ADELAIDE’S THE WINTER GYPSY ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO ‘TOOK ME BY’ + DEBUT EP ‘PAGE I’ + EAST COAST TOUR
Indie folksters The Winter Gypsy have today announced their soaring new single and video for Took Me By (out July 8), the first taste of the band’s debut EP, Page I which is set for release on August 5. To celebrate their new tunes, the Adelaide six-piece will be heading out on the road in August, kicking off in Melbourne on August 28 and moving through Adelaide, Sydney and Canberra, before returning to Adelaide for another home town show to end the tour at The Exeter on September 17.
Took Me By is a drifter, progressing through ambience to defiance and charactarised by delicate vocals and a strong pulse. Deliciously reverberous and subtle electric guitar riffs magnetise to the folky environment in which the song exists, meshing genres with effortless ease. Of the single, lead vocalist Tushar Singh says, “The song itself is also about the uncertainty and fragility of situations that are out of your control. Despite the minimal lyrics, the song resonates this message through the specific choice of words.”
To accompany the track, the The Winter Gypsy have also announced a breathtaking video clip that was directed by Gerard Wood (Timberwolf) and filmed in Mount Barker, South Australia, providing a magnificent backdrop to the quirky eeriness that charactises the visual. A group of young people congregate at an abandoned railway, moving only in slow motion and partaking in behaviours as yet unexplained by the band. Singh describes, “I wrote this song about a period of time wherein my mum was battling cancer – I felt helpless because there was nothing I could do to make her better. I wanted to portray that thought into having a visual of someone restrained and ‘crying out for help,’ but having everyone run past me through the tunnel because there’s nothing they can do to help me. I also wanted to place these random ideas into the video so that other people can depict their own story. Is everyone running away from a train? Do I get hit by a train at the end? Where did the live chicken come from? Who knows.”
Took Me By is the first single lifted from The Winter Gypsy’s debut EP. After garnering praise and play from Triple J, the group have pulled out all the stops to harvest this stunning collection of songs. Produced by Hugh Atkinson, and in the works since 2012, the EP encompasses all that is great about indie folk music in 2016; it remains true to the acoustic origins of the genre, yet embraces a varied array of different sonic influences. Page I deals with themes of friendship and community, as Singh explains, “We aren’t just a band; we think of ourselves as much more of a family. The six of us recording together brought us even closer, and we all motivated one another to keep reaching for new heights.”
The Winter Gypsy will be hitting the road to celebrate the release of Page I, heading up the east coast of the country in August/September. Excited to play for new audiences, Singh says, “We love performing live and fans can definitely expect a lot more energy compared to what they might usually hear on our EP or other recordings. There is a much greater build-up to either the intro or outro of our songs which really creates a fuller sound. We feel as a band that not only do we enjoy jamming these instrumentals, but it really pulls our audience together and draws them in for each song that we play.”
The Winter Gypsy is Tushar Singh, Max Lambert, Dave Thompson, Isaac Kerr, Jonny Kotts and Sean Helps.
THE WINTER GYPSY EAST COAST TOUR
SUN 28 AUG | BAR OPEN, FITZROY MELBOURNE | 18+ | Tickets available at the door
SUN 4 SEP | THE JADE, ADELAIDE | AA | Tickets available at the door
THUR 8 SEP | PLAYBAR, SURRY HILLS SYD | 18+ | Tickets available at the door
SAT 10 SEP | SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE, CANBERRA ACT | AA | Tickets available at the door
SAT 17 SEP | THE EXETER, ADELAIDE | AA | 18+ | Tickets available at the door
ADELAIDE CHANTEUSE ‘MANE’ ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘BITTER’ + DEBUT EP ‘HOUSE OF HORROR’ + EAST COAST TOUR
The enigmatic chanteuse, MANE has today announced her new single, Bitter to be released on June 10, alongside a fast-paced, abstract video directed by Benjamin Lancaster Powell. Bitter is the first taste of MANE’s debut EP House of Horror, a bluesy exploration of darkness, set for release on June 24. MANE will be hitting the road to celebrate the release in July, kicking off in Adelaide at The Bluebee Room on July 15, moving through Whole Lotta Love in Melbourne on July 24, and wrapping up in Sydney at The Newsagency on July 29.
Haunting and distinct, Bitter is an intriguing release, completely characterised by MANE’s irresistible voice. With catchy hooks that marry pop and blues influences together flawlessly, a driving percussive force, and intricate, edgy production values, Bitter is a venomous reminder to stay away from the bad side of a good songwriter. The woman behind MANE, Paige Renee Court, says of the release, “Bitter was inspired by a very evil, manipulative person – someone who was once very close to a family member of mine. I usually only write songs that are personal to me, but this song became an exception that flowed out onto the page of my songbook within a matter of minutes. If I’m totally honest, it’s probably too nice of a song for this particular person, knowing what I know now.”
The video for Bitter is a visual reflection of the ubiquitous contempt that propels the track. MANE stands alone, silhouetted and soaked in flashes of psychedelia. Directed by Benjamin Lancaster Powell (Aspirations) of Lightreel Films, the video is visceral and forward-moving. On the clip, Court says, “The concept of this clip is to project the attitude of the track through some abstract images and edits. It’s a fast-paced song and we really tried to keep the pace of the clip going with it.”
Produced by Jack Hookey (Harry Hookey, Imogen Clark) at Kanutsens Studio, the House of Horror EP is a melancholic, soulful journey through the human experience. As an avid fan of a variety of different musical genres, MANE calls upon an array of influences to inform her unique brand of blues-inspired popular music. Court says, “The making of the EP was a bit of journey in itself – I went in with a really open mind and didn’t want to shut myself off to any ideas. House of Horror explores a lot of darkness that has been a result of past experiences or the experiences of others, whether that be resentment, self doubt, death or depression. It all comes under the one roof.”
To celebrate House of Horror, Mane will be embarking on a national tour in July. Excited to be hitting the road, Court gives audiences a hint of what to expect from her live show, saying “The live shows we have planned on the House of Horror tour are going to be fun! Some shows will be performed more stripped back, similar to how I wrote the tracks on the EP, while others will be with the full band.”
New single Bitter is out June 10
New EP House of Horror is out June 24
TELSTRA ROAD TO DISCOVERY WINNER, LOREN KATE ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, EP AND NATIONAL TOUR
Off the back of her impressive Telstra Road to Discovery win last year, Loren Kate presents her new single, When You Leave (out September 7) and EP, Til The Night Meets The Sun, set for release on October 9. Loren will be celebrating with a recording trip and a few gigs in Nashville in September, before returning home for a national tour kicking off at The Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton on October 9, swinging through Melbourne, Bunbury, Fremantle, Maldon, Adelaide, Bellingen and finishing up at the Mullum Music Fest in Mullumbimby on Nov 21 and 22.
First single, When You Leave is an exquisitely heartfelt folk country tune with a warm Australiana feel. Written for Loren’s ex-partner who passed away two years ago, the generous and beautifully intimate storytelling invites us in to Loren’s life and in just four minutes portrays a genuine sense of the pain and loss, and the depth of friendship and love shared between the two. “He was a dear friend and a big teacher in my life,” says Loren. “On the way to the hospital to say my last goodbye, this song started writing itself. I was trying to find the words to say, but what can you say to someone who’s about to pass away? I just wanted him to feel my love, and take it with him.”
Explaining the interesting way in which the video clip came about, Loren says, “I happen to live in this amazing ‘Arts Eco Village’ in South Australia. The village has so many talented people including photographer and film maker, Emily McAllen who filmed the clip. The animation was put together by a good friend called Kevin Chan, he lives 3 doors up. I love working at grassroots level with people just starting out, people with a huge passion for artistic expression. Both Kevin and Emily really understand me and can feel what I’m trying to achieve, so it was easy to bounce ideas and create the clip.”
A gorgeously emotive EP, rich with storytelling folk tunes, Til Night Meets The Sun was written over two years and tells intimate tales of Loren’s childhood, the relationship between her mother and father, losing an ex-partner “and the anxiety and strength that came with turning thirty,” Loren explains. “I wasn’t planning to make a new record, I was actually planning to have a baby of the human variety, and then I won the Telstra Road to discovery and decided to do both!” The EP was recorded between The Music Cellar and Studio Goonga (Glen Hannah’s home studio) and produced by Glen Hannah (Felicity Urquhart, Chasing Bailey, Kim Cheshire), mixed and mastered by Jeff McCormack (Kasey Chambers, Shane Nicholson).
After winning Telstra Road to Discovery last year, Loren beams, “The moment they announced my name I felt this sense of relief, like all of the sudden there were more possibilities and opportunities. Sometimes as an independent musician I feel like I’m carrying huge rocks up massive mountains. Winning the Telstra Road to Discovery meant I had a team of people, a year of mentoring and the funding to move those rocks more efficiently.”
Tickets to the national tour are on sale now
LOREN KATE NATIONAL TOUR DATES
SAT 10 OCT | THE WHEATSHEAF HOTEL, THEBARTON, SA | 18+
WED 14 OCT | THE TOFF IN TOWN, MELBOURNE, VIC | 18+
FRI 23 OCT | RED MILL STORE, BUNBURY, WA | ALL AGES |
Tickets available from gregnavarro@westnet.com.au
SAT 24 OCT | HOUSE CONCERT, FREMANTLE, WA | ALL AGES | PRIVATE CONCERT
SUN 25 OCT | KIDOGO ARTHOUSE, FREMANTLE, WA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/LorenKateTilNightMeets
SAT 31 OCT – SUN 1 NOV | MALDON FOLK FESTIVAL, VIC | ALL AGES
Tickets available from http://www.maldonfolkfestival.com/tickets.htm
SAT 7 NOV | VEGAN FESTIVAL, ADELAIDE, SA | ALL AGES | FREE
SUN 8 NOV | THE CHEESE FACTORY STUDIO GALLERY, MEADOWS, SA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from info@cheesefactory.com.au Phone: 08 83883725
THUR 19 NOV | NO.5, BELLINGEN, NSW | ALL AGES
SAT 21 NOV- SUN 22 NOV | MULLUM MUSIC FEST, MULLUMBIMBY, NSW | ALL AGES
Tickets available from http://www.mullummusicfestival.com