CHARLES MAIMAROSIA SHARES EFFERVESCENT NEW SINGLE + VIDEO HOTE’ HOTE’
A buoyant and breezy delight, capturing the vibrant spirit of voyaging, strength and determination, the immersive new single Hote’ Hote’ from Solomon Island-born, Melbourne-based singer, guitarist, panpipe player Charles Maimarosia also imparts a deep connection to culture, effortlessly fusing traditional elements with bright and contemporary production.
Hailing from the Solomon Islands, Charles Maimarosia channels “the deep connection I feel to my ancestors and their experiences when voyaging through the Pacific Islands” throughout his new track, with Hote’ Hote’ transporting you sonically to sunny shores and crystalline blue waters via ethereal instrumentation, warm melodies and Maimarosia’s powerful vocals, sung entirely in the Are’ Are’ language. Written by Maimarosia, with Andrew Robinson arranging the music chord progressions, Hote’ Hote’ is a charming meeting point for tradition and engaging songwriting; and it’s one that took on multiple forms before arriving at the end result, as Maimarosia reveals, “Hote’ Hote’ is organic, rhythmic, soulful, and deeply rooted in the Are’ Are’ traditional ‘parani o’o’ rhythm, which shares similarities with rhythms found in many other cultures around the world. None of those rhythms would have been realised without Andrew Robinson. He arranged the music chord progressions, and I layered the lyrics on top. If the words didn’t fit perfectly with the chords, we would try different ones until everything sat right, knowing that the words had to align with the context. For me, when I put Are’ Are’ lyrics in a song, I always make sure those words are true, make sense to ‘Are’Are’ people, and remain meaningful when translated into other languages, like English or Japanese. We’ve changed this song Hote’ Hote’ about three times already, and now we have this amazing version.”
Recorded, mixed and produced by Andrew Robinson, and mastered by Naomune Anzai, Hote’ Hote’ features Maimarosia playing acoustic guitar, auu (panpipes) and vocals, with friends also joining proceedings to add some extra sonic sparkle, with Natty Dolaiasi contributing spoken word, Ben Kaumanaki and James Kauhi’ona providing backing vocals, Paul Cartwright on bass, Phil Wales on electric guitar, and David Bridie and Cass Grant, Wantok Musik’s label manager, supported the group of creatives throughout the process. And teaming with the theme of voyaging beating at the core of Hote’ Hote’, the accompanying music video, directed by Marcus Longfoot, also captures Maimarosia’s own personal journey from the Solomon Islands to Melbourne, with real life footage filmed both at home and abroad. “The concept of the video is centred around voyaging in the ocean to the islands, which resonates with my own journey from Pipisu Village to Melbourne,” shares Maimarosia. “I was shooting in the Melbourne city during winter, wearing shorts, which was quite an experience! I never imagined the video clip would turn out so well. The video was directed by Marcus Longfoot, with assistance from his team from RMIT media students: Rachel Kemp and Ruari Walsh. Natty provided spoken word contributions from Lau Malaita Islands, whose people we call ‘masters of the ocean.’ Natty D’s spoken word and footage was filmed in Honiara Solomon Islands, my homeland, by Dream Cast Studios’ Mr Collin Leafasia. Marcus is a talented filmmaker and musician who has worked with Radical Son, another amazing artist from the First Nations community. It was a collaborative effort, and I’m grateful for all the creative minds who helped bring the video to life.”
An award-winning performer and storyteller, Charles Maimarosia is renowned for being a musician of important custom knowledge, and an artist dedicated to cultural preservation. Growing up in the remote Pipisu village of Malaita, Maimarosia developed a profound interest in Are’ Are’ music at a young age after inheriting his first handmade coconut shell ukulele from his father, and witnessing ‘auu rerepi’ panpipe performances and Are’ Are’ drum ensembles as a child. Starting his musical journey performing amongst his community and communicating ancient songs of his ancestors with hand-made pan pipes, Maimarosia has since gone on to tour the globe for over a decade, including as the frontman, choreographer and songwriter of the acclaimed panpipe orchestra Narasirato, as well as representing Australia and Solomon Islands at the G20 Summit in India, and on stage at the likes of WOMADelaide, the Blue Mountains Music Festival, and the National Folk Festival. Since relocating to Melbourne in 2010 to focus on his solo career and signing to Wantok Musik, Maimarosia has released a debut solo album, 2016’s Are’Are, and received the Music Victoria Diaspora Award in 2022.
With his gaze now set on a follow up album set to release in 2025, Maimarosia is also primed to perform some of his captivating creations live with a string of shows in February (tickets on sale from https://charlesmaimarosia.com.au/), with plenty of new material to dazzle, while also celebrating storytelling and traditional and modern Are’ Are’ music.
“After receiving honest feedback from one of my best friends that my 8 songs were a little short on my first album, I’ve since created an instrumental piece that’s about 8 minutes long,” shares Maimarosia, “and my next album Hote’ Hote’ due to release early 2025 will have 12 songs which I think my audience will enjoy at my next shows and album tour in February 2025. I also always perform an instrumental piece, ‘Forgotten People’, dedicated to people living with disabilities, and one special song called ‘Nanaratana Tetemanu’ is dedicated to members of the LGBTQIA+ community. During a recent performance in Canberra, I was thrilled to see how many people knew my song ‘Meranitoro’ : ‘man from the bush’ by heart—it made me very happy.
“I want my audiences to know that I come from a remote village and that I’ll probably yarn a little bit on stage, share some stories, and make them laugh and reflect on their own life and journey while explaining each song,” adds Maimarosia. “Every time I’m on stage, I think of my mentor, and elder the late Donation Manu, an Are’ Are’ legend, and it reminds me that music is always here with us, before we are born and long after we are gone.”
“I hope that future generations of Are’ Are’ and other cultural people will be inspired by these stories, and that they too will work with others to do the same. I feel a sense of responsibility in bringing this story and emotion to life through music. We all depend on each other to grow, whether in music or in other goals we set our minds to achieve. Cultural preservation is one of my biggest goals, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far with both traditional and modern Are’ Are’ music.”
Hote’ Hote’ is out today via Wantok Musik.
CHARLES MAIMAROSIA – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SAT 8 FEB | ODESSA AT LEAVER’S HOTEL, CRESWICK VIC
Tickets available from https://events.humanitix.com/charles-maimarosia-hote-hote-album-launch
SAT 15 FEB | GEORGE LANE, ST KILDA VIC with special guest Pirritu
Tickets available from https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1301782
FRI 21 FEB | WAUCHOPE ARTS HALL, WAUCHOPE NSW
Tickets available from in January 2025 from: https://wauchopearts.org.au/
SAT 22 FEB | RED RATTLER, MARRICKVILLE NSW with special guest Zippy Anu
Tickets available from https://events.humanitix.com/charles-maimarosia-hote-hote-album-launch-with-special-guests
SUN 23 FEB | SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE, CANBERRA ACT with special guests Dean Abbott Band
Tickets available from https://www.smithsalternative.com/events/charles-maimarosia-88669
THE URBAN SEA SHARES DYNAMIC NEW SINGLE + VIDEO MY OWN TIME
With sparkling melodics and a stirring core, the new single My Own Time out today from Brisbane indie rockers The Urban Sea bustles with swagger, heart and sanguine charm. Equally a groove-maker and core-shaker, My Own Time also arrives today with an accompanying music video that hovers between live performance and a poignant reflection of the emotive lyricism throughout.
Energetic and relatable, My Own Time captures a universal emotional narrative, detailing a relationship that has reached its natural end while also seeking empowerment to find closure against the heartbreak. Sonically, My Own Time mirrors the lyrical reclamation of strength, with the track’s upbeat grooves, propellant buoyancy and carefully curated arrangements calling to mind the emotional depth of Gang of Youths and the melodic energy of fellow Brisbane indie rockers Ball Park Music. “There’s a bit of Arctic Monkeys swagger and Spacey Jane jangle in there, especially in how we approached the arrangements,” shares songwriter Shanan Kilner. “My Own Time came from a pretty emotional place during a breakup where I was ready to move on, but my ex was struggling to let go. The relationship had reached its end, and deep down, we both knew it. Writing this song was my way of processing those feelings and realising that sometimes the healthiest thing to do is move on. The line, “You got love on your lips but blood on your hands,” sums it up. There was still affection, but we both had a hand in why things didn’t work out. It’s not about blame, but about recognising that love alone couldn’t fix what was broken. I wanted to move forward without rehashing old arguments or trying to pin down who was at fault, which is where the lines “I got no more coins for that wishing well” and “lay low and let it go” came from – sheer exhaustion from going over the same things again and again. The bridge “In my own time, get my feet back on the ground” was a reminder to myself that healing takes time and it’s okay to take things at your own pace. When I first wrote it, it felt like a release.”
“I didn’t want the song to be heavy or sad, even though the emotions were. The upbeat indie vibe reflects that sense of freedom that comes with finally letting go, even when it’s hard. I think we’ve all been in situations where we know it’s time to move on, but the comfort of the familiar pulls us back. It’s not about heartache – it’s about strength, about taking control of your own life and time. I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling of needing to reclaim their space after a relationship ends. Writing this song helped me find that closure, and I hope it resonates with anyone else who’s ready for their own fresh start.”
Recorded by Steve Kempnich (Powderfinger, Megan Washington, Shag Rock) and mastered by Mathew Grey (Eskimo Joe, Sarah Blasko), My Own Time sprinkles in some acoustic alchemy along with potent indie rock flavours, with the track’s music video tactfully also illustrating the lyrical content and nodding to some of their earlier work, as the band elaborate, “The video for My Own Time plays on the theme of struggling to let go of the past. The protagonist attempts to burn Polaroid photos representing the relationship.. These photos refuse to burn, symbolising memories that refuse to fade and a relationship that is lingering. In the end, the character leaves the box of photos next to the fire, and walks away, representing the decision to move on. The setting by the fire not only ties into the themes of release but also allows us to play with shadow and light, creating silhouettes throughout the video, which links back to the EP’s title. We loved the idea of using the same imagery from the artwork to create a connection.”
With a truly modern origin story, stemming from when vocalist and guitarist Chris Macdonald and guitarist Shanan Kilner met on a musician’s classified website (“basically Tinder for musos”, says the group), The Urban Sea emerged in 2019 and quickly became a fixture in the thriving Brisbane indie scene. Helmed by a creative fluidity that initially blended indie rock with touches of soul and R&B, the band have since evolved over the years to embrace a more acoustic-driven indie style along with a solidified lineup of Macdonald and Kilner as well as keyboardist Jack Gooden, drummer Troy Thorpe and bassist Rhys Fox, now channelling the more energetic edge of their earlier days into a more refined and emotionally resonant vibe. With their name reflective of the ebb and flow of the ocean itself meeting the bustle of urban life, The Urban Sea have previously ticked off performances at many iconic Brisbane venues, including The Zoo and Black Bear Lodge, as well as appearances at Woodford Folk Festival and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Fan Festival. Via their recent EP Sunsets and Silhouettes, the group again showcased their ever-maturing sound, blending thoughtful songwriting with raw, intimate and expansive arrangements. Now with a brand new EP Sunsets and Silhouettes set for release in February 2025, there is guaranteed to be even more The Urban Sea magic to come, balancing emotion with moments of peace and clarity. And My Own Time is a perfect and personal palette cleanser as The Urban Sea shift deeper into this exciting new creative chapter.
“Releasing My Own Time feels like finally sharing a piece of ourselves that we’ve been holding onto for a while,” the band concludes. “The song is very personal, but it also has this universal energy that we hope people will connect with. We’ve poured a lot into the arrangements and lyrics to capture that push-and-pull of moving on, and now it’s time to let it go and see how it resonates with listeners. There’s a certain catharsis in putting it out there – we’re excited to see how people interpret and feel the song.”
My Own Time is out today, Friday 11 October.
Listen: MY OWN TIME
Watch: MY OWN TIME
VERONICA FUSARO SHARES JANGLY NEW SINGLE SLOT MACHINE
With a sunny disposition and sleek execution, the new single Slot Machine out today from singer-songwriter Veronica Fusaro is an addictive sonic ode to real-world modern addictions; an effusive blend of alt pop and modern rock that also signals a brand new creative chapter for the talented Swiss-born artist.
Opening with a jangly swagger, à la other confectionary earworms like Portugal. The Man.’s Feel It Still, Slot Machine quickly takes shape as a confident and enigmatic ode to digital addiction. Dominantly channelling the likes of Vasco Rossi, Black Pumas, Alabama Shakes and Avril Lavigne, Veronica Fusaro’s masterful vocals perfectly thread the underlying musical elements, emerging with an infectious yet meaningful creation that also acts as a delectable entreè to her, as yet unnamed, upcoming second album. “I took it back to my roots with this one,” Fusaro shares. “I was listening to a lot of the rock music that I grew up with when I wrote this song. The song is about the little ‘magic box’ we all carry with us – our phones – and the constant stream of entertainment and information they provide. I realized how dangerously addictive they can be, almost like a slot machine, constantly pulling us in. It tells us what to think, what to wear, what to watch, how to look etc… The song is a reflection on that relationship and how even with all that entertainment, all that content I do not feel content at all. Therefore the: oh no, help me! Why do I feel so down?“.
An artist passionately honest and curious, with unwavering focus on lyricism and the power that music can impart, Veronica Fusaro amassed an international team to bring Slot Machine to life, with some fitting connections to her own heritage, born to a Swiss mother and an Italian father. “I wrote the song myself and sent a demo to Kim Wennerstrøm, a Swedish songwriter and producer based in Berlin, who handled the production and mixing,” explains Fusaro. “The mastering was done by Jonas W. Karlsson from Finland.”
Armed with powerful vocals, an inbuilt gift for storytelling and hues of alternative pop, soul, rock and more, Veronica Fusaro recently enamoured with her 2023 debut full length All the Colours of the Sky. Reaching #5 on Swiss charts, All the Colours of the Sky also come amongst Fusaroticking off over 500 live performances, including opening for Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler, performing on the iconic stages of Glastonbury Festival, at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, and closing out 2023 with a sold out appearance in Zurich. With a formidable live presence, Fusaroseamlessly balances joy with powerful undertones in her incredible sonic output; and her driving passion stems from finding a love for music at an early age as well as a gift for fusing her inspiration into her music. “Great music makes me tick, but really it could be anything,” Fusaro reveals. “A conversation I have with a stranger or a good friend, something I see on TV, something I read, something I observe… anything really. And I somehow feel the need to transform this inspiration into words and music. I’m not the best talker, so I guess music is the way I get to communicate and feel safe and good about what I feel. And I got into music as a little kid, I just always enjoyed singing, eventually started playing guitar and writing songs in 4th/5th grade and well… here I am today!”.
With plans set for 2025 to release a follow up to her debut 2023 album, All the Colours of the Sky, Fusaro’s first step into this brand new era is vividly heralded by Slot Machine; and there is definitely plenty of magic set to come from Veronica Fusaro going into 2025. “It feels strange to be releasing this new single, but in a very exciting way,” Fusaro concludes. “I’m definitely a bit nervous since it’s been a while since I’ve released new music, but I’m also really proud of Slot Machine. It’s the first chapter of a project that I’m incredibly passionate about. I really can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Slot Machine is out today.