SARAH MCLEOD ANNOUNCES NEW VIDEO FOR ‘WILD HEARTS’ ALONGSIDE EXTENDED NATIONAL TOUR DATES
Aussie rock royalty Sarah McLeod has today announced her new single Wild Hearts, a laid-back, content ode to finding fulfillment through creative endeavours. Lifted from her self-produced new album, Rocky’s Diner – her first solo album in 12 years – released on August 18, the talented vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, who first found fame in the late 1990s with 3X ARIA Award winning rock band The Superjesus, has also dropped a gorgeous video for Wild Hearts, encapsulating the simple beauty in what at first appears mundane. And due to high demand from fans wanting a piece of the action, Sarah has extended her national Rocky’s Diner tour into November and December, set to swing through Adelaide at Jive on November 5, then moving through Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Fremantle, Bunbury, Bulli, and finishing up in Sydney at The Lansdowne on December 16.
Wild Hearts is a fine example of Sarah’s storytelling abilities; those that hooked so many from the very beginning of her career. The simplicity of this track, and the narrative that drives it, is where the beauty lies here; a lone voice accompanied by understated guitar slowly swells into a full rock-band arrangement and just as quickly recedes again. Sarah paints a picture for the audience, and with just a few choice words she develops a character with a depth that demands multiple listens. She explains, “I wanted a lead who could show fulfilment within a scenario that to most would appear to be failure. I was going to start by describing what my character was, but I decided rather to describe what she wasn’t, and let the listener imagine the rest: ‘She’s not 18, living on guts and coca cola, she’s never been on train, or felt the ocean’s salty water.’ I was imagining a woman around my own age, not oblivious to the world around her but not an active participant either. She’s not flighty, she’s a thinker. She has a repetitive life and she enjoys the routine, and she would find fulfilment through creating stories about fictitious characters doing fictitious things. This writing was her release and it made her happy and noone in the world could touch that.”
The video documents seemingly routine moments in time, like passing buskers in the street – but rather than rush by them, like you might if you were on your way to work or similar responsibilities, the clip allows you to stay a while. With the help of Tribal Apes (Jessica Mauboy, Tina Arena, Havana Brown), Sarah has created a little time capsule of a creative moment in her life, alongside her canine companion Chachi, and invites the audience to share it with her, as Sarah says, “The clip is basically about depicting the beauty in what appears to be the mundane. Observing people in the street connecting with each other, finding joy in simplicity, all through the eyes of me and my best friend, my dog Chachi…and now I’ve got a little movie of me and Chach to watch when we’re older! That clip will make me smile forever.”
The recent South Australia Rock’N’Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Sarah McLeod has extended her already-massive national tour, adding nine extra shows in celebration of the new album Rocky’s Diner. Performing as a two-piece band alongside drummer Mick Skelton (Baby Animals), the powerhouse and self-confessed lover of touring has some seriously unique and impressive plans for the shows, explaining, “I have designed a guitar whereby I can play bass and regular guitar at the same time. It’s been a lot of trial and error because I didn’t really know what I was doing – but it seems to be working now! It’s a very ambitious live show, but super fun to perform. Chachi comes with us as well, she wears little headphones and sits on stage. I love touring so I don’t even care where I am or where I am going, as long as I am playing every night I am happy. I feel I am at my best when I’m touring.”
Tickets to the newly announced Rocky’s Diner tour will be on sale from 9am Thursday September 21 from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/
“(McLeod) delivered a brilliant performance… left us all in awe” HeavyMag.com.au
“Sarah McLeod instantly ignited the night with her beaming rock swagger” The Music
SARAH MCLEOD ROCKY’S DINER TOUR – NEW DATES JUST ANNOUNCED
SUN 5 NOV | JIVE, ADELAIDE, SA | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
WED 29 NOV | THE CURTIN, MELBOURNE, VIC | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THURS 30 NOV | THE BASEMENT, CANBERRA, ACT | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 2 DEC | THE FOUNDRY, BRISBANE, QLD | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THURS 7 DEC | THE HEN HOUSE, BADLANDS BAR, PERTH, WA | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 8 DEC | THE ODD FELLOW, FREMANTLE, WA | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 9 DEC | PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY, WA | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 15 DEC | HERITAGE HOTEL, BULLI, NSW | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 16 DEC | THE LANSDOWNE, SYDNEY | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SARAH MCLEOD ROCKY’S DINER TOUR – PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED AND ON SALE
THURS 5 OCT | SOL BAR, SUNSHINE COAST, QLD | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 6 OCT | SPOTTED COW, TOOWOOMBA, QLD | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 7 OCT | MIAMI SHARK BAR, GOLD COAST, QLD | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SUN 8 OCT | BYRON BAY BREWERY, BYRON BAY, NSW | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THURS 12 OCT | 48 WATT, NEWCASTLE, NSW | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 13 OCT | THE BAROQUE ROOM, KATOOMBA, NSW | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SUN 15 OCT | MIRANDA HOTEL, MIRANDA, NSW | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
WED 25 OCT | PELLY BAR, FRANKSTON, VIC | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THURS 26 OCT | SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE, VIC | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 27 OCT | KAROVA LOUNGE, BALLARAT, VIC | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 3 NOV | WARATAH HOTEL, HOBART, TAS | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 4 NOV | CLUB 54, LAUNCESTON, TAS | 18+
Tickets available from http://sarahmcleod.oztix.com.au/ | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
MANE ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘WHAT IF THE LOVE DIES’ + SHOWS
Dramatic and ferocious, the elusive MANE is back with her impressively bold new single What If The Love Dies that is accompanied by an astounding, mind-bending clip that is sure to gather all the right attention. To celebrate the release, MANE is set to hit the road later this year, stopping by The Gasometer (Melbourne) on October 19, Rocket Bar (Adelaide) on Oct 27, Rad Bar (Wollongong) on Nov 1 and Brighton Up Bar (Sydney) on November 2.
What If The Love Dies says it all, really. An afflicting question, made even more so when chanted eerily by MANE in the depths of her luscious, chesty voice, as the song peddles the connection between two people in a long distance relationship, and the struggles, uncertainty and frustration the distance can bring about. Reminiscent of the theatrical and innovative Montaigne and characterised by razor-sharp vocal melodies that are not dissimilar to those of wunderkind Gretta Ray, What If The Love Dies includes all the bluesy rawness that audiences expect from MANE, but with a new electronic edge that feels dangerous and exciting all at once. Mixed by the Grammy and multiple ARIA winning Eric J Dubowsky (Chet Faker, Kimbra), the woman behind MANE, Paige Renee Court, opens up about the new single, saying “I’m very keen to be releasing this one – I’ve worked hard on it and had the good fortune of some great people working with me.”
Dave Ruby Howe from triple j Unearthed has already gifted the single four stars, saying, “This song has this towering pop feel to it – which could be due in part to the mix from studio heavyweight Eric J (Flume, Meg Mac, Odesza). Throw in MANE’s big but dark vocal delivery and you’re entering impressive territory.” Also a fan, Dom Alessio from Home & Hosed says, “There’s something enchanting about this dark, caliginous pop song.”
The clip for What If The Love Dies is appropriately spooky, playing out like a Hollywood blockbuster with a foreboding sense of lovers scorned. Directed by Kieren Ellis-Jones of Crystal Arrow Films (The Hard Aches), nothing is as it seems as the MANE band play blindfolded upside down and right side up; a man and a woman, also blindfolded, try to find common ground which proves a difficult task when the gravity keeps playing tricks. Reflecting on the meaning behind the video, Paige remarks, “We played on a ‘love is blind’ narrative quite literally. Between the performance shots of the band, the story of two people evidently in love spans over three completely different eras in time…but there is a constant sense of distance between them.”
