Julie-Anne Marshall – Featured Artist Interview

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"Julie-Anne Marshall – Featured Artist Interview"

The new single from Julie-Anne Marshall Let Go has just been added to the soundslikecafe digital espresso playlist and we spoke to her about her music on the interview below

Julie-Anne says “I have learnt to embrace the fluidity of my songwriting and that I am a multifaceted artist…the song says to me, ‘ready’ and I say ‘yep, where are we going this time?’” 

‘Let Go’ features slide guitar and piano matched with sassy earthy vocals. She has teamed up again with Matt Williams (from Adelaide) to record a song that is forlorn but also defiant in feel.  

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Soundslikecafe recently spoke to Julie-Anne about her musical  journey

  1. Tell us a little about your writing process, how does a song come along? What gets you going creatively?

It can differ, but my general process is the words and melody come as one in my head when I’m just going about life thinking about something. I can hear it in my head as a song. So, I grab my voice memo and get it down. I then expand it with more lyrics, decide on verses, chorus, structure and make handwritten notes.  Then I start putting the chords/music behind it. ‘Let Go’ was different. I was going into the studio and I wanted to write a new song about where I was at. I tried for a few days and nothing came, so I let it be. Then one night I got on my piano and thought if something comes, it comes. I knew inside what I wanted to express. I started on the piano and the words and melody and chords all came at once. Within 30mins I had a song. Tweaks came later.

2.  What is the first record you bought and why?

Pretty in Pink soundtrack album. I loved all the songs in the movie – from INXS to The Smiths.

      3. What current/new Artists/Bands inspire you and why?

It feels at the moment that everything old is new again, but I also enjoy discovering new Aussie artists and the SLC playlist is a great place to do that.

4. What is the one thing you want/need that you think will make you a successful artist? Why?

Success has a different meaning to everyone, that said, I would say ‘courage’. As an artist all the other things are a given. Love, passion, determination, persistence, dedication, etcetera. But, courage, it takes you to places that you wouldn’t go if you let fear (yours or others) stop you.

5.  What are your future plans for 2022/2023

I have two more singles ready for release, they’ll be coming out in the next few months. I’ll also be in rehearsals to get ready for live performances. Exciting times ahead in my new city Melbourne.

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Luke Escombe – New Single – Whale Beach Road

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"Luke Escombe – New Single – Whale Beach Road"

Luke Escombe’s personal and professional life reached a high point in 2019, culminating in him moving into a new home with his young family in one of Australia’s most sought-after postcodes.  Everything was going great.  Then the world ended.

A giant cloud of bushfire smoke descended on his Northern Beaches paradise, and the excitement of 2019 was replaced by a creeping sense of anger and despair.  “Whale Beach Road”, the first single from Luke’s upcoming album, his first in over five years, came at the start of an intense period of song writing and soul-searching fuelled by his desire to reclaim a sense of love and hope.

Recorded at Damien Gerard studios on the Central Coast in 2020 and then added to in stolen moments between lockdowns, the track features soaring strings and Luke’s fiery electric guitar over a tense rock-reggae groove laid down by some of Australia’s most acclaimed players, drummer Evan Mannell, bassist Zoe Hauptmann, guitarist Aaron Flower and organist Clayton Doley.

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“Luke Escombe is a rock-soul singer, raconteur, blistering blues guitarist, comedian and songwriter, and very good at them all” – Sydney Morning Herald

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Luke Escombe is an ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter who combines his blues, rock and soul influences with subversive humour, poetic lyrics and heartfelt storytelling.  He is the creator of the internationally acclaimed one-man show “Chronic” and the writer and front man of multi award-winning Aussie kids band The Vegetable Plot.

Checkout The New Single OUT NOW on Foghorn/MGM

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Julie Anne Marshall – Let Go – New Addition to Playlist

Let Go Pack Shot
"Julie Anne Marshall – Let Go – New Addition to Playlist"

The new single from Julie-Anne Marshall Let Go has just been added to the soundslikecafe digital espresso playlist

Julie-Anne says “I have learnt to embrace the fluidity of my songwriting and that I am a multifaceted artist…the song says to me, ‘ready’ and I say ‘yep, where are we going this time?’” 

‘Let Go’ features slide guitar and piano matched with sassy earthy vocals. She has teamed up again with Matt Williams (from Adelaide) to record a song that is forlorn but also defiant in feel.  

Though fluid in genre, her songs are still quintessentially Julie-Anne – lyric driven, with an openness and ease of listening, emotive vocals and a succinct and lucid poetic language.

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Originally from Adelaide, Julie-Anne Marshall has spent the last two years in Melbourne in what she optimistically refers to as ‘strange, interesting and challenging times’.

Having come out the ‘other side’ she is now finding her feet and a renewed enthusiasm for her art and her sense of self as a singer-songwriter. In doing this Julie-Anne has given herself full permission to ‘sit’ comfortably wherever the song wanting to be expressed takes her.

This is evident in the movement from her last single release (Good Feeling) which had a California Pop vibe, to her current song release ‘Let Go’ which has bedded itself into a neo-Bluesy Rock Ballad.

