Bonus Feature Track
1 – Simply Beautiful, Beautifully Simple – R15ER – (from the single)
1 – Simply Beautiful, Beautifully Simple – R15ER – (from the single)
Click here or any image below for video
The second single to be lifted from the current Surburban Wildlife album (MGM) is called Black Cockatoos. Released in a 3-track format, the lead song is accompanied by another album track “Sometimes” as well as a brand new, previously unreleased tune “A Day Without You” held over from the album sessions earlier this year.
Two stunning brand new videos for “Black Cockatoos” and “Sometimes” are in the final edit stage(see pics) and will be made available in the coming weeks leading up to the Black Cockatoos Launch at Django Bar Camelot on December 2, following a warm up show Sunday November 11 at the Botany View Hotel, Newtown.
Formed a little over two years ago, Big Merino play original songs that blur the lines between rock, country, blues, roots, soul, funk and grunge, while occasionally making forays into lesser known genres such as New Orleans 2nd Line.
Citing their major influences as Glen Hansard, The Frames, Jackson Browne and The Rolling Stones, songwriters Alex Craig and Stuart Davis write socially and politically-charged songs that are sometimes gentle and nostalgic and at other times nothing less than a fierce cry for revolution.
Lead singer/guitarist Stuart Davis cut his teeth singing Gospel with Tony Backhouse in Cafe at the Gates of Salvation, and brings that soulful Gospel feel to everything he does. He is joined by Alex Craig on guitar, Peter Richardson on bass and Colin Sevitt on drums.
The Suburban Wildlife album was recorded by Russell Pilling over three weeks at Damien Gerard Studios. Russell also remixed “Black Cockatoos” specially for this single release, adding some timpani tracks that weren’t on the album mix.
The album features guest performances from some of the cream of Australia’s musical talent including-
Living legend James Greening on trombone, souzaphone, euphonium, trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn and pocket cornet (the main feature of previously unreleased song ‘A Day Without You”)
Jonathan Zwartz – Double Bass
Johnny G – from Johnny G and the E-Types on piano, organ and accordion
Jess Ciampa – Australia’s most sought after percussionist
Michel Rose – pedal steel (The Catholics) and
finally a string quartet from the Sydney Chamber Orchestra.
See TheMusic studio sessions article here.
BIG MERINO
Black Cockatoos Single
Official Release All Digital Platforms via MGM
November 2 2018
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Thanks to streaming, a small cadre of independent solo pianists are making a killing.
By ELIAS LEIGHT
On October 3rd, Michele McLaughlin got some exciting news: Her music has been streamed over one billion times.
Young artists in popular genres are racking up streams like crazy these days — presumably McLaughlin is an ascendant rapper releasing 90-second battering rams through SoundCloud? Or maybe she’s the guest vocalist on the latest reggaeton posse cut to rule YouTube?
Nope: McLaughlin is an independent artist in her forties who makes contemporary instrumental solo piano music. She’s a star in her field — to the point where another pianist says, “I’m not quite doing Michele McLaughlin numbers” — reportedly making around $250,000 a year. And she’s not alone. “We have a large group of solo piano players that are making a killing, making $7,000 to $10,000 a month,” says Kevin Breuner, VP of Marketing for CDBaby, which touts itself as “the largest global digital distributor of independent music.”
“Some of them are making far more money from their music than the artists than you see on major labels that sell OK but are not crossing the threshold of really having an income stream for years to come,” Breuner continues. “These piano players have cracked that.”
That’s thanks to the rise of streaming services and an accompanying shift in listening habits. “It used to be that, to get signed, it had to be something that somebody thought they could sell to a mass market,” Breuner explains. “But now, music gets used in so many different ways. When we dug a little deeper, this particular genre group and a lot of other genres that tend to be mellow and instrumental perform really well on streaming — there are a lot of dentist offices, a lot of work-office environments where people are putting on quiet, soothing music in the background and just letting it play.”
“I had someone ask me the other day, ‘Are you OK with being known as sleepy music?’” says Chad Lawson, another successful solo pianist. “I think he was trying to take a jab in a roundabout way. But I said, ‘Yeah, I really am.’ I have a running joke: Don’t listen to my music while you’re driving. It needs to have a warning sticker: Do not operate heavy machinery while listening to this.”
Read the rest of the article here at Rolling Stone.
and be sure to check out some of the stellar solo piano albums on our featured page from artists such as Fiona Joy Hawkins, Rachel Lafond, Andy Iorio and Loren Evarts.
Sophie Kinston is Tailor Birds.
Tailor Birds newest album is music that soothes the soul, warms the spirit, and ignites your passion.
Even though the content is 6 songs they are each a 7-10 minute ‘Piece’ forming an album length body of work. Following the success of the previous work ‘Stilts on the Water’ (a single 40 minute piece) this release explores further electro/folk/world territory with more instrumentation such as Piano and Flute added to the already lush soundscape. Recorded in various studios throughout Europe while on tour and mixed and mastered at Damien Gerard Studios Sydney the sonic quality is exceptional.
In Sophie’s own words, “Tailor Birds combines electronic violin, live looping, foley art, percussion, and rich harmonised vocals, to create a sound like no other. A sound that is all about the vibe and positive energy, building an audience that is as diverse as much as it is one, you could say that Sophie is a traveling troubadour. She believes that music should not just be about playing one gig after another with just the music making an impact, but is also o about connecting people to something good again, in a world that is constantly changing. Music needs to inspire and placing Tailor Birds in a space that can do just that, it makes an impact greater than you could ever imagine.”
“Faint echoes of Kate Bush here, Enya there but really like neither and often much spookier”
–Michael Smith – Rhythms Magazine
Tailor Birds’ key influences are Sigur Ros, the Kronos Quartet, Bear’s Den, Chet Faker and more.
