CJ Shaw releases new album All Sorts
"CJ Shaw releases new album All Sorts"
Soundslikecafe presents All Sorts – the latest album from ARIA nominated educator and musician CJ Shaw.
Since ‘ANZAC Biscuits’ gained over 30,000 views on social media in 2019, and an ARIA nomination for Music Teacher of the Year, CJ has been busily recording this album. The collection of ten songs affirms Shaw’s position as a creative and dynamic storytelling songwriter for children and adults.
Having spent over twenty years as a songwriter and performer, ‘All Sorts’ draws on the catalogue that Shaw has been performing at folk clubs and festivals. It is an album for the modern eclectic times, containing poignant storytelling, songs of fatherhood, hip-hop, satire and traditional folk. “I wanted an album that could connect people of different ages,” states CJ, “Everyone should be able to enjoy the music”.
‘Terminator Shades’ is Shaw’s hip hop ode to primary school playgrounds and the chaos and characters that it presents. As a teacher Shaw wrote the song to draw his students into the world of hip hop and show the validity of their own experiences in song. “There’s no point in them singing about fast cars in Las Vegas”, says Shaw, “The students have embraced the song and challenge each other to see who can rap the fastest.”
Shaw collected some excellent players to help with the recording. The line-up includes: Allyson Newman who brings her emotive arrangement to the song ‘Lonely Road’ and features Canberra Symphony Orchestra players Steven Fitzgerald, Alex Voorhoeve and Timothy Wickham bringing depth and precision to the record.
A collection of the best songs in CJ Shaw’s repertoire, ‘All Sorts’ is brimming with life and vitality, drawing in audiences of all ages. Dubbed the ‘ultimate family album’ for a reason, ‘All Sorts’ is destined to be a family favourite on long car trips in the foreseeable future.
Armed with a guitar and a swag full of harmonicas, singer-songwriter CJ Shaw’s intricate finger-picking, word play and storytelling never fails to captivate his audiences. CJ Shaw’s music is distinctly Australian in style, influenced by Paul Kelly and Slim Dusty. His lyrical storytelling and musicality lends itself to audiences of all ages.
In 2020, CJ Shaw was nominated for an ARIA Award for ‘Music Teacher of the Year’ with Jimmy Barnes as his official ambassador presenting him with the nomination. This prestigious music industry acknowledgement recognised his dynamic and poignant songwriting for primary-aged children. These celebrated songs are woven through his performances and albums, played alongside satirical and storytelling Australiana folk songs.
With over a decade experience touring and performing at music festivals in Australia and Timor-Leste, CJ Shaw is an exciting Canberra musician at the top of his game.
CJ Shaw – All Sorts is out NOW September 17th through Foghorn/MGM
Download or stream:
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CJ Shaw releases new single Adelaide from upcoming album
"CJ Shaw releases new single Adelaide from upcoming album"
Adelaide
Just added to our playlist here is CJ Shaw.
Acoustic Folk Australian best describes this song which has elements of Slim Dusty and Aussie folk such as The Hussy Hicks and The Beggars. Checkout the video premiere courtesy of scenestr
This story telling song follows the enchanting day which saw the arrival of my first child, Adelaide. The rain tumbled down in Canberra, soaking the city and filling the drains as we marvelled at the magic of being first time parents. As the song suggests the natural world that surrounded us, the animals and birds as well as the gardens and trees were reborn as the result of the 60mm that fell in just under an hour. This is a song that celebrates renewal and new life.
Armed with a guitar and a swag full of harmonicas, singer-songwriter CJ Shaw’s intricate finger-picking, word play and storytelling never fails to captivate his audiences. CJ Shaw’s music is distinctly Australian in style, influenced by Paul Kelly and Slim Dusty. His lyrical storytelling and musicality lends itself to audiences of all ages.
In 2020, CJ Shaw was nominated for an ARIA Award for ‘Music Teacher of the Year’ with Jimmy Barnes as his official ambassador presenting him with the nomination. This prestigious music industry acknowledgement recognised his dynamic and poignant songwriting for primary-aged children. These celebrated songs are woven through his performances and albums, played alongside satirical and storytelling Australiana folk songs.
In 2021 CJ Shaw will release his album ‘All Sorts’. Combining the best of his children’s songs with his unique brand of contemporary Australiana, Shaw has dubbed ‘All Sorts’ “the ultimate Family Album”. With over a decade experience touring and performing at music festivals in Australia and Timor-Leste, CJ Shaw is an exciting Canberra musician at the top of his game.
