DOMINI FORSTER SHARES NEW SINGLE AND ALBUM ‘THE LONELY’
Today sees the breathtakingly beautiful sophomore album from Melbourne singer-songwriter Domini Forster released into the world.
Joining forces with Lachlan Carrick (Gotye, Lior, Emma Donovan) on producing, recording, mixing and mastering, along with co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Barber (Gretta Ray, Gotye) for both her latest single and album The Lonely, Domini Forster spent days with both Carrick and Barber in Barber’s converted 1860s chapel studio in Victoria’s Goldfields region, transforming a creative retreat into what would ultimately become The Lonely.
The album has already turned heads, with the second single Hard Love earning a place on the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition shortlist and playlisting by Australian taste-maker and music video institution RAGE, and ABC’s David Astle describing Hard Love as “a mesmerising, ethereal piece of music”.
Opening in sublime fashion with its title track, The Lonely coats its listener with a warm and assured knowing, reflecting the full spectrum of life – the shadows and the light – in a cohesive pastiche that is equal parts intricate and lush. The album’s beginning is achingly resonant and relatable, tracing the patterns of modern life that see us living so close, yet lonelier than ever. Fluctuating between glistening acoustic grooves (Unconditional Love), brooding, open-vein folk (Hard Love and Magnolia), shimmering simplicity (Hunger), stripped-back storytelling (The Last Real Moment), smoky melodies delivered alongside hypnotic arrangements (Unravelling), and songs that place you between the clouds and the heavens via melancholic piano and sweeping strings (Gravity), The Lonely ultimately comes to its stunning conclusion with Breathing Out; a wistful yet cathartic folk gem that burrows the weight of the world into a sonic place of serenity and acceptance. And while constantly exploring, observing and unravelling notions of connection and disconnection, The Lonely ultimately serves as a powerful collection of songs that remind us all that we are not alone, expertly channelled through Forster’s personal lens.
Forster will also perform her new album on stages throughout June to September; including Tasmania, a special hometown show in Melbourne at the iconic Northcote Social Club, before heading to Canberra, and then diving into a short string of shows in NSW, including two with Emily Lubitz.
THURS 10 JUL | NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from northcotesocialclub.com
SAT 19 JUL | SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE, CANBERRA ACT | UNDER 18s MUST BE SUPERVISED
Tickets available from smithsalternative.com
THURS 28 AUG | THE CITADEL, MURWILLUMBAH NSW | SUPPORTING EMILY LUBITZ | ALL AGES
Tickets available from humanitix.com
FRI 29 AUG | BRUNSWICK PICTURE HOUSE, BRUNSWICK HEADS NSW | SUPPORTING EMILY LUBITZ | ALL AGES
Tickets available from brunswickpicturehouse.com
SAT 6 SEP | SECRET HOUSE CONCERT, BYRON BAY NSW | ALL AGES
Tickets available from humanitix.com
CLONING RELEASE ETHEREAL NEW SINGLE ‘JUST AS YOU ARE’
Selling out shows around Australia and racking up millions of streams, Perth indies, Cloning have emerged as one of Australia’s most singular alt-rock acts. Swirling with heartfelt, soft-spoken charisma and eerie hues, their ethereal new single, Just As You Are, expands on the quartet’s established alternative charms and is out today.
With billowing soundscapes, lush driving beats balanced with poised serenity, and calming introspection courtesy of lead vocalist Felix Parker, Just As You Are flutters with nods to the likes of Radiohead, Everything Everything, Midnight Oil, Slowdive and The War on Drugs, expertly mastered by Brian Lucey (Cage The Elephant, Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys) while also pushing the Cloning collective into spectacular new heights. “Just As You Are is about acceptance and feeling comfortable in your own skin,” shares frontman Felix of the new single’s enchanting lyricism. The band are self-recorded, mixed and produced by bass guitarist Nic Rollo, who explains, “being able to work closely together to push through quick iterations of a song and explore sonic boundaries on a level that would be hard with an external producer has been a game changer for us, recording and mixing feels like more of an extension of the songwriting process.”
