FOREST FALLS ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE, HEAVY HEARTED GIRL AND EAST COAST TOUR DATES
Dynamic Melbourne six-piece, Forest Falls have announced the release of their newest single, Heavy Hearted Girl. To celebrate its release, the group has kicked off an east coast Australian tour that has already piqued interest at Smith’s Alternative, Canberra and Brighton Up Bar, Sydney. The tour, showcasing the band’s honed live set, arrives at Federation Square Melbourne on November 13 and continues to Beav’s Bar Geelong on November 16 and The Spotted Mallard Melbourne on November 26.
With the perfect amount of space, beauty, and breathtaking sophistication, Forest Falls dance elegantly about indie, folk, and pop lines and treat us with an alluring host of warm-blooded songs. Their sound is captivating and hypnotising, laden with inviting chants, vibrant arrangements, soaring vocals and sweet, summer’s day harmonies.
The single, Heavy Hearted Girl, is lifted from the recently released EP, Julia and was penned by lead vocalist, Jon O’Neill. Heavy Hearted Girl was initially written as a personal and cathartic experience to help grieve after losing a close friend to depression. “It was only after it was written that we realised the song could act as a catalyst for more discussion and support for those who need it,” explains O’Neill. “This song is a reminder that if you have a friend that you’re worried about, or if you’re suffering yourself, you shouldn’t do it alone. Although the quintessential Australian is supposed to be all about mateship and community, I think the truth is that being vulnerable, or in need of help in any form, can be really scary and conversation is often avoided – especially for young people.”
“If I had to summarise Heavy Hearted Girl in one word it would be solitude,” says O’Neill. And it is this solitude that binds the single with its accompanying video clip, resulting in a simple yet incredibly refined and sensitive work of art. Produced by Brett Tinning and Matt Wilson from Quiet Giant, the video highlights an innate feeling of isolation but restores hope with a beautifully triumphant ending.
Excited to be on the road touring the new single, O’Neill enthuses “Feeding off audience interaction gives us the opportunity to breathe new life into songs which means every live performance is unique in itself. We throw heaps of love, thought, and energy into our shows and really aim to create a different world for both us and the audience to inhabit for the length of our set.”
Having just finished up in the studio with legendary folk producer, Wayne Connolly (The Paper Kites, Josh Pyke, Paul Dempsey) at the helm, Forest Falls are armed with an exciting new EP set for release in 2015.
FOREST FALLS TOUR DATES
WED 5 NOV | SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE CANBERRA ACT | 18+ | 7:00PM DOORS
THUR 6 NOV | BRIGHTON UP BAR SYDNEY NSW | 18+ | 8PM DOORS
THUR 13 NOV | FEDERATION SQUARE MELBOURNE VIC | ALL AGES | 5:30PM START
SUN 16 NOV | BEAV’S BAR GEELONG VIC | 18+ | 7:30PM DOORS
WED 26 NOV | THE SPOTTED MALLARD MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ | 7:30 DOORS
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
HAMISH ANDERSON SET TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE, EP AND AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TOUR OFF THE BACK OF BB KING SUPPORT
Off the back of a ten date US tour, gifted Melbourne guitarist and lyrical wordsmith, Hamish Anderson has announced the release of his new single, Burn (out October 3) and new EP, Restless (out November 7). Anderson will be promoting his new releases with an Australian national tour kick starting at Ding Dong Lounge in Melbourne on November 13 and moving through to Newcastle on November 20, Sydney on November 21, Brisbane on November 26 and finishing up at Ya-Ya’s in Perth on November 28.
With an amazing story unfolding overseas, Anderson has relocated to the US to tour and record, while making a quick trip back to Australia to open saxophone guru from Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, Jake Clemons’ solo performances in Melbourne. Having recently returned to the States to play his own headline shows, Anderson was last week announced as the support act for blues legend, BB King on his national US tour which will see the young Aussie play at such iconic venues as House Of Blues in Chicago and BB King Blues Club in New York amongst others. He’ll then be representing Australia with several showcases at the infamous CMJ Music Marathon in New York next month.
