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!”
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
RÜFÜS ANNOUNCE NAME CHANGE FOR NORTH AMERICA
Ahead of their debut appearance at SXSW, RÜFÜS have announced they are changing their name and will be known as RÜFÜS DU SOL in North America, remaining as RÜFÜS across the rest of the world.
The change comes after months of strongly worded letters and colourful internal debate regarding an existing US trademark on the name Rufus. Jon, James and Tyrone from the band did not want to make the name change, but came to the realisation that they would be forced to in order to officially release their #1 ARIA and J award nominated debut record, ATLAS in North America.
The album will be released by Columbia records in the US and Canada, making RÜFÜS just the second Aussie export to be signed to the US powerhouse label since 80’s legends, Men at Work and indie rock darlings, The Temper Trap. “It’s pretty humbling being on the same label as so many iconic artists,” explains vocalist Tyrone Lindqvist. “I still have my Fugees CD with the big Columbia stamp on it…. not sure if they are gonna try to do that to ATLAS,” he jokes.
RÜFÜS will be heading over to tour the US and Canada in March to play a run of fifteen shows set to kick off in San Francisco on March 7, heading through Austin for SXSW, up north to Calgary and Vancouver, finishing off in Denver in early April (tour dates listed far below). Excited for the international tour and particularly looking forward to playing at SXSW in March Lindqvist says, “we’ve been told all the creepy stories about not getting sound-checks and it taking an hour to carry all your gear from venue to venue on foot because of the crowds…so we’re expecting it to be like that time you fell off your skateboard bombing your local hill as a kid – it hurt a lot but all you remember is how good it felt!”
In other exciting news on home turf, RÜFÜS managed to chalk up an impressive three tracks in Triple J’s Hottest 100 on the weekend, including Tonight at #91, Desert Night at #34, Take Me at #21 and an additional two songs in the top 200 including Sundream at #184 and Unforgiven at #191.
And be sure to keep an ear out over the next few weeks for some very exciting tour news on the home front.