Currently on tour in Europe and the UK, the seasoned performer is thrilled to head back to Australia for a few shows to promote What If The Love Dies, enthusing, “The past year I have been working really hard with the band to create a live sound that emulates the recordings but also has a rawness to it that I feel excited about. I put a lot of energy into the performance; at times it’s a little dark but other times it’s a lot of fun.”
What If The Love Dies is set for release on August 18.
WHAT IF THE LOVE DIES EAST COAST SHOWS
THURS 19 OCT | GASOMETER UPSTAIRS, MELBOURNE | 18+
Tickets available from https://gasometer.oztix.com.au/?Event=77088
FRIDAY 27 OCT | ROCKET BAR, ADELAIDE | 18+
Tickets available from http://www.bit.ly/CatsOct27
WED 1 NOV | RAD BAR, WOLLONGONG | 18+
Tickets available from http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/mane-supports-tba/97956
THURS 2 NOV | BRIGHTON UP BAR, SYDNEY | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.musicglue.com/brighton-up-bar/events/3beb71a0-6077-0135-5379-664640c4859d
HANSAA ANNOUNCES DEBUT SINGLE WITH LA-BASED DUO soso & OLIVER TANK
Electronic newcomer Hansaa, otherwise known as Vinay Matta, has been honing his craft as a producer and producer in Los Angeles for the past two years; but today he has finally announced his debut single Need To Know, coproduced with LA-based production duo soso and featuring the stirring vocals of Oliver Tank, set for release today. The impressive debut is complemented by a deeply affecting video buoyed by an intense narrative drenched in regret and toxicity, and sure to set tongues wagging.
Need To Know follows in the footsteps of its electronic predecessors in James Blake and Clams Casino, yet there’s a fragility in the production that seems uniquely Hansaa; understated and subtle, synthesisers layer themselves comfortably beneath Tank’s emotive vocal. Gentle electric guitar, reminiscent of Tash Sultana’s atmospheric riffs, fills the space between verse and chorus, playfully toying with the listener’s sense of time and space. Thrilled to be releasing the track into the world, Matta says “I’ve spent a lot of time developing my craft and it feels really awesome to start releasing music officially… We really wanted an element of surprise in Need To Know to break things up, so the guitar solo was a really nice touch – and unexpected.”
Filmed and directed by Independent Belgian film maker Julien Pircher, the clip for Need To Know is set in a smokey, dangerous world; with each watch, further insight can be gained from its powerful plot. For the most part, the audience is encouraged to interpret the story for themselves, but there is no doubt this story is dark – a light is shone upon human relationships, the beauty and the hardship, and the sometimes terrifying nature of mental illness. Matta explains, “The music video is a story of regret. The subject matter behind it is rather serious and deep. It draws off Oliver’s lyric in the track ‘if I put up shots they’ll fall down’…The film revolves around the concepts of death and suicide, with the metaphor of the gun at the beginning and end of the film.” Offering additional insight, Pircher says, “As a writer, DOP & editor, it’s my job to grab the audience by the hand and lead the way through the film. At the same time I should be invisible to them, letting them find questions, challenges, answers and adventures. The music video for Need To Know by Hansaa sends the viewer without knowing into a non-linear timeline, giving them freedom to personally interpret the given opening conflict and the connection between the different storylines. All this combined with a multilayer dramastructure and adequate cinematography made this video one of my favourite projects in my last several years.”
This is a fully-formed and exciting debut from an artist who is absolutely ‘one to watch’. Assured and in control, Hansaa has paid his dues and is ready for the global stage. The Australian born, LA-raised Matta gives little away, but hints at what is to come, saying, “Myself and Soso have a handful of amazing tracks together that we cannot wait to release. We have tracks with Peruvian and LA-based R’n’b artist A.CHAL who is currently on tour and recently dropped his second album On GAZ. We also have a track with LA-based hip hop artist G4SHI who was featured on DJ Snake’s recent album, and has recently been seen in the studio with Skrillex.”
Need To Know is out now!