Jane Walker Releases New Single ‘Wondering Why’

March 26, 2022

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.”

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:

Official Video:

Link Tree:

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Steve Williams – Surrey Road

October 27, 2021 Leave a comment

Steve Williams
Surrey Road
Collaborative Album
OUT NOW

Surrey Road is the culmination of over 20 years song writing and came from Steve’s desire to do an album of his own songs with various great singers that he knew or had worked with previously. Shelter Me was written by Steve and Pat Powell and features the smooth vocals of young up and coming Melbourne singer, Nic MC. Many of the other songs on the album are sung by Pat Powel himself, lending his legendary voice to the mix and pat also co write a number of the tunes.
Steve Played all instruments on the album himself other than guest appearances by Victor rounds on bass and John prior on drums (selected songs). Steve produced, engineered and mixed the album at his studio in Melbourne with the exception of “when I see you dancing” which was mixed by John Prior at Unity Gain studios in Sydney.

Steve Williams came to prominence as the lead guitarist in the 80’s pop group Wa Wa Nee, who had top 5 hits and ARIA Nominations in Australia and chart action in Europe and the USA. This prompted Steve to relocate to Europe after working with James Freud and Richard Clapton following Wa wa Nee’s breakup. After working as a session musician in the UK and Europe he returned to Australia in 2005 and continued session and production work including musical theatre and television appearances. He has played in bands alongside Jon Lord from Deep Purple, Choirboys, Matt Finish, Ray Parker Jr, Real Life, and many more.

The Surry Road album was recorded in Steve’s Melbourne studio. Steve co-wrote all the tracks with musicians that he has worked with over many years of touring and recording :

Tracks feature guest vocals from Pat Powell(Melbourne Ska Orchestra and many more) and other well known vocalists such as: John Kenny (Rockmelons), Tim Watson(Taxiride), Vince Contarino, Terry Slesser(UK) and Louise Person as well up-coming Melbourne singer Nic MC.

The songs were co written with a host of writers including Mark Gable(Choriboys), Scott Smith and many of the singers above.

With the worldwide release of Surrey Road marking off this long span of writing and recording Steve’s new album for 2022 is already underway with a much more personalized and singular approach.

Checkout the Album

Connect with Steve Williams

The DK Effect release their Debut Album ‘Moving Time’

April 24, 2021 Leave a comment

This Deep South(Tasmanian) Soul and Blues band release their debut album and premiere of their new video courtesy of scenestr

The DK Effect are an 8-piece original funk, soul and gospel-infused RnB band from Australia’s deep south (Tasmania). Fronted by the powerful yet exquisite vocal and focal trinity (Crystal Campbell, Ruby Austin-Lund and Belle Richardson) the band’s material focuses on storytelling, melody and harmony, and is saturated with the passion and polyrhythmic ‘call and response’ vocal synchronicity of gospel music. The band: Randal Muir (keys), Aleks Folvig (guitar and vocals), Al Tolond (drums), David Johnstone (bass) and Jed Adams (sax) deliver grooves as deep as a freshly pressed 45.

Songwriter, David Johnstone had been content to satisfy his passion for writing and recording in sheltered isolation but following the illness of a close friend he reluctantly acknowledged that life is a ‘one-time only offer’. He began the Mama K project. Mama K and the Big Love release their ‘Blind’ album in 2017. The album received rave reviews including 4.5 stars from the Sydney Moring Herald. At this time David had the amazing good fortune to be introduced to Crystal Campbell. Her innate musicality and perfect interpretation of his ideas took each new song to a soulful new level. They quickly formed an enduring, productive and creative relationship.

Having been born on Kiribati in the South Pacific, Crystal was adopted and raised in Tasmania. She is also an accomplished singer songwriter with soul music running through her veins, and as with the African-American originators of soul, she has a sense of identity, culture, consciousness, pride and an unbreakable bond to her homeland.

Crystal and Ruby were together in an all-female band called The Duchesses and formed a great musical relationship and friendship. Ruby is from Northern Tasmania and completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Songwriting. She is also an accomplished keyboardist and has always had a love for soul music.

Ruby met Belle (also from Northern Tasmania) at the Conservatorium of Music where Belle is currently studying music, specialising in Blues, Funk, RnB and Gospel. As well as The DK Effect, she also sings with the soul band Belle’s Boys.

The vocal trio have an undeniable chemistry that radiates the authentic early soul / funk power and vulnerability of the genres pioneers, which allows them to reflect the full range of emotion and meaning embedded in every lyric and groove of The DK Effect repertoire.

