Kaijin Solo Releases Single ‘Lightning Hit The City’

September 15, 2023

First written in the late 1980’s sometime after Black Friday ’87, finally released in 2023, the song is a snapshot of various random events that seemed to be hitting the headlines with monotonous regularity at the time and has a curious resonance even today….

A rocking tune from the Central Coast’s Kaijin Solo. This one comes right out with full band in this up-tempo guitar based rock song, plenty of guitar riffs and solos as well as a catchy chorus and good vibes all around.

Kaijin Solo is a contemporary singer/songwriter based on the NSW Central Coast with a blues rock influence.

He has been working and honing his craft for many years with various band line-ups and the plentiful bread and butter busking jobs and pub/club gigs around the Coast (most recently at Link & Pin in Woy Woy). With the advent of Covid, Kaijin spent the downtime working on new material which resulted in the recording and release of a number of tracks last year.

Kaijin has begun to work live again as Kaijin Solo and The Backbeats featuring Ash Fedder on Drums and Rhys Myer on Keys.

They are currently planning for a late Spring/early Summer Tour.

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Reviews for Jack Nolan’s Album ‘Jindabyne’

August 27, 2023

Jack Nolan Released and Launched his New Album ‘Jindabyne’ earlier this month and
now the Reviews are in – here are a selection of some standouts and the links.
Recorded to tape in Nashville and with players like this theres no wonder folks are raving about it.
Producer guitarist Justin Weaver (The Chicks/Wynonna Judd), drummer Jimmy Paxson (Lindsey Buckingham/The Chicks/Ben Harper) and bassist Chris Autry (Josh Turner/Lee Anne Womack).

“As I’m listening through Jindabyne, I’m taken aback. It’s such a solid, mature, full-bodied album of unflinchingly well-written songs. He’s not fucking around.”
Coyote Music

“Perhaps the delay worked in Jindabyne’s favor as it’s rare to hear such a coherent and complete collection. It’s Jack Nolan’s finest moment yet.”
Curious For Music

[About the last track ‘All The Ships In The Ocean’
“This one is also reflective of the recent pandemic…At one point he asks the question, “What’s a nation?/Does anyone know?” When the world gets all weird, some of the questions that, at one time would have had easy answers, start to get overly complicated.”
Skope Magazine

““Jindabyne” has a quiet grandeur, with Jack Nolan’s robust and assured voice telling tales from lives lived most fully.”
Beach Sloth

“As a true purveyor of Americana, Jack stays true to the staples of roots music while also taking the genre to a fresher perspective with his Aussie twist. Named after the New South Wales town of the same name, “JINDABYNE” feels familiar, yet nostalgic, as it truly bridges two distant sides of the world, as if there was no ocean between them!”
Ghost Echoes

The Album
Jack Nolan’s JINDABYNE, released August 4

The same band assembled again to record, with no backing tracks, all but live to tape – and why wouldn’t you

The album’s title is lifted from the ever so sweet ‘Solo Sailor’ that lets us in on a journey. Other highlights include, the up-tempo ‘She Knew’ where nothing’s perfect, but she knew he loved her, and her knowing that will have to do for now, and the timeless finger picker, ‘All The Ships In The Ocean’.

Two years of stolen liberties has only hardened Jack’s resolve, to remain forever suspicious of rule makers and even more dedicated to his ongoing contribution to art, to song writing. JINDABYNE is a record for this year, where we are all staggering on after two years of madness, and we have all arrived back to that place we had drifted too far from, the simple things, love and reality, family, and community.

Based in Sydney, Australia, singer songwriter Jack Nolan has been performing and releasing music and albums since the mid 1990’s. Along with a six-album solo catalogue Jack also fronted The Kelly Gang, with Rick Grossman, bassist for The Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus along with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitar player Martin Rotsey. Their 2004 album Looking for the Sun is still considered a hidden gem, with an incredible line-up of musicians that delivered passionate and energetic live shows of the time.

Within Nolan’s music, mysterious and shimmering chords unite his sound. Once quaintly described as ‘Darlinghurst Country’ his sound unites elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and ambient atmospheres fusing Nolan’s passion for intensely charged electric guitar and finger-picked acoustic guitar.

Of recent years, the critically acclaimed 2018 album ‘Our Waverley Star’ was followed by the equally impressive 2020 outing ‘Gabriel’. It was these two outings that cemented Nolan’s love of recording in Nashville, with guitarist/producer Justin Weaver (Dixie Chicks/Wynonna Judd). What started with a one-off phone call, developed into an alliance that Nolan describes as “arriving in town, in the northern winter, when everyone’s off the road, with my swag of songs to greet all the boys again to collaborate”.

