EMMA DONOVAN SHARES SUMPTUOUS NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘TAKE ME TO THE RIVER’
One of Australia’s most celebrated voices, proud Gumbaynggirr and Yamatji artist Emma Donovan today dips into soulful waters with a sumptuous cover of Al Green’s 1974 hit Take Me To The River. The new track arrives alongside a deeply personal music video.
In a match made in heaven, Emma’s warm, velvety vocals mark the beginning of her new solo soul era, infused with her trademark storytelling and deep sense of personal connection. “I’m quite nervous releasing a song like Take Me To The River because the Al Green version is such an iconic version, and it’s a big song!”shares Emma. “But it’s exciting and good to share my perspective on it. A song like Take Me To The River is similar to an Archie Roach song like Get Back To The Land. It’s about filling that cup up after a big breakup, going to look for that Country, looking for that water, to cleanse and feel good. I love my connection to that song and I’m excited to share it.”
“My take on this song is really about family and community,” Emma continues. “We always talk about going up the river, that’s our outlet. We go fishing, we go swimming, we go to hang out, and we take the little ones and we’re there with family. We’ve been following my nannas and my grandfathers for years to the river. So hopefully, with that bit of language that we translated, people will feel the connection to that.”
No stranger to soulful territory after fronting acclaimed outfit The Putbacks, Emma’s new take on Take Me To The River also carries threads of her lifelong love of gospel and country. “In my new soul era, I would have to describe it still with country and gospel in there,” she explains. “All of those things also make up soul. There’s also a lot of soul in country, and I believe country and gospel need to be included in soul! And the other parts of my soul era are family and connection.”
“For the single itself I worked closely with Ben Edgar who has been playing guitar for me for a while, and he’s been doing most of our recordings,” Emma adds. “He pulled that sound at his home studio in Melbourne, in Belgrave. I also worked with David Symes (Boy & Bear) on this one — he plays bass on the track too. Me, Ben and David all put our three heads together for Take Me To The River.”
Adding her own unique charm to Al Green’s original, Emma weaves her personal narratives into both the song and its compelling companion video. “A lot of the concept and a lot of the story behind the clip is re-enacting some old photos and some memories that I have with family and fishing and the river,” she shares. “A lot of the reenactment is me as a little kid, but played by my own daughters in the present day. Because my grandparents were so active in my music — they were musical people and they would also fish and take us to the river — I’ve got an Aunty and Uncle just like them in the clip too.”
“For the song itself, I was channelling my nanna, my mum and her brothers,” Emma continues. “I grew up having these big fishing trips up the river of Kempsey, a little place in Northern NSW. We used to have huge trips there. Now, it’s probably not as big, but when I was a kid, we’d take all these cars full of kids and families, and we’d go out onto the back areas of the river near the airport at Kempsey. My grandmother would have to get permission to go on properties — these white fellas had bought properties, but they were at the back of the river. So, we’d go and my nan would make friends, or she’d have some connection to a lot of people who owned these properties. These were areas she’d been to when she was growing up, so I was channelling a lot of my grandmother and all of the family trips that we had going to the river in this song.”
Widely regarded as one of Australia’s most beloved voices, Emma Donovan’s career spans over two decades. The proud Gumbaynggirr and Yamatji artist has carved a singular path that fuses gospel, country and soul with the storytelling traditions of her culture. First emerging as a teenager with Stiff Gins, Emma went on to front The Putbacks, whose albums Dawn (2014), Crossover (2020) and Under These Streets (2021) earned her critical acclaim and cemented her as a vital force in Australian music. Having performed on iconic stages including WOMADelaide, Bluesfest Byron Bay and the Sydney Opera House, Emma has become a guiding voice for the next generation of First Nations artists, and in 2021 was inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame alongside her family band The Donovans. Emma’s previous album Til My Song Is Done was nominated for an ARIA last year and won an AIR Award this year.
On the horizon, Emma will perform a special multidisciplinary show — also titled Take Me To The River — that reimagines her catalogue with powerful new arrangements, visuals and storytelling. Following its premiere at Darwin Festival, the show will appear at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival this month and Sydney Festival in 2026, marking the latest chapter in a career defined by truth, power and an unwavering commitment to song.
“With these upcoming performances, fans can expect a deeper connection to these songs,” says Emma. “I love storytelling, I love putting my own spin on things. And playing live, I’ll be sharing lots of reasons why these particular songs in the show mean so much to me. I feel like with my last album I focused so much on the family, country vibe, and the gospel vibes. So, it’s been a while since I’ve sat in the soul hot seat again. This is just me slowly driving back into that area!”
