THE DREGGS SHARE LUMINOUS NEW SINGLE ‘PEEPS WITH THE GOODS’ DEBUT ALBUM ‘CAUGHT IN A REVERIE’ SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 26 + AUS AND NZ ALBUM HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF IN JUNE + APPEARING AT SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS IN JULY
Disarming, charming and sonically warm as a summer breeze, the new single Peeps With The Goods from beloved indie-folk The Dreggs draws on the pair’s trademark vivacity, while also unfurling a fresh new direction as the band sit poised on the release of their debut album Caught In A Reverie, due out on Friday April 26. With The Dreggs set to celebrate their first-ever full length via a national Australian tour this June and July, fans can also catch some extra Dreggs infamous live magic rounding out the Aussie run with an appearance on the main stage on Saturday July 20 as part of the stacked lineup for Splendour In The Grass.
An effervescent addition to their ever-expanding repertoire, Peeps With The Goods finds The Dreggs, aka Paddy Macrae and Zane Harris, exploring new terrain, injecting elements of airy soul and gospel alongside a treatise on life as an independent artist in the modern music industry. With inspiration from fellow Aussie indie legend Matt Corby, Peeps With The Goods was fittingly conjured with the man himself, as The Dreggs’ own Paddy Macrae explains, “Matt Corby was a huge influence for this track. We were given the opportunity to write and record with Corby and this song is the result of that collaboration. The song is about the push and pull a lot of independent artists have to confront within the music industry. It’s an anthem to those who have experienced equal parts joy and frustration with their career, but also a reminder that persevering is the only way to push through and find that ‘happy place’, whatever that might mean for them.”
Working alongside Alex Henriksson as well as Corby in the studio to bring Peeps With The Goods to life, with mastering courtesy of Paul Blakey, the latest single from The Dreggs joins recent drops Take A Little Time and Places, setting the scene for a universe of magic lying in wait on the duo’s long-awaited debut album due out this April. Building on the sturdy foundations set out by their 2018 debut EP Seas Embrace, Caught In A Reverie is The Dreggs taking full, shimmering flight, with 12 songs set to delight, calm and charm. Opening with the breezy warmth of Peeps With The Goods, Caught In A Reverie sonically transports you into a daydream of acoustic percolating beauty (Train Left The Station), stirring indie folk (Places), airy stomping yarns (I’m A Little Older) and bluesy bliss (Berlin), with each passing track glowing with The Dreggs’ intuitive storytelling and vibrant instrumentation. An equally intimate and engaging journey, Caught In A Reverie unfurls its poignant core themes in the seamless hands of Macrae and Harris, with the end result emerging as one of wonder and catharsis as well as showcasing the pair’s compelling growth and shift as songwriters. “We are so beyond stoked to finally be releasing our debut album,” shares Macrae. “It’s been a long time coming and we are confident that people are going to take something from it. I would be lying if I said we weren’t nervous, however, as this is an introduction into a slightly different scope of our songwriting and where it will eventually take us. Some of the tracks may surprise some of our listeners but, alas, this is a journey for us as much as it is for our fans and it wouldn’t much of an exciting one if we kept using the same equation. The album has a lot of themes of grief spread throughout. That of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then eventually acceptance. This album is very much a personal diary, showcasing some extremely personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions with the goal to provide listeners with an individual and very raw perspective of grief without judgement. Hopefully people will listen to this album and understand a little more of how important it is that we all experience grief as individuals, and that in itself is a good thing.”
A genuine force to be reckoned with in a live setting, as anyone who attended their respective mass-singalong sets at Spilt Milk and NYE On The Hill will attest to, The Dreggs will hit the road this June and July to launch Caught In A Reverie nationally, before rounding out their Aussie run with an appearance on the iconic Splendour In The Grass lineup. A band who can hold giant crowds in the palm of their hands with their irresistible wit and vulnerability, there will also be a few surprises in store for fans later this year onstage, as Macrae reveals, “It wouldn’t be a Dreggs show without a singalong and we’ve made sure there are plenty of magical moments throughout the set. One of the goals we have been working on is incorporating lot of moments where we can involve the crowd. On top of that, we are excited to be bringing the energy onstage with the addition of other band members. Don’t worry, it’ll still be Paddy and Zane, the folk duo, that we started out as, but just with some friends with us to turn it from a ‘performance’ to a ‘show’! We are also ecstatic to be a part of one of Australia’s largest and most well-known contemporary music festivals in Australia’s music history. It’s been a dream of ours for so long, and to be given the opportunity is absolutely wild. There’s no better way to finish up our major Aus tour than to top it off with Splendour!! We’ll see you guys there!”
Kicking off 2024 as triple j Unearthed’s first feature artist for the year, The Dreggs are only just getting started as they approach the release of their debut album. But 2024 isn’t the first year of highs for the Sunshine Coast band, with the pair catapulting from the release of their debut single Give Myself To You back in 2017 into one of Australia’s most in-demand live acts, alongside having their debut track certified Gold in Australia in 2023. Also selling over 15,000 tickets in Australia alone last year with their largest ever headline and regional tours, and mesmerising crowds of around 10,000 with their sets at Spilt Milk Festival, The Dreggs are undeniably the hottest ticket in town, with their recently announced album release week shows selling out in 48 hours – purely off the back of an Instagram post. And it’s not just at home that The Dreggs love runs deep, with the duo also continuing to turn heads overseas, with their return to the UK and Europe this May set to deliver their biggest headline shows to date.
Peeps With The Goods is out today, Friday March 22.
Caught In A Reverie is due out Friday April 26.
Streaming link: PEEPS WITH THE GOODS
THE DREGGS – UPCOMING ALBUM LAUNCH PARTIES
FRI 26 APRIL | MIAMI MARKETTA, GOLD COAST | SOLD OUT
SAT 27 APRIL | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST | SOLD OUT
SUN 28 APRIL | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE | SOLD OUT
WED 1 MAY | TORQUAY HOTEL, VIC | SOLD OUT
THURS 2 MAY | NORTHCOTE SC, MELBOURNE | SOLD OUT
THE DREGGS – ALBUM TOUR – AUSTRALIA/NZ
FRI 14 JUN | HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 15 JUN | METRO CITY, PERTH WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 21 JUN | FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 28 JUN | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 29 JUN | FORUM, MELBOURNE | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 20 JUL | NGARINDJIN NORTH BYRON PARKLANDS, BYRON BAY | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://splendourinthegrass.com/tickets/
FRI 26 JUL | THE CHURCH, CHRISTCHURCH, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 27 JUL | U BAR, DUNEDIN, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SUN 28 JUL | YONDER, QUEENSTOWN, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
THU 1 AUG | SAN FRAN, WELLINGTON, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 2 AUG | TUNING FORK, AUCKLAND, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
JEBEDIAH SHARE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘MOTIVATION’ + NEW ALBUM OIKS DUE OUT APRIL 12
A revitalising sonic spark, the upbeat new single Motivation from beloved Perth rockers Jebediah follows on from the group’s dreamy indie single Rubberman, with Motivation unfurling cleverly simple melodics fused with Jebediah’s hard-wired charm. Also accompanied by a new music video that snapshots the band in their natural element, Motivation will also feature on Jebediah’s upcoming new album OIKS; their first album since 2011’s Kosciuszko, which will arrive on April 12, 2024. Pre-orders are available now via Cooking Vinyl Australia.
Ravishing in its simplicity and hypnotic drive, Motivation is an effortless foray into, and extension of, the pillars that have endeared Jebediah to the world since first forming decades ago. From the jangly guitars and undulating melodics pulsing through its verses through to driving anthemic fuzz in its choruses, Motivation was itself motivated by the band’s initial jam sessions that ultimately led to the creation of OIKS. And while it ultimately presents as an undisputed instant Jebediah classic, Motivation also holds a special significance for the band themselves, guided by long-time band friend and OIKS producer Dave Parkin at Blackbird Studios in Perth.
