Big Merino Release Single ‘Second Hand Smoke’

March 22, 2024

The first 2024 release for Sydney’s Big Merino

The song ‘Second Hand Smoke’ came about after the 2019 bushfires in NSW and Covid. It’s a bit of a lateral take on a story that a lot of people can relate to and it suggests why, in spite of everything, we get up the next day and give things another crack.

Recorded and mixed by Studio Legend Phil Punch, this is a great beginning for a range of singles the guys will be following with this year.

Formed in 2017, Big Merino play original music that blurs the lines between country, blues, roots, rock and pop. Despite an obvious passion for what’s often called ‘Americana’, their songs somehow manage to be very personal and quintessentially Australian – the words and sound shaped by the landscape and their own stories.

Song Description

Acoustic southern vibes abound in this new single from Big Merino. Bass, drums, guitars and a driving snare beat keeps this bluesy track afloat with plenty of sing-a-long moments, even handclaps. Up-tempo, happy and feel good, a great first of the year for these Sydney locals.

The band will be performing it and a whole bunch of new songs on

Sat April 13 @ The Gasoline Pony

It’s Big Merino‘s first gig for quite some time … come and join us to celebrate the release!

@ The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
Saturday 13th April, from 7pm.
Book : trybooking.com/CQCRM

Out March 22 Foghorn/MGM

Stream it here

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Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds Release New Single ‘Photograph’

February 29, 2024

Just added as the first track on our national cafe music playlist(soundslikecafe digital expresso), ‘Photograph’ is a delicate and broody alt-folk song full of melodic hooks and echo harmonies, featuring introspective verses, and soaring choruses. The Lyrebirds’ ethereal harmonies combine with Bec’s lead vocal to create a haunting effect, meditating on how hard it can be to forgive and forget in a relationship.

Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a five-piece alt-country pop band from Canberra. Described as Seeker-Lover-Keeper-meets-Nashville-the-TV-show, their “twangy, Australiana” sound combines with “charming melodies and lyrics brimming with heart” (Scenstr). They are a band with incredible musical chemistry, with soaring harmonies and a rich instrumentation of guitars, piano, drums, bass, banjo, mandolin, and occasional cello parts, which complement Bec’s heartfelt songwriting.

Consisting of versatile musicians with rich experience in different genres, the Lyrebirds are Hannah Beasley (PaintonPaint), Sam McNair (JD McNair, The Burley Griffin), Sophie Chapman (Brass Knuckle Brass Band, Andy and George Band) and Grahame Thompson (Cracked Actor, BabyFreeze, Mr Fibby).

There’s two shows in March to launch the single and plenty more coming later in the year

– Saturday 9th March 7pm – Cancophany at UC Refectory hosted by Enlighten Canberra – Tickets https://enlightencanberra.com/program/cancophony/?

– Thursday 14th March – Photograph Launch House Gig at Hannah’s in Canberra (tickets below)

Stream the single

Connect with Bec Taylor and The Lyrebirds

CJ Shaw – Lonely Road (Official Video)

September 20, 2022

CJ Shaw Releases Music Video for ‘Lonely Road’

September 7, 2022

The song was written as a parable for CJ’s experience of the music world and the sensation of falling short. Shot in the heart of winter on the Monaro Plains, south of Canberra, the Lonely Road music video clip sees CJ Shaw taking on the persona of a train guard, walking deserted railway carriages, waiting for passengers that never arrive. With the Canberra Railway Museum and the Michelago Railway Station in the backdrop, this beautifully crafted video clip visually plays on the haunting emotive nuances of the song, leading the audience on his journey of fulfilment.

The music video, directed by award-winning director/ producer Stackhat (Sampa The Great, L-Fresh The Lion), is simply breathtaking in its raw beauty, capturing the desolation of the song’s mood with mesmerising vision of Monaro Plains, south of Canberra, alongside vision of CJ as a train conductor filmed at the Canberra Railway Museum and Michelago Railway Station.

Watch the Video here via the Scenestr premiere

Listen

CJ Shaw releases single ‘Lonely Road’

September 2, 2022

Lonely Road is the latest single from ARIA Award nominee CJ Shaw and is an exciting collaboration with international film and television composer Allyson Newman (The L Word: Generation Q, Kusama: Infinity).

A chance meeting on Newman’s return to Australia in 2020, saw her generously lend her expertise to an orchestral vision for the song. This original score, featuring four violin and four cello parts, brings an emotive depth to a poignant song of solitude. Her composition was brought to life by members of the Canberra Symphony orchestra (Alex Voorhoeve and Timothy Wickham) with backing vocals from Hannah Czaban.

This moving and beautiful song is a highlight of CJ’s latest album ‘All Sorts’. The song was written as a parable for CJ’s experience of the music world and the sensation of falling short. Shot in the heart of winter on the Monaro Plains, south of Canberra, the Lonely Road music video clip sees CJ Shaw taking on the persona of a train guard, walking deserted railway carriages, waiting for passengers that never arrive. With the Canberra Railway Museum and the Michelago Railway Station in the backdrop, this beautifully crafted video clip visually plays on the haunting emotive nuances of the song, leading the audience on his journey of fulfillment.

“‘Lonely Road’ is proof that Shaw is a poignant singer-songwriter” Michael Smith (Rhythms
Magazine 24/2/2022).

Song Description

Lonely Road starts out with soft picked guitar and whistling! Strings, piano and female background vocals add to the magic feeling of this mid-tempo folk tune from CJ. The chorus is truly haunting with violins playing a ghostly counter melody which is reflected in the keys and strings. A timeless classic.

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 released 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’s 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 – Lonely Rd is out NOW September 2nd through Foghorn/MGM
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