CJ Shaw – Adelaide is out NOW August 20th through Foghorn/MGM
Download or stream:
Connect with CJ Shaw:
www.cjshawmusic.com
Stuart Dwyer-Wait Another Day Single and Video
"Stuart Dwyer-Wait Another Day Single and Video"
Here’s the new single from Stuart Dwyer’s Debut EP ‘Before The Night’ featuring on soundslikecafe.
Stuart Dwyer is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Sydney, Australia.
There are many ways to describe Stuart, unique, talented and charismatic just seem to scratch the surface. However, there is one word that ties them all together and is true to their character: Stuart’s music is Real. Few people sing so honestly from their heart and soul. Stuart’s music does so in just the right way, combining art, story, and song in perfect unison.
You can get a great sense from the video for the song shot in Tasmania
Stuart’s first EP “Before the night” was released in February 2020 with his next single “Nobody Else” due to be released in October 2020.
Listen here
Connect with Stu
Official Site
Andrew Barnum – Dear Ancestor(official video)
New March Playlist
"New March Playlist"
Our new additions and playlist changes for March include new releases from Karissa, Fiona joy and Throwing Shapes as well as tunes lifted from current albums by Graham Gouldman, The Mezcaltones, Steve Kilbey, Gareth Koch and more.
- Steve Kilbey / Gareth Koch – ‘Stay Where You are’ (from the album Chryse Planitia)
- Big Merino – ‘I Lay Me Down (2020 Remix)’ (remix single from the album Sweet Little Angel)
- Graham Gouldman – ‘Standing Next To Me’ (from the album Modesty Forbids)
- Karissa – ‘Utopian Coma’ (from the album Light at the End of Darkness)
- Park Haven – ‘Take Cover’ (single)
- Fiona Joy Hawkins – ‘Bushfire Moon’ (single)
- The Mezcaltones – ‘Shango’s Surfwaxxx’ (from the album Mexican Hillbilly Surf Music)
- Throwing Shapes – ‘Tranquility Base’ (from the album Tranquility Base)
Have a listen to all these songs on Our Soundslikecafe Digital Playlist On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5r0hsdTsV5N3aZAXUWt6r2?si=FcW9kDa4RcCWwF980x2Iaw
Tim Walker’s Red Velvet Chair
"Tim Walker’s Red Velvet Chair"
After moving back to his hometown of Adelaide earlier this year, ex-Sydney singer-songwriter Tim Walker set to work to record a new album, inspired by a recent trip to Europe. Tim, who began in folk before evolving into a country rock act, is now a prolific soloist doing gigs around Adelaide.
The first single from the forthcoming album is Red Velvet Chair – a pen portrait of a woman on the rebound and determined to enjoy her ‘freedom’, but also vulnerable at the same time because of it. The song’s narrator invites her to sit down on the ‘red velvet chair’ and collect her thoughts.
The single’s ‘B side’, On The Bridge, will be the opening track on the eventual album, and is a completely different sentiment. A short, classical prelude to all that is to follow, providing the thematic underpinning of the entire album – a beautiful floating spark of hope and redemption for a world in flux.
Walker’s new album, due for release early in 2020, was recorded in a Grange studio according to a strict plan. A spiritual album with more universal themes than his debut, the album echoes the singer’s recent European trip, where he was struck in particular by the European culture, saturated with centuries of spiritual and religious symbols.
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Margaret Anne and The Rock It Man Lay Their Souls Bare
"Margaret Anne and The Rock It Man Lay Their Souls Bare"
Margaret Anne and The Rock It Man’s debut album is called Soul Laid Bare. Lyrically it’s an intensely personal exploration of emotional turmoil after a marriage breakup, while musically it’s an exciting blend of Americana, country, roots, blues, funk and rock.
The title track is due for release on the soundslikecafe October Playlist ahead of the long play album march 2020.. It was written while singer Margaret Anne was making the agonizing decision to leave a 20 year marriage, break up a family and family home. The song conveys a search for clarity and expresses the fear and recklessness in making such a massive and life changing decision for all involved.
Growing up in a seaside town on the south coast of NSW, she was blessed to belong to a musical family so classical piano, guitar and song became a big part of her life.
Margaret Anne says she was heavily influenced by her surfing brothers as she grew up. “We would pool our pennies to buy the latest records. My favourites, and certainly most early influences were Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Stones, Carol King, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Hair! Anything Woodstock!”
