The Blind Pilots release debut 3-track EP
"The Blind Pilots release debut 3-track EP"
New on the soundslikecafe playlist this month is a track called Tell Me I’m Wrong, courtesy of an electrifying blues rock outfit from Sydney called The Blind Pilots.
When describing this band, it’s easy to say the same old things about being an explosive four piece Australian Roots, Rock and Blues outfit from the Northern Beaches. But the truth is all four members have known each other in previous successful bands, which gives them an advantage in the creative songwriting process. The four friends share a close rapport and have a laugh together every week. They say, “There’s never a dull moment in rehearsals!”
The band members’ camaraderie is largely based on the fact they grew up listening to the same music and share common influences like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Led Zepplin and Midnight Oil. Together they form a band making the most of dirty slide guitar, hard hitting drums, solid bass grooves, accompanied by a soulful vocal drenched in foot stompin’ harmonica riffs. “We all have an urge to push each other harder to get the best out of our muscianship and are driven to create those magic moments,” says lead guitarist and vocalist Owen.
In a live format, the band produce an energetic show full of intense commitment, whilst still maintaining a laid back vibe.
The lead track of their brand new EP is called Tell Me I’m Wrong, which offers frontman Owen’s perspective on the current political landscape. Accompanying tracks are Telephone – a hard-hitting blues rock tune about breakdowns in relationships, complete with dirty blues harp and riffing electric guitar. The swampy southern blues rock style of Howling at the Moon fits perfectly with the lyrical lament about longing and yearning.
Between them, their experiences have seen them performing at festivals including Byron Blues, Woodford Folk, Festival Of Sun, Echuca Blues Festival, Mud Run, Harley Days, Throttle Roll, Sydney Blues Festival and has found them on the Australian Blues charts. With new ideas consistently being brought to the table this group will continue to make inroads in the Blues and Roots World and be one to watch.
The Blind Pilots members are: Owen Mancell – Guitar/Vocals; Matt Hough – Drums; Ryan Stone – Harmonica; Daniel Changas – Bass/Vocals
“Owen brings the spark, Matt is the conductor and reconstructs, Changas adds the bottom end whilst Stony waves the magic which is the icing on the cake.”
The Blind Pilots EP is out on August 30.
Tell Me I’m Wrong is on the soundslikecafe playlist now.
Download or stream from August 30:
Connect with The Blind Pilots here:
Apsara – Galatea EP
"Apsara – Galatea EP"
Apsara is an original project of classical soprano Michaele Archer, exploring a sound palate that is rich and raw. Composed with Latin text from Virgil and Roman woman poet Sulpicia, Apsara’s debut EP Galatea intertwines ancient and new sounds.
Leading the Apsara project on harmonium and vocals, Archer is joined by cellist Rachel Whealy, violist Gabrielle Laura Steele and guitarist Giuseppe Zangari.
It been a journey bringing together the different layers for this project – Ancient Latin text, alto instruments and a vocal approach that blends opera and early music. “Once I had it the music came quickly. The songs almost wrote themselves. They came so fast in a matter of minutes recording on my phone.”
In addition to medieval vocals, ancient Latin text and deep analogue instruments, the flow of water and nature inspires Apsara. In Virgil’s Eclogue 7 there are references to Galatea, a water sprite and the name Apsara also translates as Indian water spirit.
Michaele has performed opera, song and oratorio in Australia and internationally and has featured in several world premieres of new works by Australian composers.
“Coming from an opera background and having a larger voice type my sound has always been full on opera”. Michaele has recently been performing and studying in Los Angeles with Robin de Haas, a leading voice coach in Europe and founder of a new performance and body work method called Breathing Coordination. Going ever deeper into anatomy and the science of breathing led Michaele to a new vocal style, blending Opera into medieval straight tone.
