Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Rumba Flamenca Arabe’

February 23, 2024

The rumba is an upbeat & rhythmically syncopated flamenco style, ideal for dancing & festivities. It is an incredibly flexible genre, able to assimilate a multitude of influences such as Latin, Arabic or pop-contemporary. The rumba is arguably the most recognisable & widely listened to of all flamenco music. It’s lively tempo & irresistible groove, make it hugely popular around the world.

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Born in Milan, Gareth 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 scholarships for advanced guitar study at The Royal Madrid Conservatorium & the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music & has lectured in music across Australian & European universities.

In 2002 Gareth formed the first guitar supergroup with Karin Schaupp & The Grigoryan Brothers, Slava & Leonard. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to #1 on the Classical Music Charts and even featured on ARIA pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums & was Australia’s biggest selling classical act for several years.

Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & has released a succession of collaborative albums with Martin Kennedy & with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). His recent release ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 star review from The Sydney Morning Herald. Gareth’s current output has a strong rock bias with classical overtones & his writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music.

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Extra Time Receives Extra Accolades in Europe

February 5, 2024

Extra Time Receives Extra Accolades in Europe with their Video Now in the Berlin Film Festival

The brand new release ‘Where Is The Light’ from Brendan McNamara’s project, Extra Time, is already scoring goals since its release on 22 January. The first single from the second album, ‘Songs With Long Titles’, is beautifully supported by an animated film clip created by renowned Sydney based Brazilian artist, Gabriel Gareso. The film clip has just been officially selected for the Berlin Lift Off Film Festival, screening in Berlin, Germany between 15 and 25 February.

‘Where Is The Light’ speaks of the Japanese ‘Hikikomori’ – a severe social withdrawal most prevalent in young adolescent males whereby they isolate themselves in their rooms for months on end. A highly relatable concept in today’s modern era and especially apt given Brendan’s day job as a video game creator and director.

The clip is the freelance 2D animator and illustrator’s first music video, so he has certainly made his mark being included in the international film festival.

“My goal was to delve into the emotional aspects of loneliness, highlighting that despite being more virtually connected than ever, loneliness and depression also seem stronger than ever. The main challenge of this project was to create an engaging visual interpretation of the song while keeping it within budget. 4 minutes of animation is a LOT. The band’s creative freedom was crucial, making the entire process exceptionally smooth.”

To date the video has amassed over 84,000 views! A unique opportunity to be part of the interactive release of Extra Time’s latest album is to look out for billboards featuring the album cover art created by German artist Lucas Zimmerman popping up worldwide. Extra Time invite you to take a selfie with one of the billboards and post it on social media tagging @extra_time_music in your post.

The vinyl release is available now for preorder – a beautiful gatefold presentation released globally on Foghorn Records, recorded and mixed at one of the industry’s leading spaces Damien Gerard Studios at West Gosford, featuring ex Los Angeles engineer Andrew Beck and mastered by Grammy Award Winner William Bowden.

WATCH THE FULL MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘WHERE IS THE LIGHT’

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Silphie Releases Single ‘Sulpicia’s Birthday’

February 2, 2024

Featuring Silphie’s sublime highly trained vocals, a Harmonium, cello, viola and nylon string classical guitar, the debut release for this neo classical/world music act from the NSW Central Coast is sure to have ears lighting up. The quality of the recording, the players, the juxtaposition of the vocals switching from Latin to English and the overall sound of this track will put you in a medieval soundscape that could be part of a beautiful old film shot on 70mm.

Sulpicia was a female poet who lived in Rome in 40BC. Sulpicia’s Birthday is the second in a series of six poems. The story describes her ecstasy, as Sulpicia writes to her lover to tell him she has arranged for the two of them to spend her birthday together, frolicking in Rome.

Lisa Haymes photography.

Michaele Archer graduated (with distinction) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Opera School and has performed nationally and internationally. She also attained a Masters in Applied Science, researching breathing techniques for opera singers from the University of Sydney.

Her research in breathing techniques was presented in Paris at the International Congress of Voice Teachers. Recently Michaele has been performing and studying in Los Angeles and Switzerland with vocal expert Robin de Haas and has been certified as an Advanced Breathing Coordination practitioner.

Lisa Haymes photography.