Hear the song

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Kaiyah Mercedes – After Summer Ends single added to playlist

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"Kaiyah Mercedes – After Summer Ends single added to playlist"

Soundslikecafe is proud to add this debut single from the highly talented Melbourne teenager Kaiyah Mercedes 

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Kaiyah Mercedes is a 15-year-old up-and-coming singer/songwriter based in Melbourne, whose lyrics are written with poetic influence with a focus on storytelling and emotions.

With Foo Fighters and Nirvana as two of her key influences and teaming up with Producer Chris Wilson they have been working together on this debut single ‘After Summer Ends’ and the follow up ‘I Don’t Know Who You Are Anymore’

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Kaiyah began truly writing in 2020, during the pandemic, a difficult time for most people, including Kaiyah.

Self taught in guitar and piano, Kaiyah writes folk/pop inspired songs that are a representation of the world through her eyes. Kaiyah is inspired by the world around her, from musicians, to nature, to movies, with these influences very visible in her work.

Checkout the song

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Throwing Shapes Releases New Single ‘The Moment’

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"Throwing Shapes Releases New Single ‘The Moment’"

This song is about seizing the moment, because life is happening now. But it’s also about mindfulness and the importance of being in the moment. As we generally spend 50% of the time thinking about the past and future. We’re only truely paying attention to what we are doing in our lives, half of the time.

Frantic auto filtered drums begin this track along with thick keyboard arpeggios. This resolves into a fast up-tempo backing track layered with clean and big piano and synth lines. Some vocoder vocals and funky guitars and bass bring this track home and add some top line hooks.

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Throwing Shapes is Fox Shannon: a musician, DJ and producer from Perth, Western Australia. Unique and forward thinking electronic music. With influences from Pendulum, Sub Focus and Shock One to Disclosure, Deadmau5. Pink Floyd and David Bowie.

Throwing Shapes have performed alongside other well established D’n’B artists such as Terrence & Phillip at local dance music festivals such as Reawakening and Back2Funk. Their energetic performances and catchy dance floor hooks have seen them feature on numerous compilations and won growing interest from community radio, with air play around the country and some US stations.

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‘The Moment’ is out NOW May 13
Foghorn/MGM

Download or stream:

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Slide Milligan Releases Debut Album ‘Blood Red River’

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"Slide Milligan Releases Debut Album ‘Blood Red River’"

Slide Milligan’s musical journey has been half a life in the making but sounds as exciting as the latest Australian Rock & Roll export being paraded around the world. After years and years of playing in bands through the late 80’s/90s, Dave “Slide” Milligan gave up his musical dreams to pursue a trade in rural fencing and woodworking. To unwind after working all day in the paddocks of rural Australia and his sawmill, Dave built himself a lap steel guitar.

Over the years he started to write a collection of exceptional songs that weren’t your usual “roots” music fare, mixing his hard rock background and his ability to tap into that authentic Australian sound. Despair and dread mixed with sunshine and water, and he caught the ear of local producers and with some help with production from Indie impresario Andy Clockwise (he was working on a fence on Clockwise’s farm when he was back from LA and the two lit a bonfire in the paddock), “Slide” has produced a psychedelic slide guitar masterpiece called “Blood Red River”. A pastiche of outlaw country, psychedelic post-punk & a different approach to the slide guitar. This music sounds familiar yet fresh in the current musical landscape. At the ripe old age of 52, this new artist is sure to make a splash in the country-indie-rock crossover here and abroad.

Song Descriptions
Feelin’ Fine
The track is an undeniable summer anthem in the vein of the Sunny Boys, Australian Crawl & The Church, and features vocals by Slide’s daughter Lani. The up-tempo “Australiana Classic” song rolls along with infectious melody and nostalgic production. Sure to resonate with fans of Classic Australian Pub Rock, Pink Floyd & Waylon Jennings.

Gasoline
Up-tempo drums begin this blues rock/indie tune. Produced by Andy Clockwise, who also did a brilliant job on the kit, this song is peppered with modern sounds but maintains a retro feel. Think Black Keys, Jack White and adding it to your list you can’t go wrong.

Slide Milligan – Blood Red River is out NOW (May 6th)
Foghorn/MGM

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Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Soleares Flamenco’

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"Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Soleares Flamenco’"

Soleares is one of the most profound forms of flamenco, often referred to as the heart & soul of the genre. The mood is solemn & grand & when sung the lyrics are deeply heartfelt. The style originated among the Calé Romani people of Cádiz or Seville in Andalusia. The metre or ‘compás’ of Soleares is one of the most widely used in flamenco & is the foundation style for many flamenco forms. The track was recorded in a single take on a beautiful Ignacio Rozas flamenco guitar, hand-built in Madrid.

Song Description

Tasteful nylon string guitar begins this full sounding flamenco piece. Traditional guitar ‘knocks’ feature here and there on the percussion side. The song is so masterfully played it’s hard to imagine that it is just one guitarist and done in one take.

