DONNARUMMA ANNOUNCES DEBUT SINGLE + VIDEO LOVE YOUR MAN + NEW EP BILLY BILLY + EAST COAST TOUR
Donnarumma have today announced their raucous debut single Love Your Man, a horn-bouyed heavy hitter that leaves little to the imagination, out June 2. The trio have also dropped a spectacularly menacing clip to accompany the track, directed by Lewis Brideson (Last Dinosaurs, West Thebarton Brothel Party). Love Your Man is the first taste of the upcoming EP from the guys, Billy Billy, due for release on June 30. Donnarumma will be hitting the road to celebrate Love Your Man and Billy Billy throughout July, hitting up Adelaide, Melbourne, Wollongong and Sydney along the way.
Love Your Man is undeniable in many ways; those drums, those horns, that hook – you better love your man, love your man, delivered with just the right concoction of desperation, frustration and bubbling, tenuous anger. With hints of jazz influences that filter through the likes of The Cat Empire, and notable production and arrangement references to Gang of Youths, Donnarumma have devised a unique and innovative composition in Love Your Man. The accompanying clip, with its scorned female conceiving cruel and perilous circumstances for her unfortunate lover, reflects the frenzied nature of the song perfectly. Speaking on the song and its unforgettable, ominous video, lead singer Louis Donnarumma says, “Love Your Man is about the jealousy that warped my perception of a relationship I was once in. The song travels back to a time where I felt betrayed by my partner – what an innocent boy I was! The video shows this toxic relationship where the girl goes insane, kidnaps her partner and tries to kill him – then it is revealed that he’s been cheating on her the whole time and he ends up getting what he deserves. Sounds ridiculous I know, but we tried to be as over the top as we could be. It’s like those moments when you’re so angry you picture the most outrageous stories in your head. We find it amusing and love the irony; there’s this man singing how he doesn’t feel loved, but does nothing but betray her!”
Billy Billy, the EP that Donnarumma have been honing and crafting for a year, provides a fine example of a band that understand how to express the highest highs and the lowest lows of the human experience. Not only do they express, but they communicate with the listener, through punchy horn lines, irresistible rhythmic turns and hooky lyrics. Drawing from a wide net of influences cast as far as Nina Simone to Arcade Fire, Billy Billy was engineered by Tom Barnes (The Shaolin Afronauts) and includes guests Paige Court (MANE), Maggie Rutjens (Timberwolf), and Ollie English on backing vocals. Reflecting on the record, Louis remarks, “Firstly, the main message in these songs is one of feeling lost as you’re growing up. I imagine Billy as being a general name for anyone that’s feeling lost with the whole business. I feel like not many songs nowadays tackle this issue and it’s one that hits close to home, so I had to share it. The other biggy is love, but not the way most people go about it, we have no rose coloured glasses so all of our love songs are about loves that have been lost.”
After experiencing Donnarumma through the speakers it’s pretty clear that this is a band that simply must be seen live. Luckily for audiences the trio will be hitting up a bunch of venues along the east coast of the country and in their hometown of Adelaide throughout July. Excited to be hitting the road, Louis gives audiences a taste of what to expect, “Loud guitars, a drummer that jumps around and a bass that looks like a huge violin is just the start. Armed with those, and a bunch of songs both from the EP and brand new, the live shows will leave you singing the hooks hours after you go home.”
Love Your Man will be available from June 2 and Billy Billy will be released on June 30.
DONNARUMMA ‘BILLY BILLY’ SHOWS
SAT 1 JULY | GRACE EMILY HOTEL, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
FRI 7 JULY | WHOLE LOTTA LOVE, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
THURS 13 JULY | RAD BAR, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+
FRI 14 JULY | THE TOWNIE, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Free Show
HELEN SHANAHAN ANNOUNCES VIDEO FOR CAMOUFLAGED + NEW ALBUM EVERY LITTLE STING + ALBUM TOUR
Helen Shanahan has today announced her new single and video Camouflaged (out April 28), the perfect follow up to previous single I Only Hide, expressing curiousity as to who she would be without the burden of anxiety. Camouflaged is another taste of Helen’s new album Every Little Sting – a versatile, considered and skillful collection of folk-country tunes from the outstanding songwriter, set for release on May 5. To celebrate the release, Helen will be hitting the road throughout May, kicking off on May 5 at Fly By Night Musician’s Club in Fremantle, then moving through Margaret River, Yallingup, Melbourne and wrapping up on June 1 at Petersham Bowling Club in New South Wales.
Moody, yet buoyed by casually-cool percussive rhythms, Camouflaged is like frustration encapsulated in a piece of music. “What would it be like if I wasn’t always hiding away, when everybody shows their face”, asks an exasperated Helen in her heartstopping falsetto, accompanied by the pulsing band that perfectly represents the ever-present nature of anxiety. Working with filmmaker Brendan Joel (Jacob Diamond, Sam Perry), who she also worked with on her 2015 release Across The Sea, Helen has released a stunning, one-take video to accompany Camouflaged. Reflecting on the song and the idea behind the impactful clip, Helen says, “Camouflaged is about realising you have to back yourself, and believe in yourself in order to be heard. I so often find I prefer to stay in the background, but when it comes to my music, I realised I needed to do the best I could to put myself out there instead of being ‘camouflaged’… This clip mirrors my previous single I Only Hide with themes of wanting to break free from anxiety and to be comfortable in my own skin. Themes of ‘breaking out’ of my anxious self to experience the joy of being ‘wild’ and ‘free’ come through in the chorus scenes when I am playing with my band in a vibrant setting.”
Camouflaged is but one example of the soft, subtle power of Helen Shanahan’s songwriting, which is on full display on her new album Every Little Sting. Recorded and produced in Nashville, the perfect place to hone her country-inspired catalogue, Every Little Sting is a triumph for the inspired songwriter. Helen’s understated voice tackles even the most intricate phrases with utmost ease and remains the standout musical factor throughout the record, despite the powerful playing that accompanies her. Recorded with producer Brad Jones (Missy Higgins, Bob Evans, Melody Pool), Every Little Sting features the adept skills of drummer Jason Cheek, string player and arranger Chris Carmichael (Taylor Swift, Buddy Guy, Jessica Mauboy), and Helen’s husband Matt Allen and the Grammy-nominated Kim Richey on backing vocals. Helen reflects on the process and the themes explored in Every Little Sting, “The calibre of the musicians in Nashville was out of this world, I felt lucky to even be in the same room most of the time…The main theme that runs through the album is having anxiety, and being more sensitive to issues that arise in daily life. The title track Every Little Sting is a good summation of the album, that I feel everything strongly – which is a blessing and a curse as it has been the inspiration for many of my songs, but at the same time has been a hard thing to deal with. The album looks at feelings of being stretched thin, and feeling overwhelmed in Paper Thin. The album is balanced with some songs I wrote many years ago about my now husband, Now You’re My Baby and Cover Is Blown. The album is a mixture of emotions, but hopefully finds a good balance between light and dark.”
Helen Shanahan will be bring Every Little Sting out on tour, where audiences will have a chance to experience her remarkable talent at intimate venues across the country. Helen gives fans a sneak preview of what to expect from the shows, “If you are planning to come to the launch at the Fly By Night Musicals Club, you can see the album played in full by my band (also known as the Shanaband) and a string quartet. Strings were a massive part of the album, and it will be amazing to showcase the arrangements live. For the rest of the dates, it will be myself and my husband Matt singing and playing in duo form. I’m hoping that later in the year I can get my full band and strings out on the road if people are liking what they hear!”
HELEN SHANAHAN ‘EVERY LITTLE STING’ SHOWS
FRI 5 MAY | FLY BY NIGHT MUSICIANS CLUB, FREMANTLE WA | 18+ **FULL BAND SHOW**
Tickets available from www.flybynight.org | (08) 9430 5208|
SAT 6 MAY | COLONIAL BREWING CO, MARGARET RIVER WA | ALL AGES
Free entry | (08) 9758 8177
SUN 7 MAY |CAVES HOUSE , YALLINGUP WA | ALL AGES
Free entry |(08) 9750 1888
SAT 13th MAY | SOME VELVET MORNING, VIC | 18+
Tickets available from www.velmo.com.au
THURS JUNE 1 | PETERSHAM BOWLING CLUB, NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.trybooking.com/PQTS | (02) 9569 4639
PETE MURRAY RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE ‘TAKE ME DOWN’ + ALBUM ‘CAMACHO’ AND 33-DATE NATIONAL TOUR
Byron Bay singer-songwriter and one of Australia’s most loved musicians, Pete Murray has today released his new single, Take Me Down (out now), alongside the announcement of his sixth studio album, Camacho – available June 2. With over one million album sales to his name, the quiet achiever of Australian music will showcase new tracks and old favourites on an epic 33-date national Camacho Tour that will kickstart in Lismore on July 12 and finish up in Darwin on September 9.
Beat-driven and anthemic, Take Me Down cleverly reveals a new direction for Pete, yet still manages to feel like a catch up with an old friend – his smooth, familiar voice both warm and inviting. “Take me down is about a beautiful relationship with an unknown future,” insights Pete. “It’s about not knowing how much time is left and being in the moment. It’s emotive, moody, sexual and vulnerable.”
Determined to shake things up and find a fresh sound for the album, Pete explored different writing and recording techniques. “My main goal was to work with loops and beats and to have a cool, phat drum sound,” says Pete. He collaborated with hip hop producer Trials (AB Original) to achieve the drum sounds he was looking for, and saddled up with an array of well-known industry talent to get the Camacho show on the road. “There was only one guy that I was interested in mixing this album and that was Eric J Dubowsky. He was starting to do a lot of phat, warm sounds and I really wanted this flavour of mixing on my album.” Also in the assemblage was Aussie producer Tony Buchen (Montaigne, The Preatures, Bob Evans), Sydney-based producer One Above aka Andrew Burford (Hilltop Hoods, Drapht, Allday), and ARIA winning producer Jon Hume (Matt Corby, Lisa Mitchell).
“The thing I wanted to do different with this album was to take my time and get it right. So many times in the past I have jumped into a studio for 4 – 6 weeks and recorded an album. Once the recording time is over, so is the album,” explains Pete, “with Camacho there was no rush, it was going to be finished when it was finished.”
And finished it is – guaranteed to be lapped up by new and old fans alike, Pete Murray has delivered a cool, uplifting, emotive, and powerful album and it will be celebrated and brought to life on the greatly anticipated Camacho Tour. Following sell-out shows across the country, the 33-date tour will take in capital cities and a host of regional centres throughout July, August and September.
Pumped to hit the road and play his new tunes for fans across Australia, Pete enthuses, “I’ll be taking the full band on the road and heading to a stack of places I haven’t been to in a while. I’m also really excited about playing the new music for the first time and cannot wait to get out there and see the crowd’s reaction.”
Camacho is set for release on June 2 and is available to pre-order from www.petemurray.com – all album iTunes pre-orders will instantly receive the Take Me Down single.
PETE MURRAY NATIONAL CAMACHO TOUR
Presented by TEG LIVE
WED 12 JUL | LISMORE CITY HALL, LISMORE NSW | LIC AA
THU 13 JUL | VILLA NOOSA, NOOSAVILLE, QLD | 18+
FRI 14 JUL | THE TIVOLI THEATRE, BRISBANE, QLD | 18+
THU 20 JUL | GREAT WESTERN HOTEL, ROCKHAMPTON, QLD | LIC AA
FRI 21 JUL | RACEHORSE HOTEL, IPSWICH, QLD | 18+
SAT 22 JUL | THE STAR GOLD COAST, QLD | LIC AA
SUN 23 JUL | REDLAND BAY HOTEL, REDLAND BAY, QLD | 18+
WED 26 JUL | CEX COFFS HARBOUR, NSW | 18+
THU 27 JUL | THE CAMBRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE, NSW | 18+
FRI 28 JUL | THE ENTRANCE LEAGUES CLUB, BATEAU BAY | 18+
SAT 29 JUL | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW | LIC AA
THU 3 AUG | NAUTILUS THEATRE, PORT LINCOLN, SA | LIC AA
FRI 4 AUG | HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ADELAIDE, SA | LIC AA
SAT 5 AUG | LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE, WARRNAMBOOL, VIC | LIC AA
WED 9 AUG | EASTBANK THEATRE, SHEPPARTON, VIC | LIC AA
THU 10 AUG | CHELSEA HEIGHTS HOTEL, CHELSEA HEIGHTS, VIC | 18+
FRI 11 AUG | WREST POINT SHOWROOM, HOBART, TAS | 18+
SAT 12 AUG | LAUNCESTON COUNTRY CLUB, LAUNCESTON, TAS | LIC AA
THU 17 AUG | BATEMANS BAY SOLDIERS CLUB, BATEMANS BAY, NSW | 18+
FRI 18 AUG | WAVES, WOLLONGONG, NSW | 18+
SAT 19 AUG | CANBERRA THEATRE, CANBERRA, ACT | LIC AA
SUN 20 AUG | BEER DELUXE, ALBURY, NSW | 18+
WED 23 AUG | ULUMBARRA THEATRE, BENDIGO, VIC | LIC AA
THU 24 AUG | REGENT MULTIPLEX THEATRE, BALLARAT, VIC | LIC AA
FRI 25 AUG | FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE, VIC | 18+
SAT 26 AUG | THE WOOL EXCHANGE, GEELONG, VIC | 18+
FRI 1 SEP | WINTERSUN HOTEL, GERALDTON, WA | 18+
SAT 2 SEP | FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, FREMANTLE, WA | 18+
SUN 3 SEP | DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN, DUNSBOROUGH, WA | 18+
WED 6 SEP | EMPIRE THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA, QLD | LIC AA
THU 7 SEP | THE VILLE, TOWNSVILLE, QLD | LIC AA
FRI 8 SEP | TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS, QLD | 18+
SAT 9 SEP | DARWIN SKI CLUB, DARWIN, NT | LIC/AA
TICKETING INFORMATION
Velocity Frequent Flyer is offering a pre-sale window on selected shows for a limited time to Velocity members, available via Velocity Live from 1pm Friday 7 April 2017 until 8am Monday 10 April 2017. Visit www.velocitylive.com.au for details.
The general public will have the opportunity to purchase tickets from 11am Monday 10 April 2017.
For further information, head to www.petemurray.com.