tackled treacherous terrain where one wrong step could be fatal; struggled through sastrugi, ice rubble and emotional lows to achieve an extraordinary goal.

Along the way, she made a sandwich for online trolls, inspired young people, and made international headlines.

At sixteen, Jade Hameister became the youngest person in history to complete the Polar Hat-Trick.

I really wanted to love this book. It's the story of a young, female adventurer who has overcome a whole raft of adversities to go places no one has ever gone and prove there's more to girls than the media portrays. Jade is articulate in interviews and clearly has dreams and passions that she is unafraid to follow. She's brave, strong, and insanely motivated. She's had the chance to do things a lot of people her age can only dream of doing. And now she's written it all down in her debut memoir, My Polar Dream. The whole thing sounded exactly like my cup of tea. 

Except it wasn't. I want to be careful here, because this is a girl I think a lot of people will really look up to and an example that definitely wasn't around when I was in my early teens. So I want it to be clear that this is not a personal attack, but merely a mediocre review for what could have been an amazing autobiography.

It is clear from the start that this was going to be a quick read: the writing is simplistic and there isn't any hidden meanings; what Jade wants to say, she'll say straight out. However, it was really the writing style that let the book down for me. I wanted more. The parts that I found most interesting - hiding in her tent from polar bears, living in close confines with her dad for weeks on end, being the only girl in an all-male group, why she picked this challenge before she even knew how to ski - were never explored in the depth that I felt they deserved. I came away feeling I knew more about her weightloss over the duration of the South Pole trek than I did about the harsh emotional challenges she faced (and overcame).

I think this is an important book for young girls, but I definitely feel that it should be more heavily targeted towards this audience. It's not a book I would recommend to someone my own age or older, instead it's a book girls in their early teens should be reading. Jade is an admirable young woman, but I was just too old to properly enjoy her writing.

dirtgirl | Upcoming Tour and Gumboot Boogie

dirtgirl has always just wanted to share her way of living with as many people as possible.

She's been working on sharing the message of loving and respecting the earth since 2009, and now, finally, she's taking the message from the screen to a string of upcoming live shows around Australia. It's been a long time coming, but the upcoming string of spring shows has been in the artist's mind for just as long. "I'm busting to get [on tour]. I'm so excited to play with my all girl band!" 

While the dirtgirl community is undoubtedly one of the most inclusive on the internet, dirtgirl is excited to take the stage in front of physical faces. She happily describes herself as a musician, and it is clear that her latest single, Changes, and upcoming album are another project of love. dirtgirl herself explains the fittingly titled upcoming Gumboot Boogie album as "feel good tunes, with some solid rock." 

A seasoned traveller and a passionate soul about everything environmental, dirtgirl is a multifaceted artist, who spends as much time being the voice for the natural as she does singing about it. Having recently travelled everywhere from the Torres Strait, to the Great Barrier Reef, and recently into the offices of Canberra's politicians. But wherever she is, whether delivering petitions to Federal pollies or singing to families through their screens, it's the same heart that drives her forward. One of her latest projects, the 21 Days Plastic Bag Detox, is an even further example of the kindness she extends to the environment, but also to the people she is confident can take care of it. "It's all about protecting what we love. I think everyone can understand that." With an aim of equipping people to better approach simple changes, dirtgirl explains "It's not about choosing to have less, it's about choosing better".

Having been in people's loungerooms for just shy of 10 years, it is clear that dirtgirl has established a supportive audience, both online and off. Ultimately though, she just wants young people to know that change is natural and that everything will be okay. (Especially if they remember to take their reusable bags.) 

DIRTGIRL LIVE PERFORMANCES
SAT 06 OCT | FLORIADE, CANBERRA, ACT | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL AND SCRAPBOY GET BUZZY  | FREE EVENT  | STAGE 88 | 10.45AM
SAT 06 OCT | FLORIADE, CANBERRA, ACT | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL AND HER BAND  | FREE EVENT  | STAGE 88 | 12.30PM
SUN 07 OCT | FLOURISH, NGA SCULPTURE GARDEN, ACT | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL AND SCRAPBOY GET BUZZY  | FREE EVENT  | NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA
MON OCT 10 | MACDONNELL COUNCIL, NT | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL GET GRUBBY MEET AND GREET  | FREE EVENT  |  9.00AM
SAT 03 NOV | THE LOST LANDS, WERRIBEE PARRK & MANSION, VIC | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL AND SCRAPBOY GET BUZZY | Tickets available from www.thelostlands.com.au
SAT 04 NOV | THE LOST LANDS, WERRIBEE PARRK & MANSION, VIC | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL AND HER BAND | Tickets available from www.thelostlands.com.au
THURS 08 NOV | THE GREENHOUSE OF ORANGE,  ORANGE NSW | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL AND SCRAPBOY GET BUZZY | Tickets available from  www.thegreenhouseoforange.com.au
FRIDAY 16 NOV | CLARENDON, TAS | ALL AGES
DIRTGIRL NATURE PLAY  | FREE EVENT  |  2.00PM

