NARDIA SHARES SULTRY NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO IS IT YOU SINGLE LAUNCH SHOW SET FOR MELBOURNE THIS MONTH
Effortlessly smooth and laden with charm, the brand new single Is It You out today from award-winning songwriter Nardia offers a glimpse into the talented Melbourne artist’s hotly-anticipated album Own Every Scar set for release this July, with Nardia also dropping a fittingly whimsical accompanying music video today for her dreamlike new single. Nardia will also officially launch her track live in action with a special hometown show on Sunday April 13 at Brunswick Ballroom.
Drawing on echoes of Childish Gambino’s smooth R&B textures along with the heartfelt storytelling of Adele and Carole King, Is It You is a bright yet deeply raw outing, with Nardia effortlessly weaving her powerful vocals against personal narratives and a glossy backdrop of soulful R&B. A joyful fusion of soul, depth and raw emotion, Is It You ultimately details the kindling of attraction, as Nardia herself elaborates, “Is it You captures that moment of intrigue when you meet someone and feel an undeniable pull toward them. There’s an instant spark, but beneath the surface, questions linger like who are they beyond what they show the world? Is the connection real, or is it just the allure of the unknown? The song explores the tension between attraction and curiosity, the desire to uncover someone’s true essence, and the mystery that makes love both exciting and uncertain, leaving you feeling uncomfortably excited.”
Teaming up with Mat Rob at Hope St Studios, also Nardia’s main co-writer for all of her original songs, Is It You also saw Nardia work alongside Ivan Khatchoyan (Cookin’ on 3 Burners, The Traffic, Thando), with mixing and mastering by Choi Productions. And to bring the creative vision of Is It You to life in a visual setting, Nardia paired with Matthew Kelley for the accompanying music video, with the sublime concept springing to life in an extremely short space of time. “I worked closely with Matthew Kelley from Mindseye Productions,” shares Nardia, “and from the moment he heard the track, he was inspired. Within 24 hours, he had a fully formed concept and couldn’t wait to share his vision with me. His passion and professionalism were incredible—he created a detailed mood board, an animatic, and even scheduled a rehearsal before the shoot to ensure every moment was captured perfectly. The result is a visually stunning music video that brings the song’s emotions to life through cinematic storytelling. Set in a retro diner where reality blurs with fantasy, the clip transports viewers into a dreamlike world of longing and mystery. As neon lights flicker and time seems to stand still, we are left wondering—was it really him, or was she simply lost in a dream?”
Growing up with a blues guitarist father and surrounded by a family who played music, Nardia was drawn early on to music that told stories and moved people. Also drawn to the stage early on, over time Nardia would soon find her voice, both literally and figuratively, leading her to carving out a firm reputation for her breathtaking intensity and musical prowess. Imbued by music’s power to heal, connect and make people feel seen, Nardiahas captivated audiences at home and abroad over the years, previously supporting the likes of Russell Morris and Tex Perkins, and performing in the VIP lounges for Beyonce and Adele’s Australian tours, delivering soulful and memorable sets. Having also starred in the sold out musical Eulogy for a Genius, a Ray Charles tribute, Nardia also leads her own Etta James and B.B. King show with Jimi Hocking of The Screaming Jetsfame. Alongside her myriad of creative pursuits, Nardia also fronts the Melbourne-based collective Rambal, whose 2016 and 2018 releases Let Love and Live in Newcastle garnered them national attention, with the band also winning Group of the Year at the 2017 Australian Blues Music Awards and scoring a #1 on the Australian Blues Charts in 2017. Most recently, Nardia earned a Top 5 spot at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, making her the only female artist to reach the finals among 400 acts; a feat that is definitely only the beginning of some incredible things to come for this talented artist. “It was an absolute honour to be selected as a finalist in the International Blues Challenge (top 5 out of 400 in the band category and was the only female),” Nardia says. “Heading to Memphis was a dream come true! Competing on such a prestigious global stage was a surreal experience, but beyond that, it provided an amazing opportunity to connect with some of the most talented musicians from around the world. As part of this opportunity, I had the privilege of meeting Darin James and Boo Mitchell, who will now be joining me on this exciting new chapter of my music career. This experience has already opened so many doors, and I can’t wait to see where it will take my music. With this new team, I’m working on a contemporary R&B album, but rest assured, my music will always be rooted in the jazz and blues that shaped my sound. Those soulful foundations are at the core of everything I do, and I’m thrilled to continue blending those influences with fresh, modern elements. It’s a thrilling time, and I’m eager to see where this next phase will lead!”
