MELBOURNE DUO, BOYEUR ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE, CUPID AND NEW EP, GOLD STREET
Melbourne indie pop duo, Boyeur have announced the release of their new single, Cupid (May 16), taken from their debut EP, Gold Street which is set for release on May 30. The band will be celebrating with shows at The Vanguard (Sydney) on June 4, The Newsagency (Sydney) on June 6, Rad (Wollongong) on June 7, Smith’s Alternative Bookshop (Canberra) on June 8 and an official EP launch at The Workers Club (Melbourne) on June 26.
Hugh Middleton and Tim Ischia are Boyeur, a unique and talented musical partnership resulting from a long-standing friendship, and the first product from their shared love of music is Cupid. Brimming with lush and detailed layers and clever use of classical strings, this charming song’s lyrics speak of ‘using your head when you should be following your heart’. “Overthinking is toxic to any human relationship,” says guitarist and Cupid lead vocalist Ischia, “and sometimes it prevents a relationship from even starting. All the emotions become magnified and you end up being too nervous to do anything.”
Filmed, directed and produced by award winning Melbourne filmmaker and cinematographer, Matthew Chuang (known for his highly viewed ads for Jacobs Creek, The Australian Open, Chrysler, Momentum Energy), the clip for Cupid was expertly filmed in one continuous shot. “The narrative is about a crush, the song depicts the entire emotional arc of a relationship occurring inside someone’s head, without the other person ever being aware of it,” explains Ischia.
The duo’s debut EP, Gold Street is an indie pop release with a dense soundscape and chocked with instant hooks. Middleton explains, “We hope that the more detailed listener will be rewarded with the discovery of many musical gems that are cosily embedded in the sound.” The rich layers of classical strings and hip-hop beats are perfectly complemented by Ischia and Middleton’s shared smooth vocals and catchy pop melodies. “It was a pleasure to work with such premium collaborators: One Above and DJ Reflux being strong forces in the Australian Hip Hop scene, just as the string players regularly appear with Australia’s premier classical groups.”
With six instruments played between the two-piece and a string quartet thrown in for good measure, it’s no wonder Boyeur are looking forward to hitting the road to play for their fans. “We’re really excited to play live with our string quartet,” enthuses Ischia, “we spent a lot of time perfecting our setup so that the two of us can play all of our instruments on stage and adding the string quartet to that creates something we’re really proud of!”
VELUDO ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE, EP AND NATIONAL TOUR DATE
Australian alt rockers, Veludo have announced the release of their new single, Stay Young and self-titled EP which is set to hit stores today. To celebrate, the band will be taking their impressive live show on the road kicking off at The Rosemount Hotel in Perth on February 21, moving through Bendigo, Albury and Sydney, before playing two homecoming shows in Melbourne at The Evelyn and Cherry Bar in April.
With a memorable melody, smooth vocal and an anthemic guitar hook, lead single, Stay Young “is about capturing the freedom of youth and being in the moment… it’s about living and not just merely existing,” explains vocalist Gabriel Vargas. “It’s a reminder that no matter your age you still have a choice to follow your dreams.” Though recorded in just two days across Melbourne, the video clip for Stay Young required a lot of preparation and research to acquire props. Directed by Holcomb brothers, Matt and Trevor at Holscope Productions, the clip is set in 1992 and captures the theme of the song perfectly. “It was a lot fun taking a trip down memory lane to the days of walkmans, snap-bands and Luke Perry!” jokes Vargas.
Recorded and produced by Jimi Maroudas (Eskimo Joe, Kimbra) at Sing Sing Studios and mixed by Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam, David Bowie), Veludo are sure to impress with their epic stadium rock sound, as they take listeners on a powerful and uplifting journey, showcasing their versatility across the EP’s four unique tracks; Stay Young, Indigo, Are We On Fire and Endless Wonder. “One of the highlights from recording was that we got to work soo closely with Jimi Maroudas. Not only is he an amazing producer, but he has been a terrific mentor and friend,” beams Vargas. “We also got to work with former Living End drummer, Travis Demsey who had a massive impact on our drum sound. The last album he worked on was The Temper Trap’s Conditions, so it was great to have him onboard.”
The band is excited to hit the road and belt out their powerful and energetic live show for fans around the country with Vargas saying, “We really pride ourselves on making sure the live show exceeds what listeners hear on their iPods and CDs, after all you can’t download experience.”
Veludo – the Portuguese word for ‘velvet’ reflects both the heritage of Brazilian born singer Gabriel and the textured feel of the band’s sound. Veludo is Gabriel Vargas (vocals), Jason Millar (guitar), Jared Campbell (bass) and Leslie Stuart (drums).
Tickets to the national tour and the self-titled EP, featuring new single Stay Young are available now.
PERTH ARTIST ANNA O SET TO IMPRESS WITH DEBUT SINGLE AND EP
Exciting Perth newcomer Anna O is set to impress with her new single, Sleepless and debut EP, When The Winter Came set for release on March 21, ahead of her launch gig at Four5Nine Bar in North Perth on March 22.
Fans of artists such as Kimbra, Lorde and Jessie Ware should all keep an ear out for Anna O, as she bursts on to the scene with her edgy and catchy keys driven tune, Sleepless. With an instant hook and a notable melody, Anna O’s bold vocals draw you in and will leave you singing the song long after its end.
Written about insomnia, the lyrics focus on not being able to get to sleep and the frustration and mind chatter that goes on. “The chorus explores the idea of the ‘choir’ of mind chatter, basically touching on how crazy it is to think about all the people laying awake with their mind going crazy, and what we’d all sound like together,” explains Anna O.
Filmed on location at Perth City Farm, the video clip for Sleepless was directed and edited by Si Moore from Bayly&Moore and shot by Cameron Frost from Frost Productions. “The bare whiteness of the warehouse and me alone is representative of the feeling of isolation and frustration when you can’t sleep. And the slow mo wild party signifies the ‘choir of sleepless minds,’” explains Anna O.
Having studied at WAAPA and done some co-writing with local Perth artists, it wasn’t until recently that Anna O started writing her own songs and Sleepless was the second song she ever wrote. “I got into it because I didn’t just want to sing other people’s songs for the rest of my life,” she says. “From previous attempts I honestly thought I was rubbish at writing but knew it was necessary. As soon as I started, I couldn’t stop. My brain is always thinking in songs these days!”
With a hugely hyped live show, Anna O is amped to take to the stage and share her new material. “I can’t wait to get out of the studio and start playing my songs to people. I’ve got a DJ opening for me and I’m pumped to make it a slamming party,” enthuses Anna O.
View the clip for Sleepless.
Tickets to the EP launch at Four4Nine Bar in North Perth are available now through oztix.com.au
NEW SINGLE | SLEEPLESS | AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW
NEW EP | WHEN THE WINTER CAME | AVAILABLE ONLINE MARCH 21
TICKETS | EP LAUNCH | Four5Nine Bar| AVAILABLE NOW OZTIX.COM.AU