THE URBAN SEA SHARES DYNAMIC NEW SINGLE + VIDEO MY OWN TIME
With sparkling melodics and a stirring core, the new single My Own Time out today from Brisbane indie rockers The Urban Sea bustles with swagger, heart and sanguine charm. Equally a groove-maker and core-shaker, My Own Time also arrives today with an accompanying music video that hovers between live performance and a poignant reflection of the emotive lyricism throughout.
Energetic and relatable, My Own Time captures a universal emotional narrative, detailing a relationship that has reached its natural end while also seeking empowerment to find closure against the heartbreak. Sonically, My Own Time mirrors the lyrical reclamation of strength, with the track’s upbeat grooves, propellant buoyancy and carefully curated arrangements calling to mind the emotional depth of Gang of Youths and the melodic energy of fellow Brisbane indie rockers Ball Park Music. “There’s a bit of Arctic Monkeys swagger and Spacey Jane jangle in there, especially in how we approached the arrangements,” shares songwriter Shanan Kilner. “My Own Time came from a pretty emotional place during a breakup where I was ready to move on, but my ex was struggling to let go. The relationship had reached its end, and deep down, we both knew it. Writing this song was my way of processing those feelings and realising that sometimes the healthiest thing to do is move on. The line, “You got love on your lips but blood on your hands,” sums it up. There was still affection, but we both had a hand in why things didn’t work out. It’s not about blame, but about recognising that love alone couldn’t fix what was broken. I wanted to move forward without rehashing old arguments or trying to pin down who was at fault, which is where the lines “I got no more coins for that wishing well” and “lay low and let it go” came from – sheer exhaustion from going over the same things again and again. The bridge “In my own time, get my feet back on the ground” was a reminder to myself that healing takes time and it’s okay to take things at your own pace. When I first wrote it, it felt like a release.”
“I didn’t want the song to be heavy or sad, even though the emotions were. The upbeat indie vibe reflects that sense of freedom that comes with finally letting go, even when it’s hard. I think we’ve all been in situations where we know it’s time to move on, but the comfort of the familiar pulls us back. It’s not about heartache – it’s about strength, about taking control of your own life and time. I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling of needing to reclaim their space after a relationship ends. Writing this song helped me find that closure, and I hope it resonates with anyone else who’s ready for their own fresh start.”
Recorded by Steve Kempnich (Powderfinger, Megan Washington, Shag Rock) and mastered by Mathew Grey (Eskimo Joe, Sarah Blasko), My Own Time sprinkles in some acoustic alchemy along with potent indie rock flavours, with the track’s music video tactfully also illustrating the lyrical content and nodding to some of their earlier work, as the band elaborate, “The video for My Own Time plays on the theme of struggling to let go of the past. The protagonist attempts to burn Polaroid photos representing the relationship.. These photos refuse to burn, symbolising memories that refuse to fade and a relationship that is lingering. In the end, the character leaves the box of photos next to the fire, and walks away, representing the decision to move on. The setting by the fire not only ties into the themes of release but also allows us to play with shadow and light, creating silhouettes throughout the video, which links back to the EP’s title. We loved the idea of using the same imagery from the artwork to create a connection.”
With a truly modern origin story, stemming from when vocalist and guitarist Chris Macdonald and guitarist Shanan Kilner met on a musician’s classified website (“basically Tinder for musos”, says the group), The Urban Sea emerged in 2019 and quickly became a fixture in the thriving Brisbane indie scene. Helmed by a creative fluidity that initially blended indie rock with touches of soul and R&B, the band have since evolved over the years to embrace a more acoustic-driven indie style along with a solidified lineup of Macdonald and Kilner as well as keyboardist Jack Gooden, drummer Troy Thorpe and bassist Rhys Fox, now channelling the more energetic edge of their earlier days into a more refined and emotionally resonant vibe. With their name reflective of the ebb and flow of the ocean itself meeting the bustle of urban life, The Urban Sea have previously ticked off performances at many iconic Brisbane venues, including The Zoo and Black Bear Lodge, as well as appearances at Woodford Folk Festival and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Fan Festival. Via their recent EP Sunsets and Silhouettes, the group again showcased their ever-maturing sound, blending thoughtful songwriting with raw, intimate and expansive arrangements. Now with a brand new EP Sunsets and Silhouettes set for release in February 2025, there is guaranteed to be even more The Urban Sea magic to come, balancing emotion with moments of peace and clarity. And My Own Time is a perfect and personal palette cleanser as The Urban Sea shift deeper into this exciting new creative chapter.