Michaele’s love of ancient instruments and language led her to the work of Sulpicia, a female poet who lived in Rome in the time of Augustus. ‘Garland, the love poems of Sulpicia’ is her latest recording project.

Sulpicia’s poems were included in a publication of the famous roman writer Tibullus and originally attributed to him. The mystery around Sulpicia as a young woman breaking taboos, writing of a secret love affair and the rich sound of the Latin text drew Michaele deep into the project. The poems form the text for the album. Written for harmonium, guitar, cello, viola and vocals, Michaele’s recordings embrace a tone palate that is analogue, raw and dark.

Silphie is a collaboration with Michaele Archer (vocal and harmonium), Rachel Whealy (cello), Giuseppe Zangari (guitar), and Gab Stelle (viola). The name Silphie is inspired by the ancient world’s herb Silphium which was used for everything from perfume and cooking to medicine.

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Video premiere

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Neil Tatar Releases Single ‘When We Met’

January 26, 2024

“When We Met” offers an intriguing conversation between piano and violin. It tells a story that is reminiscent of meeting that special someone for the first time. Celebratory in nature, “When We Met” presents a musical expression of some of life’s most meaningful memories.

“Neil Tatar carries the heart of a romantic around with him. His emotions are rarely hidden and seldom contained. His music is as direct and honest as music can be. He’s not hiding anything and the result is music which is breathtakingly honest and deeply affecting. That Neil writes and performs on both the guitar and piano with equal grace creates a broader palette from which to draw. The result is a listening experience that never for a moment fails to beguile the mind and touch the heart.”

-Will Ackerman, Grammy Award Winner & Windham Hill Records Founder

About

Neil Tatar is an award winning composer, guitarist and pianist. An improviser and expressive musician by nature, his composing and performing reflect his meditative approach to music. Influenced by his many years of working with legendary cellist David Darling and guitarist Will Ackerman, his passionate expression is clearly heard in his approach to everything he plays. Neil’s music has been described as “peaceful, reflective instrumental music”, offering his listeners a meditative & healing experience. It can be heard on SiriusXM Spa, Music Choice Soundscapes, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, Bandcamp, InsightTimer and more. Neil is also a C.A.R.E Channel artist, with his music played in over 1,000 hospitals and Hospices.

Each of his albums have received international airplay and recognition, and have reached a #1 ranking worldwide on Zone Music Reporter’s radio airplay chart. In addition, Neil was voted Best New Artist by ZMR for his album ”Where Did The Time Go”, a collaboration with Grammy® Award-winning cellist David Darling released in 2013. Since then he has released “Learning To Fly” in 2015, and “After The Rain” in 2018, recording both at Imaginary Road Studios under the guidance of legendary producer and guitarist Will Ackerman.

Presently, Neil continues his improvisational approach to composing and recording his uniquely beautiful music, providing his listeners with some interesting new releases.

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Bella Rose Releases Single ‘Shuteye’

January 22, 2024

Soundslikecafe is proud to be featuring this budding young artist on our Service.

Kiwi born singer and songwriter Bella Rose is a young, emerging, independent pop artist.

Bella’s debut single ‘Shuteye’ was mastered by Grammy nominated mastering engineer, Joe Lambert.

Written & recorded in Auckland, this song has been inspired and influenced by artists all over the world, including Billie Eilish, Lorde, Delta Goodrem and Olivia Rodrigo. Written during a vulnerable time in her life, Bella used songwriting as a creative outlet by putting every emotion she was feeling into her music.

‘Shuteye’ tells a story of desperation, sadness and hope while expressing what the darkest period of her life was like.

Bella aims for listeners to take away some hope from ‘Shuteye’, and know that things will and can get better… you’re not alone in your journey or struggles.

With ‘Shuteye’ being the first of many singles, Bella has multiple songs in the works and will release more tracks across the year leading up to her EP.

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Paul Scott Releases Single ‘Back To The Old Town’

November 24, 2023

As part of the rollout for his forthcoming 2024 album ‘Faster Than Witches’, The Insufferable one releases the 3rd offering in this 2023 trio of videos and singles already receiving rotation airplay on community stations, most notably Sydney’s 2SER Breakfast the past 10 days.