Performing in & around the traps Jack’s Australian band includes Travis New (Andrew Farris/Imogen Clark) on guitar, Tim Samson (Christine Anu/Andrew Farris) on bass and long time drummer & Hamish Stuart (Don Walker/Ian Moss et al).

Jindabyne album is OUT NOW
Quay Records

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The Sheyana Band Release Single ‘Remarkable Man’

August 19, 2023

The new uptempo cracking’ single Remarkable Man lifted from The Sheyana Bands EP Ricochet.

The band went into the studio to record a Johnny Cash style country & western ditty, but sound engineer, Russell Pilling, suggested changing the original Americana feel to a tougher AC/DC – Aussie Rock feel. Bingo!! It was like a brand new song and the track fitted like a glove into their new EP ‘Ricochet’.

Sheyana explains: “When I close my eyes, this is how the imagery of the song plays in my mind; show yourself friend or foe! Remarkable Man lines up with both barrels, bullets of pleasure and pain – shining bright, cutting deep, demanding to be loved and loathed. Cover your trusting heart! Do you have the superpowers to survive the impact?”

The track has become a band and fan favourite.

A full throttle country rock number from Sheyana, a very worthy single to follow up to Big Hearts. The song begins with the full band straight in, its up-tempo, catchy and full of riffs and hooks from the very competent guitar section, foot tapping all the way to the end.

The Sheyana Band’s recent EP, ‘Ricochet’, came together during covid lockdown in Tasmania. Making the best of a bad situation and with time for reflection, Sheyana and the band focused on songwriting, and the music emerged out of conflicting times.

Influenced by the classics and drawing inspiration from their deep Tassie roots, The Sheyana Band are like a fine wine. A ripe fruity musical banquet, fusing stylistic flavours from Australian Rhythm & Soul, American Funk & Blues, English Pop/Rock & Punk with a dash of Southern Country/Folk.

London born, Tasmanian based singer, songwriter and guitarist, Sheyana, has been hooked on music since early childhood. The soulful Celtic/Sri Lankan storyteller brings flavour to the table with her stellar band, featuring Wayne Rand on lead guitars/vocals, Dan Jeffrey on bass & Leigh Hill on drums/vocals.

Following the release earlier this year of their EP, the band embarked on a series of sold out single & album launches across Tasmania. The EP is getting national airplay, charting on Australian Blues and Roots Chart, and received some great national and international album reviews.

The first single & music clip Big Hearts was premiered by Australian music group Scenstr. Internationally, YESFM Sri Lanka recently premiered the track and came in Top 20 on the Yes Home Grown Charts. The band are releasing a second single from the EP, ‘Remarkable Man’ and planning to tour East Coast Australia in 2024, along with some live shows in Sri Lanka.

The Sheyana Band had a top ten hit in Sri Lanka in 2015 with their single ‘Keep the Change’. Sheyana scored a blues award with the OzSong International Song Writing Competition in 2011 for her song ‘Two Birds’, which also made it to the finals in the Fresh Air ABC National Song writing Competition. The Sheyana Band are a favourite act at major Tassie events: Skyfields, Forth Valley Blues Festival, Party In The Paddock, Fruits of the Roots, Festival of King Island, Junction Arts Festival and Riverbend Blues.

The band have supported Deborah Conway, Hoodoo Gurus, Neil Finn, Meg Mac, Mojo Juju, Gang of Youths, Diesel, The Angels, Kevin Borich, Ian Moss, Bill Chambers and Fanny Lumsden. Nationally they won “The Chris Wilson Award” for Emerging Act of Year” with their album Big Love in 2018.

Stream/Download Remarkable Man (Foghorn/MGM) August 18

Connect with The Sheyana Band

Jack Nolan Releases Album ‘Jindabyne’

August 4, 2023

Jack Nolan’s JINDABYNE, released this month was so frustratingly delayed by that virus. This is an album that waited in the wings while lockdowns and rules ran their course. “March 2020 the world was turned on its axis and we all went into lockdown –suddenly there were no certainties in life; this created a sense of urgency in me, so I made a conscious decision not to waste the time and went to work writing JINDABYNE. As soon as I could post lockdown, I was booked and took off back to the US.”

The same band assembled again to record, with no backing tracks, all but live to tape – and why wouldn’t you with personnel like producer guitarist Justin Weaver (The Chicks/Wynonna Judd), drummer Jimmy Paxson (Lindsey Buckingham/The Chicks/Ben Harper) and bassist Chris Autry (Josh Turner/Lee Anne Womack).