View | Buy | Connect

Bob Evans | Best Of Album & Tour Dates

Bob Evans started with an accidental op shop find in 1998, well before Bob Evans the solo artist had been truly considered. In fact, it took five years of solo shows before his first solo album was released. Now, twenty years after Kevin Mitchell first donned, and became, Bob Evans is releasing new album Full Circle. Touted by some as a Best Of album, but as Mitchell explains, this doesn't fully sum up what he's trying to achieve. Instead, he's offering up both an introduction and allowing fans a sneak peak of what's to come on future records. The 15-strong track list pulls together the brightest of Bob Evans' 20 year career, before ending with new track Drowning.

Mitchell has stopped by to chat about the new album, his upcoming tour, and what's next for Bob Evans.

Narrowing down five albums to a track list of 14 is a pretty tall order, where did you start?
Well I started with the obvious ones. Half the record chose itself and the other half I kind of curated with specific ideas in mind. The first singles from each album and the popular radio songs obviously had to be there. But I also wanted to make sure it wasn't just that. I wanted there to be live favourites and deeper cuts that had a personal significance to me. I also wanted to make sure there was variation to the record. Some of my favourite songs aren't the most accessible ones so they don't always get mainstream attention. This was the perfect opportunity to shine a light on some songs that maybe didn't get the attention I would have liked them to have in a way.

You've said you wanted this album to be an introduction to new listeners, are there any particular tracks on Full Circle that you want more people to hear?
Yes, I think Wintersong is really beautifully produced and it's a duet too and I just love it. Having it on the record I think provides a nice counter point to the more upbeat stuff.

Do you feel that your most popular tracks, whether on radio or live, are actually your best songs?
No, and I wouldn't say that for any artist I love either. Songs that are chosen as singles for radio are chosen for how best they fit a mould, you know? Radio won't just play anything. It's very carefully constructed based on whatever their motives are. That's not to say they are rubbish songs either! I would never put a song on my album that I wouldn't be proud for people to hear. If you were to ask me my favourite Nirvana song, or favourite Beatles song, or favourite You Am I song, it would be a non-single.

Photo: Tajette O'Halloran

Are there any songs that would've made the album if you had a few more tracks available or are you satisfied with your choices?
I would have loved to have squeezed Power of Speech on there from Goodnight, Bull Creek! It's a lovingly recorded bossa nova song that I still really like. [I] would have liked to have added more songs from the last album Car Boot Sale too, like Old News or Ron Sexsmith.

Do you think any of your long-time fans will be surprised by some of the tracks that have made the cut?
Maybe. I want this album to be one that my long-term fans bur for their friend or family member who doesn't know my stuff to try and kind of turn them on to me. I tried to look at it like an Introduction record as much as a Best Of.

You've ended the album with new track, Drowning, what made you decide to round out the album with this song rather than purely an album of older tunes?
I needed a new song on there just to give people an extra reason to buy it, that's all. I was saving it for my next album. I like though that it serves as a taster of what's to come. The next album is going to be more of a rock record, less poppy. None of the new songs sound like the Beatles of Elliot Smith!

Having had such a lengthy career already, is there one moment that stands out?
There are loads. Recording in Nashville is one that kind of rises to the top. I made two albums there and it was the first time I'd ever made a record that I thought sounded really great, something that would hold its own internationally, not just in Australia.

You've already gone through huge changes as an artist, moving from working within a band to a soloist, what do you feel is the next change? Or is there no more changing?
Oh, the next Bob Evans record is going to be very different to all the previous ones. That's kind of why I wanted to do the Best Of thing now. I needed to cleanse the palate, so to speak. I needed to close a door, so that in my mind I could the next one.