“Releasing My Own Time feels like finally sharing a piece of ourselves that we’ve been holding onto for a while,” the band concludes. “The song is very personal, but it also has this universal energy that we hope people will connect with. We’ve poured a lot into the arrangements and lyrics to capture that push-and-pull of moving on, and now it’s time to let it go and see how it resonates with listeners. There’s a certain catharsis in putting it out there – we’re excited to see how people interpret and feel the song.”
My Own Time is out today, Friday 11 October.
Listen: MY OWN TIME
Watch: MY OWN TIME
VERONICA FUSARO SHARES JANGLY NEW SINGLE SLOT MACHINE
With a sunny disposition and sleek execution, the new single Slot Machine out today from singer-songwriter Veronica Fusaro is an addictive sonic ode to real-world modern addictions; an effusive blend of alt pop and modern rock that also signals a brand new creative chapter for the talented Swiss-born artist.
Opening with a jangly swagger, à la other confectionary earworms like Portugal. The Man.’s Feel It Still, Slot Machine quickly takes shape as a confident and enigmatic ode to digital addiction. Dominantly channelling the likes of Vasco Rossi, Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes and Avril Lavigne, Veronica Fusaro’s masterful vocals perfectly thread the underlying musical elements, emerging with an infectious yet meaningful creation that also acts as a delectable entreè to her, as yet unnamed, upcoming second album. “I took it back to my roots with this one,” Fusaro shares. “I was listening to a lot of the rock music that I grew up with when I wrote this song. The song is about the little ‘magic box’ we all carry with us – our phones – and the constant stream of entertainment and information they provide. I realized how dangerously addictive they can be, almost like a slot machine, constantly pulling us in. It tells us what to think, what to wear, what to watch, how to look etc… The song is a reflection on that relationship and how even with all that entertainment, all that content I do not feel content at all. Therefore the: oh no, help me! Why do I feel so down?“.
An artist passionately honest and curious, with unwavering focus on lyricism and the power that music can impart, Veronica Fusaro amassed an international team to bring Slot Machine to life, with some fitting connections to her own heritage, born to a Swiss mother and an Italian father. “I wrote the song myself and sent a demo to Kim Wennerstrøm, a Swedish songwriter and producer based in Berlin, who handled the production and mixing,” explains Fusaro. “The mastering was done by Jonas W. Karlsson from Finland.”
Armed with powerful vocals, an inbuilt gift for storytelling and hues of alternative pop, soul, rock and more, Veronica Fusaro recently enamoured with her 2023 debut full length All the Colours of the Sky. Reaching #5 on Swiss charts, All the Colours of the Sky also come amongst Fusaroticking off over 500 live performances, including opening for Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler, performing on the iconic stages of Glastonbury Festival, at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, and closing out 2023 with a sold out appearance in Zurich. With a formidable live presence, Fusaroseamlessly balances joy with powerful undertones in her incredible sonic output; and her driving passion stems from finding a love for music at an early age as well as a gift for fusing her inspiration into her music. “Great music makes me tick, but really it could be anything,” Fusaro reveals. “A conversation I have with a stranger or a good friend, something I see on TV, something I read, something I observe… anything really. And I somehow feel the need to transform this inspiration into words and music. I’m not the best talker, so I guess music is the way I get to communicate and feel safe and good about what I feel. And I got into music as a little kid, I just always enjoyed singing, eventually started playing guitar and writing songs in 4th/5th grade and well… here I am today!”.
