SHELLEY SEGAL SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘MOTHER’
Photo credit Sean Muniz // @seanietsunami300
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the glorious new single Mother from Melbourne singer-songwriter Shelley Segal simultaneously tugs at the heartstrings and awes with warmth. A stirring ode to Shelley’s own mother, Mother is also accompanied today by a sentimental music video featuring footage of Shelley with her mum that perfectly complements the raw and beguiling new track.
Showcasing Shelley’s lead guitar finger-picking and haunting vocals alongside a captivating mix of strings, lead violin, trumpets and electric drums, Mother is a powerful and honest outing that also affirms Shelley’s own eclectic musical influences, ranging from Ani DiFranco to Ben Harper, as well as more recent inspiration from Phoebe Bridgers and Tiny Ruins. And while Shelley’s enchanting sonic stylings permeate every corner of her latest single, it’s also her genuine reflection of her relationship with her own mother and herself that beats at the sublime heart of Mother, as Shelley elaborates, “The start of the song came to me when I walked past my bedroom mirror. I caught my reflection in the corner of my eye and my first thought for a split second was that it was my mum. I’m not sure what it’s like for everybody else, but for me – some days I see myself and my body and I feel great, other days I may have negative thoughts or focus on things that I don’t like rather than see the whole image. When I thought for a microsecond that it was my mum who I was seeing, I realised how differently I viewed the image and how external some of those negative thoughts must be because when the same image is projected in my mind as her, I saw and experienced something completely different.
“Now in my mid-30s I’m finally starting to see and appreciate the ways in which I am truly like my mother,” Shelley continues. “In character, in my looks and my body, in the way I laugh, my personality. All these qualities I am now able to appreciate in myself through this new lens because I appreciate them in her. I would never accept those hateful messages if they were directed at her. So, I have reached a point in life where I am immune to these harmful ideas. I will no longer accept, absorb, or give power to these messages when directed at myself since I now see her in me. Her beauty is undeniable, and carrying her beauty myself, means that my beauty is undeniable as well.”
A family affair both in the studio and on camera, Shelley co-produced Mother with her husband Rob J Robertson (Humans As Animals), with many of her nearest and dearest also co-producing, and her father Danny Segal appearing on violin and friend Kelly O’Donohue (Vance Joy) on trumpet. And creating the accompanying music video for Mother with creative powerhouse Lex Giana, the end result of the heart-warming clip will hit you right in the feels with actual footage of Shelley and her mother also featured throughout the video. “The goal of the music video is to express the journey to unbreakable self-love, through the love that I have for my mother, from insecurity, self-doubt and self-criticism to freedom and joy,” shares Shelley of the brand new Mother music video. “Throughout the video clip there is old footage of my mother and me from when I was a child. It was very special to be able to include these precious moments with my mother, I feel very grateful for the unconditional love I have experienced.”
Starting her musical journey at an early age, performing in her father Danny’s wedding band as a pre-teen and writing original material before releasing her first self-titled EP in 2009, Shelley has spent 10+ years on the US touring circuit, and the last seven of those years based in Los Angeles firmly spreading and galvanizing her creative wings. Establishing a strong foundation working across a broad range of styles since day one, Shelley has gone on to work with a dazzling array of artists over the years while also racking up millions of streams worldwide, including creating music for documentary Transmission Love, working as a publisher for Prince Chapelle on his Billboard #1 charting song with NCT 127, working and touring with Vanessa Amorosi at her independent label Scream Louder Records, and landing sync deals with major networks, including HBO MAX, Peacock, Riot Games, NFL and more. Shelley’s diverse yet powerful skillset has also seen her appear in Germany in 2022 to perform her new work Murtadd at the Celebrating Dissent Festival, alongside work on German artist Betül’s Eurovision contending song and creating an English version and video for Shervin Hajipour’s Grammy Award-winning protest song Baraye, supporting the Mahsa Amini protest in Iran.
Pivoting during the pandemic to opening her own studio and production house Secret Sauce with good friend and collaborator Prince Chapelle, Shelley is set to return to Australia this September for some special performances, while also working with Music To Life to develop her conservation-themed program The Watershed; a multi-disciplinary project geared at inspiring environmental activism. As one of 10 selected in a national cohort of music-changemakers with the American non-profit, Shelley’s 2023 dance card continues to burgeon; but it’s her latest single Mother that ultimately offers fans a chance to intimately step into Shelley’s sensational world; and it’s a moment equally special for Shelley, as she concludes, “This song has been a long time in the making. Being a tribute to my mother and her incredible beauty (inside and out!) is very meaningful for both of us and it’s so special to be able to release the song for Mother’s Day.”
Mother is out today, Friday May 12.
RICH WEBB SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘BRUNSWICK ST’
They say you can’t keep a good man down, and critically-acclaimed Melbourne alt-country singer/songwriter Rich Webb is proof positive of that old adage, with new single Brunswick St arriving as his first piece of new music for 2023. Brunswick St arrives just a few months after the release of his latest album, RIGHT!, with the uplifting, driving track presenting itself as an equally powerful ode to the Melbourne street which bears its name.
