MAYA ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO WHAT AFTER NOW
Compelling future-soul vocalist, MAYA has today announced her thought-provoking new single, What After Now (out March 24), an earnest pledge to live in each passing moment. Accompanying the track is an empowering, triumphant video that commands attention with its effortless cool, thanks to director Dayne Edward. To celebrate the chic release, MAYA will be performing a string of shows across Melbourne at Paris Cat on March 24, The Rising Sun on April 1 and The Toff In Town on April 25.
What After Now is the result of an already-accomplished artist willing to test, track and expand their own creative process, and explore the complex array of motives that stir and propel society in every which way. MAYA comments on her generation’s obsession with what is to follow the now from a position of youth, yet with a maturity and reason well beyond her years. The track itself is a powerful, driving, irresistible jam, overflowing with attitude and evoking influences such as Hiatus Kaiyote, Solange and Alicia Keys. “What After Now is about living in the moment, loving who you are and being who you love,” MAYA warmly enthuses, “It was inspired by all the times I have been challenged by my future, but have just tried to enjoy the present. I wanted people to remember that our future may be unknown and daunting, but if you can just get through each second in the now you don’t have to worry about what’s to come. It is inspired by everyone around me and the way the new generations are always trying to be somewhere else.”
The clip for What After Now can only be described as celebratory; rejoicing in the undeniable strength that women possess. It is simple and compelling, boasting an international feel with its glamorous chic, yet balanced perfectly with MAYA’s radiance, inner beauty and charm. The video sees MAYA and her sisters lounge luxuriously, projecting infinite wisdom and owning the message the song portrays with courage and pride. “The video clip was inspired by my childhood love of dressing up. When I was a kid I was never happy in my own skin, so I would dress up to make myself feel like a different person,” explains Maya. “ I asked my beautiful sisters to join me as I want to create imagery that entrances people. I want people to hear the lyrics and understand the meaning while also having fun with it. Dayne found a way to capture us all looking so alike yet so different at the same time, which I thought was a beautiful metaphor for humanity.”
In light of the release, MAYA is thrilled to be able to spread the message of What After Now live to audiences across Melbourne, saying “Performing is my favourite aspect of all. I love to use projections, dancers and art to bring each show to an original light. I will always try and speak to my audience in a new way each time, sharing not just my story but my soul.”
MAYA fortifies her sound with elements of 90s hip-hop, jazz, soul and something else you haven’t heard before. What After Now takes you on an emotional journey into the self, but keeps you grooving the whole way down.
What After Now is set for release on March 24.
MAYA ‘WHAT AFTER NOW’ LAUNCH SHOW
FRI, 24 MARCH | PARIS CAT | 18+
SAT, 1 APRIL | THE RISING SUN HOTEL | 18+
TUE, 25 APRIL | THE TOFF IN TOWN, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from thetoffintown.com | 03 9639 8770 | AT THE DOOR
GINGER AND THE GHOST ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘GLOW’ AND TOUR
Avant-garde duo Ginger And The Ghost have today announced their impressive new single Glow, a progressive, futuristic pop anthem characterised by a spontaneous chorus, out March 24. An accompanying video for the track has also been released, featuring the pair adorned in exquisite body painting and enveloped in stunning, celestial special effects. To celebrate Glow, Ginger And The Ghost will be playing an exclusive run of shows kicking off at the Museum of New and Old Art (MONA) in Tasmania on the 18th of March, and wrapping up in Sydney at The Nest Creative Space on April 21.
With mountainous praise from taste-makers around the world, not to mention from the platinum hit-maker Diplo himself, Ginger And The Ghost’s new single Glow certainly lives up to the hype. Intricate, with cutthroat production by Ian Barter (Paloma Faith, Amy Winehouse) and idiosyncratic vocal phrases that recoil and expand with ease and skill, everything propels towards the chorus; sweeping electronics ascend and blissfully explode into the ether where the voice is chant-like; “Glow! Glow! Glow!” Vocalist and one half of the enigmatic duo, Missy Gilbert, reflects on the meaning of releasing such an empowering track in today’s global environment, “The feeling is indescribable because we know it’s just the start of our new sound and vision. We have been making this body of work for over two years and right now what we have to say is aligning with the global consciousness as a call to action. This is a pivotal time as an artist to be bold, to connect and to voice your passions, concerns and align yourself with what you believe in.”