Discovering the poetry of Roman woman poet Sulpicia struck a deep chord. “The portrayal of women in opera is often two dimensional and I wanted to depart from that,” says Archer. Sulpicia was a woman who lived outside the stereotypes of Ancient Roman society in terms of being unmarried, writing poetry and writing explicitly about love. The feel and sound qualities of old Latin text and stories interpreted from a female perspective form a rich layer, built with instruments from the deeper harmonic spectrum.
“I’ve got a thing for the darker sounding instruments so combining the tone of the viola with cello and alto harmonium was a perfect fit.”
Cellist Rachel Whealy has been a muse since high school. The pair met in Year 12 Music class, where Michaele fell in love with Rachel’s playing and the mellow sob of the cello. There were quite a few maths lessons skipped to play Purcell on Balmoral Island with the waves. They have been performing, writing and recording together ever since. “We’ve created some beautiful original recordings, but I kept putting them aside. I hadn’t quite cracked the feel of the sound I knew I was looking for. I wanted to move slightly left of opera with an instrumental foundation that was real and textured.”
APSARA – GALATEA will be released on August 23 through MGM.
Download or stream from August 23:
Connect with Michaele:
Steve Kilbey and Gareth Koch – Lost At Sea
Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch Release Second Single and Video ‘Lost At Sea’
"Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch Release Second Single and Video ‘Lost At Sea’"
“I’m just a guy holding the pen” is the poignant opening line of the recent Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch collaboration ‘Lost at Sea’.
The statement seems innocent enough at first glance, yet it elegantly addresses the mystery of creativity. How does art come into being, and is the creator just a filter or medium for the creative process?
The sentiment is even more interesting given the background of the two protagonists. Steve Kilbey, perhaps best known as the frontman of veteran rock band The Church, has a lifetime of esoteric lyrics to his credit. Kilbey’s themes pose questions and riddle-like answers. Perhaps this is why his lyrics continue to engage us. Gareth Koch on the other hand, a Viennese-trained guitarist/composer, has explored the nature of creativity head-on in his PhD thesis. Perhaps between the pair, Kilbey & Koch might have some answers.
(Photo credit: Tony Mott)
These considerations aside, this collaboration has yielded a truly beautiful and timeless ballad. There is a wistful and haunting lilt to ‘Lost at Sea’, as it floats seamlessly through a narrative of stolen hearts, voyages into solitudeand roaming in no-man’s land. And to compliment these lyrics is a delicious instrumentation, weaving and wafting, ghostly and waif-like, present yet elusive.
This is possibly why this collaboration works so well. Kilbey & Koch are both masters of the esoteric form. As they step sideways from their respective genres this coming together highlights a close aesthetic connection.
Watch the new video, which was premiered on TheMusic.com.au here:
‘Lost At Sea’ is sure to follow in the footsteps of the first collaborative offering, Broken Toys, which last week was sitting pretty at #1 on the Radio Indie Alliance chart:
Lost At Sea is OUT NOW via MGM.
Download/stream now:
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Ninth Time Lucky – Take It Slow
"Ninth Time Lucky – Take It Slow"
Ninth Time Lucky is the side project for Perth-based singer-songwriter Minky G. The singer/songwriter usually plays music in jazz/pop domain, but she also has a penchant for sweet and joyful ukulele tunes. Ninth Time Lucky is the outlet for these tunes, which Minky G describes as, “music for people to be happy to.”
Ninth Time Lucky have recorded an EP called Little Dreams, with the track Take It Slow featured on the soundslikecafe playlist this July!
A little bit Vance Joy plus a spoonful of sugar, it’s time to take a break and believe that things are going to work out all right. Ninth Time Lucky is all about songs that are sweet and kind, but sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
Another stand-out tune is Half of Me, which was nominated for a WAM Award this year.
“What a little ray of sunshine! Minky G is a songbird we love to hear.”
– Guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel
Connect with Ninth Time Lucky:
Carlyle Christopherson – Follow Me
"Carlyle Christopherson – Follow Me"
Carlyle Christopherson is an Australian musician, originally from central Victoria, who now resides in Switzerland.