With plans set for 2025 to release a follow up to her debut 2023 album, All the Colours of the Sky, Fusaro’s first step into this brand new era is vividly heralded by Slot Machine; and there is definitely plenty of magic set to come from Veronica Fusaro going into 2025. “It feels strange to be releasing this new single, but in a very exciting way,” Fusaro concludes. “I’m definitely a bit nervous since it’s been a while since I’ve released new music, but I’m also really proud of Slot Machine. It’s the first chapter of a project that I’m incredibly passionate about. I really can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Slot Machine is out today.
PETE MURRAY SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘WOULDN’T IT BE GOOD’ MASSIVE AUSTRALIAN TOUR SET TO KICK OFF THIS DECEMBER
Loading up the good vibes, today beloved Australian singer-songwriter Pete Murray returns with his new single and music video, Wouldn’t It Be Good. Soaked in grooves, sunny melodics and Murray’s powerfully soothing vocals, Wouldn’t It Be Good is a charismatic addition to 2024, as well as a perfect accompaniment to the summer months ahead; a fitting fact with Murray also set to embark on an extensive tour kicking off late December and closing out in January 2025.
Starting life with nothing but its opening riff percolating, Wouldn’t It Be Good not only evolved into slightly new sonic territory for Pete Murray; it also marked a shift in Murray’s creative process, with producer Luke Palmer (Dead Letter Circus) ultimately helping to solidify the radiant end result. “It just started with the opening riff then went to the two-chord verse,” shares Murray of Wouldn’t It Be Good’s origins. “I was really just searching for the chorus lyrics, and the music just seemed to fit in with the lyrics. It’s normally the other way around. I produced this song with the help of Luke Palmer, and it’s funny with this song because when I first wrote it and played it for some friends, it wasn’t getting a great reaction. But I still really liked the song and never gave up on it. Then I had my nephew Dylan Cattanach (aka Katanak) help me out on an early demo, and it was here that I really started to hear the potential of the song – but people still weren’t getting it. During the recording of the album, I even played it to Luke and he wasn’t that into it, so I left it until the very end of the album recording and I brought it up again and got Luke to help me with it. There is a really great drum groove with congas paying and I got Luke to play a bass line on it too. As soon as I heard the bass, acoustic and drums, I knew this was going to work and the whole song just fell into place after that. Even at this stage when the song started to fall into place, I think I had lost a bit of confidence with it and I said to Luke: “I’ll keep this song for the next record, but let’s just finish it anyway”. Instead, he was like: “No way this is one of my faves and should go on this album”, so we finished it off and now it’s the first single. Funny how things work.”
Coated in positivity, bustling with acoustic magic and sparkling percussion, Wouldn’t It Be Good channels the essence of three iconic artists alongside Murray’s affable yet gripping trademark charm, as Murray himself puts it: “It’s John Lennon meets Jack Johnson and Rodriguez”. Mixed by Callam Howell, Wouldn’t It Be Good also saw Murray connect with OneHouse to conjure the accompanying visuals, featuring Murray and his accompanying band in full swing. “I’m keeping this video clip pretty simple and just filming the band play it in the studio – but I do have a funny video idea that involves a well-known tennis player but I can’t talk about this yet!” Murray reveals. “For this video, we worked with the talented OneHouse who are one of the most exciting up-and-coming production teams in the country. They’ve worked on a bunch of great short films that have been screened at festivals around the world recently as well as created some compelling music videos for acts including Boy & Bear and Steph Strings.”
One of Australia’s most enduring and endearing singer-songwriters, Pete Murray has gone on to sell over 1.2 million albums, amassed hundreds of millions of streams, release three ARIA chart-topping albums, and boasts 17 ARIA Award nominations amongst multiple other wins and nominations over the years. Emerging with his debut full length album The Game in 2001, Murray’s breakout sophomore album Feeler in 2003 cemented his status as one of the all-time greats. With ongoing hits along the way, including Better Days, Feeler, Opportunity and So Beautiful, Murray’s stirring blend of positivity with acoustic, rock and folk elements has flourished across decades, including with his most recent full length album Camacho in 2017. Now dominantly splitting his time in the studio and spending time with his family, Murray has also cultivated a stalwart reputation for his live show, from his own headline shows at home and abroad, as well as performances with the likes of Missy Higgins, Icehouse, Rob Thomas, Darryl Braithwaite and James Blunt to name a mere few. And in 2024, Murray has also returned to releasing music as an entirely independent artist. I’m now 100% back to being an independent artist, which I’m really excited about,” shares Murray. “Being independent again, the workload is a lot greater, but I’m enjoying being a part of every step, and hopefully the rewards will also be greater.”