The clip for Glow is as unique as the song it accompanies. The title motif is construed quite literally as both the costumes and effects are ethereal and lustrous. The duo are impassioned and it is left to the audience to interpret whether they are in combat with the ‘glow’, or allied with it. Co-directed by the band themselves and noted director Polly Snowden (Mamakin, Tinpan Orange), the clip is powerful and ominous. Multi-instrumentalist Daniel Bourne explains, “The story depicts us floating in space, masked and stagnate. We find enough energy to remove our masks and so begins the transference of energy between one another until it becomes so big it overwhelms us. Only after succumbing to it do we realise that this energy is an extension of ourselves and we can in fact harness its power.”
A Ginger And The Ghost live performance encompasses their own art installations and costumes as well as the music itself, so there is no more appropriate venue for the duo than MONA in the beautiful surrounds of Hobart, Tasmania. The pair will end the tour with a hometown show in Sydney, and are thrilled to bring their music to life on the road, as Missy enthuses, “Ginger And The Ghost performances are a hyper real, immersive and interactive experience with an Australiana aesthetic. We have many top secret collaborations coming together and we are so excited about the people who are involved artistically and musically.”
Ginger And The Ghost are Missy Gilbert and Daniel Bourne.
Glow is set for release on March 24.
GLOW SINGLE TOUR
SAT 18 MARCH | MONA, TASMANIA | AFTERNOON
FREE | www.momahobart.net.au
SAT 18 MARCH | THE GRAND POOBAH, TASMANIA | EVENING
https://www.thegrandpoobahbar.com.au/
SUN 19 MARCH | MONA, TASMANIA | AFTERNOON
FREE
FRI 21 APRIL | THE NEST CREATIVE SPACE, SYDNEY
www.gingerandtheghost.com.au / www.thenestcreativespace.com
NATHANIEL ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE VAPOURS + NATIONAL CLUB TOUR
Multi-platinum selling artist, Nathaniel returns with his killer new single, Vapours, the anticipated first taste of new, original material and it has been well worth the wait. To accompany the sexy track, Nathaniel has also announced a hypnotic film clip, directed by Peter John of Epik Films (The Paper Kites, Simple Plan) and will be celebrating the release with a national VAPOURS tour beginning later this month.
Vapours is a soulful and thrilling club track with classic, irresistible RNB influences. Pulsing bass, driving synthesisers and Nathaniel’s unmistakable vocals are encompassed in the exciting track that reflects intriguing Middle Eastern musical characteristics. Produced in LA with Freshm3n III who’ve worked with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and wilI.i.am, Vapours is a leap forward for this Aussie talent, pushing past the clean cut pop that he’s been best known for. “The song is about being intoxicated by somebody, whether that is with sex, love or lust. It’s a very sensual and unique song,” explains Nathaniel, “My headspace at the time was I just wanted something different, honest and a little rebellious, I wanted to experiment with different sounds and sonic landscapes.”
Sensual and unique are bang on, and this theme is maintained flawlessly in the film clip for Vapours. Shot in the otherworldly setting of a salt lake in rural Victoria, the clip is as smokey and ethereal as the music it represents. Excited to collaborate with Peter John on the project, Nathaniel enthuses, “I wanted a video clip that was as unique as the song. Something that really pushed the boundaries and that was edgy. It’s raw and undressed whilst appreciating the magnetism and power of a woman…Pete thinks out of the box and took it to another level. We bounced ideas off of each other and brought this incredible video clip to fruition.”
The release has been a long time coming for Nathaniel, who is pumped to announce an accompanying national tour that will continue from January through to March. “The feeling is still so surreal every time I release music. This time around though, is much more significant because I haven’t had a song out in over a year and it’s an independent release,” says Nathaniel. “I haven’t done a club tour before so it’s new territory for me. I’ll be making sure that it’s an epic show. You can expect to see something new and exciting and on a more intimate level with fans.”
Nathaniel first made an impact in Australia when he sailed through to the Top 6 of The X Factor with his soulful, soaring vocals. Following the breakout success of Top 10 hits You and Live Louder, and debut album Yours, Nathaniel has spent the last year living between LA and Melbourne, finding his own identity as an artist. Vapours signifies new momentum in Nathaniel’s career as the stellar performer becomes the arbiter of his own destiny. “I’ve been finding my own drive and vision,” he says. “I almost gave up on something that allows my heart and soul to speak. I want to be that person who you thought couldn’t make history.”
The dream is not over, it’s only just begun. So tie your shoelaces and get ready to move, because Nathaniel is back with the biggest urban track of 2017.
Vapours is out now.