‘You spend so much time trying to escape and when you do, you’re dragged back for the best and worst possible reasons. I always resented my hometown, why? Because everything was happening everywhere else. I was a provincial; envious, frustrated and motivated to flee. And I did. Whenever I’d return, I held a glimmer of hope in my heart that I’d see the old town in a new light, that time would reveal virtues and treasures previously hidden to me and I’d come to appreciate it with a provincial pride enjoyed by those who stayed. It never happened. And yet, and yet… back to the old town I go.’

Paul Scott’s happy and uptempo look at a childhood spent in small town NZ. Paul’s trademark jangly and hooky indie pop guitars with some very insightful lyrics. The drums and bass lock it all down with a catchy sing along part rolling over and over in the track.

Paul Scott began his career in music, writing and playing bass in angular NZ group Pop Mechanix. Despite court cases, a revolving cast of singers and multiple record labels, their single ‘Jumping Out A Window’ became a staple of New Zealand pop culture.

Relocating to Australia, Paul formed Montana with Ken Stewart (Mr Blonde), Michelle Margherita and Steve Melville. Their first release featured ‘Koolest Band’ which received national airplay and high rotation on JJJ. A brief tour of the USA and a performance at SXSW, led to ‘Koolest Band’ being included in the Hollywood movie ‘You Drive Me Crazy’. The subsequent album ‘Bubblegum Love’ was released in Australia, Spain, France and the USA.

Teaming up with Steve Melville (ex Mr Blonde and Montana), Paul and Steve have established a studio production relationship, playing on each other’s tracks (Stewart and Melville, The Likes of You) and coproducing The Insufferable Paul Scott’s well received 2021 album ‘Tea and Medals’ (which Melville also mixed).

Their most recent project is a closer collaboration with Melville adding drums, percussion and keyboards to Scott’s voice, guitar and bass, a line up very close in sound and feel to their youthful unit ‘Montana’, harkening back to their familiar themes of sweet harmonies, spikey lyrics, and intriguing production.

Latest Videos

The Insufferable Paul Scott – Back To The Old Town is out NOW Nov 24
Foghorn/MGM

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Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds – Anchor (New Release!)

November 6, 2023

Out Today Friday November 10 checkout this great new tune on our Cafe Playlist……

Anchor is an upbeat alt-country-pop song co-written by Bec and lyric collaborator CJ Shaw. The track was recorded at Golden Retriever in Sydney, and at ANU Recording Studios in Canberra and was produced by Louis Montgomery (SAFIA, Peking Duk).

(pic by Tony Mott)

Bec Taylor is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who has recorded over a dozen studio records while performing on some of the biggest stages and festivals around the country, including BIGSOUND, Groovin’ The Moo, and the Woodford Folk Festival, as well as playing alongside the likes of Gotye, The Darkness, and been on tour as main support for Regurgitator and Shonen Knife in her previous projects Fun Machine and Glitoris. The Lyrebirds, a five-piece alt-country pop band, is her most recent project. Their delightful blend of artful songwriting, tasty earworms and layered harmonies that will leave you humming their tunes for days.

If you happen to be in Canberra go along to the single launch…..

Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds + CJ Shaw and the Blow Ins + The Burley Griffin at Live at the Polo, The White Eagle Polish Club, Canberra, Saturday 18th November 7pm

Tickets:

https://events.humanitix.com/thriple-threat

Checkout the new single ‘Anchor’ on our Soundslikecafe Playlist

OR Direct link right here

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Neil Tatar – November Skies (New Release!)

October 23, 2023

“November Skies” was inspired by deeply colorful skies reflecting the change of seasons from late autumn into early winter. My family often travels along the Black River in Vermont, a beautiful setting where nature’s beauty is everywhere. This is where I often have noticed the colors of November skies. To me, this is a season of change, reflecting our lives transition from the activities of summer into the silence of winter.

Presently, Neil continues his improvisational approach to composing and recording his uniquely beautiful music, providing his listeners with some interesting new releases.

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Anirban Jee – New Single How To Be You added to Playlist

October 11, 2023

The new single How to Be You is yet another song with a powerful message from this prolific pop writer / performer Anirban Jee. This single is Produced by Sydney’s multi-platinum producer Steve Peach (Icehouse, Marcia Hines, Stafford Brothers, The Voice Contestants, Jenny Morris, Choirboys) from Stereo Missile Recordings, Sydney

The track “How to Be You” is a collective offering of respect, admiration and gratitude for the teachers, mentors and coaches in our lives who inspire us to strive harder and motivate us to excel in our respective fields of excellence.