His remarkable journey from the corporate world to following his dreams as a musician and a lover of acoustic rock has seen him reconnect with his passion for music and performance.
His debut single Follow Me offers a definite Australian acoustic-rock flavour in his sparse instrumentation and storytelling lyric about hope and aspiration as we navigate through life’s great big journey.
It comes from his debut album, Here Comes History, which was produced and co-written alongside Things Of Stone And Wood frontman Greg Arnold. It is an album possessing a remarkable collection of fables, echoing Christopherson’s journey against some challenging yet eventually rewarding personal odds.
Carlyle’s love for Australian music is clear with influences including artists such as Paul Dempsey, Bernard Fanning, Paul Kelly, Olympia and Greg Arnold.
“I’ve loved working on the album, says Greg Arnold. “Carlyle has such a soulful and reflective lyrical perspective and his voice and songs are deeply evocative of an authentic 70s singer-songwriter.”
‘Here Comes History’ is out NOW.
Watch the official video for Follow Me at YouTube:
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Big Merino Release Second Album ‘Sweet Little Angel’
"Big Merino Release Second Album ‘Sweet Little Angel’"
Big Merino have put the finishing touches on their second album at Damien Gerard Studios in Sydney.
The first single to be lifted from Sweet Little Angel is the balladesque title track, while it’s B-side accompaniment is a cover of the politically-charged protest song of 1970, ‘Ohio’. Penned by Neil Young and recorded with his band Crosby Stills Nash and Young, the song is a guitar-led melodic track that will be familiar to most music lovers.
The Album is OUT NOW Via Foghorn/MGM and we are proud to Feature it to our Cafes.
Tracklisting for the album is:
Sweet Little Angel
I Watched The Light
I Lay Me Down
Mama’s Gonna Fall
Satellite
Ohio
This Song
Hard Lesson
Living In The Past
Day Without You
Hummingbird
Guest musicians on the record are:
Alice Papademetriou & Lisa Spence : additional vocals
John Gauci, Mike Gubb : Keyboards
James Greening : Horns
Jess Ciampa : percussion
Watch a behind the scenes video by clicking on the YouTube link below:
And you can see the video for the single on our featured video footer just scroll down…
UPCOMING SHOW DATES ARE:
Following a highly successful launch at Marrickville Bowlo last weekend the next time to catch the lads will be –
Sunday August 25 @ Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
Big Merino is a genre-busting band featuring Stuart Davis (lead vocals/guitar), Alex Craig (lead guitar), Peter Richardson (bass) and Colin Sevitt (drums).
Their songs blur the lines between rock, country, blues, soul and pop. Despite an obvious passion for Americana (blues, country and Gospel) their music somehow also sounds quintessentially Australian, shaped by our landscape and their own stories.
“Great songs, great songwriting and best of all – full of a real sincerity and commitment”
Michael Smith – Rhythms
The album will be released on July 27 on Foghorn Records through MGM.
Stream or Download Big Merino’s music:
Connect with Big Merino:
CaliCisco – One Last Night EP
"CaliCisco – One Last Night EP"
CaliCisco is the name of the new musical project of songwriter Joel Leffler. The name was inspired by his love of the Western part of the USA – a conglomeration of the names San Francisco & California.
The ‘One Last Night’ EP follows the story of a couple who had parted ways, leaving one of the parties to deal with different stages of grief.
‘Smoke Clouds’ is the first single to radio from the EP featuring a tight snappy verse structure & a four-on-the-floor disco beat chorus complete with Bee Gees style falsetto vocals. ‘Smoke Clouds’ lyrically touches on flavours of a love that can be so inundating it can literally leave you feeling high.
The EP features elements of mellow piano, funk guitar & punchy synth throughout the 5 tracks, underpinned by dance beats &catchy loops that all enhance the lyrical melody. Songwriter/Producer Joel Leffler set out to create an EP that represented both elements of his songwriting world with tracks like ‘Smoke Clouds’ & ‘Got It Good’ heavy in synth and pop guitar whilst ‘One Last Night’ tells a story through an honest lyrical delivery.
