MAYFAIR KYTES ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ‘SLEEPYHEAD’ AND DEBUT ALBUM ‘ANIMUS’
Melbourne four-piece, Mayfair Kytes have today announced the release of their debut album, Animus (out April 1), alongside quirky and musically dazzling single, Sleepyhead (out March 18). The folk-art-pop band will be hitting the road to celebrate the release with album launch shows at The Workers Club (Melb) on April 8 and The Vanguard (Syd) on April 28.
Layered with exquisite vocal harmonies and opulent string scores by Willow Stahlut (Cinematic Orchestra), the single is perfectly textured by bold, discordant guitars accentuating the song’s inimitable musical brilliance. “Sleepyhead is a meditation on two themes, one being the creative process versus the logical world and how choosing your own destiny can lead you down a long road of self-discovery that might clash with more pragmatic streams of life,” lead vocalist and songwriter Matt Kelly explains, “and secondly, it is about dealing with the depression that often comes with such a way of being.”
Storyboarded, hand-animated, filmed and directed by Melbourne artist, Thomas Russell (Hiatus Kaiyote, Chet Faker, Flyying Colours), the fittingly artistic video for Sleepyhead follows contemporary dancer Geoffrey H Watson as he saunters his way around an empty white room, tearing off layers of bulky clothing in an act of defiance, musing as his heavy steps become joyful skips with each layer shed. “The film-clip is about coming out of a dark place, shedding the things that hold you back, not being constrained by male stereo types… shedding the past,” says Kelly.
Recorded in just over a year with close pal, Nick Herrera between his notable home studio and a converted chapel in Melbourne’s inner north, the album features performances from string players from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as extra synths and production added by Hiatus Kaiyote’s Simon Mavin and Paul Bender. “We employed Nick for his highly creative streak, his love and respect of tonality and the way he works hard to achieve sounds,” enthuses Kelly, “And we used the chapel to record all the string scores as it had a long reverb and delay so we could use the authentic room sounds in the recordings, no extra effects needed.”
A dense mosaic of flourishing strings, jangly guitars, tape-driven beats, synthscapes and samples, this impressive debut album shows extreme consideration and depth as it touches on themes of loss, acceptance and reprieve. Kelly explains, “It’s kind of a reverse break up album, beginning at the separation and working its way forward to reconciliation.”
And as you’d imagine, fans can expect a very distinctive live set, showcasing interesting and different vocals and harmonies, otherworldly guitar sounds, captivating ambience and explosive-to-the-point-of-post-rock climaxes, as well as a dense layer of modular synths.
Mayfair Kytes are Matt Kelly (vocals, guitar), Austin Busch (vocals, guitar, keys, samples), Jack Nicholson (drums, samples) and Phoebe Jacobs (vocals, samples).
Debut single Sleepyhead is out March 18, new album Animus is out April 8 and launch show tickets are ON SALE NOW
MAYFAIR KYTES ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR DATES
FRI APRIL 8 | THE WORKERS CLUB MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from http://theworkersclub.oztix.com.au/?eventId=60292
THURS APRIL 28 | THE VANGUARD SYDNEY NSW | 18+
TINPAN ORANGE ANNOUNCE FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM ‘LOVE IS A DOG’ + ‘RICH MAN’ SINGLE + NATIONAL TOUR
Seasoned folk darlings Tinpan Orange have today announced their fifth studio album, Love Is A Dog (set for release April 8), alongside its breathtaking first single, Rich Man (out February 12). The virtuosic trio will hit the road to celebrate the release kicking off at the Fairbridge Folk Festival (WA) on April 15, moving through Tasmania, Melbourne, Mullumbimby, Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin, Fremantle and finishing up in Adelaide on June 5.
Over a year in the making, Love Is A Dog is a luscious and intricate concept album with soaring string arrangements, thoughtful, sparse guitar hooks and Emily Lubitz’s delicate, show-stopping voice. Produced by the band in collaboration with Harry James Angus (The Cat Empire, Jackson Jackson), and mixed by the renowned Adam Selzer (M.Ward, She & Him, Jolie Holland) at Type Foundry Studios in Portland, the album presents a vulnerability and a beauty that captivates and inspires. Love Is A Dog explores the paralysis of privilege, the precariousness of having too much to lose and the pain of loving someone too much.
The stunning lead single, Rich Man is inspired by a sad, over-satiated character who is surrounded by great wealth but locked into a loveless relationship. It has a dark, rambling quality, championed by Lubitz’s first ever recorded exploration of her falsetto range. “When I first heard the final mix, I had the feeling that it could have been used as a Bond theme if David Lynch was directing,” says guitarist Jesse Lubitz. The single is accompanied by a simple yet intriguing video. Directed by Jam Nawaz of Jam Design (Remi, Tully on Tully) the clip depicts mysterious hands thrusting fur, gold and pearls upon a wealthy housewife (played by Emily Lubitz), until the very end, where she removes all in defiance, unadorned and free.
