BRISBANE’S LILI KENDALL WINS INTERNATIONAL UNSIGNED ONLY COMPETITION AND ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, RUN
The only Australian to win in any category, Brisbane indie pop artist, Lili Kendall has won first place in the 2014 Unsigned Only music competition (Teen category) with her song, Move. And in perfect timing off the back of this win, Lili is set to release her new single, Run (out today, September 26), the second single lifted from her forthcoming album slated for a February 2015 release, which also features her debut hit single, Moonlight.
Unsigned Only is a prestigious music competition open to submissions from solo artists, bands, and singers all over the world who are not signed to major labels. With the goal to unveil and discover outstanding talent across the globe, there’s no wonder Lili is thrilled with her win, saying, “I’m soo humbled by this win… it’s quite incredible to think my song was chosen from soo many songs from around the world.”
Splitting her time between LA and Brisbane with a hectic schedule of songwriting, recording and finishing her last year of high school, Lili’s catalogue of music is steadily growing with the addition of Run. Fast establishing an impressive and unique sound all of her own, Lili’s style is comparable to the sounds of Jessie J, mixed with the songwriting skills of Sia and the vocal ability of Adele. Run is a beats driven tune with an unassuming choir introduction, clever lyrics and a memorable chorus. “It was written in a time where my career wasn’t too busy and I was bored of going to school and doing the same thing everyday,” explains Lili, “I was ready to get up and do something else with my life.”
The video clip for Run was shot in Melbourne by Donna Yeatman and Mohini Herse (Boy & Bear, Hungry Kids of Hungary) and sees Lili at the top of an urban jungle with a set of dancers individually performing upon her command. Shot in slow motion and showcasing the varied styles of the dancers, Lili has created yet another chic, creative clip, showcasing maturity well beyond her 17 years.
Having just supported Celia Pavey (The Voice) in Brisbane, Lili beams, “opening for Celia may have been my all time favourite gig to date, she is such a genuinely kind person and an incredible artist.”
Lili will continue to release one new track every month, giving listeners the opportunity to hear a lot of her songs before dropping her debut album early next year.
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