BANK OF MELBOURNE ANNOUNCES 12 MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK FINALISTS
After being inundated with hundreds of submissions from Victorian music artists, Bank of Melbourne today announced the 12 finalists of its community-driven music initiative, Melbourne Music Bank. The public is now invited to vote for their favourite and narrow the field to four semi-finalists. The chosen four will perform their song at the Melbourne Recital Centre in front of an expert panel who will determine the 2014 winner of Melbourne Music Bank.
The 12 finalists span genres including folk, pop-rock, hip hop and instrumental: Alex Brittan, Boyeur, Davies West, Heloise, Matt Walters, NY, Richard Cashion, Rick Steward, Selki, The Lion, This Public Life and Under The Arch.
Public voting is open until Sunday, October 12. Voters can share in fantastic weekly prizes including Melbourne Recital Centre tickets, iTunes vouchers and tickets for a hot air balloon ride with Melbourne Music Bank Ambassador Ella Hooper. To learn more about the finalists, listen to their songs and cast a vote, visit bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
“We are thrilled to celebrate Victoria’s local music talent with Melbourne Music Bank. It’s exciting to support the music community and give the winner a head start to their career,” says Bank of Melbourne Chief Executive Scott Tanner.
In July, Melbourne Music Bank asked local musicians and bands to submit a song inspired by Melbourne. The career-making prize up for grabs includes two days of recording at Sing Sing Studios, a video clip by film maker Wilk, live gigs, album artwork, 500 CDs, PR and marketing advice and the chance to have their song used in a Bank of Melbourne advertising campaign.
Cast your vote at bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
Melbourne Music Bank is proudly created by Bank of Melbourne, supported by partners Melbourne Recital Centre, Beat Magazine, PBS, and Wilk.
HUMANS AS ANIMALS ANNOUNCE DEBUT SINGLE ‘HER NAME’ AND EP ‘EUKARIA’
Melbourne five piece, Humans As Animals have announced the release of their debut single, Her Name (out July 18) lifted from their EP, Eukaria set for release on August 1. The explosive stoner-soul group will be celebrating with a launch show at The Evelyn Hotel on Thursday August 14.
Lead single Her Name is a fun, bold, eccentric number about the dilemmas of dating and sexual relationships. The interestingly husky yet smooth vocals and entertaining lyrics make this a song that will keep playing in your head long after the music has stopped. “Our attraction to the opposite sex puts us in situations previously unimagined. It forces us to bend and mould to positions we never favoured in the past. The difference between love and a fling, casual sex, making love and copulation,” explains the band’s vocalist and multi instrumentalist Nicholas Mitchell. “Love isn’t a battlefield, it’s a David Lynch circus….”
It was during an inebriated brainstorming session that the clip for Her Name was born. “Obviously we joked around like idiots, and now unfortunately we have had to paint our pallor faces, and with vigor, due diligence and professionalism, dress up and hit on our singer,“ jokes lead guitarist Andrew Robertson. The Jerome Rault (David Sonnenberg) produced clip sees the band performing in a dark alley contrasting the bar setting where each of the band members dress in drag and flirt with the lead singer in a bid to win his affection.
Humans As Animals debut EP, Eukaria was recorded at The Patch (the bands home studio) in Melbourne with the help of Dave Williams from Tigermoth Audio Productions, Kye Garrett from Cage Music and was mixed by Tony Espie (The Avalanches). Consisting of four epic jangly rock funk songs, the EP was almost two years in the making. Featuring artwork by famed American illustrator Timothy Banks (Nickelodeon) this debut EP is a spectacular combination of imagery and music.
With the guys set to smash it out in their live set which will include guitar solos, twisted grooves, bombastic bass and then some chords, be ready for a compelling performance. “Its an adventure, we try to create something that you will never see with another band. We avoid cliché while trying to keep the audience on their toes. It’s like being tickled by a very friendly stranger,” explains Mitchell.
Thursday August 14 – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne, supported by Mericans & Purple Tusks www.evelynhotel.oztix.com.au
NUSSY ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘DIZZY’ AND DEBUT SELF-TITLED EP
Quirky Melbourne pop starlet Nussy has announced the release of her debut single, Dizzy (out July 4) lifted from her forthcoming self-titled EP (out July 18). She’ll be promoting her releases with launch shows at The Workers Club (Melbourne) on July 31 and Pirie And Co Social Club (Adelaide) on August 1.
A fun and refreshing sound with a strong pop sensibility, Dizzy is the perfect snapshot in to the world of Nussy the artist – a prolific songwriter, gifted vocalist and fashionable pop icon. “Dizzy is about losing yourself in a moment,” explains Nussy. “It was inspired by the pressure put on our generation to have big successes and to prove our worth. In constantly looking towards the future, we so easily forget to live in the present and enjoy the now.”
The up-beat, self-titled EP is a strong debut for Nussy. It was recorded, produced and mixed by Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis at MSquared Productions and mastered by Tom Coyne (Robyn, MSMR, Taylor Swift, Adele) at Stirling Sound in NYC. The EP focuses on the concept of a quarter life crisis, something many young adults are faced with. “I think for a lot of people my age, we feel a need to act like we’ve got it all figured out and it’s something people don’t really talk about. I wanted the subtext of the tracks on my EP to pose questions like, ‘Why does everything need to get so serious?’ and ‘why can’t we just have fun?’” says Nussy.
The video for Dizzy was directed by Jarred Osborn and Julian Lucas from Lips and filmed at Paris End Studios. Full of fun, vibrancy and style, the clip shows off a host of fashionable, good-looking youths constantly on rotation through clever videography, and Nussy looking ultra fabulous as she plays the starring role.
Tickets now available for Melbourne and Adelaide shows
Thurs 31 July | The Workers Club, Melbourne | http://theworkersclub.com.au
Friday 1 Aug | Pirie And Co Social Club | http://pirieandco.com.au