Leading this new chapter is her stirring new single Take Me To The River — a song that brings Emma’s journey full circle, connecting her past to her present and luminous future, and celebrating her lifelong love of soul.
“I mostly grew up on gospel music and country music because they were the old Mission-style songs from our family,” she shares. “I was straight-up country growing up. The genre I knew outside of country leant more towards blues. My father had a big blues collection — Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and LaVern Baker. That was close to soul, vocally. I had a bit of Ella Fitzgerald played to me too by my father.”
“My father actually introduced Aretha Franklin to me via the Blues Brothers film,” Emma continues, “where Aretha sings in the shop, she’s trying to hold off her husband from going on tour. She sings her song Think, and that was the first time I got to know a bit more soul. And then later on down the line I remember some friends sharing with me Renée Geyer’s album Sweet Life, my friend burnt that album and sent it to me.”
“I can’t go past a good soul song that comes from a breakup. There’s some heavy breakup sad songs that I know, and I guess it could be the country influences but I’m all over that like a rash,” Emma laughs. “Ann Peebles would sing I Can’t Stand the Rain – I love a good sad, hard soul song. They’re the things that I love and that make me tick.”
Take Me To The River is out today via Civilians.
EMMA DONOVAN – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
SAT 18 OCT | EAT DRINK PLAY GIPPSLAND, LEONGATHA VIC | All Ages
Tickets available from www.eatdrinkplaygippsland.com.au | Festival Outlets
SAT 25 OCT | MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, MELBOURNE VIC | All Ages
Tickets available from www.melbournejazz.com | 1300 182 183 | All Ticket Outlets
MOLER SHARE PROPULSIVE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘AI’ + ANNOUNCE SINGLE LAUNCH SHOW THIS NOVEMBER
Aussie indie rock trio Moler today swipe right on raw energy and nostalgic punk with AI, the group’s first new music since 2019 and a deliciously raucous ride elevated by its accompanying music video. Detailing artificial intelligence and its surrounds soundtracked by fuzzy guitars and punchy 70s and 80s pop punk energy, Moler are also set to christen AI in a live setting on Saturday 8 November, today announcing a single launch show at Thornbury’s Shotkickers, joining additional performances later next month at River Rocks Festival in Geelong and at the Tote.
Marking Moler’s first new single since their 2019 cover of the legendary Velvet Underground drummer Moe Tucker’s 1989 song Work, AI balances throwback edges, potent energy and compelling vocals alongside its futuristic subject matter. A bustling lovechild of influences, spanning The Lemonheads, The Saints, The Stooges, Blondie, The Runaways, Mudhoney, Sex Pistols and beyond, AI also brandishes Moler’s trademark, and globally recognised, sound: “it’s riot grrrl, it’s challenging, but always fun,” explains bassist and lead vocalist Helen Cattanach.
Composed by all three members, Helen alongside new writer and guitarist James (JJ) McCann and drummer David Peacock, AI came to life in Moler’s rehearsal room, as Helen elaborates, “We recorded the musical bed track at Sound Park Studios with Andre (Idge) Hehir. I called out all the changes in the music ….One, two, three, four. There was no solid lyrical content yet, just an idea. The full lyrics came together a little later at Caution Horses Recording studio with Miguel Alonso engineering; recording the vocals and mixing it for the album. James & Dave added the “AI” backing vocals and hey presto, done!”
A propulsive masterclass in raw punk and alternative rock, AI also unsurprisingly snapshots the real-world evolution and obsession with all things artificial intelligence. “Everyone, I mean everyone, is talking about AI,” shares Helen. “I thought it would be a great topic to write about. There are so many elements to AI that relate directly to music and to all of our lives. The theme of the song was about our possible futuristic, personal relationship to AI….AI as our therapist, our organiser of thoughts, our tool, our emotional relationships. There are so many questions.”
Mastering their brand new track with returning Moler collaborator Lindsay Gravina (Magic Dirt, The Birthday Party) at Birdland Studios, the group also teamed up with a longtime friend and creative compadre Ian White to bring AI’s accompanying music video to vivid and colourful life, “There was no real storyboard or concept for the clip,” explains Helen. “It was, “Can you film something or come to a live show to film? Ian has a long-term connection with Moler, having cut a few videos for the band in the past. The latest, ‘AI’, was mainly cut from live footage from a live show at the Espy, where we showcased our new songs for the first time in front of an audience. Ian asked, “Do you want footage from AI?” I said, “Well, that would be apt.”