The Accolades for Anirban Jee just keep coming and we are proud to feature his musical offerings on Soundslikecafe

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR 2018 (Australian Songwriting Contest) & SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR 2017 (SongsAlive Competition) – Winner of Acoustic category (2021 Australian Songwriting Awards), Winner of INTERNATIONAL and BALLAD Categories (2018) – Winner of POP category (2017 Songs Alive Competition) – Winner of BALLAD category (2017 Songs Alive Competition) – Winner of CONTEMPORARY POP category (2015 Australian Songwriting Awards), Finalist at the 2022 UK Songwriting Contest – Numerous airplays in Commercial FM and Amrap Radio stations – Track published by Sydney’s EMBASSY MUSIC PUBLISHING and released by A&R Department (Shock records).

Anirban’s current series of compositions alone range from Pop, Urban, Dance, and R&B, and feature a unique and un‐patterned soulful infusion that’s embedded in an expressive lyrical manner. Having recently worked with many sought after music producers such as Simon Cohen (Will.I.Am, Guy Sebastian, Vera Blue, Thelma Plum), Steve Peach (Icehouse, Marcia Hines, Stafford Brothers, “The Voice” Contestants, Choirboys, Fabrice (Milli Vanilli), Sophie Monk), Adrian Hannan (Delta Goodrem, Gabriella Cilmi, Taxi Ride, The Androids), Sven Tydeman (Josh Pyke, Tina Cousins, Candice Alley), AJ’s compositions and songwriting repertoire have resulted in numerous radio plays spanning both commercial and community radio stations across Australia.

Checkout the new single How To Be You on our Soundslikecafe Playlist

OR Direct link right here

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Natalie Gauci Releases Single ‘Fame’

September 27, 2023

From an early age, Natalie dreamed of being famous. Now on her new single ‘Fame’, she explains that fame is about learning to choose to do good things through love, instead of the bad things, through blocking pain.

In a classic case of ‘be careful what you wish for’, Gauci learnt that being famous also had a downside as she illustrates on her new song; “Fame got me wanting all the bad things, the bad things, shame it brought the sad things” Gauci laments.

“Writing ‘Fame’ made a difference to my life; it made me realise it’s not about the fame, it’s about honouring the gifts I’ve been given.”

‘I recall blowing my candles out on every birthday, wishing to be famous. Now I look back and think, hmmm, why did I want to be famous? I wanted to make a difference in the world.”

Fame finally arrived for Gauci in 2007 when she gained massive national overnight recognition after winning Australian Idol.

Gauci subsequently signed a record deal with Sony BMG Australia. Her debut single, ‘Here I Am’ released in November that year, reached #2 on the ARIA Singles Chart and gained a gold accreditation.

The following month saw the release of her debut album, ‘A Winner’s Journey’ which reached #11 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum.

International success followed with a charting single and album in the UK, Sweden, Germany and Denmark. She toured the UK and Europe and held down a residence at Ronnie Scott’s in London. Other highlights included: Henley On Thames Music Festival UK (with Chaka Khan), In The City Festival Manchester, Sofa Sounds London, TEDx London, FestiBall Buckinghamshire UK Festival, Walk The Walk Breast Cancer Charity Festival and The Big Umbrella Charity Event Kathmandu.

All proceeds from the sales of Natalie’s forthcoming album, ‘Brand New Day’, are going to support her charity, A Call to Wisdom which will help people who have broken parts that require healing from sexual abuse, trauma and domestic violence. “Brokenness is leading to homelessness and what we need now more than ever is hope” says Gauci.

New single ‘Fame’ is available on all digital platforms Friday 29^th September.

Album ‘Brand New Day’ will be released in 2024.

TOUR DATES

9^TH Nov, The Toff In Town, Melbourne

Tickets: https://thetoff.com.au/gigs/

12^th Nov, Carafe Wine, Southport QLD

Tickets: https://shorturl.at/estzC

16^th Nov, Brass Monkey Cronulla, Sydney

Tickets: https://shorturl.at/pruwI

3^rd March Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane

https://shorturl.at/cHKOP

9^th March Birds Basement, Melbourne

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