Bringing together lead vocalist and guitarist Felix Parker, guitarist Bevan Green, bass player Nic Rollo and drummer Jack Brett, Cloning began life when Bevan relocated to Perth from Kalgoorlie and met high school best mates Felix, Nic and Jack in 2019. With their immersive soundscapes, melodic songwriting and relatable lyricism, Cloning were dubbed by Tone Deaf in 2020 as “the future of indie and alt-rock in Australia”; a fact that is reflected in the band’s sold out shows across the country, millions of streams, and inclusion in coveted editorial playlists, including Spotify’s ‘New Music Friday’ and Apple Music’s ‘New Music Daily’.
Developing a dedicated grassroots fanbase over the years, Cloning have toured Australia nationally three times, with three EPs also in their wake in the form of 2019’s Pillars of Salt, 2021’s Wounded Healers and, most recently, 2024’s Fall Out. A perceptive and uncompromising hands-on collective, Cloning also boast a 10K-strong subscriber email fanbase and a 500 member fan Discord server, with recent sold out shows at Melbourne’s The Workers Club and Adelaide’s Grace Emily Hotel in 2024 thousands of kilometres from home also under their belts. And it’s these very shows far from home that have catapulted Cloning into burgeoning indie rock favourites across the country, including drawing praise from the likes of TheMusic.com.au, declaring of a 2023 live Cloning performance in Brisbane that “it felt less like a production and more like a group of friends experiencing life together – and every person in Black Bear Lodge was invited to join”.
With community building and fan appreciation a huge focus and drawcard for the band, they explain, “After every show you’ll find us at the back of the room taking photos with fans and signing merch for them. It’s our favourite part of the night getting to meet our listeners, it can be especially amazing on the East Coast, since it’s so far from home and we’re playing to rooms full of strangers.”
There is no doubt 2025 sees the band making waves and turning heads in the industry. Alongside the release of their latest single, Cloning have been selected to showcase at BIGSOUND 2025 in September, and Felix recently secured a coveted spot at John Butler’s highly competitive Seed Fund workshop that took place in the Blue Mountains last month, alongside some of the country’s most exciting emerging artists and managers. Armed with Just As You Are, this brand new chapter for Cloning is as thrilling for the band as it is for their ever-growing legion of fans.
Just As You Are is out now.
GRYFFIN ANNOUNCES DEBUT AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR FOR SEPTEMBER 2025
After lighting up Palm Tree Music Festival last December alongside The Chainsmokers, Peking Duk, and Daya, American DJ & producer, Gryffin, is making his much-awaited return to Australia, this time for his first-ever headline shows down under, presented by TEG Live. Joining him on the run will be Australian electronic music producer and rising talent, Jacknife.
The classically trained multi-instrumentalist and dance music powerhouse will bring his signature energy to three major cities this September:
Thursday 18 September Enmore Theatre Sydney
Friday 19 September Fortitude Music Hall Brisbane
Saturday 20 September The Forum Melbourne
An artist presale starts Tuesday, June 24 at 10am AEST (sign up here). Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 25 at 10am AEST through TEG Live. Visit teglive.com.au for more information.
Following the release of his most ambitious project yet, 2024’s “PULSE”, and a massive run of North American shows and festival appearances, Gryffin is set to deliver an immersive live experience that fuses emotional resonance with euphoric, high-energy production.
Gryffin, a classically trained multi-instrumentalist, has emerged as a pivotal figure in the electronic music scene, renowned for his dynamic live performances. His journey began with a foundation in classical piano and guitar, enabling him to create music with a depth that resonated widely. His debut album, Gravity soared to the top of Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums chart in 2019, establishing him as a leading force in music. This album, alongside platinum hits like Tie Me Down (with Elley Duhé) showcased his knack for infectious melodies and rhythms.
2022 saw the release of Alive, his second album, further highlighting his versatility. This project blended a variety of dance music genres, maintaining the emotional connection that defines his sound. It featured collaborations with notable artists such as OneRepublic and MØ, reflecting Gryffin’s ability to merge different musical styles seamlessly.
Gryffin’s junior album, “PULSE,” released in August of 2024. Having been his most ambitious and experimental project yet, the album explored new dimensions of dance music, underpinned by Gryffin’s signature melodic and anthemic approach. “PULSE” is not just an album but a journey into diverse musical landscapes, offering a fresh experience for fans. Alongside this release, Gryffin enhanced his live presence with his North American headline shows in fall of 2024 and major festivals like EDC, as well as a renewed residency at Wynn Nightlife in Las Vegas.
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