Armed with lyrics as nostalgic as they are contemporary, and backed by an instrumental that is punchy and exciting, Brunswick St is something of a full circle moment for Rich as he pays tribute to the very same Fitzroy street that crafted and curated unforgettable memories in his early days in Melbourne, and has served as a warm homecoming with every return visit. Approaching his new music with a clearer vision of what he wants to accomplish, Brunswick St sees Rich again working with his talented band, and this time taking a greater hand in the mixing process alongside Oh Mercy’s Rohan Sforcina. The end result is a track which is unapologetically Rich Webb, is close to his heart, and takes influence from the very bands and musicians that soundtracked his early years on Brunswick Street, including Magic Dirt, The Fauves, Kim Salmon, Chris Wilson and The Dead Salesmen.
As Rich explains, “It’s a story song. I was walking down Brunswick Street and randomly bumped into a pretty wild dude I used to run with back then, who I hadn’t seen for years. He was still going hard and it was great to see him. There was some common ground and a lot came flooding back. It’s about the way people and places change for you, but you also carry a bit of them forward with you too. I still get a tingle of excitement walking down there, and I think that’s because I experienced such a great time in my life on that bit of pavement. Always been a fun place for me, and I tried to catch that in the song. It’s still a cracking strip – get yourself over there!”
With Brunswick St being viewed by Rich as a progression from the music on 2022’s RIGHT!, he also looks at the song as one which could easily have sat on his 2019 album, Le Rayon Vert – which deservedly took home the Alt-Country Album of the Year award at the Independent Music Awards in New York. It’s a testament to his work as a multi-dimensional creative and as an artist not content with standing still. This much is evident within the joyous strains of Brunswick St, whose emotional roots are planted within the past while keeping an eye on the future and the opportunities it provides.
The accompanying video for Brunswick St sees Rich collaborating with Julian Abrahams and Ty Ridgeway of Shoelace Creative (Lime Cordiale, Didirri, Angie McMahon) as he takes the viewer on a trip down the song’s namesake before ending up at The Evelyn Hotel – quite likely mirroring his experiences on Brunswick Street back in the ‘90s. As Rich puts it, “The song is about a random walk down Brunswick St, so it seemed pretty clear we needed to do something similar for the video – and have some fun with it, as that’s what it’s always been about for me down there. I end up in The Evelyn Hotel also, which back then was and still is, a firing joint – The Punters opposite and The Evelyn were the heart of much of what was happening this side of town for a while.”
Having spent more than two-and-a-half decades as a staple of the Australian music scene, Rich Webb shows no signs of even thinking of slowing down, with two launch shows for Brunswick St slated for Melbourne in the coming weeks – including a matinee show at The Brunswick Ballroom on Saturday May 20, and an evening show at St Kilda’s George Lane on Friday June 2. As Rich humbly puts it, the upcoming shows will be nothing short of an “unmissable life-affirming show of brilliant unforgettable tunes”. With lead guitarist Matt Dixon (who recently toured with Jim Lauderdale)in tow, Rich is also joined by bass player and backing vocalist Alics Gate-Eastley (The Well Oiled Sisters) and drummer and backing vocalist Jim Carden (The Warner Brothers), the line-up he’s been out and about with for the past year. “This tune totally kills live too!” adds Rich.
Brunswick St is out today, May 11.
THE AUSTRALIAN INXS SHOW ANNOUNCES EXTENSIVE 30 DATE REGIONAL TOUR
After years spent as the only internationally touring INXS show in the world, The Australian INXS Show are returning to local stages next month for an extensive run of regional dates, with tickets on sale today. Having first formed out of the seed of an idea planted a decade ago, the six-piece outfit have taken their myriad talents around the globe, performing to dedicated fans of INXS in locations such as Dubai, India, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Singapore, Japan, China, Bora Bora, New Caledonia, Taipei, and South Korea. Now, the Melbourne-born outfit are coming home once again, bringing their unique INXS theatre experience along with them.
Kicking off in Bundaberg on Friday, May 12, the 30-date tour will see The Australian INXS Show visiting Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory over the next year, bringing with them their breathtaking theatrics and faithful recreations of INXS’ extensive back catalogue, ensuring that the spirit of the band lives on. Tickets to the group’s upcoming tour are on sale now via www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au, excluding a few shows (noted below) which will go on sale in early May.
With the legendary vocals of the late Michael Hutchence being channelled by the explosive and flamboyant Dellacoma Rio, The Australian INXS Show ensures that Del’s natural charisma is put to good use. The globe-trotting singer is joined by the likes of guitarist and saxophonist Rob Moody, who not only takes on the role of Kirk Pengilly, but first created The Australian INXS Show a decade ago as a tribute to his love of both INXS and the classic music of the ‘80s.