‘Feeling Like’ introduces itself in simplistic fashion with record player static, a piano loop and a close raw vocal. Before you know it the song is in full flight with Synth risers leading into a catchy vocal driven chorus. A strong beat accompanied by a vocal synth melody perfectly illustrates the new sound direction from songwriter Leffler.
‘My Heart’ begins its journey with an earthy assortment of piano, lead guitar and a mellow bass line creating the foundations for a raw honest vocal to enter. When the chorus hits, a bouncy synth bass & keys lead the charge with the return of the lead guitar melody. ‘My Heart’ follows the story of a man who leaves a trail of self-sabotage in love, where he fails to protect his heart while wearing it openly on his sleeve.
‘Got It Good’ starts with an upbeat pop arrangement, settling itself into a beat-driven verse reprieve. A repetitive lyrical hook in the chorus is accompanied by multiple synth melody lines that completes a contemporary electronic/pop sound. ‘Got It Good’ is a story about a female who lives the high life of travel, booze & disposable income.
‘One Last Night’, the title track of the EP & the stand-out storytelling song, is led by sustained grand piano chords & a close vocal that makes you feel like you are sitting in the same room as the singer. The chorus features swelling orchestral strings, harmonising back up vocals, synth keys & a strong drum beat while lyrically the song depicts a couple sharing one last night of passion together even though they both know it’s over.
Download CaliCisco – One Last Night now:
Nick De La Hoyde – new single ‘Animals’
"Nick De La Hoyde – new single ‘Animals’"
Our new Number 1 from an excellent response we are proud to feature Nick De La Hoyde on soundslikecafe
Currently clocking up more than 80,000 listens per month at Spotify alone, Nick De La Hoyde is a young Aussie artist who has been making waves both locally and overseas for the past 3 years.
The first single from his forthcoming debut album (A Beautiful Mess) is called Animals. It’s a catchy electro-pop tune that offers an infectious radio-friendly and contemporary sound.
The song has already appeared on the Mediabase Top 40 Activator Chart in the US at #57 ! It’s also being played in over 60,000 retail stores across America!
Locally, Animals has been added to Coles Radio and Collective Noun, while Nick has enjoyed interviews at NOVA Radio and KIIS FM!
Growing up in a multi-cultural home with a Syrian mother and British father, Sydney based, singer songwriter Nick de la Hoyde was exposed to many global influences that he now weaves into his music.
Melding his love of hip hop, pop and R&B with introspective lyrics that chronicles a young musician’s journey to adulthood, overcoming life and artistic challenges along the path, Nick and his long-time producer/collaborator/older brother Joseph (ZUZU) de la Hoyde, have together crafted a sound that is simultaneously intimate, expansive and engaging. Having penned confessional, real life anthems, such as Thru 2 U, Mirror Mirror, Hold Me Close, and Love Takes Time, that oscillate between moody, textured R&B, anthemic synth laden future-pop and hip hop moments, combined with a lyrical earnestness that speaks directly to today’s younger generation. Nick has quickly made a name for himself, cultivating a large and dedicated on-line following and becoming a powerful voice for youth empowerment and positivity. [Spotify]
Check out these amazing stats:
CHART Billboard BDS Top 40 Indicator (multiple Billboard prints in top 40)— Mediabase Top 100 Pop-Spotify Future Hits Top 10 (AU)–Changing-Spotify Australian Top 100–Changing-HIT30 Count down (#6) –SCA Hit Network-AIR Independent Radio Chart Top 10(#9) -Hold Me Close-Sounds Like Cafe Top 10 Singles Chart(#1) -Hold Me Close
SiriusXM –High rotation for Hold Me Close -Channel Venus-BBC Radio 1(UK), Kiss FM(UK), Gaydio Radio(UK), KMFM(UK)-SCA(2Day, Hit105, FoxFM etc)KIIS FM, NOVA, SEA, Edge 96.1
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