SHELLEY SEGAL SHARES NEW SINGLE NO AHEAD OF NEW EP HOLY SET FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 1
LA-based songwriter Shelley Segal has today announced her latest single No, a modern, bold and assertive track that describes the difficulty many women face when turning down sexual advances, out now. Shelley has also announced her masterful new EP Holy, a masterclass in intimate lyricism and exciting, innovative Americana, set for release on November 1. The Australian musician has been living and working in Los Angeles for three years, writing and recording Holy in the US while touring and collaborating on a host of noteworthy artistic projects.
No has a sentiment that will ring true for many women who have found themselves in a situation where it was almost impossible to say the word. Driving guitars and textured percussion propel the track forward with serious attitude, while Shelley’s honeyed vocals carve a stunning melody on top. Speaking on the inspiration behind this important track, Shelley explains, “No is a song about consent and the subtleties surrounding it. It describes three different scenarios in which the protagonist finds it difficult to say no to sexual advances. I wrote the song because even though it’s 2019 and so many women feel comfortable asserting themselves and speaking up for themselves, and even though there has been so much public discourse and progress on these issues, there are still scenarios where it feels hard to say ‘no’. You can find yourself in a situation that you don’t want to be in and yet be unable to express that. It’s not always easy in the moment to process the potential consequences that may come from your reaction. Like the examples in the song for instance, in a work environment, in the street with a stranger. Saying ‘no’ can create adverse outcomes like risking your job, or your safety. This discussion around consent is not as straightforward as maybe we would like it to be and I wanted to reflect on those nuances.”
No is the first taste of Shelley Segal’s glorious new EP Holy. This is an artist who has truly found her feet; Holy Man shines with energetic roots, rock riffs, skilled arrangement and Shelley’s undeniable lyrics and beautiful vocal performance. San Antonio tugs at the heartstrings, a simple acoustic track with a deeply affecting message, while Holy is steeped in attitude and power, as Shelley sings, “I believe my body is beautiful, and it belongs to me.” The EP was recorded in Brooklyn at Atomic Sound Studios with Dakota Bowman and Merle Chornuk (Tandy, Ryan Adams), it was produced and co-written (3 songs) with New York producer, guitarist and film composer Askold Buk and was mastered by Ted Jensen (Norah Jones, Dave Matthews). Speaking on the making of the release, Shelley enthuses, “I’ve been working on the songs for this record for over the last three years – since 2016, the year I moved to the US. I’ve called the ep ‘HOLY’ which felt like a really powerful statement. In the Jewish tradition I grew up in, what was holy was dictated to me. Which words, items and actions and even which people were holy was dictated to me. To elevate my life, my songs, my experiences and my voice (which was not allowed to be heard unaccompanied in my synagogue), to call them holy is incredibly empowering. It’s a challenge to those who want to use concepts of holiness and the sacred to create hierarchies, often placing themselves at the top. I hope it will inspire people to decide for themselves what is holy and sacred to them.”
Shelley has been living and working in the US since 2016, and in between touring the country and writing music for her own project, Shelley has done everything from writing for musicals, for Estonian pop star ELYSA, and Dutch artist Glennis Grace, among others. She has also worked tirelessly for charity group One Law For All, writing two songs for the organisation and reciving the CEMB Award (Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain) for her contributions. Always busy with multiple thought-provoking projects on the go at once, Shelley is currently working on the music for a documentary (entitled Transmission Love) about a young transgender girl growing up in LA, as well as a conservation-themed EP with a science educator and biologist about the Puget Sound Watershed in Washington State.
No is out October 4. Holy is out November 1.