Though the band was originally formed purely as a recording entity, there has been an overwhelmingly positive audience reaction from every DK Effect performance at venues including MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), The Moonah Arts Centre, Kickstart Arts and the iconic Republic Bar, establishing their reputation as an exciting and dynamic live band.

A selection of the band’s material has been captured on their debut recording – ‘Moving Time’, which has been expertly mastered by Grammy Award winning, Dave Darlington (Bass Hit Recording, NYC), and accurately presents their organic and authentic, early funk and soul sound.

The album was recorded and mixed in Hobart, Tasmania using vintage gear, 4 mics and a whole lot of enthusiasm. We wanted to capture the natural sound of the band so you’ll find NO fancy production techniques, NO auto-tune and NO midi on these recordings. Just the band, performing the songs – the way we do live…

The original plan was to release a 5-track EP, but got carried away and ended up recording a 10 track album!

Album Trailer

Moving Time single official video:

Song journey from rehearsal, to gig, to album release:

Clink on the album below to Stream/Download from your preferred service:

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The DK Effect release their Debut Single ‘Moving Time’

March 11, 2021 Leave a comment

Video

Stream

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‘WHANAU’ feat. Shelby Wright – The Brown Wunda

December 20, 2020 Leave a comment

Soundlikecafe proudly presents this great new tune about love and family, right on time for Christmas.

A heartfelt tribute to ‘Whanau’ – Family.

A bass driven funk groove with gospel influences throughout the song. An inspiring message of love and gratitude, released just in time for the festive season.

Co-written, recorded, produced & mixed by A2. Available on all digital platforms.

the brown wunda

The Brown Wunda

From picking up the guitar for the very first time pre-teens in NZ to playing in school and for church in Australia, Christian found an obsession with playing music and a curiosity for recording it.

The first recording studio setup was in a garage in Hassall Grove, nestled alongside a shop size freezer, throw away couches from the hospital, nic nacs galore and a family of red back spiders.

The first vocal booth was the cardboard box that fridges come in.

He quit his job as a Glazier, months before completing his apprenticeship and literally worked through frozen nights & scorching days in the garage. Recording. Writing. Playing. Dreaming.

‘A2’ (a play on his Samoan name Aitu) the composer, musician & music producer was born. Fast forward to writing music arrangements for Television, Australian Idol, X Factor, AGT. Producing albums for Sony Music.
Composer for Warner Chappell Music U.S.A.

Producing and co-writing for many local artists.
Enter 2019: The time felt right and the release of his own debut project The Brown Wunda came to light.

Listen to the song

Connect with The Brown Wunda

Julie-Anne Marshall-(feat Nikolai Egel) Presents New Single Rich Woman(Dollar)

August 7, 2020 Leave a comment

One of soundslikecafe’s most consistent, well loved and prolific song writers Julie-Anne Marshall has stepped right up with this new tune featuring some rapping from Nikolai Egel for your listening pleasure.

Currently sitting at Number 1 on our Spotify Playlist and not going anywhere soon, a great track.

As a solo artist Julie-Anne continues to surprise us with her genre crossovers, however, her songwriting still shines through with her lyric-driven, melodic and easy listening style. Rich Woman (Dollar) is Julie-Anne’s latest single release and it has an urban pop 40’s vibe and features Melbourne based rapper Nikolai Egel.

Stream Now

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Eldafyre New Album RAW

January 19, 2020 Leave a comment

Introducing Eldafyre and his new album RAW, our latest feature artist and album on Soundslikecafe

‘Eldafyre’is a stylist acoustic poet. Sending out euphoric melancholia infused with the deep passion of love, from all things. Eldafyre grew up in Shepparton and now resides within the northern rivers of NSW or deep in the mountains near Melbourne. With four mastered studio albums we see a vast range of genres. The one you have in your hands was 3 years in the making. Eldafyre wrote every song in one evening. Recreating the same lyrical stories to a dark jazz smokey noir band. Hand selected and collaborated with some of the best session musicians available in Australia. After three years absorbing the creation, a remix was made with an intention to finalize the work of art. Filtered organically with all ego and unwanted material omitted. With influences from Patti Smith, Rodriguez and Melanie Safka. Eldafyre thinks of himself as a storyteller. Telling this story as a studio musician.

Eldafyre on his music and live performance – “Expect music therapy. Expect to be relaxed. Expect to forget about your worries. Most report a deep sense of healing and restoration after my performances.”