Nardia is set to launch Is It You officially in Melbourne, with a special show locked in on Sunday April 13 at Brunswick Ballroom. And boasting Nardia with a 10-piece band joining her, this is definitely set to be a night to remember, as Nardia elaborates, “My live shows are all about energy, storytelling, and emotion. I love taking the audience on a journey. One moment, you’ll be feeling every lyric deeply, and the next, you’ll be swept up in a powerful, soulful groove. Expect big vocals, a dynamic band, and an experience that leaves you feeling something long after the last note fades. For the single launch the band will feature a 10-piece band which will include the sweet sounds of harmonies from artists Jaydean Miranda and Tyra Lewis and a horn section featuring Charlie Woods and Nathaniel Sametz.”
Locked in to travel to Nashville the day after her single launch show to finalise her new album Own Every Scar, Is It You is the beginning of a beautiful journey for Nardia in 2025; and there’s plenty more magic yet to come.
“Releasing Is it You feels like a powerful new chapter in my journey,” Nardia concludes. “This song is deeply personal, yet universally relatable—it’s about self-reflection, love, and longing. There’s always a mix of excitement and vulnerability when putting something new out into the world, but I can’t wait for people to connect with it in their own way.”
Is It You is out today.
Own Every Scar is due out this July.
SUN 13 APR | BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, BRUNSWICK VIC | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
ATLAS FRANKLIN ALEXANDER SHARES EFFERVESCENT NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘NEW REMEDY’ TAKEN FROM UPCOMING NEW EP ‘FLEXIBLE NEW REPLICA’ OUT MARCH 13
An ethereal exploration into vulnerability, atmospheric whimsy and psych pop elements, the brand-new track New Remedy out today from Newcastle artist Atlas Franklin Alexander wields nostalgic modernity, while also offering glossy insight into what lies in wait at the core of his impending new EP, Flexible New Replica, due March 13, and celebrating its release with an east coast tour, set to hit Wollongong, Sydney and Melbourne in March.
A raw yet resplendent outing that glimmers with touches of Peter Gabriel’s experimental 80s side, Radiohead’s atmospheric dreaminess, Tame Impala’s synth-meets-psych-pop sensibilities and a dash of Kurt Vile’s vulnerability, New Remedy also firmly showcases Atlas Franklin Alexander’s ability to balance modern hues with throwback tendencies, while also traversing extremely relatable lyrical fare in an open-veined fashion, as Atlas Franklin Alexander shares, “New Remedy is about finding clarity in the middle of confusion. It’s that feeling of wanting to fix something that feels broken, but not knowing exactly how. There’s a vulnerability in wanting to make things right, and this song explores that tension. It’s a mix of personal reflection and a kind of quiet desperation for resolution. I think it’s a universal feeling—wanting a “remedy” for what ails you, whether it’s a relationship or just your own inner struggle. In terms of inspiration, it came from a combination of personal experience and the way those emotions often feel heightened in moments of uncertainty. There’s a bit of that ‘80s energy where everything felt bigger—more dramatic—but also something modern, like trying to capture those feelings in today’s world. It’s kind of like a snapshot of a moment when you’re searching for something that feels like it could fix everything, even if you don’t know exactly what that is.”