Praise for Shelley Segal
An Australian singer/songwriter now living in California, Segal sings with pain and purpose. Her music builds out of a woman and her guitar, incorporating additional instrumentation as needed but consistently coming from a familiar place – that heartfelt home, be it physical or musical. http://atwoodmagazine.com/sshr-shelley-segal-here/
CARAVÃNA SUN ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE COME BACK + NEW EP SILVER LININGS + EXTENSIVE NATIONAL TOUR
Sun-soaked indies Caravãna Sun have today announced their spirited new single Come Back, set for release on August 17. Come Back is a heartfelt ode to a lost friend; a bridge between this world and the next. Come Back precedes Caravãna Sun’s sparkling new EP Silver Linings, a full body experience of a release that will encourage not only dancing and singalongs, but self-reflection as well, out September 14. To celebrate the EP, Caravãna Sun will be hitting the road on a massive tour across Australia, which includes some coveted festival slots at the renowned Wave Rock, Under The Trees and Celebrate Gold Coast festivals. The Silver Linings national tour will kick off at Denmark Civic Centre in WA on September 14, before moving through Margaret River, Broome, Fremantle, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, and wrapping up at Torquay Hotel in Torquay, VIC, on October 27.
Come Back is more than a song. It’s almost a prayer, or at least, a message to a loved one who is no longer in this world. It’s a little more subtle than previous single Beauty and The Pain, however it’s still got that same memorability, the same energy and the same musicality that fans have come to expect from Caravãna Sun. Bassist and vocalist Ant Beard offers a little more insight into the inspiration behind the track, saying, “Come Back is a heartfelt, honest and raw take on the loss of a loved one. Amidst a sea of emotion surrounding the reality of losing something so precious, lies a pure human cry for that person to return. To fill the space that nobody could replace. The song was inspired when fellow musician and good friend of the band Jae Haydon, lost his life in the ocean, surfing the reefs of Indonesia. Though he passed away doing something he loved, there was still such an overwhelmingly sad tone that had washed over everybody he touched. Jae was a young, incredible musician and friend to so many. This song is dedicated to Jae but also a song for his family and everybody who had the great fortune to know him.”
The Silver Linings EP, recorded at Sound Park Studio in Melbourne with renowned producer Stephen Schram (Paul Kelly, San Cisco, The Cat Empire) is Caravãna Sun’s take on a turbulent world. A clear, eloquent collection of songs, each with as much heart as Come Back, and each with saturated guitars, driving percussion and thoughtful lyrics that are sure to soundtrack many long summer drives for fans around the world. Ant reflects on the process of writing and creating the EP, “Connection to life through love has been an overarching theme beneath the entire EP. Each song represents some form of connection within our lives, our connection to love in the modern world, our connection with perception and ultimately our connection with death. Take for example, Modern Love which speaks about the struggles between true love and the temptations of modern forms of addiction (social media, screen time, etc). The song Waterfalls, looks at the acceptance of life force and death, as if it’s a moment in time that will eventually fade away. The songs inspiration came from experiences of the band passing through places like Malta and Portugal. It is in these countries we often saw older locals sitting out on the street soaking up the last bit of the day. It almost seemed as if they were waiting to fade away like dust.”
After a massive year playing to thousands of people nationally and across the globe (the band is currently on a 22 date tour of Europe / UK), Caravãna Sun are set to play new tracks from Silver Linings and old faves for fans across Australia throughout September and October. Reflecting on their year of international success and pumped for the upcoming EP tour, Ant says, “The reception to our music was truly overwhelming to say the least. Most nights we were walking out onto stages with 3000 to 5000 beautiful faces, waiting to see what a bunch of touring Australians have to sing about. To think that our songs, some inspired by time spent walking around on Bardi Country in the Kimberley, find their way onto this incredible international platform is mind blowing! Our shows are hugely dependent on crowd connection and the unique reception gives each song life…our EP tour is going to be epic.”
Come Back will be available on August 17 and Silver Linings is set for release on September 14. Tickets to the Silver Linings national EP tour will go on sale at 9am on Friday August 3.
Caravana Sun is Luke Carra (guitars, vocals), Ant Beard (bass, vocals), Alex Dumbrell (drums, percussion), and Ken Allars (trumpet, keys).