We think you will be impressed with this record too, and its just the first of more to come from this exciting new artist…

The RAW album has been described as “DARK JAZZ SMOKEY NOIR”

The Tracklist includes

1- welcome around

2- another wholesome night

3 the evening came together

4 where connection bonds-(checkout the feature video below)

5- what lies down

6 long pause

7 a last goodbye

Check it out now-

Big Merino – Suburban Wildlife

May 8, 2018 Leave a comment

The Sydney-based band Big Merino their debut album “Suburban Wildlife” is a smashing it, getting rave reviews overseas and their our featured album.

Beach sloth – “Big Merino goes for a powerful, heartfelt sound on the symphonic folk musings of Suburban Wildlife.”

http://www.beachsloth.com/big-merino-suburban-wildlife.html

Dancing About Architecture (by Dave Franklin) – “The art of pinning down a band in just a few generic descriptions or a handy soundbite is the stock-in-trade of the music reviewer but I have to admit that it will take a better man than me to concisely pin down Big Merino.”

https://dancingaboutarchitecture.info/2018/05/19/suburban-wildlife-big-merino-reviewed-by-dave-franklin/

Middle Tennessee Music.com (by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman) – “Comprising of a team of seasoned music makers, Big Merino is the culmination of various musical styles, years of various experiences and the talented personalities which have come together like Voltron to form an appealing, soul-infused rock record that can be listened to from beginning to end…multiple times…without getting old.”

https://www.midtnmusic.com/big-merino-suburban-wildlife/

Formed a little over two years ago, Big Merino play original songs that blur the lines between rock, country, blues, roots, soul, funk and grunge – occasionally making forays into lesser-known genres such as New Orleans 2nd Line.

Their major influences Glen Hansard, The Frames, Jackson Browne and The Rolling Stones, co-songwriters Alex Craig and Stuart Davis write socially and politically-charged songs that are sometimes gentle and nostalgic and at other times nothing less than a fierce cry for revolution.

TrackList:

1. Black Cockatoos

2. How Can You Be Sure

3. Turn This Boat Around

4. Hand Grenades

5. Blackwater

6. Love Letter From A Fool

7. Sometimes

8. Hands In The Fire

9. Dramamine

10. Maybe I Was Sleeping

Links to music:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigmerino/

Offical: https://bigmerinoband.com.au/INFO.html

Sherry Finzer & Tom Moore – Let There Be Light

May 8, 2018 Leave a comment

Heart Dance Recordings is proud to announce the new release of Let There Be Light its New age, ambient, meditational music was created as the follow-up album of multi-instrumentalist Tom Moore and award-winning New Age flutist Sherry Finzer – after their highly successful release of Whispers from Silence their debut album, which received worldwide airplay on FM, Internet Radio, SXM Spa Channel, and numerous airline placements.

This album’s music is an expression of a journey. It is about movement not only in our outer life, but equally on the inner plane. Light is the most omnipresent element in nature. The universe is made up of light, which then becomes vibrations and sound. The purpose of this album is to help bring “light” to the listener in as many forms as possible.

Tracklist:

1. The Way of the White Clouds

2. First Light

3. Timeless Journey

4. Full Moon Night

5. A Celebration of Life

6. Sacred Ground

7. Waves of Light

8. Tides of Time

9. A Deeper Light

Listen to Music

Facebook:

Sherry Finzer; https://www.facebook.com/SherryFinzerMusic/

Tom Moore; https://www.facebook.com/voyagertommoore

Offical:

https://heartdancerecords.bandcamp.com/album/let-there-be-light

Breakthrough Danish Artist – Copenhagen’s Vera

December 2, 2017 Leave a comment

Vera is the moniker of Copenhagens William Asingh, one of Scandinavias most in-demand

and relevant young producers. As an integral figure to a slew of breaking acts out of

Denmark, including Off Bloom and Liss, Vera also worked closely with Danish superstar

MØ on her recent EP, producing three of its six tracks.

The Good Job No Conversation EP focuses Vera solely on his own sultry output, and in

Nobody Else, he delivers another scintillatingly assured and blissed-out track for all hours.

Vera on Nobody Else:

“Lyrically, Nobody Else is a tribute to the Caribbean novel Wide Sargasso Sea by the Creole writer, Jean Rhys. The novel is a response to Brontës Jane Eyre, in which the landowner keeps his Jamaican wife locked up in the attic, allegedly because she is mad. Wide Sargasso Sea tells the story of the mad woman of the attic and with this cool tone of tristesse, the book describes the wickedness, the Jamaican landscape and the eternal drinking of rum.’