Teaming up with long-time collaborators Harri Gilbert and Dave Fulham, the accompanying video for New Remedy perfectly encapsulates the single’s otherworldly sonics, while also channelling its lyrical content through abstract yet entirely fitting visuals. “I came up with the concept and directed the video myself with the help of two pals Harri Gilbert and Dave Fulham,” Atlas Franklin Alexander explains. “The video is a bit of an abstract reflection of the song’s themes—like an exploration of the different facets of human experience. You’ve got the green man dancing in the kitchen—he’s kind of a symbol for something that’s “other,” something outside the typical norm. There’s the girl who is in love with a robot—representing that strange tension between human connection and the things we create, I’d say in 5-10 years these kind of relationships with robots will become our reality. Then we have the fortune teller, predicting what is all about to unfold, and finally we got the gang of youths and I’m there, singing the song, trying to make sense of it all. It’s about navigating confusion and finding that piece of clarity, even in the midst of chaos.”
An immersive and holistically DIY labour of love, both New Remedy and its overarching body of work, Flexible New Replica, was written, recorded and produced entirely by Atlas Franklin Alexander, with the six tracks all simultaneously standing alone as separate creative journeys, and carrying a sharp yet cohesive creative thread. From its buoyant opener, New Remedy, Flexible New Replica unfurls into percolating 80s synth wave (Firebird), modern ambience (Crave), lolling atmospheric bliss (Dolphins), ethereal haze built for driving down dark highways at night with the windows rolled down (Young Love) and, ultimately, an uplifting cloud of smooth textures and languid-yet-driving beats via closing track Brighter Days. A deeply engaging collection of tracks that collectively celebrate a retro-future aesthetic, Flexible New Replica is also firmly helmed from start to finish by this talented artist, with the entirely solo endeavour a soaring reflection of catharsis and self-exploration, as he elaborates, “It is a true DIY project—everything from the writing to the recording to the production came from my home studio, where I’ve always felt most connected to the work. I think there’s something deeply personal and reflective in making music this way. It’s not about perfection; it’s about honesty. Each instrument is played by me, each decision made with a purpose, even if it’s an imperfect one. In a way, the song becomes an extension of my environment, my mindset. There’s a certain beauty in the DIY process, in shaping everything from the ground up, even if it’s a little rough around the edges. That’s where the real magic lies for me.”
Hailing from Mulubinba/Newcastle, Atlas Alexander Franklin has dazzled with his post-punk and indie pop wiles over the years, layering lashings of imagination across ambient synths and immersive beats in a way that is both fresh and familiar; and entirely fascinating. Releasing his debut EP ENTER ECHO in 2021, Alexander blends raw emotion into his sonic dreamscapes, offering uplifting messaging and relatability along with resplendent catharsis. And, for Alexander, his musical output is as much a therapy for himself as it is for any of his listeners who venture into his spellbinding creations. “It’s almost like writing music is my form of self-therapy,” shares Alexander. “The drive to understand, to express what’s inside through writing & recording. My song writing came from wanting to create something that was completely real & honest with no outside influences. So yes, it’s definitely like I’m counselling myself through my music lol. I just have always had and will always have this strange impulse to create stuff. Sounds a bit hippie-dippie but music’s always been my way of navigating life, and this project came from wanting to make something completely on my own terms.”
With the imminent release of Flexible New Replica, Atlas Franklin Alexander is also set to embark on a special run of shows in support of the new EP, with the Flexible New Replica Tour visiting Wollongong on March 7, Sydney on March 13 and Melbourne on March 21.
New Remedy is out today.
Flexible New Replica is due out March 13.
