https://youtu.be/5rV7wgJvEHY
Jessie May Kitchen – Blue Skies(Official)
"Jessie May Kitchen – Blue Skies(Official)"
Margaret Anne and The Rock it Man – Don’t Look Back
"Margaret Anne and The Rock it Man – Don’t Look Back"
After releasing the inspiring and amazing Americana song and video clip ‘Soul Laid Bare’ at the end of last year, Margaret Anne and The Rock It Man have released two exciting new songs. ‘Don’t Look Back’ co-written with Shane Nicholson and ‘My Mumma’ written while watching the passing of her mother 2 years ago.
Just 2 months after leaving a 20-year marriage, ‘Don’t Look Back’ was written with country artist Shane Nicholson at The Dag Sheep Station in Nundle, near Tamworth. While sitting on the porch of a farmhouse, Shane helped Margaret Anne peel back the layers to look deep within. Doug Weaver (aka the Rock It Man) produced and played not one but all of instruments on the song.
The result is a song that examines the essence of her marriage, the struggle to get it right, the decision to move on from the wreckage and not look back.
‘My Mumma’ was written on the back of a bereavement envelope in about 10 minutes. When faced with the death of her mother, Margaret fell back into childhood, writing this emotional ballad of grief while waiting and watching her pass away. Played by her brother, the accompanying guitar forms the song into both a collection of vulnerable memories and a haunting goodbye.
Motivated by adventure and passion, MargaretAnne continually touches her fans and listeners with her inclusive, warm, heartfelt singing and dynamic stage presence. She grew up in a musical family, singing and playing classical piano from the age of 3,through her teen years, and then spent her 20’s travelling and singing through far reaches of the world and into the mountains of Bolivia, Alaska and Tibet.
Margaret Anne has also co-written original songs including the already released ‘Cassidy’s Blues’ with Kelly Brouhaha of Beccy Cole and the Lionesses, ‘The Tree’ with Greta Ziller and ‘The Ones you Love’ with Luke O’Shea. Doug Weaver has used his expertise to skilfully play, arrange, and mix these songs which will feature in their Albums.
The Don’t Look Back video captures the essence of escaping to the open road and is a mix of scenic, action and pensive footage thoughtfully cut with flash backs of old super 8 footage of Margaret Anne at the age of 3 through to the end of the marriage.
Video premiered by Scenestr
Download or stream the single Out NOW via MGM
Connect with Margaret Anne:
Andrew Barnum – Dear Ancestor(official video)
Fiona Joy Hawkins – Calling County Clare(Official)
Lily Duval New Single Two Souls
"Lily Duval New Single Two Souls"
Lily Duval New Single Two Souls
For many years from the 70’s through to the early 2000s Sydney Artist Lily Duval worked as a studio session singer and performed live with acoustic and rock blues bands in venues throughout Australia. After a 10 year hiatus she returned to recording in 2015. “The music I love is from classic artists such as Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Snow, Janis Joplin, Harry Nilsson, Billy Thorpe, Brian Cadd, Joe Cocker and Leon Russell, all tend to have a bluesy undertone and once that style seemed to not be the new thing anymore I kinda felt my style didn’t fit. ”But since the Blues and Roots resurgence and then Americana coming along Lily finally felt the time was right and started writing again from 2015 onwards.
“I got a tip about Damien Gerard Studios , who I was able to meet with and plan a bit of a ‘come back’. The studio vibe was just like the old days, lovely and warm and friendly with lots of analog gear and the ‘patient’ Russell Pilling. They also organised for me to do a photoshoot with Rock Photographer legend, Tony Mott, which turned out to be a great idea. Tony didn’t treat me any different to all those famous huge acts he has shot and that really helped me get my confidence back.”
