DRIFTWOOD. ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO BREMFIELDS FT. STILL GREEDY
Endlessly prolific, multi-disciplinary artist Driftwood. has today released his remarkable new single Bremfields, featuring British rapper Still Greedy. It’s a truly creative and thoughtful track, a glowing addition to this growing artist’s impressive discography, and is accompanied by a visually stunning, self-directed and self-edited music video, also out today. Fiercely independent and intriguingly enigmatic, Driftwood. proves time and time again that he is one to watch.
Bremfields evokes feelings of Kanye West at his most exciting, most innovative; classic Ye albums My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Yeezus have both clearly influenced the electronic/RnB stylings of Driftwood. during the creation of this song, but Bremfields still feels fresh, unique, new. Featuring backing vocals from platinum selling, ARIA nominated Reigan Derry (Snoop Dog, Jay Z, Neo) and mixed and mastered by Dan Vinci (Big Nasty), the song arcs creatively, synths spiking in unexpected moments, while Driftwood. and Still Greedy’s vocals provide the smooth melodic, rhythmic anchor. Speaking on the otherworldly inspiration behind the song, Driftwood. says, “This single is about breaking the fourth wall. It’s about the idea that there could be subterranean energies and other factors operating within other paradigms of consciousness. It’s about feeling like I’m trapped within this paradigm, and I don’t belong here…the one thing I love about art is I have a licence to explore ideas, no matter how crazy they may seem.”
The video for Bremfields is the perfect visual representation of this exchange and exploration of energies. Slow, deliberate shots of bodies moving purposefully in the just-risen, just-set sunlight pepper throughout closed shots of darkly lit bars and eerie cliff faces, one step away from oblivion. It’s a beautiful triumph, created by an artist completely in charge of his own vision, as Driftwood. explains, “I direct and edit all my videos now. I came up with the idea and the aesthetic behind the visual as well. They represent the ebb and flow, the push and pull, the yin and yang of energies which are manifested within the material universe…my creative team is small, but we get it done. Too many bodies fuck up the flow and a lot of the time are unnecessary for what I am trying to accomplish.”
These are wise words from an artist who’s been in the game long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. To be so immune to the chaos and noise of the modern music industry and so completely, totally immersed in one’s art is no mean feat, but Driftwood. does it all with ease. He offers more wisdom on the subject as he reflects, “I’m just an artist creating pieces of work I want to create and doing it independently. I’m not signed to a major record deal, and up until late last year, I did everything on my own, with the help of a few friends, and without any backing. You don’t need to be signed, or in the cool crowd to create what you want to create. No one has a monopoly on art.”
Bremfields ft. Still Greedy is out today.
MAISON HALL SHARE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO MONTREUX ALONGSIDE EAST COAST SHOWS
Indie Aus rockers Maison Hall have today shared their new rambler Montreux, a love letter to the connection between the left and the right sides of the brain. The duo, made up of Ben Byron and Joe Kneipp, have also announced a colourful, eccentric video to accompany the track. This is Maison Hall’s first release since their 2017 debut album It Was Never About Me, and will be celebrated with an east coast tour playing Black Bear Lodge Brisbane on February 3, The Retreat Hotel Melbourne on February 11 and Gang Gang Café Canberra on February 13.
Contemplative and upbeat, Montreux is classic indie rock evocative of The Kooks and Catfish and the Bottlemen, with sparks of innovation unique to Maison Hall throughout. Guitars thrash amongst steady, driving drums; lead vocalist Joe Kneipp’s voice feels right at home amongst the chaos, commanding attention with thoughtful lyrics and strong melodic hooks. Speaking on the inspiration behind the anticipated return single for the duo, Joe reflects, “Montreux is celebratory. Not just because we’re still doing this, but because we’re still doing this despite our ‘real-life’ obligations, the distance between us, the total absence of pecuniary success, etc. We are so divorced from any external validations – the simple fact is, I love making music, and I love making music with Ben. And we’re gonna keep fucking doing it!”
