GEORGIA FIELDS SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘HOLDING MY HANDS OUT’
Ever-engaging and perpetually cutting-edge, indie shapeshifter Georgia Fields once again wows with elegant ease on her bold new track Holding My Hands Out, officially released today.
A magnetic showing of fearless art-pop and searing vulnerability, Holding My Hands Out marks another sublime insight into Georgia’s upcoming third full-length album Hiraeth. The new track is accompanied by a bewitching, kaleidoscopic music video – in which we see Georgia ominously expel moths from her mouth – firmly reflecting thematic notions of rebirth, and the dark depths of the subconscious.
Georgia will be celebrating the single’s release with an all ages matinee show at Wesley Anne on Sunday July 10.
Holding My Hands Out dazzles in textural dexterity, powerful melodics, and the compelling vocal stylings of Georgia herself – as she strides freely from breathy serenity to dauntless power. Brought to life by producer, engineer & drummer Josh Barber (Gretta Ray, Emma Anglesey, Gotye), the recording process saw Georgia and Josh experiment with found objects, crafting the track’s distinctive snare sample by layering half-broken children’s toys and vintage wood percussion. Terracotta pots were played melodically with felted sticks. Finally, with the addition of Georgia’s string quartet Andromeda, it’s little wonder the end result is otherworldly, immersive and lush; a perfect adjunct to the single’s inspiration and narrative content, as Georgia elaborates:
“It’s a song about that primal desire we all have to be held. It’s about reaching your hands out for comfort, but grasping at shadows. From a songwriting perspective, I was inspired by the simple yet anthemic choruses of artists like Sarah Blasko, Weyes Blood and Sharon van Etten. I was also hugely impacted by the novel Islands, by Australian author Peggy Frew. There’s something about Peggy’s writing that cuts straight to my heart – I’ve found all her novels deeply affecting. Holding My Hands Out is partly written from the perspective of her character June, as well as June’s mother, Helen.”
The video for Holding My Hands Out features the eleventh collaboration between Georgia and independent director and cinematographer Rohan Spong. Georgia emphatically stands front-and-centre, embodying the poignant lyrics and oscillating emotives, styled in striking, statement sleeves by iconic Australian label Sass & Bide and a custom piece from Anna Cordell Clothing. As to the video concept and final mesmerising end result, Georgia shares:
“Something very special happens when I hand a song over to Rohan. His visual interpretation of my music always reveals a deeper understanding of my own songs back to me. I rarely present a video concept; I’m always keen to hear what the song sparks in his mind’s eye.”
“For Holding My Hands Out, we wanted to play with light, colour and shadow, referencing the lyrics ‘you move like a shadow’. Rohan had this idea that I could cough up moths, and they would swarm above me like a cloud of unspoken menace. I loved this because moths represent transformation and rebirth, but also disguise, our hidden nature, and the night – the realm of the subconscious. To create that feeling of non-space, or the internal landscape (similar to The Void in Stranger Things), we filmed in both the cyclorama and black room at DCF Studios in Thornbury.”
Since emerging onto the Melbourne music scene in 2010 with her critically-acclaimed self-titled debut album, Georgia has continued to sonically surprise her audience. Her solo show sees the genre-defying trailblazer swap between electric guitar, vintage keyboards, and textural live looping. Georgia is also regularly joined by her 4- piece band of multi-instrumentalists, and frequently collaborates with the Andromeda String Quartet in an ethereal, art music / chamber folk crossover. In 2020, she launched Mother Lode: an online community for self-employed musicians who are mothers.
Now, Georgia sets her sights firmly on the release of her third studio album Hiraeth; a follow-up from 2016’s Astral Debris, which garnered airplay on Douple J, ABC Radio National and community radio nationwide. Inspired by the Welsh word with no direct English translation, Georgia’s new body of work explores “a profound longing for a home you can’t return to…the nostalgia/grief for the lost places of your past”. Holding My Hands Out is a salient snippet of what’s to come on Hiraeth, while ultimately offering Georgia the chance to turn her creative verve outward once more, as she concludes:
“The process of songwriting and recording is quite an internal one for me – so I’m really looking forward to shifting my focus; sharing this song with the world, and seeing how it connects with people. It’s a vulnerable feeling, but also quite joyful.”
Holding My Hands Out is out Friday 17 June. Hiraeth is due in November 2022.
This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, as well as the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
HOLDING MY HANDS OUT SINGLE LAUNCH
SUN 10 JUL | WESLEY ANNE, NORTHCOTE | 3PM MATINEE | AA
CHRISTIAN RUIZ SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘MISS YOU’
Glossy artist and producer Christian Ruiz has shared Miss You; an effervescent slice of soothing electronic pop released today, June 15. A track detailing unexpected connections alongside calm hooks and airy vocals, as well as Christian’s debut single as a solo artist, Miss You is also accompanied by a music video to dynamically transport you into Christian’s magnetic creative world.