The group’s decades of experience is rounded out by the addition of in-demand drummer Noel Tenny (as Jon Farriss), prolific bass player Sam McAinch (as Garry Gary Beers), veteran keyboardist Adrian Sorgini (as Andrew Farriss), and guitarist Adam Heath (as Tim Farriss), who has not only toured with Eurogliders, but even opened for music legend Elton John.
Describing the band’s show as “energetic, breathtaking and packed full of fun times for all”, Del recalls that his own natural likeness to Michael Hutchence has been a constant source of inspiration, and after getting in contact with Rob after years spent in numerous musical projects and bands, he’s living the dream by being able to breathe new life into the band’s classic catalogue. “It’s been an absolute dream come true with this band. Playing the INXS songs, the way we do, to people who have connected so deeply with these songs is a real blessing,” says Del.
Together, he and the rest of the band hope to provide and inspire the same level of amazement and excitement that INXS themselves did for over 35 years. “Michael and the band left such an indelible mark on Australian culture, so it just felt natural to work on a show that honours his memory. I often say from the stage that we want to make the audience feel how they felt when they first heard or saw INXS back in the day and that is truly what our aim is,” says Del. “We don’t just play the songs, we want to bring the same energy and passion that Michael and the band brought.”
The Australian INXS Show will launch their upcoming regional tour on Friday, May 12, with no stone set to be left unturned in the coming months. “We’ve been crafting this show for several years now and we’re excited to be able to bring it to so many INXS fans across the country,” says Del. “ We’ll be hitting every state and territory over the next 14 months.” Of course, dedicated fans will be able to expect all the rock-legend mastery of INXS channelled through a passionate group of talented musicians who live and breathe the original band, with every riff, chorus, and singalong set to ignite the hearts and minds of everyone lucky enough to be in attendance. “We love doing what we do and leave it all out on stage, every night!” Del enthuses.
Tickets to The Australian INXS Show’s upcoming tour are on sale now via www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au.
THE AUSTRALIAN INXS SHOW 2023 TOUR
FRI 12 MAY I MONCRIEFF THEATRE, BUNDABERG QLD I ALL AGES
On sale now I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
SAT 13 MAY I PILBEAM THEATRE, ROCKHAMPTON QLD I ALL AGES
On sale now I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
FRI 27 MAY I HOPGOOD THEATRE, NOARLUNGA SA I ALL AGES
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SAT 28 MAY I SIR ROBERT HELPMANN THEATRE, MOUNT GAMBIER SA I ALL AGES
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FRI 14 JUL I FORGE THEATRE, BAIRNSDALE VIC I ALL AGES
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SAT 15 JUL I WONTHAGGI ARTS CENTRE I ALL AGES
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THU 27 JUL I THE ART HOUSE, WYONG NSW I ALL AGES
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FRI 28 JUL I THE CONCOURSE, CHATSWOOD NSW I ALL AGES
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SAT 29 JUL I THE JOAN, PENRITH NSW I ALL AGES
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FRI 11 AUG I TOWN HALL, SWAN HILL VIC I ALL AGES
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SAT 12 AUG I MEMO MUSIC HALL, ST KILDA VIC I 18+
On sale 08/05 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
FRI 01 SEP I PRINCESS THEATRE, BRISBANE QLD I ALL AGES
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SAT 02 SEP I PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, BALLARAT VIC I ALL AGES
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THU 14 SEP I MEMORIAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BATHURST NSW I ALL AGES
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FRI 15 SEP I WESTS, CAMPBELLTOWN NSW I 18+
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FRI 06 OCT I ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ALBURY NSW I ALL AGES
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FRI 13 OCT I KARRALYKA THEATRE, RINGWOOD VIC I ALL AGES
On sale 08/05 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
SAT 14 OCT I CAIRNS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD I ALL AGES
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THU 02 NOV I ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BUNBURY WA I ALL AGES
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FRI 03 NOV I ROSEMOUNT HOTEL, PERTH WA I 18+
On sale 01/05 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
SAT 04 NOV I ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ALBANY WA I ALL AGES
On sale 08/05 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
SUN 05 NOV I FREO SOCIAL, FREMANTLE WA I 18+
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SAT 09 DEC I SARATON THEATRE, GRAFTON NSW I ALL AGES
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FRI 02 FEB I PRINCESS THEATRE, LAUNCESTON TAS I ALL AGES
On sale 08/06 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
SAT 03 FEB I ROYAL THEATRE, HOBART TAS I ALL AGES
On sale 08/05 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
THU 15 FEB I ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, SHOALHAVEN NSW I ALL AGES
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FRI 16 FEB I MANNING ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, TAREE NSW I ALL AGES
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SAT 17 FEB I GRIFFITH REGIONAL THEATRE, GRIFFITH NSW I ALL AGES
On sale 08/06 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
FRI 01 MAR I ARALUEN CENTRE, ALICE SPRINGS NT I ALL AGES
On sale 08/05 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au
SAT 02 MAR I DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, DARWIN NT I ALL AGES
On sale 08/05 I Tickets available from www.theaustralianinxsshow.com.au