Since restarting Lily has released a steady body of work each year in the modern-day EP and singles format, mainly original acoustic folky bluesy tunes but with some classic cover B sides thrown into the mix. The new songs have consistently been received well at community radio across the country with comparisons ranging from Carol King to Joni Mitchell. Lily Duval’s first outing for 2020 is what she considers her strongest to date: “These 2 songs, an original and a cover are both close to my heart. The Aside“Two Souls” is all about the entanglement of love. How loving someone sometimes makes life complicated even as you get older. The cover I chose ‘Angel from Montgomery is a song I love from John Prine, who sadly fell victim to Covid 19 recently, this makes it even more poignant.
I was very lucky to have the talented Peter Holtz & Scott Bird play on these new releases. Both guitarists have worked with me in the studio since I started recordings and besides their wonderful musical abilities, they are both good men. Rory McKenzie, who has spent the last 20years living and working in Los Angeles and Nashville, played drums on both of these tracks. Rory is a talented musician and moved home just in time for his recording! It was also great to be back working with Andrew Beck, whose musical intellect is always appreciated–Andrew also played bass on “Angel from Montgomery”. The new Damien Gerard studio is just as great as the old place
Two Souls/Angel from Montgomery by Lily Duval – check it out below
SLC May Playlist Additions
"SLC May Playlist Additions"
Our May Playlist Additions include some varied tunes from new releases to keep you chilled during these strange times. We hope you enjoy, just click the images to listen to individual tracks or the actual playlist.
SLC Digital Expresso Playlist
The songs are;
Code Blue by Gareth Koch(from the EP)
This is jaunty & upbeat featuring full band backing, Koch’s Aria Award Winning signature guitar and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, but there are clues to an underlying seriousness.
Crossfire by Julie-Anne Marshall (from the new single)
Julie-Anne’s latest song release ‘Crossfire’ has her stepping into the dream pop genre. With her vocals taking on a whisper pop vibe in this song, she still remains true to her lyric driven evocative songwriting style. This diverse songwriter is showing that not only can she write across genre’s but her vocals are more than able to traverse the genre divide.
Dancin’ by The Mezcaltones(from the album Hillbilly Surf Rock Music)
A song who’s vintage tones and grooves lends itself to a time when lyrics had to be subtle but you still get the meaning. Another killer radio friendly tune from whats shaping up to be the bands best album yet.
Mirror of Love by Tim Walker(from the album Bridge of Angels)
Tim’s songwriting has truly come of age on this album and theres just so may good songs – this is another uptempo, hooky, and fun tune which even features an old school ragtime piano break.
Prayer for Rain by Fiona Joy Hawkins and Rebecca Daniel (from the single)
Impressionistic neo-classical piano with ethereal layered vocals featuring vocals from both of the girls. The alto from Fiona and Rebecca is the Soprano. All proceeds from this song go to bushfire affected wildlife via the Billabong Zoo Koala Hospital.
The Fatal Hour by Steve Kilbey and Gareth Koch (from the album Chryse Planitia)
Another deep and vibrant tune from this acclaimed album.
A much more laid back tune showing the other possibilities on the album this song starts with only guitar and voice, drawing the listener into the Kilbey/Koch world. When the drums and bass do kick in the whole thing moves up a notch and theres some great choral ear candy featured as well.
Wonders To Behold by Throwing Shapes(from the EP Tranquility Base)
The second playlist addition for this prolific WA Electronica Act. This tune will keep your interest and feet tapping throughout.
Gareth Koch-New EP Code Blue
"Gareth Koch-New EP Code Blue"
Proudly featuring this one on SLC for your listening pleasure
“How does an artwork or song come into being and take form where once nothing existed?
The answer has layers of complexity, and varies from artist to artist, but there are partial explanations. Usually there is some type of catalyst, a half-remembered whisper, idea or a musical phrase which forms a point of creative departure. Sometimes though, an actual event might spark inspiration.”
The song Code Blue is jaunty & upbeat with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, but these provide clues to an underlying seriousness:
‘code blue runnin outa time,…show a vital sign,… in emergency ICU…o honey i’d die for you….’