‘SILVER LININGS’ NATIONAL EP TOUR
FRI 14 SEP | DENMARK CIVIC CENTRE, DENMARK WA | ALL AGES | Tickets
SAT 15 SEP | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA | 18+ | Tickets
FRI 21 SEP | DIVERS TAVERN, BROOME WA | 18+ | Tickets
SAT 22 SEP | MOJO’S, FREMANTLE WA | 18+ | Tickets
SUN 23 SEP | WAVE ROCK FESTIVAL, WA | 18+
FRI 28 SEP | THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY NSW | 18+ | Tickets
FRI 5 OCT | THE FOUNDRY, BRISBANE QLD | 18+ | Tickets
SAT 6 OCT | UNDER THE TREES FESTIVAL, BOYNE ISLAND QLD | ALL AGES
SUN 7 OCT | CELEBRATE GOLD COAST, CHEVRON ISLAND QLD | ALL AGES
FRI 12 OCT | THE JACK, CAIRNS QLD | 18+ | Tickets
SAT 13 OCT | MAGNUMS, AIRLIE BEACH QLD | 18+ | Tickets
FRI 19 OCT | OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY NSW | 18+ | Tickets
SAT 20 OCT | UOW UNIBAR, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+ | Tickets
FRI 26 OCT | HOWLER, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ | Tickets
SAT 27 OCT | TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY VIC | 18+ | Tickets
SUMNER ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE PICTURES + EP ALL THAT I AM
There’s something very special about the enigmatic electronic duo Sumner, consisting of Jack McLaine and Chloe Wilson. The underground newcomers have already played alongside Vera Blue, The Smith Street Band, Montaigne, graced the Falls Festival stage and are a part of the upcoming Party In The Paddock…but in 2018, it’s about to get a whole lot bigger with the release of their exciting new single, Pictures, on February 9. This dark RnB track examines solitude, and is the first taste of Sumner’s upcoming debut EP, All That I Am (out Feb 16), a release that explores illness, diagnosis, personal struggle and catharsis, all within Sumner’s own very cool little world.
Pictures plays with a wide variety of elegant influences; the duo embrace the production style of Lorde’s first LP, while adding their own distorted pop/RnB stylings reminiscent of Frank Ocean and heavy bass that feels like something off an Arctic Monkeys record. It’s a potent combination that particularly shines on this single, as the duo have skillfully pieced together some seriously eclectic moments to create this one intelligent, mature, hooky song. Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, Jack and Chloe agree it’s definitely about feeling very alone, “The song was inspired by the feeling of being alone in a packed club full of people. Feeling distant and out of touch with the people around you laughing, dancing and having a generally happy time.”
The EP All That I Am is further proof that Sumner are one to watch. This collection of songs is perfectly unique and completely self-assured, and not only is that very rare for such a young project – it’s precisely what makes them special. All That I Am is effortlessly cool and refreshing, with open vulnerability within the lyrics that overflow atop consistant beds of glowing, pulsating, dexterous production. Jack and Chloe share a little more about the process and the team behind it all, “The EP was entirely self-produced and recorded. We worked with some mates for particular parts such as Shanice Osita Chuku on additional vocals in 45 Roses and Pictures, and Billy Bennett (Save The Clock Tower) on additional guitar for Lover. We also worked with Ross Irwin (The Cat Empire, The Bamboos) for the horn parts on 45 Roses. The EP was mixed by Kevin ‘KD’ Davis (Rihanna, TLC, Destiny’s Child, Tupac) and mastered by Grammy Award winner William Bowden (Gotye, Hermitude).”
Music is the constant thread shared between Jack and Chloe, as they reflect on the theme of the EP and what it was that brought them together, “We used music as a catharsis, with the EP following a story from illness to a cleaner, healthier mind with a change of perspective through the process… We met living in the small town of Launceston and finding each other’s music through mutual friends. We decided to link up to play a one off gig as ‘Sumner’ and we haven’t stopped making music since.”
Pictures will be out on February 9 and All That I Am is set for release on February 16.