SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER FLUIR ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘HIGHER GROUND’
Empowered songwriter and producer Fluir has today announced her stellar new single Higher Ground, a hook-laden, uplifting track that encourages listeners to break away from the dull routines that can sometimes take over our lives, out May 17. The upcoming electronic artist worked with the renowned producer Sam Littlemore (Pnau, Tonite Only) on the exciting new track.
Higher Ground is one of those songs that manages to combine a number of different genres – dance, pop, electronic – in a sophisticated, not to mention inherently catchy, way. Evocative of the work of artists such as RÜFÜS DU SOL, Kilter and Alice Ivy, Higher Ground drives forward with propelling percussion, intricate production and gentle, assured vocals from Fluir. Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, Fluir says, “In the past I’ve spent unnecessary energy worrying about what to say and how to say it lyrically. For this song, I wanted to be free from that and allow the music to be at the forefront. This track is about the freedom and excitement of getting lost in music and chasing the night with friends, wherever that may lead.”
Produced alongside Sam Littlemore of Pnau, Higher Ground is for lovers of the dancefloor. Fluir offers a little insight into her experience working with Sam, as she describes, “I wrote Higher Ground with Sam Littlemore while recording and producing my previous two singles Change and Feeling For You, both released last year. I spent a couple weeks at Sam’s home studio in Sydney where we worked together on all three tracks simultaneously. I performed Higher Ground live while recently supporting Nyxen on her Australian tour and the crowd seemed to connect with it, so I’m really excited about this release.”
Fluir is not only a killer musician, but also an Enviornmental Consultant. After reducing her work hours and relocating to Sydney to pursue music as a full-time career, Fluir has really hit her stride; sold out shows, triple j airplay and several festival appearances suggest big things to come. Sharing a little insight into what inspires her as an artist, Fluir enthuses, “I’m constantly inspired by fellow DIY musicians and artists. Being a self-managed independent artist, being able to connect and collaborate with like-minded creatives always inspires me.”
Higher Ground is out May 17.
LA-BASED AUSSIE LILI KENDALL ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO LOVE, HERSELF.
Australian born, LA based songwriter Lili Kendall has today announced her divine new single love, herself, out today Friday April 26. love, herself is a serene, blissful track; an ode to love and everything that comes along with the strength of true passion. Lili has also released a glorious clip for love, herself, sugar-coated and bright, directed by Cole Needham (Shae Jacobs, Cat Spare).
love, herself is both wonderously timeless, describing the highs of being in love, and also incredibly modern, with on-the-pulse production reminiscent of SZA and Ariana Grande. Lili’s voice glides on love, herself, and she sings with a confidence and assurance well beyond her years. Speaking about writing the song, Lili reveals, “When I was originally writing the song in the studio I was singing ‘I think I am in love with love itself’ – then something came over me, and I just started singing ‘herself’ instead. It made so much sense to me. I wanted to bring light to the divine feminine in not only every being but every atom, the collective energy that is love, herself.”
The clip for love, herself feels like a feast – every shot is stunning, meticulously put together, and deeply pleasing to the eye. Lili is surrounded by love; as she sits encircled by friends, and even sitting alone, the viewer can feel a strong, heavenly, feminine energy exuding through her presence. Working with director Cole Needham, Lili explains the ideas behind the clip, “We wanted to keep it clean and simple, like a cherry on top of the song. It accents the story and emotion of love, herself perfectly to me. I really just wanted to showcase that thing in all of us, what makes us all love and connect to one another.”
Lili has been living in LA for two years, working on her craft and growing into her own – and it looks like her work is going to pay off in the form of her debut album later in 2019. Honest and captivating, Lili describes her journey over the last couple of years, “I spent most of the first year in LA lost and confused. The second year I stopped relying on people, and made my own way into studios as a writer instead of an artist. After over six months of writing, I realised I had so much music on my laptop that I could create 10 albums. So I chose my favourite songs, the ones I really connected to, and I began crafting my debut album.”
love, herself the single is out now.
