1 Natasha Duarte – What A Night
Duarté/Carter/Malusa (Empire) From the album ‘First Time’ Empire (MGM)
“Natasha Duarté has just turned 18 but already she is becoming a major sensation on the Australian music scene. Her school tour and other promotions through 2012 including playing Music Matters in Singapore have built her Facebook following from just 1600 to around 50,000 fans. Her new video has had over 70,000 views in this first week alone. Natasha’s new album ‘First Time’ features songs written over the past two years include ‘The Worst Part’ which won the prestigious ISC Teen Award in 2011 alongside Kimbra and Missy Higgins’ winning song entries. The album has just been released by Empire and MGM.”
2 Kathryn Rollins – Reckless
“Kathryn Rollins, Kav Temperley (Control/Mushroom)” from the EP ‘Reckless’ Dirt Diamond ABC/Universal
www.facebook.com/kathrynrollinsmusic
“Shrouded in many layers of creative cognition, Kathryn Rollins makes music that grumbles with heart and sparks with emotional rawness. She finds her place in amongst the more sincere members of the musical world, with influences like PJ Harvey, Bon Iver and Lykke Li. In 2008, Kathryn Rollins met Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe and Basement Birds). The two Freo locals got together to make demos of Kathryn’s songs, trying different production styles and arrangements to find the right sound. After three years of friendship and musical experimentation, Kathryn signed to development label, Dirt Diamonds Productions, and her debut EP was created. The songs on the four-track record entitled ‘Reckless’ are a mix of old and new, spanning years of emotional growth and experience from ages 18 through 21.”
3 Lone Bellow – Bleeding Out
Williams/Elmquist/Knapp (Control) From the album ‘The Lone Bellow’ Sony
“The Lone Bellow’s self-titled album debut has been called one of the best albums of the by the likes of People Magazine, USA Today, The New York Times, The Associated Press, Paste, Forbes and Filter. NPR’s Bob Boilen simply stated, “”The world of acoustic music is about to get a new household name. The music of The Lone Bellow is born from tragedy and told with heart and simplicity.”
4 Natalie Maines – Without You
Vedder (Kobolt) From the album ‘Mother’ Sony
“MOTHER is the solo debut from Natalie Maines, the always provocative, multi-platinum, Grammy-Award winning singer of the Dixie Chicks. On MOTHER, people will hear a new direction from the singer. Heavily influenced by the more rock-based, edgy and intense sound of title track, and Pink Floyd cover, “”Mother,”” Maines teamed up with friend and Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and guitar wizard Ben Harper, who co-produced the record with Maines. The album was recorded in Harper’s studio.”
5 Paul Kelly – I’m On Your Side Kelly
(Sony ATV) From the album ‘Spring and Fall’ Gawd Aggie Recordings IND
“Last October Paul Kelly released his 19th studio album’Spring And Fall’. This July and August he will be touring cities and towns around Australia performing the record in its entirety, followed by a generous selection of older songs. This selection will change from night to night and will include well-known songs and a few surprises. The band touring with Paul will be Dan Kelly on guitar and vocals; J. Walker, who co-produced and played on the album; Zoe Hauptmann on bass (who recently performed on the Finn and Kelly tour) and Bree Van Reyk (Holly Throsby, Seeker Lover Keeper) on drums”
6 The Trouble With Templeton -You Are New
Calder (Control) forthcoming album Tiny Monster MGM
www.thetroublewithtempleton.com
“‘You Are New’ is the new single from The Trouble With Templeton’s album ‘Rookie’, out in August. ‘ROOKIE’ is uncompromisingly & uniquely Templeton, as aggressive as it is tender, as light as it is dark, full of bold storytelling & ultimately a journey of perspective. It’s been a huge year for TTWT, touring the US twice with shows coast to coast including SXSW & CMJ, & playing with some fantastic acts (Of Monsters And Men, Father John Misty, Half Moon Run, Julia Stone, Matt Corby), BIGSOUND, Harvest & Falls Festivals. Whilst in the US, TTWT was featured on NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly, and hit playlists of over 160 college radio stations.”
7 Fiona Joy Hawkins – Running On Joy
Hawkins (Larrikin) Fom the album ‘600 Years In A Moment’ Little Hartley IND
Running on Joy is from composer/pianist and singer Fiona Joy Hawkins who celebrates her most epic and significant album 600 Years in Moment. Fiona records a contemporary hand-made Australian piano with ancient instruments from around the world to combine the past, present and future. “One of the brightest lights in the contemporary instrumental genre Fiona Joy Hawkins is poised to move into stardom and we have only to watch to see it happen” – Will Ackerman (Founder Windham Hill Records).”
8 Jade Leonard – Joan of Arc
Leonard (Control) From the album ‘Glitter Wood’ Ind IND
“Jade Leonard is a versatile and captivating singer, pianist and songwriter best known for her emotive vocal interpretations. Her distinctive sound embraces the traditions of jazz and combines them with a passion for western contemporary and South American music. Jade has performed at most of Melbourne’s major concert, jazz club, night club and function venues with all types of ensembles covering jazz, contemporary, pop, world and dance music including Bennett’s Lane, The Regent Theatre and Rod Laver Arena. Joan of Arc is the most recent single released from Jade’s 2013 album GlitterWood. The track features Melbourne jazz pianist Daniel Gassin and post production by Paul Brandoli.”