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a diverse repertory across multiple albums spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
Born in Milan, Koch began his musical studies on piano and clarinet, and at age 12 was accepted into the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before winning a scholarship for advanced guitar study at the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music.
In 2002 Koch formed what might be termed the first guitar supergroup. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to number 1 on the classical music charts and appeared on the pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums.
Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & in 2020 released two collaborative albums with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church).

Soleares Flamenco is OUT NOW – via MGM

Stream / download here:

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John Kennedy Releases Raining Treasure Vol. 2

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"John Kennedy Releases Raining Treasure Vol. 2"

Volume 2 of Raining Treasure from John Kennedy – iconic Aussie Indie Covers from the golden age – Physco, Shivers, The Nips are Getting Bigger to name a few

John Kennedy’s 2019 album Raining Treasure Vol.1 celebrated the golden era of Australian independent music from the late ‘70’s and the 80’s. This album, Raining Treasure Vol.2, goes both deeper and wider into the world of Australian indie music. Kennedy compiled a list of classic indie songs (and some obscurities) from that era and with his band, John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special, has covered songs from Radio Birdman, The Riptides, The Cruel Sea and more.

Some selections covered are likely to create controversy with indie music diehards. The Sports and Mental As Anything? Indie? Really? The Mentals released their records on Regular Records, the Sports on Mushroom; both Australian independent labels. The Angels ?!?! They were on pioneering Australian independent label Albert Productions. Weddings, Parties, Anything (WPA) were on major label WEA. What defines these songs as indie for Kennedy is the independent spirit of the music and the bands who originally recorded them.

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An enthusiastic young music journalist once described John Kennedy as a humble genius. Kennedy is neither a genius nor particularly humble. He is the writer and performer of many fine songs, some of which have found a place in the hearts of music fans of the golden era of Australian independent music. Kennedy started his music career in Brisbane in the ‘80’s with his band JFK and the Cuban Crisis. The band moved to Sydney and after establishing itself on the indie music scene, broke up, leaving Kennedy to pursue a solo career with his band vehicle, John Kennedy’s Love Gone Wrong.

Despite numerous indie hits, commercial crossover proved to be elusive leading to his decision to leave Australia.  Kennedy spent the ‘90’s living and playing music in Berlin, Hong Kong and London before returning to Sydney’s Inner West in 2000. He formed a new band, John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special and continues to perform and produce independent releases.

Over the years Kennedy has shared stages with many of the acts covered on this new album. His band members have come from or gone on to The Triffids, the Go-Betweens, Pop Mechanix and the Lime Spiders. The current line up of the band boasts its own fine indie pedigree. Long time drummer, Peter Timmerman was an original Love Gone Wrong member before moving on to the Widdershins.

Bassist Phil Hall played with Sardine v and the Dropbears. Guitarist Murray Cook started out with indie hopefuls Finger Guns before going on to form what is probably Australia’s most successful independent band, the Wiggles. Together with Kennedy they have created versions of these Australian indie classics, reinterpreting some, expanding some and celebrating them all.

The tracklist is:

JFK CARTOON

The Album Launch Show is on the 6th of May @8pm
At the Petersham Bowling Club

Raining Treasure (Australian Indie Gold Covers Vol.2) is out now 22 April 2022,
on Foghorn Records through MGM. 

Stream or Download

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Jane Walker Releases New Single ‘Wondering Why’

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"Jane Walker Releases New Single ‘Wondering Why’"

One of our new artists just added to the playlist.

When a new batch of songs emerged for Sydney singer/songwriter Jane Walker, it was like some fresh wind blowing through everything, filling her with confidence.

“I thought this is me being honest, getting real, and I just got really excited,” says Walker, who suddenly found the sophisticated soul pop songs, with touches of jazz, coming in a rush. Deeply personal songs, like what would become the first single from her next album, Wondering Why.

“Wondering Why is about meeting my husband and feeling happy with him. It’s very close to the bone, it’s my story, [showing] I’ve got the intensity and the focus to go there and ask what’s my truth?”

The wind blew further, into her work co-creating Cockatoo Kids, a children’s music group whose songs emerged from the same burst of creativity that produced Wondering Why: “Songwriting these days feels liberating and fun and I’m just loving it.”

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Backing her on the new recordings are typically classy contributions from cross genre specialists like the rhythm section of Hamish Stuart and James Haselwood, Stu Hunter on keyboards, and co-producer/mixer Neal Sutherland.

Having already written with Chris Difford of Squeeze and Adam Levy (Norah Jones) and worked with the likes of The Cruel Sea’s James Cruickshank, producers Steve James and Barbara Griffin, Indigenous group Street Warriors and Bobby Flynn on her debut, Walk Gently, Walker knows that “working with such talented musicians lifts my level and stimulates me as an artist and gives me that freedom to go for it.”

What also stimulates this ambassador for Ocean Recovery Alliance is connecting deeply with the water and the land of her native Australia – after beginning her career in London (where she joined Radiohead and Massive Attack on a new music album) and missing home.

“More and more I aim to live in the present moment, and find when I’m there, nature rushes in,” says Walker. “[Then] things start to flow and I can write a song.”

Stream Wondering Why here:

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 Official Video:

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Link Tree:

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