THE NOMADIC UNVEILS STIRRING NEW SINGLE ‘MARIE ANTOINETTE’ TAKEN FROM SOPHOMORE ALBUM ‘NEW HORIZONS’ DUE OUT DECEMBER 14
A haunting yet hopeful exploration of love, loss and growth, the stirring new single Marie Antoinette out today from Sydney singer songwriter The Nomadic offers a sweeping glance into the artist’s upcoming sophomore album, with New Horizons imminently beckoning for release on December 14.
Helmed by singer-songwriter Rob Gaylard, The Nomadic sweeps in today with a glimmering and oscillating bundle of melancholy and optimism, with Marie Antoinette stylistically nodding to the likes of early Coldplay, Radiohead, Phosphorescent, The War On Drugs, The 1975 and The National, while also fostering The Nomadic’s introspective and immersive unique flair. “Marie Antoinette is about being in a relationship with someone where things are so close to working but it’s not quite there,” explains Gaylard. “You both have work to do on yourselves, you both have hidden trauma, there’s a revolution coming for both of you! You just don’t know it yet! But over time you will come to see the silver lining in the current (painful!) cloud and realise that you grew from pain, suffering, hardship and crisis. The song is not about anyone in particular, just really inspired by the stage of life I was at and the observations of the world around me and the struggles friends and family were going through!”
After relocating back to Sydney in 2022 following years as a regular fixture on the New York City indie rock scene, Gaylard’s original designs for his latest body of sonic work also grew alongside working with some high-profile local talent, with an army of collaborators from around the industry joining Gaylard to grow The Nomadic journey; and, to ultimately bring both Marie Antoinette and its broader album New Horizons to full-bodied life. “I was lucky enough to work with some of the best in the business!” shares Gaylard. “I relocated home to Sydney Australia in 2022 and recorded New Horizons with Dan Frizza in Sydney at Forbes Studios. The Nomadic is the best of Aussie rock talent, with Miles Thomas (Lior, Ronan Keating, Montaigne) on drums, Oliver Thorpe (The Whitlams, Matt Corby, Meg Mac) on guitar, and Brendan Clark (Meg Mac, Montaigne, Jack River) on bass. Dan Frizza as producer lends the kind of magic touch that has seen him enrich the work of the likes of Tones and I, King Princess, and Gurrumul.”
Mastered by Greg Calbi of Sterling Sound in New Jersey, New Horizons builds upon the foundations set by The Nomadic’s 2022 debut album My Mind is Racing. Detailing themes of loss, change and hope amongst fluctuating moments of indie hues, classic and modern rock, wistful anthems, alt-country and more, New Horizons feels instantly intimate and welcoming, with many of Gaylard’s own powerful experiences percolating throughout. “The main themes of the album are feelings of being stuck in life and having the feeling that there is ‘something out there better for you’, of not wanting to let go of dreams, going through big changes professionally and personally, loss of relationships, and generally life upheavals!” Gaylard reveals. “This personal theme is set against the backdrop of major global changes and events, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, climate change, social and societal changes, and revolutions in the west.”
Opening with calm melancholy, New Horizons kicks off with Treading Water, before diving into an alt-country-meets-rock charmer courtesy of All Changed. From here, The Nomadic explore more upbeat rock territory (the Led Zeppelin-inspired First Light), unbridled and driving optimism (Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams), and a Bloc-Party-esque propulsive rocker (Hearts And Minds), with the latter also traversing heartache set against a personal backdrop of political instability and crumbling security witnessed by Gaylard during his time spent with the UN in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2011. Shifting into glossy emotives via title track New Horizons, a sublime nine minute opus buoyed by violin and cello, the album’s second half oozes into wistful beauty (Luminescent View), evocative storytelling (Erasing Mental Photographs), and a nod to The Boss himself, aka Bruce Springsteen, via The Absolution; also another track heavily influenced by Gaylard’s time in Afghanistan, and in particular the mental health issues caused by America’s troop surge in 2009. And returning again to some alt-country flavours with Blood Red Sky, recalling the devastating Australian bushfires in early 2020, New Horizons ultimately closes out with a rousing call to arms (Revolution), the gentle yet equally powerful stylings of Find A Way, and, ultimately, its closing track, and also The Nomadic’s brand new single out today: Marie Antoinette.
Imbued with a passion for music and songwriting from a young age, Rob Gaylard’s road to forming The Nomadic stemmed from his own nomadic lifestyle, living in five different countries in the first 10 years of his life, including Australia, Burma, Singapore, the Soloman Islands and the UK. This nomadic theme continued into Gaylard’s adulthood, with the talented creative living and working with the United Nations, national governments and NGOs in Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Israel/Palestine. Also a massive sports fan alongside his musical pursuits, Gaylard’s adventures under The Nomadic moniker entices listeners to enter a world of boundless melodies and wanderlust-inspired styles, first witnessed in 2022 with The Nomadic’s debut album My Mind is Racing, and set to flourish further this December with the release of New Horizons. Commencing The Nomadic project in 2014 off the back of immersing himself in the vibrant energy during a stint in New York City, Gaylard ultimately returned to his Australian roots in 2022, teaming up with producer Dan Frizza to begin work in earnest on New Horizons in 2023; and the rest is set to be history.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be releasing Marie Antoinette today!” shares Gaylard. “It feels like the culmination of a long journey, from the initial conception of the songs to the development and creation of the final product in the studio, mixing and mastering! Combine that with the emotional experience of going through some rough times and coming out the other side to see some New Horizons – overall It’s been a bit of a marathon!”