With performances lined up to close out 2024 and heading into early 2025, fans can definitely expect to hear Wouldn’t It Be Good live when Pete Murray takes the stage, kicking off on Friday December 20 in Miranda before heading around the country, with stops in regional New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia. But fret not if the Pete Murray live experience doesn’t head to a town near you; the man himself has also just launched the Play At Your Place competition, offering fans a chance to go in the running to have Pete Murray play an intimate, private performance at their own home; just by signing up to his mailing list, one lucky winner will score the ultimate bragging rights and an unforgettable experience, head to petemurray.com.
And regardless of where you catch Pete Murray live in action this summer, one thing is guaranteed: he couldn’t be happier to celebrate the brand new track Wouldn’t It Be Good onstage as 2024 draws to a close and we welcome 2025, with the latest single set to shine alongside many other favourites. “You will definitely be hearing Wouldn’t It Be Good that’s for sure,” reveals Murray of his upcoming performances. “It is a great summer song and will blend in to all my other songs. I’m hoping it will be a fan favourite by the end of the tour. It’s always exciting growing as an artist and writing and recording new songs. I’m loving the groove on this track, so it’s going to be a fun one to play live.”
Wouldn’t It Be Good is out today.
Stream: Wouldn’t It Be Good
Watch: Wouldn’t It Be Good
PETE MURRAY – UPCOMING SHOWS:
FRI 20 DEC | MIRANDA HOTEL, MIRANDA NSW
Tickets available from Oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/03b0579a-7fd8-493e-b3b9-d087deb87b6c
SAT 21 DEC | WAVES HOTEL, WOLLONGONG NSW
Tickets available from Moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/pete-murray-w-special-guests/171837
SUN 22 DEC | THE VINEYARD, VINEYARD NSW
Tickets available from Oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/01db6ee1-29da-4dac-ab19-d5f101132657
MON 23 DEC | THE RECKY, ELIZABETH BEACH NSW
Tickets available from Oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/c87247d3-4dd5-4ea8-896f-216c1b365def
TUE 01 JAN | MANLY HARBOUR BOAT CLUB, MANLY QLD
Tickets available from Ticketek
https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=petemnyd25
WED 02 JAN | KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL, KINGSCLIFF NSW
Tickets available from Oztix
THU 03 JAN | THE STATION, SUNSHINE COAST QLD
Tickets available from Moshtix
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/pete-murray-w-special-guests/171840
FRI 04 JAN | JETTY BEACH HOUSE, COFFS HARBOUR NSW
Tickets available from Oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/e7ffc6e9-0b37-40e3-86e6-2d9be4f5bff4
SAT 05 JAN | TORONTO HOTEL, TORONTO NSW
Tickets available from Try Booking
https://www.trybooking.com/CVYRO
TUE 08 JAN | BARWON HEADS HOTEL, BARWON HEADS VIC
Tickets available from Oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/53ab1abf-d130-4b4b-a2d5-cdbd1112328d
WED 09 JAN | THE PIER BANDROOM, FRANKSTON VIC
Tickets available from Oztix
THU 10 JAN | THE DUNSBOROUGH, DUNSBOROUGH WA
Tickets available from Oztix
FRI 11 JAN | RAVENSWOOD HOTEL, RAVENSWOOD WA
Tickets available from Oztix
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/54bc5a03-ddf9-4fe2-a645-9c08a0c3372d
SAT 12 JAN | HOTEL ROTTNEST, ROTTNEST ISLAND WA
Tickets available from Ticketmaster
https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/1300612996207591