Jindabyne album is OUT NOW
Quay Records

Stream:

Connect with Jack:

Jane Walker Releases Single ‘Lazy’ plus live show in Sydney

July 24, 2023

Jane Walkers New single Lazy is out NOW and added to our Spotify Playlist and will have a live launch at Low302 in Surry Hills, Sydney on Aug 11.

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of singer-songwriter Jane Walker. Backed by acclaimed musicians Jess Ciampa and Mike Quigley, this night celebrates the launch of her mesmerizing new single “Lazy” (out August 4) and will feature some special surprise guests. Elements of pop and jazz weave together for an intimate and uplifting musical experience.

Doors 7pm – Dinner and drinks available all night.

TIX for the show

https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/747da26d-e3ee-4065-b476-5ccd77f0cdc8?utm_source=Low302&utm_medium=Website

Two years ago, Jane Walker was in the grips of a particularly debilitating writer’s block. It was a tumultuous time for the Sydney singer/songwriter, a recent marriage, a serious accident, a change of management and the death of her father. Yet, diamonds are forged under pressure and after basically chaining herself to her piano, new songs began coming thick and fast.

The new songs, which blend sophisticated pop and soul with light jazz touches, come with 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, and Indigenous group Street Warriors and Bobby Flynn on her debut, Walk Gently, Walker says that “working with such talented musicians lifts my level and stimulates me as an artist and gives me that freedom to go for it.”

“[In London I recognised] my identity as Australian and my connection is to the land here, and I wanted to come back home,” says Walker who, while in London, had one of her songs included on an album alongside tracks by Massive Attack and Radiohead.

“More and more I try to live in the present moment, and find when I’m there, nature rushes in…this influences my songwriting and musical choices.” And as she discovered, when that happens amazing things occur, and it’s clear that Jane Walker is anything but lazy.

“Rather than sit in resentment and blame others, I can write a song.”

A very smooth soul single featuring beautiful Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, laid back drums and bass and a silky smooth vocal that all come together in the best possible way.

Stream:

New Single ‘Lazy’ Out August 4 on MGM

Connect with Jane Walker:

Jack Nolan’s Latest Single ‘Solo Sailor’ from Upcoming ‘Jindabyne’ Album

July 7, 2023

Added to our playlist –

Just ahead of the Album launch and release next month Jack Nolan will be Ross M Fear’s studio guest on Alive 90.5 fm Australian Spectrum Show 9pm Tuesday 11 July 203 featuring a steal preview of his latest album “Jindabyne”.

The new single is Solo Sailor – see below for details including the Live Album Launch

‘JINDABYNE Album Launch’

Book here – Tickets
Thursday 3 August, 2023
From 7pm
First 50 ticket sales will receive a copy of the LP on arrival.
Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Club
1 Ocean Street Clovelly, NSW 2031

Documenting the loss of a distant complicated man, ‘Solo Sailor’ is a soft farewell capturing a send off, a silent understanding reached, of melancholy and a life lived by the water. With an acoustic guitar augmented beautifully with a simple electric line and understated backing band, this is an ocean journey where the writer asks all fellow mariners to give the man right of way as he makes his way home. In true singer songwriter style ‘Solo Sailor’ is surely an acoustic playlist contender.

A deep cut ballad from the new Jack Nolan album: Jindabyne (released 4 August). Solo Sailor features distinctive slide and picked guitar, lush backing vocals, ambient drum backing and more than enough ducking and weaving through the textures of the song arrangement and lyrics to hold your interest.

ALBUM LAUNCH

https://mailchi.mp/7640346d77c5/out-today-gabriel-9343961?e=8f08982cee

Based in Sydney, Australia, singer songwriter Jack Nolan has been performing and releasing music and albums since the mid 1990’s. Along with a six-album solo catalogue Jack also fronted The Kelly Gang, with Rick Grossman, bassist for The Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus along with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitar player Martin Rotsey. Their 2004 album ‘Looking for the Sun’ is still considered a hidden gem, with an incredible line-up of musicians that delivered passionate and energetic live shows of the time.

Of recent years, the critically acclaimed 2018 album ‘Our Waverley Star’ was followed by the equally impressive 2020 outing ‘Gabriel’ – both long players being ethereal story books and rich song collections. It was these two outings that cemented Nolan’s love of the working town Nashville, an association with guitarist/producer Justin Weaver (Dixie Chicks/Wynonna Judd) that started with a one-off phone call and developed into an alliance that Nolan describes as “arriving in town, in the northern winter, when everyone’s off the road, with my swag of songs to greet all the boys again to collaborate”.

Performing in & around the traps, Jack’s Australian band includes Travis New (Andrew Farris/Imogen Clark) on guitar, Tim Samson (Christne Anu/Andrew Farris) on bass and long time drummer & Hamish Stuart (Don Walker/Ian Moss et al).