9 Bitzer – Bad Boy For Love
Rilen (Alberts) From the EP ‘Oz Rock Six Pack’ Foghorn MGM
“In the 1970s a new and thunderous sound emerged out of Australia’s pubs. Honed by relentlessly touring bands before tough crowds on floors sticky with spilled drinks and broken glass, pub rock went on to influence generations of musicians. Bitzer pay tribute to this important chapter in the history of Australian music. Pub rock anthems like “”Marseilles”” by The Angels and Midnight Oil’s “”No Time For Games”” stand alongside the street poetry of Ian Rilen (Rose Tattoo, X). His 1977 hit “”Bad Boy For Love”” is presented here the way it was originally intended, as a jazz-tinged blues. ”
10 Neo – I Like Your Style
Tinapple/Sinclair (Control) From the album ‘The Near Eath Objects’ Ind MGM
“12 years ago, a naked millennium celebration spawned an irrepressible new band. Mixing soul, funk, ska, blues and rock, with elements of cabaret and circus, The NEO is a full-power, soul-fuel musical experience. The NEO have just released a massive, and much anticipated new album, The Near Earth Objects. With 13 bold new tracks this album is the culmination of many years of song crafting and touring. From Arnhem Land to the Red Centre, the East coast to the Southern Mountains The NEO have toured consistently since they began. The band have previously launched two EPs, a double album, achieved Triple J airplay with ‘Bus Blues’ and have appeared on RAGE and Channel V.”
11 Bob Pigott – Dive Like A Dolphin Pigott
(Fogsongs) From the EP ‘Sydney Songs’ Ind MGM
“Award winning singer/songwriter Bob Pigott continues to be as prolific and hardy as a Sydney Blue Gum, returning to his roots with his latest offering ‘Sydney Songs’. Blending the sounds and words of the streets that wind down to his hometown’s glorious harbour and beaches, Bob has recorded a 7 track mini album celebrating Australia’s global city. ‘Bondi’ is a poet’s view of the iconic beachside suburb, ‘Dive Like a Dolphin’ pays homage to the lifesaver, the Sydney Song is a day in the life of the grand old town, while a cover of the legendary ‘My City of Sydney’ gets a modern day makeover, glimmering like the Opera House sails.”
12 Bartlett Bros – Last Resistance
Bartlett/Bartlett (Control) From the album ‘Last Resistance’ Ind
“Bartlett Bros is an Indigenous Rock Band from Western Australia whose music touches the heart and lifts the spirit. Hugely gifted singer/songwriters their music ranges from punchy, soul edged pop through plain spoken ballads of the heart, rollicking country/blues and into hard edged political rap infused rock. Their incredible vocal harmonies have seen them featured on NITV and ABC Radio National and made them one of the best-known and respected indigenous acts in Australia. Bartlett Brothers have just released their second album ‘Last Resistance’.”
13 Vitabeats – One World Rhythm
Barnum (Fogsongs) forthcoming album Foghorn MGM
“After the re-release of the Vitabeats album Spot the Spanner on iTunes, two years ago, the online results have been so encouraging that the duo Andrew and Lissa Barnum have been inspired to re-animate their Vitabeats project. Their partnership led to a number 1 video and Aus top 5 singles: ‘Boom Box’ and ‘Audrey’ back in the 80’s. The duo have unearthed One World Rhythm a never released single recorded back in the day with Producer Joe Wissert (Boz Scaggs/Earth, Wind & Fire) and legendary Aus hitmaker Engineer David Hemming.”
14 Halfway Homebuoy – Sirens (Team Wing Remix Radio Edit)
Burns/ JJ Davison (Fogsongs) From the digital single What Records Labelworx
Releasing their debut album late last year the band are looking to build on the success of the EP Crossing Borders which gained airplay throughout Australia and the UK. Team Wing came on board to remix Sirens from the new album. Team Wing have established themselves in Sydney’s underground dance scene and have taken the Homebuoy’s rock edge and filed it to a killer dance groove.
15 Mark Cashin – Waiting In This Moment
Cashin (Fogsongs) From the album ‘Mark Cashin’s Eye Sound Vol 1’ Foghorn MGM
www.myspace.com/markcashinband “
As well as being lead singer & founder for rock outfit ‘Mark Cashin & The Lil Hussys’ Mark now has a new digital only project to hit iTunes in June. EYE SOUND Vol 1 featuring 10 new Australian artists from across the country such as: Jake Cassar (Central Coast), David Hess (Melb), Michelle Claire-Hoare (Syd), Nephisa Omar (WA) and many more. This is the first volume in the series where Mark has been enjoying writing and producing for others and he has hopes for many more.”
16 Daxton – Bring It On
Monaghan (Fogsongs From the EP ‘Blues Stomp Edition’ Foghorn MGM
“Daxton Monaghan, based in Sydney is a blues/rock musician singer song/writer who has won attention around the world. Daxton and his band, The Sweet Lips, have a roar edge sound of the southern blues mixed with a twist of rock. With influences ranging from The Black Keys, Mark Bolan and the Queens of the Stone Age Daxton’s songs highlight his soulful delivery and guitar playing.”.