Forming in St Kilda in the early-to-mid 1990s, Moler unveiled their debut full length ARIA nominated album Golden Duck in 1997, showcasing their eclectic craftsmanship and dexterity, flitting effortlessly between rock, punk, post punk and power pop over the years. Disbanding in the early 2000s following the release of multiple EPs, Moler ultimately reformed back in 2018 for a show-stopping performance at The Curtin Hotel, before releasing a new EP Work in 2019. A band who have garnered success and acclaim at home and abroad, spanning international tours, radio play in Japan and America, including Little Steven’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM, hosted by Steven Van Zandt, Moler have also previously shared stages with the likes of Weezer, Regurgitator, Custard and Magic Dirt, and now sit poised on an insatiable new chapter kickstarted today via their brand new single AI, which will be witnessed in full flight at a special launch show next month.
“There has been a very long time between shows,” says Helen. “Moler was kinda put on ice or defunct for 19 years. We got together initially just for a celebration of our 25 years since our first single. Then Covid hit. After that Helen was invited to do bass playing for a 90’s super group, Ash Naylor, Kram and Adalita, for a ‘Spicks & Specks’ television spot and since then Moler got on a bit of a roll with a 90’s resurgence in the live scene. Moler took off on a bit of a ride and then decided, with new guitarist and writer JJ McCann, let’s get some new material out, like an album and let’s see where that takes us next.”
JJ McCann steps seamlessly into the role of guitarist, taking over from founding member Julian Poulson, who now lives in Cambodia. Known for his work with Nunchukka Superfly, The Drones, and an extensive solo career, JJ brings his own flair and energy to the band while staying true to Moler’s unmistakable sound. Originally joining as a fill-in when Julian couldn’t make a show, JJ recalls, “When Helen asked me to join and learn 16 songs in two weeks, I thought I couldn’t do it. So, I asked my good friend and late-night conversationalist Patrick Emery, and he said, ‘do it.’” The rest, as they say, is history — JJ has well and truly cemented his place in the iconic trio.
While their long-awaited follow-up to 1997’s Golden Duck is as yet unannounced, a sophomore Moler album is absolutely on the cards; and if AI is any indication, it will be undeniably worth the wait.
AI is out today through Proper Remote Records & MGM.
MOLER – UPCOMING 2025 TOUR DATES:
SAT 8 NOV | SINGLE LAUNCH | SHOTKICKER, THORNBURY VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SUN 16 NOV | RIVER ROCKS FESTIVAL BARWON CLUB, GEELONG VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au
SAT 29 NOV | THE TOTE, COLLINGWOOD VIC | 18+
3pm FREE www.thetotehotel.com/gig-guide
DENMARK’S ‘ROYA’ ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIA TOUR FOR JAN 2026
Electrifying Danish pop duo, ROYA are set to bring their euphoric, house-infused live show to Australia for the very first time for a string of Aussie summer sets, set to lavish Brisbane (The Triffid) on Jan 29, Melbourne (The Night Cat) on Jan 30 and Sydney (Oxford Art Factory) on Jan 31.
Tickets go on sale today from 10am AEST from teglive.com.au/live_tour/roya/.
Emerging from Denmark, Line Gade and Sebastian Igens have built one of Europe’s fastest-growing fanbases. They first captured worldwide attention when a clip of their single Ain’t Just A Game went viral, with their follow-up single Cruise solidifying their breakout moment, snagging over 44 million streams and more than 500 million views across social platforms.
Now with millions of streams and sold-out international shows under their belt, ROYA’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down and Australia is finally getting in on the action.
Hyped to be jetting across the world to play for their Australian fans, Roya said, “From the very beginning of this journey, we’ve felt the love and support pouring in from Australia. Every message, every stream, every comment – we’ve seen it all, and we’ve felt so connected to the Aussies even from the other side of the world. This is not just another show for us. This is something we’ve been manifesting since day one and now the dream is finally becoming reality! We can’t wait to bring the beats, the love, the sweat, the energy and to live the music together!”
Tickets are on sale from 10am from teglive.com.au/live_tour/roya/.
ROYA – AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES:
Tickets available from teglive.com.au/live_tour/roya/
THUR 29 JAN | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE | TICKETS
FRI 30 JAN | THE NIGHT CAT, MELBOURNE | TICKETS
SAT 31 JAN | OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY | TICKETS
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