ATLAS FRANKLIN ALEXANDER – UPCOMING SHOWS:
Tickets available from https://linktr.ee/atlasfranklinalexander
FRI 7 MAR | TBH, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+
THURS 13 MAR | HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
FRI 21 MAR | LULIES TAVERN, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
BULLY HAY SHARES STIRRING NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘BUSHFIRE MOON’ + DEBUT ALBUM ‘BLACK DOGS AND SONGBIRDS’ DUE OUT OCTOBER 30
Embracing Australian rock with swooning acoustic adornment, the brand new single Bushfire Moon out today from Tasmania singer-songwriter Bully Hay is a stirring new cut taken from his forthcoming debut album Black Dogs And Songbirds, due out on Wednesday October 30. Also accompanied today by a striking music video reflecting actual events, Bushfire Moon is a reflective yet charming outing from this gifted Australian creative and storyteller, with production courtesy of the legendary Jeff Martin of The Tea Party fame.
With each song on the upcoming full length album Black Dogs And Songbirds channelling their own unique sonic flavours, Bushfire Moon effortlessly, and inadvertently, found its way into semi-country-meets-singer-songwriter terrain, with some classic Australian rock undercurrents also flourishing in the steady hands of Bully Hay, aka Jonathon Coleman. Taking inspiration from some of the greats, including Paul Kelly, Bruce Springsteen, Crowded House and Eddie Vedder, Bushfire Moon was also ultimately motivated by real-world events in the aftermath of the bushfires that devastated parts of Bully Hay’s home state. “Bushfire Moon came to me after the Dunalley bushfires in Tasmania a few years ago,” shares Bully Hay. “The fire wiped out most of the Tasman Peninsula and caused a lot of damage and disruption. It ended up cutting off a lot of people from the rest of the island to the point where people could only get on and off the peninsula by boat. So, the community had to band together to get help to those that needed it. It felt like just about anyone that had a boat was ferrying supplies and people back and forth for days because the roads were all blocked with debris from the fires. I had this fictional story in my head inspired by those events of a volunteer firefighter right in the thick of it, fighting the fires and totally exhausted. At some point he knows it’s a lost cause. The situation is hopeless and too far gone and he needs to get out of there. All he can think of is finding his love and he sets out, determined to find her amongst all the chaos.”
Produced, recorded and mixed by Jeff Martin (The Tea Party), who Bully Hay will also support on his Australian tour starting tonight and closing out in October, Bushfire Moon is ultimately “at its core, an acoustic guitar ballad that builds with layers of electric guitars and subtly intertwines a touch of violin”, brought together Bully Hay himself on guitars and vocals, Martin on guitar, Hellhound Brown on slide guitar, Drew Castles on drums, Ben Conicella on bass, and Luke Moller on strings. And also teaming up with Thomas Roach of Roach Media to bring the accompanying visuals for Bushfire Moon to life, the new music video snapshots the unique reality of bushfires in Australia, as Bully Hay elaborates, “We kept it simple with this one and just took the Australian landscape, lit it on fire (not literally, just found footage of it on fire!) and projected that onto me playing through the song. As traumatic as bushfires are, there is something quintessentially Australian about our country where fire is both the great destroyer and creator. So, we wanted that to be a focus of the video.”
Joining earlier singles Wash Off The World and the upcoming new album’s title track, Black Dogs And Songbirds, Bushfire Moon furthers the core notions of change, self-reflection and life’s highs and lows in general beating at the heart of Bully Hay’s debut full length. Along with Bully Hay and Jeff Martin’s incredible fingerprints across the entire album, Black Dogs And Songbirds also brought onboard Paul Pilsneniks (Silverchair, Dope Lemon, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard) on engineering, and Grammy Award-nominated Joe Carra (The Teskey Brothers) on mastering duties, as well as sonic inspiration spanning Soundgarden riffs, Rage Against the Machine basslines, Jeff Buckley, Paul Kelly, Powderfinger, Crowded House, The War On Drugs and, fittingly, Jeff Martin’s own band The Tea Party. Opening with buoyant empowerment via Wash Off The World, Bully Hay bursts into vivid view with heartrending melodics, acoustic flourishes and a glistening sonic reflection of the ocean itself in all of its cleansing and naturally wild beauty. From here, Bully Hay flits between wistful twangs (Breathing Out and I Can Be Your Lover), pensive, stripped-back ruminations (Black Dogs And Songbirds), swooning country hues (Bushfire Moon), an indie love ballad that melts and charms with measured simplicity (The World Is On Fire But You Look So Great), potent storytelling set against swelling textures (Cinnamon Perfume Cabernet), as well as injections of Aussie rock, both upbeat (Flinders Street Station. And whether diving headfirst into woozy and heavier territory (Arrest The Youth and Such Confidence) or buffeting across the album’s gossamer closing track (I Know What You’re Saying Love), Bully Hay not only showcases his dexterous abilities across a sea of different genre elements; he also effortlessly captures the entire gamut of the human existence in 11 powerful tracks.