“Motivation was a song that came from the initial in studio jam sessions that kick started the process of recording OIKS,” the band share of their brand new track. “At that stage, we didn’t really know what kind of album we were trying to make. We were simply getting together in a room and making noise and seeing what eventuated. Given that Motivation came from these sessions, it’s a very “band” sounding song, as opposed to some of the more experimental stuff that came along later during the recording process. It captures the sound of the band playing in a room together and we tried not to embellish it too much. This song is a bit of a band favourite for sure, so we are obviously excited about it being released as a single before the album appears.”
Filming the accompanying music video for Motivation in Melbourne, Jebediah worked alongside another long-time collaborator to conjure the laidback visuals. With Arlo Cook behind the camera, who also took the reins on the clip for Gum Up The Bearings, aka the band’s first new single in over a decade released last year, Motivation’s clip is ultimately a mellow gem that authentically captures Jebediah’s enduring multi-generational appeal. Wholesome yet gritty and a perfect accompaniment to the earworm single, the clip is also yet another tempting peek into the upcoming release of OIKS – and the band are as excited as their legion of fans are to unveil their brand new album to the world, as they reveal, “The video clip is intended to represent the simplicity of the song and the fact that we were trying to capture the raw sound of the band playing in a room together. The video was shot in Melbourne by Arlo Cook who has been following us around with a camera since 2015, taking footage at shows all around Australia. We can’t wait for everyone to hear OIKS soon. It was a labour of love that took us five years to complete, often during extremely turbulent times.”
On their impending sixth studio album, OIKS, Jebediah catapult their iconic past and present into a dazzling new era. Remaining consistently active since the release of 2011’s Kosciuszko, Jebediah surge into 2024 with their new album, showcasing their enduring creativity without ever losing sight of their influential indie and alternative rock roots that ultimately shaped the band over the years and led to the eventual creation of OIKS. From its poppin’ and rockin’ lead single Gum Up The Bearings through to the lush Rubberman and dulcet new single Motivation, the overall record was born out of experimentation while in the studio with long-time collaborator Dave Parkin (Red Jezebel, Spacey Jane). The result is an album which finds Jebediah completely at home with their sonic identity in 2024; as iconic as their breakthrough debut Slightly Odway in 1997 but with more vigour than ever before.
Closing out 2023 with a headline tour, as well as appearances in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as part of Good Things Festival alongside the likes of Fall Out Boy, Limp Bizkit, Devo and Slowly Slowly, Jebediah were also cemented as Western Australian music royalty, with the band inducted into the WAM Hall Of Fame as part of the WA Music Awards last November. From emerging decades ago with infectious hooks and gritty riffs through to soundtracking the late ‘90s and early 2000s with a deluge of hits and snagging multiple ARIA Award nominations, Jebediah are equally at home wowing crowds in dimly-lit crowded pubs as they are weaving musical magic to thousands on festival stages. And with the impending release of OIKS, it feels like Jebediah are only getting warmed up for some incredible things yet to come.
Motivation is out today via Cooking Vinyl Australia.
OIKS will be released on 12 April, 2024 via Cooking Vinyl Australia
SAINTHILL SHARES ASTRAL NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘THE BLACK BULL’ NEW ALBUM ‘DREAM ANIMAL’ SET FOR RELEASE MARCH 1
Drawing you into a world of dreamy shoegaze and pulsating charm, the new single The Black Bull out today from Melbourne-based artist Sainthill is a lush and evocative journey taken from the talented artist’s impending new album Dream Animal, set for release on Friday March 1. A track many years in the making, The Black Bull also arrives today accompanied by an aptly whimsical music video.
Equally melancholic and intimate yet up-tempo and immersive, The Black Bull’s origin story stems back to 2018, with Sainthill, aka Tom Larkey, first tracking drums for the track pre-pandemic. With sonic inspiration from artists like Slowdive and Interpol helping to conjure the captivating single, the journey to creating The Black Bull can also be traced back to Sainthill’s extensive collection of dream journals, as he explains, “The Black Bull is a fairly up tempo song with pulsing bass and shoegaze elements like a mega-reverbed tremolo picking in the chorus. Also, I was learning to play So. Central Rain by R.E.M. and realised I’d lifted half the chord progression quite by accident! The origin of the song, like others on the album, begins in the hundreds of dream journal entries I have kept over the years that have an exceptional amount of animal appearances, and these were the frameworks for lyrical narratives. The Black Bull takes a potentially obvious metaphor (a black animal as depression) and then tells the story of someone taking matters into their own hands – in this case to train as a matador and overcome the bull (as grotesque as bullfighting is).”
Working once again with John Lee at Phaedra Studios (Lost Animal, Mod Con, Grand Salvo), with Lee mixing both The Black Bull and the broader Dream Animal album as well as playing and recording all of the drums, Sainthill also teamed up with Pip O’Brien, Grantley Smith and an obliging friend to step into the role of the titular bull to bring the accompanying music video for The Black Bull to life, as Sainthill reveals, “There are three characters in the clip: Blue Guy, Red Guy, and The Black Bull. The Blue Guy is the part of us that is optimistic, curious, but struggling. The Red Guy is our inner strength, and he essentially saves the day – by way of a good old fashioned sword fight with stick.. The Black Bull is the obstacle to overcome. At first mysterious, frightening, oppressive, but ultimately something that can be made peace with. Pip O’Brien helped me shoot the initial scenes (she shot a beautiful clip for Cold Hands Warm Heart). I needed some further footage, so an old friend Grantley Smith who happens to be a director and quite handy with a camera, helped me out. I also managed to convince my friend Tom to be in the clip as ‘The Bull’ and wear a ridiculous helmet.”
Partially recording Dream Animal at home (“in the evenings when the birds stopped chirping outside” as Sainthill reveals), the overall album is a fascinating foray into imaginative and innovative dreamy, shoegaze-laced rock. Five years in the making, Dream Animal trips the light fantastic in pure chameleonic fashion, between its heavy synth fever dreams (Lyrebird), melodic rock-meets-chamber music opuses (Cat Called Gram), galloping melancholia (The Clydesdale), eastern-hued enchantment (Leporine Lover) and digital dreamlands shaped alongside organic instrumentation (Nothin’ Except Dream). “I dream a lot, and I have hundreds of dream journal entries,” Sainthill explains, unfurling the stylistic threads throughout Dream Animal. “I noticed an exceptional (or perhaps disturbing?) amount of animal appearances, and these encounters became the basis for metaphorical stories of lost cats, vulnerable horses, and sinister bulls. Chiming guitars and swirling keys ebb and flow, while sprightly rhythms carry simple yet elegant melodies Each song features some sort of narrative (mostly including animals), and these narratives are frameworks for moralistic tales and reflections on the subconscious. The themes include love, loss and renewal, romantic elusion, depression, dream symbols, setting things free, looking after the planet, and music-making itself.”
Hailing from Tasmania and now based in Melbourne, Sainthill was seemingly destined to create bewitching, bittersweet rock, named not only for his mother’s maiden name St Hill, but also for his first cousin twice removed, Loudon Sainthill; an iconic Australian artist and stage designer whose work in the 1950s was described by his lifelong partner as having ‘a special quality of enchantment, mixed so often with haunting sadness’. Growing up in Hobart and spending bountiful time in nature, Sainthill’s love for music and creativity in general blossomed from a young age, discovering Bruce Springsteen when he was five before going on to release his debut EP I Am a Monster in 2009. Now with three albums under his belt, Dear Victoria, Man Alive and Folk Romantic, Sainthill continues to explore character-driven narratives alongside a gamut of hard-hitting themes, and his upcoming full length, Dream Animal, is a celebration of dream pop soundscapes forged with indie rock and folk; and it’s also one that promises untold beauty and intrigue for the listener, as Sainthill concludes, “Dream Animal is a concept album of sorts; the songs are borne from sleep, and thus make the perfect soundtrack to close one’s eyes to, and lose oneself in.
The Black Bull is out today, Friday February 2.
Dream Animal is due out on Friday March 1.