-=Sophie Kinston
Tailor Birds is currently touring through Australia.
Friday October 26 – Miama Marketta, Miami QLD
Saturday October 27 – Storytellers Festival, Raymond Terrace, NSW
Saturday November 3 – The Sound Society, Rainforest Green, South Bank Parklands, Brisbane QLD
Sunday November 4 – Peregian Beach Markets, QLD
Saturday November 17 – Cooran Acoustic Night, Cooran QLD
Connect with Tailor Birds
Following a recent move to Melbourne Adam has just released his Anniversary Edition of his 2017 Debut Album -Little Death. This version of the album is live in the studio acoustic featuring some pedal steel as well – a great new version of his well received first release.
The acoustic backing has given the album a new lease of life as easy listening cafe music, more accessible than the original Rock album.
Already proving popular online, you are sure to hear it in a cafe nearby soon.
Heres some words from Adam….
What inspired you to become an artist and who are your early influences?
Feedback and responses from others has always inspired me. My early influences include listening to a lot of Beatles, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Rodruigez, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple. Plus anyone with a melodic, meaningful, simple acoustic song inspired me as well.
Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show?
My music is quite dynamic and I write in different styles such as modern blues, rock, folk and some country styles (more Eagles and Neil Young than traditional country). People always seem to comment on my energy on stage, that I always look like I’m really into it and having fun while performing well. I have some quieter songs that people seem to really warm to as well. So lots of fun, energy, variety, some songs to dance to, some to listen to with interesting lyrics.
Check Out The Album
After a few years break while getting married and starting a new family Karissa is back with a great new single Forbidden Desires, that she says is her favourite to date and all about Passion, Frustration and making a choice.
Soundslikecafe have been watching karissa’s career with interest since her first releases made it onto the early CD versions and now are proud to have her new single on the latest playlist.
Heres some words straight from the heart from the girl herself –
- What inspired the songs, any artists you were referencing at the time?
"Those 2 songs I wrote on twilight series 1 was new moon and 1 was eclipse. The novels inspired me to write music for a possible chance on getting it into twilight soundtracks. ‘Paramore’ was my inspiration at the time."
-What are they each about?
Forever is about the novel ‘new moon’- it’s about Bellas love for Edward and her heart break of him leaving her, but then saving Edward before it was too late. ‘Forbidden Desires’ is my favorite out of all my writing- very RAW material and I think I got my message across. But it’s about the novel ‘eclipse’- it’s about a Love Triangle! Of being in love with 2 people at once and being forced to choose. It’s about passion, frustration and making a choice!"
-Who are your current fave artists?
"Sia and Kings of Leon."
-What are your musicial plans for the future?
"To finally finish my album. I spent such a period off of recording because I was too busy doing gigs every where for years. Also. Getting married, running a business I opened 6 yrs ago and having a child who is now 19months." Well thanks for the chat Karissa, we look forward to hearing more of the forthcoming album and following your music journey. Check out Karissa's music here or listen for it in a cafe near you..... Thanks for listening........
Diana Anaid – New Single – Leaving Town
Diana’s new single , number 3 from the My Queen album, is out now and an East Coast Tour will follow taking in a few festivals such as Airlie Beach along the way. From this time last year when Diana opened for Adam and The Ants across Australia and New Zealand on the release of My Queen – (her first album in 7 years) things have gone from strength to strength.
I am super proud to announce the release of my new single Leaving Town.The single features three live and acoustic tracks beautifully recorded by Paul McQueen(SWAA). The heartfelt music video (out in October) by Northern Rivers artist Kerry Negus further highlights the emotive and courageous lyrical content of the album, focusing this time on climate change, the drought, corporate greed and personal inner peace. I am so humbled by the amazing creatives who have thrown their weight behind the new My Queen release, helping to make it one of my defining albums, emboldening and bolstering my personal and creative growth and inner strength”
The Leaving Town Single features 3 intimate Acoustic Bonus Tracks“Better Girl”, “Into Your Heart”, “Leaving The Country” recorded earlier this year live in the studio for an Aussie Music WeeklyRadio Special.
The Single is also available on CD as part of the current My Queen Full Length CD LP available at all good music stores
Co-written with longtime guitarist Nathan Correy,produced and mixed by Aria Award Winning Steve James and mastered at Metropolis London, the album has earned high praise such as
“Anaid’s luscious and rich vocals are tones for the soul.. The excellent production and mastering makes this record stand out from the crowd.”
Reviewed by FVReviews August 2018
“A gorgeous mixture of pop, indie rock, blues and folk…A timeless classic. My Queen possesses an intense array of color to it, proving Diana to be a master storyteller”.My Queen review by Beach Sloth 2018
The single is on the current soundslikecafe digital playlist so you should catch it in a cafe.
If you just can’t wait the direct link is here
Soundslikecafe is proud to feature this International Tune on the new September 2018 playlist
“I originally wrote Grace as a piano instrumental and it ended up on a Grammy winning album in 2014. I wanted to add words and record my own singer/songwriter version as I really connected with the message in the song “To be with Grace, To live with Grace, Always with Grace’. A slower acoustic recording was followed by a chill mix which featured on the first Say Yes To Love album in support of marriage equality. This current remix of Grace is punchier Dream-Pop.
The track features Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel) playing NS Bass, Marc Shulman (Jewel & Suzanne Vega) playing Electric guitar with a little Beat-Box by my son Nick Hawkins.
The song has genre hopped from World to New Age to Pop and it’s been covered by a number of other artists including Flutist Sherry Finzer and Grammy winners Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman.
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