Stream Solo Sailor

Connect with Jack

Kaiyah Mercedes’ Latest Single ‘Hide With Me’ Added to SoundsLike Cafe Playlist

July 1, 2023

‘Hide With Me’ is Kaiyah Mercedes’ first single following the release of her debut album ‘Hindsight’ in October of 2022. Kaiyah shows growth and maturity in this indie-pop, queer coming of age story.

The 17 year old LGBTQI+ Melbourne-based singer/songwriter was inspired to write the song from the positive queer teenage stories in the ground-breaking television show ”Heartstopper”, which also proliferates new music from unsigned artists. The themes of this song explore sexuality and self-identity, and finding love along the way.

A departure from their previous indie-folk incarnation and influenced by artists including Gracie Abrams, Orla Gartland, and L.i.E, Kaiyah seamlessly shifts gears in “Hide With Me” with the help of Melbourne-based producer Seetali Mack (Kevin Silvester). The two driven artists have come together to create a wondrous track that makes you feel both nostalgic for the past and hopeful for the future. Opening with a slow and soothing melody that captures innocence and apprehension, the energy builds through hopeful and upbeat rhythms and lyrics that speak to the resilience and optimism of youth.

At just 17 years old, Kaiyah has already gained recognition for her powerful and introspective debut album “Hindsight” which received national and international radio play across Europe, the USA, Canada, and the UK; track 7 spent three weeks on the AMRAP Top 10 Metro Charts; and the album has over 215,000 streams on Spotify alone.

Mixed by Garrett Kato (Julia Stone, Ziggy Alberts, Tones and I) and mastered by Sam Berdah from The Wall Studio, ‘Hide With Me’ has already reached the 10th spot on the AMRAP Metro Charts in its first week.

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Vanleer & Co. Release Single ‘I Still Think Of You’

June 30, 2023

“I Still Think Of You” is a song that pulls at the heart strings of anyone having any kind of dysfunctional relationship. Whether it is with a spouse, a child, a sibling or even a long term friendship. “I Still Think Of You” was inspired by one of my children and the events surrounding the life choices they were making. This composition is my expression of my love and perhaps they will hear it and come to realise how much I have loved them all along.

The second single from Vanleer & Co features full Americana style band backing and lush female backing vocals. Duncan Toombs on guitar, Kayne Butler on drums, Andrew Beck on bass and engineer. The song is mid-tempo and along with the sentiment in the lyric has some catchy and tasteful electric guitar which lifts the tune perfectly.

William is a singer/songwriter based on the beautiful Central Coast of NSW. Originally from rural NSW, he was born the son of a coal miner who also played in a country band. His passion for music began early with his father teaching him to play guitar.

Since then he has performed for a variety of charity events held by the NSWRFS and Land Care organisations, as well as countless open mics along with band support roles in and around the Central Coast.

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Not diAna’s Single ‘Hangin’ ‘ Added to SoundsLike Cafe Playlist

June 25, 2023

Great new tune Hangin’ added to our Spotify Playlist from Not diAna

Minimum training maximum ability. With an astute ear for pitch, Not diAna can sing as sweet as honey, belt it out like a rocker then fall in to the perfect harmony all in the one song. Good music is great music if it strikes a chord with you regardless of your training.

Born from a desire to create music, she has sung in all sorts of situations but has now taken the singer-songwriter in her to the next level.

Eclectic in taste, she digs anything she can sing to, harmonise with or anything that lyrically, vocally or musically speaks to her. With just her, a mic and her acoustic guitar, she will entertain you with not only her heartfelt originals but an amazing variety of cover tunes.

Stream the single

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Carnival Mind’s Single ‘Love Will Take Us There’ Added to SoundsLike Cafe Playlist

June 24, 2023

A great love-ballad just added to Soundslikecafe

Carnival Mind is currently a five-piece musical project of collaboration between an evolving line-up of likeminded musicians who appreciate the concept of great original songs.
Carnival Mind members are: Dave, Wasp, Mr Tibbs, Rich & Violet B.
All members contribute to what makes up the Carnival Mind signature sound.
Carnival Mind believes great music is “Sans Borders” meaning, we see ourselves as an international act who write songs for people, not markets. Carnival Mind records live with no overdubs or autotune which gives our songs that energy & intimacy that is so often lacking in modern music.
The other great thing about recording live is you get the song down as well as you can & then you move on to the next song… we’re not looking for perfection, just as long as the vibe of the song is delivered then it’s job done, move on before you beat the life out of the song!

‘Love Will take Us There” is just a beautiful love ballad which arrived while we were trying to write a hard hitting rock song about a homicidal maniac … you got to go where the song takes you!