MELBOURNE FOLKSTERS, FOREST FALLS ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE, EP & NATIONAL TOUR
Evocative Melbourne folksters, Forest Falls have announced the release of their new single, Hounds (out April 6), as well as their sophomore EP of the same name, set for release on May 1. The six-piece will be celebrating with a Hounds EP tour involving a Wednesday night Workers Club residency in Melbourne through May kicking off May 6, moving through Geelong and Sydney, finishing off in Melbourne on May 27.
Recorded and produced alongside five-time ARIA award winning producer, Wayne Connolly (Paul Dempsey, Josh Pyke and Cloud Control) at Alberts Studio in Sydney, lead single Hounds is driven by exquisite five-part harmonies and transformative, liberating saxophone solos. “The lyrics to Hounds were written in a huff,” explains lead vocalist Jon O’Neill. “A hound can be unpredictable; it can be your best friend or bear its teeth, and I suppose I was bearing mine at the time.”
Filmed in Melbourne by An Architect Photographed My Undies (Vance Joy, Pierce Brothers, Oscar Key Sung), the clip for Hounds is open to interpretation, following the story of a pair of passionate lovers, complemented by the song’s lyrics, their two voices ricochet off each other in the heat of the moment. By weaving the release of sky lanterns in to the narrative, the clip touches on themes of igniting, letting go, reigniting and perhaps just burning out. “We loved the aesthetic and the metaphor of releasing the sky lanterns and the fact that there isn’t a right answer to the true meaning behind the clip,” says O’Neill.
Also recorded and produced by the legendary Wayne Connolly, the Hounds EP touches on the themes of love, relationships, compromise, confusion and lust. “All these things are worth capturing and singing about and all different kinds of emotion can be harnessed and used as motivation or inspiration in songwriting,” says O’Neill. Overflowing with the rich, lush sounds they’re best known for, this cohesive release is like a welcome visit from a long lost friend, nostalgic, heartfelt and authentic. Unafraid to bite the bullet and explore new genres, O’Neill explains, “We’ve been writing new stuff and falling in love with other instruments and sounds and have realised there’s nothing standing in our way.”
With a well-rounded show that will surprise and entertain, fans can expect thrilling five-part harmonies, captivating chants, memorable hooks and a performance bursting with integrity and heart that will leave you wanting more.
View the clip for Hounds
FOREST FALLS TOUR DATES
Wed 6 May | Workers Club | Melbourne
Sun 10 May | Workers Club | Geelong | w/ Revolution
Wed 13 May | Workers Club | Melbourne
Thurs 14 May | Bondi Bowling Club | Bondi | w/ Jenny Broke the Window
Sat 16 May | Gaelic Club | Sydney | w/ Bears with Guns
Wed 20 May | Workers Club | Melbourne
Wed 27 May | Workers Club | Melbourne
WAM ‘SONG OF THE YEAR’ WINNER, MORGAN BAIN ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, WHY DON’T YOU STAY AND NATIONAL TOUR
Fresh off the back of a prestigious WA Music (WAM) Song Of The Year win last fortnight, esteemed Perth alternative soul tunesmith and multi-instrumentalist, Morgan Bain has announced the release of his new single, Why Don’t You Stay, alongside a national tour. Kicking off on the main stage at West Coast Blues’N’Roots (Fremantle) on March 29, alongside two Perth shows in April, the tour will then move through Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmania, Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle and will finish up at Sydney Blues & Roots Festival (Windsor) on May 16.
Organ driven with rich and varied vocals, Bain’s self-described ‘alternative moody soul’ sound is perfectly showcased in the new single, Why Don’t You Stay. The track was recorded and produced at The Wastelands studio with ARIA award winning producer, Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe, Meg Mac, Little Birdy) and mastered by Grammy Award winner, William Bowden of King Willy Sound (Goyte, Eskimo Joe,Tim Finn, Empire of the Sun). Bain explains, “The song is about anxieties that come with giving your everything to someone and how to not let those anxious thoughts take over and get in the way of how you really feel.”
The video clip for the single was directed by Steve Browne (Scalphunter, Tired Lion, Timothy Nelson & The Infidels) and tastefully shot at Chris Huzzard studio. Dark, powerful and thought provoking, the clip depicts a young man’s internal conflict and anxiety about a situation. “The video is simple but complicated in an emotional way, just like the song and its concept,” says Bain.
With a song writing maturity well beyond his tender twenty years, Bain’s prolific songwriting talents have already been acknowledged on a global level several times this year, and a number of tracks off his latest EP, What You Believe (released mid 2014) are in this mix of accolades. Earlier this month, Bain was announced as a semi finalist in the US International Songwriting Competition (Unreleased song, Lost In The Moment), a finalist in the US John Lennon Songwriting Contest (EP track, In The Middle) and he also scooped his third WAM Song of The Year award (EP Track, Hold On) on March 21.
Working hard to make a name for himself and becoming known for his incredible vocals and live performances in his home state of WA, Bain is excited to take his show to a national audience. Hitting the road as a trio (guitar/keys/bass/drums), with funding from the WA Dept of Culture and The Arts, the tour will be “Jam-packed with alternative soul… it’s a pretty upbeat show, but does have light and shade.”
Further info on Morgan Bain’s ‘Why Don’t You Stay’ national tour is available from www.morganbain.com.au
MORGAN BAIN ‘WHY DON’T YOU STAY’ NATIONAL TOUR DATES
SUN 29 MARCH | WEST COAST BLUES’N’ROOTS FESTIVAL | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
FRI 17 APRIL | INDI BAR, SCARBOROUGH | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
FRI 24 APRIL | ODD FELLOW BAR, FREMANTLE | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
THURS 30 APRIL | EXETER, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
FRI 1 MAY |YAH YAH’s FITZROY, VIC | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
SAT 2 MAY | SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE VIC| 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
SUN 3 MAY | THE B-EAST, EAST BRUNSWICK VIC | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
THURS 7 MAY | THE REPUBLIC BAR, NORTH HOBART TAS | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
FRI 8 MAY | ROYAL OAK, LAUNCESTON TAS | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
SAT 9 MAY | THE LASS O’GOWRIE HOTEL, WICKHAM NSW | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
SUN 10 MAY | TOWRADJI BEACH HOTEL, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
THURS 14 MAY | FRANKIES PIZZA BY THE SLICE, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
FRI 15 MAY | THE GRAND JUNCTION HOTEL (THE JUNKYARD) MAITLAND NSW | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
SAT 16 MAY | SYDNEY BLUES & ROOTS FESTIVAL, FITZROY HOTEL, WINDSOR NSW | 18+
For more info www.morganbain.com.au
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JULIAN SIMONSZ ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, I DO IT FOR YOU AND SELF-TITLED EP
Melbourne synth, pop, soul artist Julian Simonsz has announced the release of his new single, I Do It For You (out October 10) and debut self-titled EP set for release on November 21, alongside a launch show at the Northcote Social Club on November 23.
Described by Daily Mail as “Australia’s answer to Justin Timberlake,” Simonsz has an impressive vocal range and is making a name for himself with his one-take recordings in the studio. With impeccable falsetto, this upbeat pop tune with old school soul undertones was “originally written about my wife, but it soon turned into almost an anthem to appreciate and celebrate those who deserve it,” explains Simonsz. “There are a lot of songs by women about female empowerment, but not many male singers sing about the importance of women and the role they play. There are so many inspirational people out there, I felt like this was the perfect way to say thank you to them.”
After putting a call out for video extras to his fanbase of over 35,000 on Facebook, Simonsz says, “it was really amazing, we received so many touching responses and some of the inspirational stories were just incredible… It was quite a special idea and tied in with the underlying meaning of the song that I wanted to portray.” Filmed in Melbourne by Lloyd Will from Hats Off Productions (Private Life, Neighbourhood Youth), the clip for I Do It For You tells a beautiful story of appreciating women and celebrating people.
Recorded and produced by Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis at MSquared Productions (Nussy, Masketta Fall, Imogen Brough) and co-written with Simonsz, the EP showcases an impressively smooth vocal with memorable melodies and toe-tapping beats. “The boys at MSquared really helped me nail my sound and create something fresh and new, but still true to who I am,” beams Simonsz. Comprising three brilliantly produced soul pop songs and two raw acoustics; this is a strong debut release from one of Melbourne’s brightest newcomers and works to highlight the super talent that is Julian Simonsz.
Also a contestant on this year’s The Voice on Channel Nine, Simonsz says, “going in to the show I was thinking what a blessing it would be to turn even just one chair, but when all four turned it was pretty surreal! Then getting to work with Will.I.Am who is a massive inspiration of mine to making it through to the top 24 and now releasing a single and EP, it’s been a crazy experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better launching pad for my music career and it really made me realise how badly I want this.”
Tickets to the Northcote Social Club on November 23 are on sale now