Adventurous and a passionate singer songwriter, Margaret Anne continually touches her listeners with her inclusive heartfelt singing, dynamic stage presence and empowering songs. She currently manages and performs in the successful band Firefly.
Soul Laid Bare is a collaboration with Doug Weaver, a talented multi instrumentalist, producer and screenwrite. He has produced and written music for over 200 episodes of the American TV show The MythBusters and also many local programs including Border Security and Beach Cops.
Margaret Anne has always been an adventurer, having previously travelled the world for 11 years and visiting 56 countries. This time her attention is turned inwards and the result is an emotive album full of vulnerabilities and strength.
Soul Laid Bare (the single) is out on October 25.
The album of the same name is due in March 2020.
Download or stream from October 25:
Watch Soul Laid Bare here:
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Adam Jones Releases Third Album ‘The Dark Side Of The Earth’
"Adam Jones Releases Third Album ‘The Dark Side Of The Earth’"
Melbourne folk-rock, alt-country and blues singer/songwriter/musician Adam Jones releases his third album The Dark Side Of The Earth on 27 September 2019.
Adam released an album of 12 diverse songs in 2017 called ‘Little Death’, and then an acoustic version of that album a year later. His catchy and interesting songs traverse many styles such as folk-rock, blues, alt-country and Australiana.
In November 2018 Adam started recording some new material at a local studio in Flowerdale, Victoria and those sessions finally wrapped up at the end of August. Two early singles from these sessions – ‘Cupid’ and ‘Shining Car’ – were well-received by radio, social media and local fans.
Adam explains his inspiration for the album title. “I wrote a song called The Dark Side of The Earth, protesting about, and expressing my sadness, with regard to how cruel humans can be. Later when it came to planning the album, I thought that it would make a great album title, especially as my favourite album of all time is Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon! All songs on the album relate somehow to what I call ‘the dark side of humanity!”
Folk-rock album opener No Insurance examines risk in personal relationships, Knots in Our Hair is musically a nod to country artist John Prine whilst lyrically reflecting on the love, freedom and happiness that a relationship can provide.
The title track acts as a socio-political protest song, which Jones hopes will encourage listeners to “get up and make a real difference.”
Adam has been a serious music fan since he was very young. “My older brother left home when I was 10 and left behind his vinyl collection, my favourites including The Beatles, Neil Young and Led Zeppelin. I remember the first CD I bought was Dire Straits Brothers In Arms when CDs had only just become available in Australia. I loved the rock, blues and sweet melodies of Dire Straits music. Other early influences were some of the classics of 60’s and 70’s rock and folk, like Bob Dylan, Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Deep Purple. More recent music that inspires Adam are Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine “for their creativity and musicality.”
Although music has been a huge part of his life since then, it’s only in the last couple of years that he’s put some serious energy into his music. “I’ve been singing, writing songs, playing guitar, a bit of keyboard and percussion since I was a child. I decided to become a serious recording and performing artist late in life after a long-term relationship broke down in early 2017.”
Adam is an extremely prolific songwriter. “I write a lot, up to 150 songs per year – complete as far as lyrics and basic guitar parts go,” he explains. “I usually write the lyrics first and then straight away put some music to them and then finish the song and decide on the structure, rhythm, tempo, etc. Having time alone to sit and focus on my thoughts, experiences and feelings usually leads to me being creative. Sometimes I plan to write a particular song, others are very spontaneous. I try and change up what I write about a lot so that there is plenty of variety in my songs.”
Adam Jones – The Dark Side Of The Earth is out September 20 through Foghorn Records / MGM Distribution.
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Lily Duval – The Last Goodbye
"Lily Duval – The Last Goodbye"
Featured on our May Playlist
Full bodied acoustic guitar is the hallmark of this terrific new original single from Lily Duval. The classic sound of this song has its own time and place and transports you somewhere else.
Her writing comes from her own experiences and also longtime influences such as Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin. Lyrically, The Last Goodbye explores the sense of an ending, the realisation that you may never again see the person you love. Lily describes this song as, “a love story. I wrote this last winter. I deliberated over the key change at the end but then felt it worked.”
With help from accomplished session men – Peter Holz on guitar and Andy Beck adding the medieval sounding Celesta, the track is woven together by the expert ears of producer Russell Pilling.
Previously Lily has digitally released a number of acoustic blues originals to a warm response on Community Radio and online.
Download or stream now:
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