And I have to ask, do you still have the original Bob Evans t-shirt?
No. I had it up until about 10 years ago. It was full of holes and eventually you just have to throw stuff out that's taking up space in your wardrobe.

BOB EVANS NATIONAL ‘FULL CIRCLE’ TOUR

FRI 19 OCT | BLACK BEAR LODGE, BRISBANE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.auor www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 20 OCT | LEADBELLY, NEWTOWN NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.auor www.leadbelly.oztix.com.au

FRI 26 OCT | THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.auor www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 27 OCT | THE ROSEMOUNT HOTEL, NORTH PERTH WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.auor www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets

SAT 3 NOV | NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, NORTHCOTE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.auor www.eventbrite.com.au

Watch | Listen | Connect

Caravana Sun | Silver Linings EP Review

Caravana Sun are here with an EP to make you sing, make you dance, and ultimately make you cherish life. The six-track offering is just ahead of the approaching warmer weather, but until then it's sure to make you long for summer just that little bit harder. Headed by an ode to a lost friend, Silver Linings is unafraid of reality. Instead Caravana Sun chose to face it head on with a "full body experience" collection that will make listeners feel just as much as it will make them boogie.

Dripping with heartfelt lyrics, indie saturated guitar and percussion, and a whole bowlful of soul, Caravana Sun have proved successful music doesn't need to show off, it just needs to show up. The foursome have hit a sweet spot between indie musicality and smart lyrics. These are stories you'll want to play again and again, with no time for the dust to settle. The title track, Silver Linings, is particularly impressive.

This is an EP of substance, and it's one that will stay relevant for years to come.

“Come Back is a heartfelt, honest and raw take on the loss of a loved one.  Amidst a sea of emotion surrounding the reality of losing something so precious, lies a pure human cry for that person to return.  To fill the space that nobody could replace.  The song was inspired when fellow musician and good friend of the band Jae Haydon, lost his life in the ocean, surfing the reefs of Indonesia.  Though he passed away doing something he loved, there was still such an overwhelmingly sad tone that had washed over everybody he touched.  Jae was a young, incredible musician and friend to so many.  This song is dedicated to Jae but also a song for his family and everybody who had the great fortune to know him.”

Silver Linings is available now.

‘SILVER LININGS’ NATIONAL EP TOUR

FRI 14 SEP | DENMARK CIVIC CENTRE, DENMARK WA | ALL AGES | Tickets

SAT 15 SEP | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA | 18+ | Tickets

FRI 21 SEP | DIVERS TAVERN, BROOME WA | 18+ | Tickets

SAT 22 SEP | MOJO’S, FREMANTLE WA | 18+ | Tickets

SUN 23 SEP | WAVE ROCK FESTIVAL, WA | 18+

FRI 28 SEP | THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY NSW | 18+ | Tickets

FRI 5 OCT | THE FOUNDRY, BRISBANE QLD | 18+ | Tickets

SAT 6 OCT | UNDER THE TREES FESTIVAL, BOYNE ISLAND QLD | ALL AGES

SUN 7 OCT | CELEBRATE GOLD COAST, CHEVRON ISLAND QLD | ALL AGES

FRI 12 OCT | THE JACK, CAIRNS QLD | 18+ | Tickets

SAT 13 OCT | MAGNUMS, AIRLIE BEACH QLD | 18+ | Tickets

FRI 19 OCT | OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY NSW | 18+ | Tickets

SAT 20 OCT | UOW UNIBAR, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+ | Tickets

FRI 26 OCT | HOWLER, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ | Tickets

SAT 27 OCT | TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY VIC | 18+ | Tickets

Listen | Buy | Connect

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty || Review

Title: Nine Perfect Strangers
Author: Liane Moriarty
Release Date: 18th September 2018
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Source: Proof copy from the publisher

Masha repeated, 'In ten days you will not be the person you are now.'

No one moved.

Frances felt hope rise in the room like a delicate mist. Oh, to be transformed, to be someone else, to be someone better.

'You will leave Tranquillum House feeling happier, healthier, lighter, freer,' said Masha. Each word felt like a benediction.

Happier. Healthier. Lighter. Freer.

'On the last day of your stay with us, you will come to see me and you will say this: Masha, you were right! I am not the same person I was. I am healed. I am free of all the negative habits and chemicals and toxins and thoughts that were holding me back. My body and mind are clear. I am changed in ways I could never have imagined.'

What a load of crap, thought Frances, while simultaneously thinking, Please let it be true.