Lead single, Burn is an adrenaline-charged blues explosion, infused with classic guitar riffs and dramatic drumbeats. Influenced by music from the Mississippi Delta alongside classic rock of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and others, Anderson has incorporated his extensive musical knowledge in to a sound that is entirely his own. With a growing reputation for guitar skills well beyond his tender twenty three years, acclaimed guitarist Gary Clark Jnr has even taken note of Anderson’s talent and when asked which guitarists under 30 interested him during an interview for RevoltTV, Clark Jnr named Hamish Anderson first.
The beautifully shot video for Burn, directed by Ian Corson (Paramount, HBO, Warner Bros) sees a game of cat and mouse between a girl and a guy through a mysterious, old mansion in the Canyon area of LA. “I’ve spent a lot of time in LA this year, hanging around areas like Laurel Canyon and Venice which are famous for people like Jim Morrison and Neil Young having lived there in the 60’s… In fact, Laurel Canyon and its musical legacy really inspired the video and its themes,” explains Anderson.
Recorded live in three days on the floor at Henson Studios (Joni Mitchell, Rolling Stones, Carole King) in LA with Krish Sharma (Rolling Stones, Counting Crowes) at the helm, the Restless EP features some world class musicians including Grammy Award Winner, Greg Leisz (Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen) on floor steel guitar and Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley) on drums. Anderson reveals his thought process for the EP, saying, “I wanted the recording to capture the sound, to be like a Polaroid. Imperfections and all.” The collection of songs on the release were inspired by Anderson’s friendships, relationships and occasionally the losses of both.
After having been in the US for most of the year, Anderson is keen to return to Australia to perform on home soil. “It’s been a while since I’ve played shows around Australia, so I’m very excited to get back over there and hit the road!” beams Hamish. “People can expect almost a totally new set list, a lot of guitar and a mixture of genres and sounds.“
Tickets for the Hamish Anderson Australian tour go on sale September 30.
HAMISH ANDERSON AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
THUR 13 NOV | DING DONG LOUNGE MELBOURNE | 18+
Tickets available from hamishanderson.oztix.com.au
THUR 20 NOV | SIDE BAR @ CAMBRIDGE HOTEL NEWCASTLE | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.bigtix.com.au
FRI 21 NOV | OAF SYDNEY | 18+
Tickets available on the door
WED 26 NOV | THE BEARDED LADY BRISBANE | 18+
Free entry
FRI 28 NOV | YA-YA’S PERTH | 18+
Tickets available from hamishanderson.oztix.com.au
HAMISH ANDERSON TOUR DATES WITH BB KING
Sep. 27 – Comerica Theatre — Phoenix, AZ – http://bit.ly/1pJQcDr
Oct. 3 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL: http://bit.ly/1rLX9eI
Oct. 5 – Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences — Charleston, WV: http://bit.ly/1qIiv9l
Oct 9 – The Paramount Theatre – Rutland, VT – http://bit.ly/1p4pWDB
Oct. 11 – Wellmont Theatre – Montclair, NJ: http://bit.ly/1lyhKR0
Oct. 12 – B.B. King Blues Club – New York, NY: http://bit.ly/1AsMLY1
Oct. 15 – Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead – Munhall, PA: http://ticketf.ly/1uGJHpD
HAMISH ANDERSON US TOUR DATES
Sept. 10th — Hemingway’s, Los Angeles, CA: http://bit.ly/1l9CH4r
Sept. 17th — Fifty Seven Club, Los Angeles, CA – http://bit.ly/1rvQDZw
Sept 24th — Fifty Seven Club, Los Angeles, CA – http://bit.ly/1qHUeNB
Oct. 21 – Stubbs, Austin, TX: http://bit.ly/1qxP9KD
Oct. 24-25 — CMJ showcases, NYC: The Bitter End & Drom
“With Hendrix-inspired guitar riffs and extended solos, Anderson tore up the stage, simultaneously reviving and reinventing the blues.” −
Beat Magazine (Dina Amin)
“He’s a talent that provides an exhibition that is addictive to watch, and gives total bang for your buck if you get the chance to witness it.” –
The Music Melbourne Magazine (Izzy Tolhurst)