“All of the song themes are taken from real life inspiration and reflection,” shares Bully Hay of Black Dogs And Songbirds. “Musically, I’m definitely a product of my listening habits and these vary so much from classical and folk music to grunge and metal, rock and acoustic singer songwriters. So perhaps this is why the songs vary a lot in style and are tricky to pinpoint. It’s a very self-reflective album. Most of the songs are about change and dealing with those changes in different ways. That could be rejecting change, embracing change or just noticing that something is happening whether you like it or not. Being true to yourself and recognising your own flaws and unpacking them. The songs differ quite a lot in style and feel. So, the album itself takes the listener on quite a journey. One of the songs on the album (Cinnamon Perfume Cabernet) has a lyric in there: “You cannot have the light without a little bit of darkness” and this very much sums up the experience of listening to this album. There are plenty of moments of light and shade and a little in between. Sums up the highs and lows of life in general.”
A sixth-generation Tassie boy currently based in Southern Tasmania, Bully Hay’s upbringing saw him utterly immersed in music, with his musical family helping to ignite his lifelong passion at an early age. Ultimately sparking his desire to become a musician by his father, who introduced Bully Hay to some chords on the guitar at the tender age of 14, the rest well and truly was history, with the self-taught Coleman going on to learn music by ear, and performed in bands and as a solo artist for the years to follow. Settling on the moniker Bully Hay for his solo endeavours, the name was inspired by Coleman’s uncle who was one of “The Rats of Tobruk” in World War II.
Ahead of the upcoming release of Black Dogs And Songbirds on October 30, Bully Hay will perform some solo acoustic shows supporting Jeff Martin on his Australian solo tour, with Martin performing interpretations of classic David Bowie songs on his Aussie run. Kicking off tonight in Belgrave, Martin and Bully Hay will trek to Melbourne, Adelaide and Cronulla, before closing out on Thursday October 24 in Newcastle. For Bully Hay, the chance to not only tour with Martin but also strip back his own live show is the perfect complement to the origins and creative journey for Black Dogs And Songbirds, as Bully Hay explains, “I couldn’t be more pumped about these shows. Normally these songs would be performed as a 5-6 piece band. But I’m hitting the road first in reverse and supporting Jeff in a solo acoustic format. I love playing these songs solo. In fact, every single song on the album began with just me on an acoustic guitar so it feels very natural. You can expect these songs stripped back and distilled into rather intimate versions. Often, it’s easier to connect with the audience when it’s just you and your guitar. As for Jeff jumping on stage, I would say there’s a strong possibility, but you’ll have to come along and find out!”
And with a national tour with his full band also on the cards following the release of Black Dogs And Songbirds, the best for Bully Hay seems only yet to come.
Bushfire Moon is out today.
Black Dogs And Songbirds is due out Wednesday October 30.
BULLY HAY – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
Acoustic Solo Shows supporting Jeff Martin
FRI 20 SEP | SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix
SAT 21 SEP | CORNER HOTEL, RICHMOND VIC | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix
SAT 5 OCT | JIVE, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
Tickets available from Moshtix
WED 23 OCT | BRASS MONKEY, CRONULLA NSW | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix
THU 24 OCT | KING STREET WAREHOUSE, NEWCASTLE, NSW | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix