JOEL TURNER SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO MULLET FEAT. MACCA THE RAPPA
Hold onto your hair and your hats, Aussie singer-songwriter and beatbox extraordinaire Joel Turner is back with his first new material in well over a decade; and he’s celebrating the iconic mullet itself with a brand new track Mullet out today featuring Macca the Rappa. And while the track also comes primed with a brand new video, what better way to top off celebrating this new coiffure-based tune than with an appearance at Mulletfest in Dubbo on Saturday August 20, with Joel set to perform his ode to the oft-controversial hairstyle live onstage at Dubbo’s Commercial Hotel, raising funds for brain cancer.
Mullet fuses comedy, rap and an undeniable Aussie spirit with guest vocalist Macca the Rappa firing off mullet-friendly lyrics like, “I’m going back to Queensland / Yeah, XXXX is my brand” alongside some 90s hip hop elements and driving beatboxing from Joel himself. Recorded with MC Preechwith mixing by Steve Scanlon, Mullet re-announces Joel and his skills that first turned heads as the surprise standout of Australian Idol’s inaugural season back in 2003 in fun and tongue-in-cheek fashion. Of the inspiration to pen an ode to the hairstyle dubbed “business up front, party down the back”, Joel shares, “We’ve had this idea for a while now, but it felt like the right time to bring the song out since mullets have made a comeback. We kept noticing that heaps of everyone from kids to adults to celebrities and even athletes were rockin’ mullets, so we thought: it’s time.”
The accompanying music video for Mullet found both Joel and Macca the Rappa working alongside Peter Stagg of Stagg Productions to bring the pair’s larger than life narrative to mullet-worthy fruition. Featuring young dynamos Sun-Son and Maxim stealing the show in co-starring roles, Mullet’s video largely showcases the two young stars miming along and rocking their own mullets, while Joel and Macca do what they do best: beatboxing, repping “Bring Back The Mullet” tees and rocking mullet wigs while paying momentary visual homage to Queen. As to who the ultimate brainchild was behind the hilarious clip? “Macca the Rappa wrote the overall storyboard, “ Joel reveals. “And I had some ideas along the way like the over-the-top eccentric barber”.
Having been immersed in the creative arts and songwriting since first playing guitar and drums as a child, Joel, brother Tim and cousin Chris Heinerbegan performing together under the moniker Modern Day Poets, with the group soon changing their name to Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets to capitalise on Turner’s runaway success following his Australian Idol appearance in its debut season. And it was on the very Australian Idol stage that Joel first caught the eyes and ears of one man in particular: none other than the touchdown king himself, Mark Holden, and it’s a relationship that has only blossomed over nearly two decades, with Mark also a key driving factor behind the long-awaited release of Mullet. “Joel Turner was the surprise breakout of Australian Idol’s first season. The whole country fell in love with Joel’s extraordinary talent,” shares Mark. “A singing show launched a beatboxer! When the dust settled, I followed up and discovered not only an exceptional beatboxer but a writer, producer, singer and brilliant guitar player. Joel played me a stunning song called Change he wrote, produced, played guitar on, sang, and beatboxed. I then asked whatever happened to that song Mullet? Back in 2005 it was going to be the next single. ‘Nothing,’ was the reply. So, Dream Dealers signed those two songs and here we are. It’s great to be back in the music business after twelve years as a barrister. It feels really good working with Joel again. He’s got such a beautiful soul and is a singular talent”.
Signing to Mark’s label Dream Dealers, Joel and the Modern Day Poets’ double Platinum single These Kids swooped in at #1 on the ARIA singles charts upon release in 2004, with the group’s Gold-certified, self-titled debut album releasing that same year, while Joel also toured alongside some of the best beatboxers in the world. From entirely humble beginnings to primetime and now, as of 2022, returning to doing what he loves best, Joelis ready to share his passion and creative exploration with the world, as he concludes, “I got into beatboxing when I couldn’t afford a drum kit so I started making the noises with my mouth on the bus or at home or wherever I was. My older brother and cousin were already rapping from a young age so I started beatboxing on songs we wrote together. That’s how the Modern Day Poets were born. I have more music coming out after Mullet, and I’ll be playing guitar, bass and beatboxing just like people remember. And you might even hear Modern Day Poets on some upcoming tracks…”.
Fans of both Joel and literal mullets can catch the new track Mullet, as well as an array of his earlier works, on full display on Saturday August 20, with Joel appearing live at Mulletfest in Dubbo. From its first ever event back in 2018, Mulletfest has grown into an internationally acclaimed affair, celebrating the lifestyle of the mullet in all its glory, while also raising money for the Mark Hughes Foundation for research and care for those who have been diagnosed with brain cancer.
With an Australian Idol reboot slated to return to screens in the next 12 months, after a decade of being off-air, which also coincidentally marks nearly the exact amount of time between new releases for Joel, Mark Holden himself couldn’t speak higher of the beatboxing wunderkind that stole the show back on 2003 alongside the likes of Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Paulini and countless other Aussie household names. Perfectly summed up by Mark: “Australian Idol 2022 should be so lucky to find a singer let alone a writer, producer, guitar player like Joel who also happens to be a world beatbox champion”.
Mullet feat. Macca the Rappa is out today, Friday August 19.
MULLETFEST 2022:
SAT 20 AUG | COMMERCIAL HOTEL, DUBBO, NSW | FREE ENTRY
MILLAR JUKES & THE MUSCLE SHARE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘GITTINIT’ LIFTED FROM FORTHCOMING EP ‘GIT IT’
Mere weeks after the release of their latest single, Scotland-born and Melbourne-based indie-soul rocker Millar Jukes is back with his latest release, teaming up with his band The Muscle to unleash the ferocious Gittinit. The first taste from forthcoming EP GIT IT, it’s a blistering piece of blues rock, bolstered by catchy vocals, an irresistible groove, and a sense of power that few other artists could even come close to matching.
Harnessing their horn-filled indie-rock sound, Millar Jukes & The Muscle are an unstoppable force on Gittinit, with its all-out intensity revealing everyone involved in the track pushed themselves to their respective limits. Evoking sonic memories of hard-hitting rockers like Royal Blood, Catfish & The Bottlemen, and Rival Sons, Gittinit is a track that oozes power and confidence, and encompasses that feeling when you leave all your worries behind and become the life of the party – much to the admiration of others. As Millar Jukes explains, “Gittinit is about going out and losing it all on the dancefloor. Usually I write songs that are self-deprecating or about relationships, so I wanted to write one just about having a good time. I heard my mates say it when someone is feeling the music, like, ‘Ooh, he gittinit!’”.
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Millar Jukes has been based in Melbourne for over ten years now, curating a well-respected music career in that time, with numerous singles, EPs, and even a self-titled album last year. However, it was only recently that fans got a taste of The Muscle, with June single ‘Tongue Tied’ introducing the expansive sound that the combination resulted in. As Millar Jukes recalls, “I started out singing more folk and Americana singer songwriter stuff but then moved into a more indie-soul kind of vibe. our drummer, Ben Yarram, got the whole Muscle together. He was like, ‘Let me put the band together’, and away he went. He’s put together some of the best musos I’ve ever played with. I feel so lucky that these people have decided to form The Muscle. I’m much more confident, not only as a performer but as a songwriter knowing that The Muscle are behind me.”
As Millar Jukes moves on from his 2021 album, he’s now set to release his new EP, GIT IT, on August 26. Recorded, engineered, and produced by Brent Quick for Headstone Records, and mastered by Tony Mantz, the EP captures the live sound of Millar Jukes & The Muscle, all while showcasing an element of maturity and growth within the songwriting. Gone are the days of leaning into the sadness, GIT IT instead moves away from the ideas of moving on after a breakup, and instead looks at having new relationships and getting caught up in the moment – sometimes a little too much. As Millar Jukes explains, “We wanted to explore a more blues-rock sound when we started writing. These new songs came together pretty organically. Lemon Haze was completely different until we got into the studio and recorded the other tracks. It went from the weird reggae beat to this more driven indie song. It was awesome to see the whole band completely change it on the spot. Recording the whole EP was a brilliant experience, and I hope people like the new direction for this one.”
The music video for Gittinit sets the mood deep in the blues/rock bar scene. Directed by Lewis Robert, the black and white clip juxtaposes live performance with a dive-bar audience rocking out, set to a 4:3 ratio reminiscent of 90’s video clips.