To celebrate the release of Love Is A Dog, Tinpan Orange will embark on a national tour in April and May of 2016. Enthusiastic about the current lineup of the band, Emily Lubitz says: “We are enjoying playing as a trio at the moment…I like singing in that space and I love to hear Alex (Burkoy) fill some of the spaces with his strings. Our shows are intimate, and when I’m feeling safe and sound, I will tell a few stories and share some thoughts…and Alex might even tell a joke!”
Tinpan Orange are Emily Lubitz, Jesse Lubitz and Alex Burkoy, with the in-studio help of Daniel Farrugia (Angus & Julia Stone, Missy Higgins) on drums and Jules Pascoe (Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Racketts) on bass guitar.
The new album Love Is A Dog is out April 8 and tickets to the national tour are ON SALE NOW
TINPAN ORANGE ‘LOVE IS A DOG’ ALBUM TOUR
FRI 15 APR SUN 17 APR I FAIRBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, FAIRBRIDGE WA
Tickets available from http://fairbridgefestival.com.au/wp/buy/tickets/
FRI 29 APR I THE GRAND POOBAH, HOBART TAS
Tickets available at www.tinpanorange.com
SUN 1 MAY I FRESH ON CHARLES, LAUNCESTON TAS
Tickets available at www.tinpanorange.com
SAT 07 MAY I TOFF IN TOWN, MELBOURNE VIC
Tickets available from http://thetoffintown.com/ 9639 8770
SUN 8 MAY I RATTLERS HOTEL, WALLAN VIC
Tickets available at www.tinpanorange.com
SAT 14 MAY I CIVIC HALL, MULLUMBIMBY NSW
Tickets available from www.redsquaremusic.com.au/
SUN 15 MAY I OLD MUSEUM, BRISBANE QLD
Tickets available from http://oldmuseum.org/
FRI 20 MAY I THE VANGUARD, SYDNEY NSW
Tickets available from http://www.thevanguard.com.au/
SAT 28 MAY I THE RAILWAY CLUB, DARWIN NT
Tickets available from http://www.darwinrailwayclub.com/
SAT 4 JUNE – FLY BY NIGHT, FREMANTLE WA
Tickets available from www.flybynight.org/
SUN 5 JUNE – THE WHEATSHEAF, ADELAIDE SA I 4.30PM
Tickets available from www.wheatsheafhotel.com.au/
RÜFÜS ‘BLOOM’ DEBUTS AT #1 ON ARIA ALBUM CHARTS + NATIONAL AUSTRALIAN TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL/MAY
Off the back of their second #1 ARIA album chart debut with sophomore album BLOOM bumping Adele from the top spot on the weekend, Aussie dance trio RÜFÜS have today announced a national BLOOM album tour for April/May, kicking off in Adelaide on April 29 and heading through Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania and Brisbane before finishing up in Auckland (NZ) on May 27.
2016 is shaping up to be RÜFÜS’ biggest year yet; with BLOOM’s two lead singles landing in triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown last week (You Were Right #12 and Like An Animal #28), securing a spot on the coveted Coachella line up for April, announcing a UK/EU tour for March and already selling out the London show (with a second show announced), as well as last week dropping an official video clip for new single, Say A Prayer For Me.
And now the band have added a national tour on home turf to the mix. They’ll be stepping up the venue sizes for this one and are excited to perform their new material for fans. “When we approach the live show I think a really exciting thing for us is to re-imagine the songs and try to bring a new dimension and new journey to our music. A big part of what we do whether it be writing a record or performing it live, is that sense of progression and that sense of tension and release,” drummer James Hunt explains. “We’ve been absorbing so much live music lately so there are a million little things we want to try.” Also with anticipated Coachella performances ahead, Canadian duo Bob Moses will be supporting nationally, as well as Byron Bay electronic outfit, Tora.
“Writing the record was a very introverted and personal process for us, so putting it out to the world after so much time alone feels like a feat in itself, and to see this reaction is overwhelming,” Hunt says of the number one chart debut and the ever-growing list of positive reviews. “It’s a feeling that is hard to beat. It’s a nice thing to see such a positive response to something that you’ve poured your heart and soul into.”
The new album BLOOM is OUT NOW
Tickets to the BLOOM national tour are ON SALE FRIDAY FEB 5
NATIONAL ‘BLOOM’ ALBUM TOUR
Presented by Sweat it Out, Team Leisurely, Triple J and Channel V
FRI 29 APR | THEBARTON THEATRE, ADELAIDE SA
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
SAT 30 APR | RED HILL AUDITORIUM, PERTH WA
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THU 05 MAY | HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY NSW
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
FRI 06 MAY | FESTIVAL HALL, MELBOURNE VIC
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
SAT 07 MAY | ODEON THEATRE, HOBART TAS
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 14 MAY | RIVER STAGE, BRISBANE QLD
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
FRI 27 MAY | POWER STATION, AUCKLAND NZ
Tickets available from www.rufussounds.com