A ‘code blue’ is a hospital crisis situation in which the patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest, requiring a team to rush to the specific location and begin rescue efforts.
The narrative of the song draws on a sudden medical emergency in which Gareth was saved by the skill of medical staff.
Both the song Code Blue and EP are dedicated with love and gratitude to the wonderful medical professionals across the world.
The other songs on the EP Include
Come Heavy Sleep is a type of re-imagined Elizabethan ballad, so you hear Gareth’s Nylon string classical guitars prominently, harking back to his roots in the classical world, but overlaid with drums/percussion and a calming sleeplike vocal delivery.
The Flame is a more rock track with electric guitars and a rhythm section and has a certain echo of the great Blue Oyster Cult.
‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’. In this rendering Koch re-invents the song as a sensitive ballad, laced with classical guitars and a very different vocal to the original
Check out the video premiere for Code Blue
Stream from your favourite service
Connect with Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch-Code Blue(Official)
Tim Walker’s New Album Bridge of Angels
"Tim Walker’s New Album Bridge of Angels"
Ex-Sydney singer-songwriter Tim Walker moved back to his hometown of Adelaide earlier this year and immediately began recording this new album, his first for a while.
The album was inspired by a recent trip to Europe, where Tim was struck by a culture saturated with centuries of spiritual and religious symbols, strivings and sentiments. The new album has more universal themes than his first (Fellow Traveller), which was very Sydney-oriented.
Beginning in folk, he went into a country rock act, and now is a prolific soloist, doing gigs around Adelaide. He was a regular on the Sydney live circuit and played at several NSW festivals. He found a SA recording studio in Grange this year, and immediately began laying down tracks according to a careful plan, devised over many months.
Track list with Descriptions:
- On The Bridge (a prelude): This is a crossroad, of civilisation, of history, the course of your own life, a juncture, a leap. The “bridge” refers to Rome’s Bridge of Angels of the album’s title, which is lined with 10 angels and overlooked by a castle, on the River Tiber. A short classical piece, it provides the thematic underpinning of the entire album – a beautiful, floating spark of hope and redemption for a world in flux.
- The Loving Arms (those we love): The race is on from the day you are born as time and love play off against each other, and the kindness of strangers. The real currency of life, more valuable than gold or silver, never to be taken for granted.
- Every Story Tells a Picture (the plague): With 7.8 billion people on Earth and millions more being added every year, we are running out of everything, including our humanity and our judgement.
- Mirror of Love (a reflection):A photograph can lie, but love cannot lie. It is the ultimate mirror.
- Red Velvet Chair (a friend in need): When you sit in this chair you tell the truth, and the truth is told to you. It’s the advice of a friend, the helping hand. But hey, you can have some fun with it too!
- Streets of Rome (eyes are opened): The ancient capital was no stranger to the album’s themes. Without the benefit of science, its original citizensinvented their own answers to life, preserved today with respect and awe, embedded in every stone of the city. And they had to deal with the same spiritual questions as us. Rome was therefore the accidental epicentre of the album.
- The Bolshie Swing (the dance): Time for a break. This track started off as a playful riff and expanded into a mini-orchestra, was left on the shelf for a while, then rushed into action as track 7. It was the understudy.
- Face Without a Name (stare inside): Ultimately we are just one of the crowd. It’s a big world and that crowd is made up of billions. Not often can we roar; more often at most we can squeak. Not invisible -but maybe only a “hill of beans”, as Bogart said in one of his films.
- Fly into the Sunrise (flying home): You have been away, seen many things. Now you wing your way on a long flight home, from the nighttime behind (the past) to the sunrise ahead (the future). The huge jet streams past, its passengers look out and simultaneously look in, through half-asleep eyes; the moment is sublime.
- Star (inspiration): Maybe it’s love at first sight; maybe it’s the inspiration that keeps alive a distant flame. Perhaps it’s fate.
Listen on your favourite platform:
