Brazen Barbie Unleashes Her Boldest Era Yet with New Mixtape ‘BRAZEN’
Grit, glam, and unfiltered attitude collide as Kenyan-Australian artist Brazen Barbie drops her hotly anticipated mixtape BRAZEN, alongside the standout new single Deep End — out now.
A kaleidoscopic portrait of resilience, sass, and self-awareness, BRAZEN is a genre-bending, 12-track mixtape that walks the line between vulnerability and bravado. It’s not just music — it’s diary entries you can dance to.
Leading the charge is Ain’t No Dummy, the very first track locked in for the project — and the one that set the tone for everything that followed. “I wrote it during a time when I felt like people kept underestimating me,” Brazen Barbie shares. “In relationships, friendships, life. I wanted something bold, bratty, but still smart. There’s a real tension in choosing chaos — but doing it on your terms.”
With BRAZEN, Brazen Barbie brings her boldest self to the surface — showing off not only the bars, but the brains and bruises behind them. It’s her most personal, potent, and playful body of work to date.
Whether it’s the glittering menace of Doomsday, the swagger of Can’t Hang, or the soul-stirring resilience of Anyway, each track is layered with meaning and intention — even when delivered with a wink.
Having already turned heads at BIGSOUND, SXSW, Sydney Fringe Festival, and Promiseland, Brazen Barbie is no stranger to commanding a stage — or a space. Her Acclaim Magazine All Stars Class of ’24 nod and features in VICE, triple j Unearthed, and Life Without Andy to name just a few, only reinforce what’s already clear: she’s not here to follow. She’s here to lead.
“BRAZEN is a self-portrait,” she concludes. “Each track is a snapshot of a different mood or moment in my life, and a different version of the voice in my head. I wanted it to feel like turning up, in your head, and in a diary all at once.”
BRAZEN is out now on all platforms. Play it loud, feel it fully, and don’t say you weren’t warned.
PETE MURRAY SHARES ROUSING NEW SINGLE ‘HOME TO ME’ CURRENTLY TOURING NATIONALLY ON 56 DATE SOLO ACOUSTIC RUN
A warm and rousing new addition to the Pete Murray universe, today the beloved singer-songwriter shares a brand new single Home To Me. Embracing folk and country flavours into Pete’s trademark tranquility, Home To Me also arrives amidst Pete’s extensive 56-date national acoustic solo tour, supported by Rachael Fahim and Brett Wood across the country.
Sparkling with acoustic guitar and honeyed vocals alongside country twangs and soft, shuffling percussion, Home To Me is a sublime meeting point between Pete’s uplifting folk-rock roots and some fresher sonic terrain, as Pete explains, “I don’t know if he has influenced me, but I’ve been listening to a bit of Kenny Rogers over the last few years. He has some classic songs. The country artist I’ve been listening to is Chris Stapleton. Chris has a killer voice and guitar tone.”
Initially penned during time spent in Nashville, Home To Me sprang to life quickly ahead of Pete’s first-ever co-writing session in the ‘Country Music Capital of the World’. And while a strikingly intimate outing that blossomed alongside Phil Barton, producer Garrett Kato and some engineering from Luke Palmer, Home To Me is a universal love letter to finding ‘the one’, with the country flavours that Pete was seeking ultimately expanding via Kato’s contributions, as well as Benny Edger adding some lap steel to proceedings. “I was doing some co-writing for the first time in Nashville,” shares Pete of Home To Me’s origin story, “and I wanted to write some country music for someone else. I was really nervous that I would rock up to the session the next day and have nothing to offer so I started writing the song that night. I pretty much had half of the music and lyrics written before I turned up to the session. I was writing with Aussie songwriter Phil Barton and Phil is a killer writer so it didn’t take long for him to work his magic and before we knew it, the song was done. It wasn’t written about anyone, it was more about what love means to people when you get it right. As the lyrics say, ‘No matter where we are or where we’re going to be, when we’re apart you’re the missing piece – there’s one thing you should know and one thing you gotta believe, honey you’re always home to me’.”
Having sold over 1.2 million albums, and generating hundreds of millions of streams, releasing three ARIA chart-topping albums and scooping up 17 ARIA Award nominations over the years, Pete Murray is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most enduring and endearing success stories. From the release of this debut full-length album, 2001’s The Game, through to his breakout 2003 album Feeler and, most recently, 2017’s Comacho, Pete has maintained his status for blending laidback charisma and magnetic live performances for decades while cultivating airplay, sales, streams and a dedicated fanbase that most could only dream of. Armed with a potent sonic brew that spans acoustic, rock, folk and more, witnessed on his multiple hits like Better Days, Feeler, Opportunity and So Beautiful, Pete’s live show has also been repeatedly praised for his smooth delivery, expert craftsmanship, and his inescapable ability to make you feel right at home in any venue and setting.
With countless headline shows with his band at home and across the world under his belt, and previous performances alongside the likes of Missy Higgins, Icehouse, Rob Thomas, James Blunt and more, 2025 has also found Pete ticking off yet another career first: performing an entirely acoustic headline run around Australia, with a mammoth 56-date tour currently in motion that spans practically every pocket of the country.
“I’m loving it!” enthuses Pete of his current tour. “So many shows have sold out and others are close to selling out on this tour. It’s been a very different tour for me being my first solo tour in Australia. Lots of stories and lots of song-a-longs.”
And while playing the Melbourne Recital Centre in April has been a recent standout for Pete on this current tour (with Lilithia Reviews praising: “Murray is a natural performer, an incredible songwriter, and in a room as large as Melbourne’s Recital Centre, he makes it feel like it’s just the two of us, huddled around a campfire, exchanging life stories.”), Pete’s ultimate favourite thing about touring regionally and so extensively is the chance to dig even deeper on home soil. “Getting to see new places is my favourite thing,” Pete concludes. “Australia is such a massive country, even though I’m doing a massive 60 date tour I haven’t even scratched the surface of places to go in this country.”
Home To Me is out now.
Tickets for Pete Murray’s solo tour are onsale now from www.petemurray.com.
PETE MURRAY – UPCOMING SHOWS:
Tickets available from www.petemurray.com
THU 12 JUN | MONCRIEFF ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BUNDABERG QLD | AA
FRI 13 JUN | GLADSTONE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, GLADSTONE QLD | AA
SAT 14 JUN | TOWNSVILLE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, TOWNSVILLE QLD | AA
SUN 15 JUN | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD | AA *SOLD OUT
WED 18 JUN | MACKAY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, MACKAY QLD | AA
THU 19 JUN | PILBEAM THEATRE, ROCKHAMPTON QLD | AA
FRI 20 JUN | EMPIRE THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA QLD | AA
SAT 21 JUN | QPAC – LYRIC THEATRE, BRISBANE QLD | AA *SELLING FAST
THU 26 JUN | TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY VIC | 18+
FRI 27 JUN | BARWON HEADS HOTEL, BARWON HEADS VIC | 18+ *SOLD OUT
SAT 28 JUN | THE CAPITAL, BENDIGO VIC | AA *SELLING FAST
SUN 29 JUN | HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, BALLARAT VIC | AA *SELLING FAST
THU 3 JUL | ART HOUSE, WYONG NSW | AA *SELLING FAST
FRI 4 JUL | PANTHERS PORT MACQUARIE, PORT MACQUARIE NSW | AA
SAT 5 JUL | SAWTELL RSL CLUB, SAWTELL NSW | AA
SUN 6 JUL | TAMWORTH TOWN HALL, TAMWORTH NSW | AA
THU 10 JUL | TWIN TOWNS, COOLANGATTA QLD | AA
FRI 11 JUL | REDLANDS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, CLEVELAND QLD | AA *SELLING FAST
SAT 12 JUL | IPSWICH CIVIC CENTRE, IPSWICH QLD | AA
THU 17 JUL | ANITA’S THEATRE, THIRROUL NSW | AA *SELLING FAST
FRI 18 JUL | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW | AA *SELLING FAST
SAT 19 JUL | YUIN THEATRE, BATEMANS BAY NSW | AA *SOLD OUT
SUN 20 JUL | CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE, CANBERRA ACT | AA *SELLING FAST
TUE 22 JUL | GOLDFIELDS ART CENTRE, KALGOORLIE WA | AA
WED 23 JUL | CUMMINS THEATRE, MERREDIN WA | AA
THU 24 JUL | QUEENS PARK THEATRE, GERALDTON WA | AA
FRI 25 JUL | RED EARTH ARTS PRECINCT, KARRATHA WA | AA * SOLD OUT
SAT 26 JUL | ROEBUCK BAY HOTEL, BROOME WA | 18+
WED 30 JUL | MANDURAH PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, MANDURAH WA | AA
THU 31 JUL | ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH WA | AA *SELLING FAST
FRI 1 AUG | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA | AA
SAT 2 AUG | ALBANY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ALBANY WA | AA
SUN 3 AUG | BUNBURY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BUNBURY WA | AA
WED 13 AUG | BEER GARDEN BREWING, PORT LINCOLN SA | 18+ *SOLD OUT
THU 14 AUG | BEER GARDEN BREWING, PORT LINCOLN SA | 18+ *SOLD OUT
FRI 15 AUG | NORWOOD CONCERT HALL, ADELAIDE SA | AA *SOLD OUT
SAT 16 AUG | SIR ROBERT HELPMANN THEATRE, MT GAMBIER SA | AA *SELLING FAST
SUN 17 AUG | LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE, WARRNAMBOOL VIC | AA
THU 21 AUG | WEST GIPPSLAND ARTS CENTRE, WARRAGUL VIC | AA
FRI 22 AUG | THE UNION THEATRE, WONTHAGGI VIC | AA *SOLD OUT
SAT 23 AUG | THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE VIC | AA
THU 4 SEP | THE QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, QUEANBEYAN ACT | AA
FRI 5 SEP | GARDEN HOTEL, DUBBO NSW | 18+
SAT 6 SEP | REVESBY WORKERS CLUB, REVESBY NSW | AA
SUN 7 SEP | BLUE MOUNTAINS THEATRE, BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW | AA *SELLING FAST
ILLY ANNOUNCES THE GOOD-ER LIFE REGIONAL TOUR FOR AUG – NOV IN SUPPORT OF #1 ARIA AUSTRALIAN ALBUM ‘GOOD LIFE’
Off the back of his recent capital city tour in support his #1 ARIA Australian Album ‘Good Life’, multi-platinum, ARIA award winning genre-defying artist Illy has announced an extensive regional Australian Good-er Life Tour for August – November.
Kicking off in Canberra on Friday 1 August at UC Hub and finishing up in Mildura on Saturday 1 November at The Setts, the 27-date regional tour will see Illy take his boisterous, acclaimed live show to most pockets of Australia, hitting ACT, NSW, TAS, QLD, WA and VIC.
Tickets are on sale now from www.illyal.com.
Hyped on his March/April album tour, Illy says “Finally getting to do the Good Life tour was, no shit, life affirming. I loved every second of it, whether it was playing the new album, the big bangers, or meeting people after. I even loved the hungover flights the next morning (maybe not as much). So now that we’ve got a taste for it, I am READY and counting down the days til the Good-er Life tour starts. We’re the most locked in we’ve been in years on stage, and when we’re in this mode, no one does it better. Get involved, see you there. Can’t wait”.
The regional run of shows follows the recent release of Good Life Deluxe Edition. Joining the acclaimed fourteen-track album is 2023 standalone single Hopeless (feat. Indiana Massara), new track Free Hand and acoustic versions of singles Kids and Good Life. The album has seen Illy work with a number of key producers, writers and artists including Sofia Reyes, Johnny Took from DMA’s, Xavier Dunn, Kuren, Tones And I, Hevenshe and Jungleboi. Listen HERE.
Illy has seamlessly straddled the line between hip hop and pop throughout his decorated career, embracing new sonic inspirations across each of his six critically acclaimed studio albums. After receiving his third ARIA nomination for 2013 record Cinematic – home to 3x platinum single and fan-favourite Tightrope– Illy’s follow up project Two Degrees (2016) shot to #1 on the ARIA charts, featuring multi-platinum collaborations Papercuts ft. Vera Blue (5x), and Catch 22 ft. Anne-Marie (3x). 2021’s The Space Between marked Illy’s second ARIA #1 album, with lead single Then What ticking over to 2x ARIA platinum. An ARIA Award winner for Best Live Act, Illy has performed at high profile festivals including Falls Festival, Splendour In The Grass, Snow Machine, and Spilt Milk. In 2023, his ‘Ausmusic Medley’ reached #12 in triple j’s Hottest 100 of Like A Version.
Tickets to the Good-er Life Tour are on sale now. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.illyal.com/tour
THE GOOD-ER LIFE TOUR
Friday 1 August – UC Hub, Canberra, ACT
Saturday 2 August – The Station, Jindabyne, NSW
Friday 8 August – Finnians Irish Tavern, Port Macquarie, NSW
Saturday 9 August – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Thursday 14 August – Long Jetty Hotel, Central Coast, NSW
Friday 15 August – King Street Bandroom, Newcastle, NSW
Saturday 16 August – Uow Unibar, Wollongong, NSW
Sunday 17 August – Smokey Dans, Tomakin, NSW
Friday 22 August – Altar, Hobart, TAS
Saturday 23 August – Forth Pub, Devonport, TAS
Friday 19 September – Mieplace Niteclub, Gladstone, QLD
Saturday 20 September – Mcguires Hotel, Mackay, QLD
Thursday 25 September – Bar1, Hillarys, WA
Friday 26 September – Port Beach Garden Bar, Fremantle, WA
Saturday 27 September – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury, WA
Thursday 2 October – Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns, QLD
Friday 3 October – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville, QLD
Saturday 4 October – Boom, Airlie Beach, QLD
Thursday 9 October – Cleveland Sands Hotel, Redlands, QLD
Friday 10 October – Burleigh Town Hotel, Burleigh Heads, QLD
Saturday 11 October – Solbar, Maroochydore, QLD
Friday 17 October – Torquay Hotel, Torquay, VIC
Saturday 18 October – Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool, VIC
Friday 24 October – Beer Deluxe, Albury, VIC
Saturday 25 October – Pier Bandroom, Frankston, VIC
Friday 31 October – All Seasons [Conservatory Room], Bendigo, VIC
Saturday 1 November – The Setts, Mildura, VIC