HAMISH ANDERSON ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘BREAKING DOWN’ + NEW ALBUM OUT OF MY HEAD OUT MAY 2019 + NATIONAL AUSTRALIAN TOUR SUPPORTING GARY CLARK JR.
Melbourne’s own roots/rock aficionado Hamish Anderson is gearing up for a massive 2019, with the release of his latest single Breaking Down, a gritty, threatening rock track that must be listened to with the volume knob fully cranked, out now. Breaking Down is an early taste of the upcoming album from Hamish, entitled Out Of My Head; an eclectic and exciting collection of songs from this young artist who has already blown the world away with his talent, out May 2019. Hamish will play his first Australian shows since 2017 alongside the one and only Gary Clark Jr. as main support, kicking off in Sydney at the Enmore Theatre on April 18, then moving through Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, and wrapping up at the Perth Concert Hall on April 27.
On Breaking Down, it’s pretty easy to see why Total Guitar named Hamish Anderson one of their Top 10 Best New Guitarists in 2018 – like a bull at a gate, chugging guitars provide an irresistibly catchy bed for some ripper riffs the track progresses. This track is overflowing with pent-up frustration and undeniable passion, and it’s a mouth-watering concoction for some killer classic Americana-rock, as Hamish explains, “Breaking Down definitely explores the more rock and roll side of my music. I was sitting around one day playing guitar and suddenly just started playing the riff, all the lyrics came basically at once so it was written very quickly. I’d had an argument earlier that week with someone I know so I think some of that definitely crept into its inspiration. I just wanted to turn the volume all the way up and get out everything that was on my mind.”
While Breaking Down is a superb example of rollicking rock, it is just one of many genres that Hamish dips his toes into on the new album Out Of My Head. Americana, soul, pop, roots, blues, rock; that’s a lot of ground to cover, but Hamish does it with a natural ease that’s far beyond his years. The mellow (What You Do To Me, Damaged Goods) and the upbeat (No Good, You Give Me Something) tracks on this record sit comfortably next to each other; all buoyed by a knack for clever, hook-driven songwriting and a clear, burning passion that drives the music from the first strum to the last. Hamish enthuses, “I really wanted to take my time and write as many songs as I could for this album. I wasn’t writing to a specific genre or sound, rather I let the songs reveal what they wanted to be… The album explore themes of alienation and defiance, mixed with unabashed love songs and even observations on what’s happening in the world around us. Certain songs had themes that I hadn’t explored in my writing previously. I feel I really went a lot deeper in the writing of these songs then I had ever done before. Most are universal feelings that I feel people can relate to. Once again, I got very lucky to work with a really great, talented group of people on Out Of My Head including producer Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Tedeschi Trucks, Wilco) who I had worked with on my debut album Trouble. Jim is an incredible producer/engineer and we work in a very similar way — it’s always an amazing experience working with him.”
Anyone who presses play on Breaking Down will no doubt understand that this is the kind of music that is made to be played live to a pulsing, enthusiastic crowd. Hamish is thrilled to be hitting the road with the legendary Gary Clark Jr., as he gives fans a taste of what to expect, “I’ve been working so much in the US for the past four years that to be coming home to play – and especially these particular shows supporting Gary Clark Jr (who i’m a massive fan of) — is truly huge for me. Regarding the live shows, people can expect a mixture of blues, rock and roll and soul. I’m playing as a trio at the moment so it allows us to get down to the meat and potatoes of the songs, rock and roll with no frills. I’ve played so many different type of gigs over the past four years that as a performer I think I’ve become more confident, focused and I’m just having a lot of fun with it.”
HAMISH ANDERSON AUSTRALIAN TOUR (SUPPORTING GARY CLARK JNR)
THURS 18 APRIL | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://www.livenation.com.au
TUE 23 APRIL | CANBERRA THEATRE, CANBERRA ACT | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://www.livenation.com.au
WED 24 APRIL | FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.livenation.com.au
THURS 25 APRIL | THEBARTON THEATRE, ADELAIDE SA
Tickets available from https://www.livenation.com.au
SAT 27 APRIL | PERTH CONCERT HALL, PERTH WA
Tickets available from https://www.livenation.com.au
www.hamishandersonmusic.com