MIETTA ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, ‘GONE’ & DEBUT ALBUM ‘A MAD DISTANCE’
Melbourne world-music songstress Mietta has announced the release of her new single, Gone (available July 4) and debut album, A Mad Distance, set for release on July 18 and she’ll be hitting the road with her band to promote the record with launch shows in Melbourne on July 24 at The Spotted Mallard, Ballarat on July 26 at The Main Bar and Sydney on July 31 at Venue 505.
Lead single Gone is a multi layered, internationally inspired masterpiece with a strong Latin American feel and an indescribable warmth. Mietta’s lush, rich vocal tone and interesting delivery tie in perfectly with the melodic backing vocals and twenty-piece ensemble that recorded alongside her. And it’s the drum tag that completes the song, the cherry on top that encourages you to go back and have another listen. “Gone is about moving on from difficult times and not looking back, about having the strength and courage to pick up your bundle and keep going,” explains Mietta.
The video for Gone is a behind-the-scenes clip, allowing the viewer in on the making of the song and inviting them to become part of the song’s journey. The footage was filmed by Jarred Osborn (Alt J, Chiefs, Sons Et Al) and shot at Oaklands Productions (Melbourne) where the album was recorded and mixed.
Growing up in a family of writers and editors, there’s no wonder Mietta has become such a prolific and inspired songwriter. While the major theme of the album is about losing love (in her case, her Mother) she explains, “It also touches on losing your home and finding a new one – be it literally or metaphorically, and being sure to stay strong and not buckle under life’s tragedies… Most of the songs on the album and my musical inspiration come from many different countries around the world: Spain, Brazil, Arabic influences, Afro Peruvian influences, South America. I have a deep fascination with the music, people, literature, jewelry, clothing and spirituality of these places.”
Excited about her run of shows, Mietta is especially looking forward to her Melbourne launch as it is set to be her biggest live show yet consisting of guitar, drums, bass, percussion, five backing vocalists and a ten piece chamber orchestra. Ballarat and Sydney shows will be stripped back to a six-piece band.
LILI KENDALL ANNOUNCES NEW ORIGINAL SONG AND VIDEO EACH MONTH FOR 2014, KICKSTARTING WITH MOONLIGHT
Brisbane indie pop artist Lili Kendall has announced the release of her new single, Moonlight, complemented by a dark, textured film clip that shows maturity well beyond her seventeen years. Moonlight kicks off a unique project that will see Lili release a new original song each month before dropping her debut full-length album at the end of 2014.
With the pipes of Adele and the edge of Rihanna, it becomes obvious why Lili’s star is on the rise. A songwriter since she was just eleven years old, Lili co-wrote Moonlight with her mentor – one of LA’s most notorious writers – Cameron Jaymes and recorded the smash single at SoundBox Studios in LA. A cleverly dark pop smash with an instant hook, Moonlight will keep you singing its memorable melody well after song’s end. “Moonlight was written about finally seeing someone for who they are after you fallout of love with them,” explains Lili.
The video for Moonlight was shot in Palm Springs with Los Angeles indie film director Jory Lee Cordy (Alt-J, Icona Pop, Frank Ocean) and plays out like a big budget American thriller with Lili acting as the starring beauty. “Filming the Moonlight video was a very cold and long night,” says Lili. “The desert gets near freezing at night and we were still filming at 2am, then had to restart at 5am to catch the sunrise! But the end result and lack of sleep was well worth it!”
With an extensive global industry network and a buzz that follows Lili’s every move, there’s no wonder Moonlight has already been added to over twenty US college radio stations in its first week. Having only recently turned heads in Canada after being invited to showcase her new material at Canadian Music week last month, Lili was the only female artist from Brisbane in attendance.
Juggling school with an ever-growing music career, Lili just took a month off of school for Canadian Music Week and to play some shows and write some songs in LA. “It’s hard being thrown back into class with 10 assignments that are due in a few weeks, but I go to a music school and they are really cool about letting me leave for music, I am in my last year so I have 6 months left of 12 years of schooling till I don’t have to worry about juggling school and music anymore. I just try and get in and do it without getting overwhelmed or over thinking the work at hand,” explains the mature sixteen year old.
SHELLEY SEGAL ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, MOROCCO AND NEW ALBUM, AN EASY ESCAPE
Enchanting Melbourne singer songwriter and international touring artist, Shelley Segal has announced the release of her new single, Morocco lifted from her third studio album, An Easy Escape which is set for release on June 6. The eclectic storyteller will celebrate the launch of her new releases with shows at The Northcote Social Club (Melb) on June 13 and The Vanguard (Syd) on June 26.
Lead single Morocco is an upbeat pop number that walks the listener through an experience Segal had when in Morocco. “I was inspired to write ‘Morocco’ when I visited Marrakech and Essaouira. I was completely blown away by the beauty of the country and the colourful, carefree, fun time that was available to me as a tourist,” explains Segal. “Slowly as the trip went on I began to see some of the darker sides of what it was like for many who lived there.”
The clip for Morocco, created by London production group, Motion Picture House (MPH) was an adventurous shoot. Segal flew to Morocco from London (where she was recording at the time) with two cameramen, the director and the producer. “We worked with an amazing local team and completed the clip in two days! It was a whirlwind of people, bustling markets and beautiful seaside,” Segal says.
Segal’s third studio album, An Easy Escape was recorded at Britannia Row Studios (Pink Floyd’s old studio) in London and was produced by Tom Nichols (Kylie, Celine Dion, Tina Arena). Consisting of ten wisely considered songs, the album is full of charming, unforgettable melodies and carries a strong folk pop sensibility throughout. A global gypsy for the last 5 years, Segal’s songwriting is poised and elegant, telling tales of her adventures on the road.
Having travelled the world for eight international tours across America and Europe over the last two years, Segal has also completed two successful national tours on home turf and is excited to be back home for the release of this new album.
An Easy Escape follows Segal’s strong body of genre-hopping works; folk-pop protest record, An Atheist Album (2012) and collaborative Jazz album with Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman), Little March (2013). Segal also wrote and recorded award-winning track, Chemistry, with DJ Carl Cox, which spent two weeks at #1 on the dance charts in 2011.