This book did not go at all in the direction I was expecting. I had sat myself down, prepared for something of a light-hearted romp through a health resort with a kooky alternative owner. Which I got, for about the first ten chapters. And then things got, well, there's no other way to say it except, things got kind of crazy.

Liane Moriarty's latest novel is told from multiple points of view, but Frances was without a doubt the main protagonist. I was personally a fan of this style; as there was so many characters - nine participants of the health retreat and four staff members - allowing all of them equal time would've meant a ridiculously long novel. And if I have one criticism, it would be that the book is 512 pages. While I did race through it, it's a heavy book and would definitely not have wanted to be any longer. BUT that is such a minute issue to pick up on, it barely counts as a complaint at all.

So let's get back to my favourite part of the book - Masha, the owner and operator of Tranquillum House. Perhaps one of the most interesting characters I've read in a contemporary novel in recent times, Masha was the perfect mix of believable and downright insane. The sad truth of that statement, which I won't unpack because it will absolutely spoil some of the big plot twists, is that the things Masha preached (and practiced on her unwitting guests) were realistic enough that I could accept everything that happened. With so many health retreats, diets, and fads available, Masha was not as surprising as she ought to have been.

The ending of Nine Perfect Strangers is best described as cheesy, but somehow Moriarty pulled it off. Potentially because every other near-ridiculous instance in the novel, having anything less than what was offered wouldn't have felt like the best ending. It needed a little bit of sweet to finish off, and that's exactly what Moriarty delivered.

Sannia | Go And Get Over

Sannia's debut track, Go And Get Over, has been making collecting fans since its release in mid-June. The tune, which is rapidly increasing 25,000 streams on Spotify, is a deeply personal delve into breaking up and moving on. While the minimalism of the song is a new direction in a highly produced music industry, it's exactly that which makes it so refreshing. Sannia expects nothing of her audience aside from the time it takes to listen. (Three minutes, 39 seconds to be precise.)

"This song developed really organically for me, I was actually driving home late one night and just sort of started singing the first words that came to mind to keep myself awake...Go And Get Over is about literally just that, the cyclical process of moving on from someone while at the same time reminiscing on everything that was and what it's become now, which I think a lot of people can relate to. You almost go through these sort of seven stages of grief - leaving them, missing them, going back, getting hurt, and trying to exact change - it takes its toll."

The song, and its accompanying video clip, follows a similar cyclical pattern, throwing listeners head first into the painful experience of starting over. Sannia shows no signs of the relative novice that she is to the music industry, instead presenting her voice as though this is another album and not a debut single. It's her self-assured and emotive vocals that really draw people in. There is no sign of naivety, and, despite her lyrics of beginning again, this is a girl who clearly knows who she is, what she's worth, and is ready to share it with the masses.

Stream | Buy | Connect

The Paper Kites | On The Corner Where You Live teaser

The Papers Kites, Melbourne's indie folk quintet, have had a stellar few months. With their track Bloom going certified gold in the States and the announcement of their upcoming album, On The Corner Where You Live (set for release on 21st September). Without giving too much away - if you're as keen as you should be, pre-order the album here - the lovely folk of The Paper Kites have stopped by to spotlight some tracks off On The Corner Where You Live.

Red Light is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Although stylistically it's kind of a nod to our early days, this track sits in the pocket and has some real charm to it. In demo form, this track never really stood a chance to make it on the album. It took some re-working and adjustments to the melody, guitar parts, as well as an added bass and drum part to give it more life and to [take it to] a place where we were happy with the song.

This was the first track we decided to tackle in the studio, and we recorded it to tape.

Midtown Waitress tells the story of a person who has moved to the big city. It's a narrative about someone trying to be their own person and stand on their own two feet in a big city.

Buried at the end of this track is a little interlude. Make sure you listen out for the dulcet tones of a saxophonist busking late at night on a street corner. We included this at the end of the track to keep with the late night theme and to connect with the opening track, A Gathering on 57th.

Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain was one of the trickier songs recorded on the album. This track has the most instruments, layering, and texture. We agonised over each sound and part, only putting them in if they felt right and served a purpose. As well as the usual instruments we individually play, we added many more sounds to get that 80's feel, including drum samples and synth. It was a labour of love that quickly became a favourite song and took place as our second track on the album.

Facebook | Website | Spotify 

PS. Stay tuned for an upcoming album review !