Miss You bubbles with warm electronic instrumentation, hypnotic rhythmics and Christian’s buoyant delivery throughout, morphing hints of The Weeknd, Ryan Tedder and Justin Bieber beneath Christian’s fresh charm; a fact made even more cohesive with mastering on the single by Colin Leonard who has previously worked alongside Justin Bieber, as well as Beyonce, Paul McCartney and Migos. Equally melodic, sentimental and irresistibly passionate, Miss You also showcases a resounding narrative, centred around accidental meetings, apprehension and, finally, acceptance, as Christian elaborates, “It’s about finding someone you didn’t expect to come across, knowing you have a strong connection with them, but being too afraid to admit it and then denying it.”
The film clip for Miss You enhances the delicate subject matter and swooning arrangements, with Christian editing, co-producing and co-directing the video alongside cinematographer Joshua Menzel. Perfectly reflecting the shift in mood and lyrics throughout the glistening tune, from gnawing negativity to ultimate acceptance, the clip places Christian firmly on display as he personally moves through the emotive journey towards an optimistic conclusion, as he elaborates, “The basic concept of the clip is me being in a desolate place, struggling to get through life and being transported to a dark place with a build up of thoughts. But it has a positive ending which brings authenticity to the song’s honest meaning.”
Mixed by Liam Quinn (Rita Ora, Ruel, Illy), Miss You may mark the first official chapter in Christian’s solo artistic adventure, but he’s certainly no stranger to the musical realms, starting from a young age when he was drawn to teaching himself how to record and produce, before moving on to work as a producer and, finally, arriving at his dream pathway in 2022: creating and releasing his own music. Prior to unveiling Miss You, Christian produced hip hop music, and had travelled to Los Angeles and Atlanta to work with artists and producers, leading to him being offered a contract with the godfather of trap music Zaytoven (Usher, The Weeknd, Drake, Young Thug, 21 Savage). But with a door unexpectedly closing, having to return back home to Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some soul-searching ultimately revealed to Christian an open and extremely ready creative window; and one he is ready to share with the world, as he explains, “It feels exciting and scary at the same time to release something so close to my heart. I hope that people will relate and resonate with what I have created.”
Miss You is out today, June 15.
LOCAL THE NEIGHBOUR ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘POINT GUARD’
Melbourne-via-Darwin artist Local the Neighbour returns today with a shimmering new single Point Guard. An affably effortless outing from a seasoned musician, Point Guard pays tribute to loved ones and connections as Local the Neighbour, aka jazz-drummer-turned-indie-rock-connoisseur David Quested, explores personal thematics and jangly melodics with nimble flair. Amping up the optimism and wholesome feels, Local the Neighbour has also today released a Super 8 charmer, with the track’s accompanying music video perfectly capturing Point Guard’s endearing themes and vibes.
Point Guard bustles with plush reverb, driving beats and creamy vocals courtesy of David himself, calling to mind the effortless ease of Gang of Youths while also deftly showcasing David’s soft gravelled croon. Entirely self-produced with mastering courtesy of Huntley Miller, who has also mastered albums for some of David’s heroes Hippo Campus and Bon Iver, Point Guard is a glistening blend of congenial modernity and measured laidback ease as David continues to sharpen his blossoming adoration and innate knack for indie music. Infusing glowing sincerity stemming directly from David’s own experiences, Point Guard takes the lead as a fun, friendly and frothy offering that is equal parts relatable and irresistible. Of the track’s personal exploration into relationships and vulnerability, “Point Guard is about the gratitude and hopes you have for your loved one. To me it’s about my girlfriend, but at the end of the day it’s about anyone you love and find comfort in being vulnerable with – whether it be a friend, partner, family, or stranger on the street. For me it’s tough to do that, so I’m glad I have someone I can do that with!”
The video for Point Guard perfectly complements this genial intent, with the single’s music video bringing nostalgic home movie visuals to the table. Made entirely by David and his girlfriend, and complete with karaoke-ready bouncing ball lyrics, the clip follows an adorable narrative complete with dogs, waterfalls, sun-drenched trees and David and his girlfriend living their best peaceful lives. With real-life love on full display, it’s impossible not to fall head over heels even more for Local the Neighbour’s new single and clip, which was inspired not only by relationships but also a passion for antiques, as David explains, “The song is about my girlfriend, and for my birthday and Christmas (they’re very close together) last year, she and some friends and family bought me a vintage Super 8 camera. I love old things and the history they have, so it felt really fitting to run a bunch of film through it and create a music video with that camera, documenting parts of our lives at the time.”
Originally growing up in Darwin before moving to Melbourne to study music, David’s significant background in jazz has seen him study at both the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and at UCLA in Los Angeles alongside the likes of Clayton Cameron (Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr) and George Bohanon (Earth, Wind & Fire), while also performing with ARIA award-winning jazz musicians and appearing as a feature artist in the 2021 Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Fusing his infatuation with the boundless creativity of jazz with his ultimate musical passion, indie rock, David brings a sharp execution to his expertly-crafted new material under the Local the Neighbour moniker; an effortless lesson in technicality with an everyman charm that offers a musical companion to those needing hope in life’s less-than-rosy moments.
Point Guard is out today.