The video clip for Montreux is as considered as it is amusing – a never-ending, ever-cycling job interview is consistently interrupted by a vigorous visual artist, determined to be acknowledged by the two men in their meeting. It’s a clever commentary on the push and pull of a working artist’s time and headspace, caught between creation and survival in capitalist society, as Joe sums up the video, “The concept of the clip is pretty on the nose – the juxtaposition between the left and right brain, the creative and the pragmatist, the poetic and the prosaic. If you’re a musician, or any creative for that matter, who’s not lucky enough to make all their money from creative endeavours, you’ll understand these tensions. I workshopped it with Ben and then James Cooney, who stars in the clip as the ‘right-brain’ and is part of our live lineup.”
After almost six years since their last live show together – during which time the two members of the group have been exploring other musical projects – Maison Hall are thrilled to return to the stage to celebrate the launch of Montreux in Brisbane and Melbourne and Canberra. Despite both moving through several different cities since the guys met and formed Maison Hall back in college in Brisbane, the band are stronger and sharper in their songwriting than ever before, as demonstrated in the tight brilliance of Montreux.
Maison Hall is Ben Byron (Drums, Backing Vocals) and Joe Kneipp (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboard)
Montreux is out today.
THUR 3 FEB | BLACK BEAR LODGE, BRISBANE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/maison-hall-montreux-single-launch-tickets-219745323177 | All Eventbrite Outlets
FRI 11 FEB | THE RETREAT HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/maison-hall-tickets-242537585447 | All Eventbrite Outlets
SUN 13 FEB | GANG GANG CAFE, CANBERRA ACT | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix | All Oztix Outlets
ANNOUNCES APRIL 2022 EVENTS FOR ROCHFORD WINES YARRA VALLEY AND ROCHE ESTATE HUNTER VALLEY
Iconic mainstay festival Sunset Sounds has announced it’ll be delighting audiences and celebrating Australian singer songwriters at Rochford Wines Yarra Valley and Roche Estate Hunter Valley in April 2022. Set to take over the exquisite wineries on April 9 and 23 next year, the festival features an impressive haul of some of the country’s most prized singer songwriters, including; Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray, The Whitlams, Josh Pyke, Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band, The Beautiful Girls, Busby Marou, Ash Grunwald, Kyle Lionhart, Charlie Collins, Little Green and Amber Rose.
Tickets go on sale at 9am local time on Thursday 2 December, with a 48 hour Sunset Sounds presale live at 9am local time on Tuesday 30 November.
Excited to be headlining, Xavier Rudd says, “I’m stoked to join the lineup for Sunset Sounds festival and to share some new music on stage. It’s an exciting time for people, a time to reset, a time for gratitude, a time to remember how lucky we are that we can celebrate life, love, music etc so freely in this magical country that we get to call home.”
“This is a cracking line up, I can’t wait to share the stage with these artists again,” says Pete Murray.
“This is a show that must go on! There’s been reshuffling and rescheduling, but I’m so excited to be a part of this event, and can’t wait to play for you all!” adds Josh Pyke.
“The searing sizzle of the cicada is a sunset sound. So is the soothing seductive sombre of the songs and smiles of some of the south’s songmen and women,” enthuses Tex Perkins, “Sunset Sounds summons us all!”
Excited about the return of the live scene, Empire’s Marc Christowski says, “After almost two years of no activity, we are super excited to bring this world class line-up including Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray and The Whitlams to the stunning wineries in the Hunter & Yarra Valley.”
After an unprecedented write off for live music in 2020, don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the return of live music with some of Australia’s most beloved live acts at some of the country’s finest outdoor music venues.
Tickets go on sale at 9am local time on Thursday 2 December
Sunset Sounds will be held with a commitment to a COVID Safe environment. Festival organisers will work closely with and comply with all requirements of the public health authorities. If the show is required to be postponed, a postponement date will be announced and punters will be eligible for a full refund if they are unable to make the new date.
SUNSET SOUNDS | SAT 9 APRIL | ROCHFORD WINES, YARRA VALLEY| VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 1300 364 001 | All Ticketek Outlets
SUNSET SOUNDS | SAT 23 APRIL | ROCHE ESTATE, HUNTER VALLEY | NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 1300 364 001 | All Ticketek Outlets