Already renowned for their captivating live shows, intense performance style, and powerful musicianship, Millar Jukes & The Muscle will be accompanying the release of their GIT IT EP on August 26 with a launch show at Melbourne’s Evelyn Hotel. Set to truly stun everyone lucky enough to be in attendance, the Millar Jukes sound is one that continues to grow and expand with every passing minute, with the upcoming show set to feature the group as an eight-piece band. Of course, that’s just business for usual for Millar Jukes & The Muscle, with the intent of every show being to create an experience that the audience won’t soon forget. As Millar Jukes explains, “We just get up there and try to blow the roof off! It’s big energy for a big sound.”
Gittinit is out today, August 5, and new EP GIT IT will be released August 26. [Pre-save GITTINIT]
FRI 26 AUG | THE EVELYN HOTEL, MELBOURNE | 18+
Request private stream: GIT IT
THE LUMINEERS ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND DATES FOR THEIR BRIGHTSIDE WORLD TOUR 2022
They’ve soundtracked countless lives with their inimitable sound, sold millions of albums, and have sold out shows the world over. Now, three years since their last visit to our shores for Splendour In The Grass and five years since their last national tour, American folk-rock outfit The Lumineerswill make their triumphant return to Australia this November and play their first ever headline show in New Zealand, with dates in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne – proudly presented by Handsome Tours and Bluesfest Touring.
Kicking off at Auckland’s Powerstation on November 11, The Lumineers will then hit Australia to play Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on November 13, before heading to Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre on November 15, and wrapping things up at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on November 18.
Tickets go on sale at 9am local time on Friday 5 August from http://handsometours.com/tours/the-lumineers-4/, with an artist presale live from Thursday 4 August at 9am local time, and a Handsome Tours presale live from Thursday August 4 at 2pm local time.
“We can’t wait to finally return after three long years to Australia and are excited for our first headline show in New Zealand ever for us. We’ll see you out there!” – Wesley Schultz.
After forming as a duo comprising vocalist/guitarist Wesley Schultz and percussionist/pianist Jeremiah Fraites in 2005, The Lumineers first found their way onto the global music scene in 2012, with their Platinum-selling self-titled debut album boasting the massive Ho Hey, which would top charts around the world, and eventually be certified 5xPlatinum in Australia. The group would follow up their debut in 2016 with Cleopatra, which would not only reach #2 in the ARIA Singles Charts, but also amass more than 116 million streams globally. Releasing their third record, the aptly-titled III in 2019, The Lumineers briefly returned to Australia for a pair of performances in NSW: an intimate show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre and a high-profile appearance on the 2019 Splendour In The Grass line-up.
Having been performing on some of the world’s greatest stages for the last decade, The Lumineers returned in early 2022 with their fourth full-length album, Brightside, which would top the charts in their native US. Amassing over 5.5 billion global streams for their celebrated discography and selling over 5 million albums, the duo are now set to bring their eclectic and acclaimed folk rock sounds back to Australian shores once again.
Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9am local time Friday 5 August, for tickets and further information, head tohttp://handsometours.com/tours/the-lumineers-4/
THE LUMINEERS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2022
Presented In Partnership With Handsome Tours And Bluesfest
FRI 11 NOV | POWERSTATION, AUCKLAND | 18+
SUN 13 NOV | FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE | 18+
TUES 15 NOV | AWARE SUPER THEATRE, SYDNEY | AA
FRI 18 NOV | MARGARET COURT ARENA, MELBOURNE | AA
Stream: Brightside
Stream: The Lumineers complete playlist
ABOUT HANDSOME TOURS:
Handsome Tours is a boutique promoter with 20+ years experience in touring some of the world’s finest artists across Australia & New Zealand; working with acts including Gang Of Youths, Phoebe Bridgers, The Kid LAROI, The xx, Stormzy, The War On Drugs, Bon Iver, Middle Kids, Skegss and Fontaines D.C.
ABOUT BLUESFEST TOURING:
Bluesfest Touring presents the best international legendary & emerging artists in Blues, R&B, Rock, Soul, Folk, Punk, Hip-Hop, Reggae and Jazz across Australia and New Zealand each year; proudly presenting music royalty including Robert Plant, Iggy Pop, Mary J Blige, George Benson, Bonnie Raitt, Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys), Patti Smith, John Mayall, Mavis Staples, and Jimmy Cliff.