Marie Antoinette is out today.
The Nomadic’s full-length album New Horizons is due out Saturday December 14.
Soundcloud: MARIE ANTOINETTE
Stream: MARIE ANTOINETTE
THE AUDREYS RELEASE FIRST NEW MUSIC IN 10 YEARS UNVEILING THE PENSIVE COUNTRY GEM SECONDHAND BOOTS
Renowned for their glimmering pastiche of alternative country and beyond, today ARIA Award-winning act The Audreys return with a stunning slice of brooding country, releasing new single Secondhand Boots; the first new music from The Audreys in 10 years, alongside their 20th anniversary as a band in 2024.
Based around a real-life experience for vocalist Taasha Coates, Secondhand Boots lulls you with gentle yet driving rhythms, glistening instrumentals and the hauntingly intimate vocal stylings of Coates herself. A heart-rending and melancholic country delight, Secondhand Boots also arrives as The Audreys’ first new music in a decade, with the end result launching a sublime new era for the group, laden with tangible narratives. “On our last tour we did a cover of Lonely Girls by Lucinda Williams,” shares Coates, “and we love the way the track locks into a gentle but driving two-feel and sticks to it throughout the whole song. Our drummer Beej would stand at the front and play shaker, something that is surprisingly difficult to do well. So that song became a reference track for us when we were recording Secondhand Boots because it was such a fave.”
“I’ve made a lot of bad decisions in my life, but a few years ago I made an absolute doozy,” Coates adds. “This song is about that, and that’s pretty much all I can say without getting sued. They are my boots in the cover art. I bought them in Texas nearly 20 years ago, so they’d have
some stories to tell. Sadly, they’re not actually the secondhand boots referred to in the song – those ones I threw away.
With Coates working alongside a talented array of musicians to create this new single, guitarist Tom Kneebone, bassist Felicity Freeman, and drummer Beej Barker, Secondhand Boots also added some extra sparkle courtesy of producer and engineer Ryan Martin John of Cactus Cactus Sound, and mastering by MaderVMusic’s Alex Mader. And as if the reality of a brand new The Audreys track wasn’t enough excitement for one day, Coates also showcases a brand new skillset brewed during the pandemic years on Secondhand Boots, adding yet another creative string to her bow, as she explains, “During Covid I learned to play the guitar (I’m a piano player) and I’m playing high-strung on this track. It’s pretty quiet in the mix, to be fair, but it’s in there. I’m super proud.”
Formed back in 2004 by Coates and guitarist Tristan Goodall, The Audreys have gone on to release four full-length albums, with 2006’s Between Last Night and Us, 2008’s When the Flood Comes and 2011’s Sometimes the Stars all taking home the ARIA Award for Best Blues & Roots Album, as well as their most recent album, 2014’s ‘Til My Tears Roll Away scoring an ARIA nomination itself. Renowned for their dynamic and silken sonic wiles, The Audreys became a beloved fixture on the Australian touring scene, with countless gigs in their wake, and have also ticked off club and festival shows in North America, the UK, and Europe. Hitting pause briefly in 2016, with Coates releasing her first solo album, Taasha Coates and Her Melancholy Sweethearts, The Audreys continued to share their musical magic and tour up until the COVID years hit; and, devastatingly, The Audreys journey changed irrevocably in 2022 with the untimely passing of Goodall. “Tristan and I started The Audreys in 2004, so this year marks our 20th anniversary,” shares Coates. “Sadly, we lost of beautiful Tristan in 2022, but before he passed he gave me his blessing to continue the band without him. I’ve been playing with my current band for about three years now and safe to say they’re the greatest group of musicians anyone could ever hope to work with.”
“Losing Tristan really devastated me, he’d been my dearest friend for 25 years, but we remember and honour his legacy all the time on stage and in the studio. I’ve been healing through music.”
A pensive yet charismatic return, and one that heralds an exciting new creative chapter for The Audreys closing out 2024 and looking ahead into the new year, Secondhand Boots is equally a heartbreaker and a crystalline triumph, channelling everything fans have known and loved The Audreys for over the past 20 years into something tantalising and new.
“I have waited a long time for this, so I am relieved, excited and terrified in equal measure,” Coates concludes. “Putting out new music is always scary, but we have lovely fans who’ve been waiting patiently for something new from us for a while and I’m so thrilled that we can finally deliver for them. I hope they love it as much as we do.”
Secondhand Boots is out today, Friday November 15.
LENNY PEARCE ANNOUNCES FAMILY-FRIENDLY REEF RAVE TOUR WITH SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS THIS SUMMER CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
Unless you’ve been living in a pineapple under the sea, multi-Platinum and ARIA-nominated DJ and producer Lenny Pearce will need zero introduction. One of the fastest-rising stars in the electronic music scene, Pearce has cemented a global reputation as the trailblazing architect of Toddler Techno and Baby Raves, also working internationally with a star-studded who’s who of beloved kids’ characters and companies. And who better to celebrate the 25th anniversary of everybody’s favourite undersea sensation SpongeBob SquarePants, with Pearce today announcing the Reef Rave tour, jumping on the road this summer to officially commemorate SpongeBob’s quarter of a century milestone.
Kicking off in SA at Adelaide’s Hindley St Music Hall on 21 December, the Reef Rave will then paddle through NSW, WA and VIC, before finishing up in QLD at Toowoomba’s Regent Theatre on 9 March.
Tickets for the Reef Rave tour go onsale to the general public on Friday 15 November at 9am local time from teamwrktouring.com/tours/lenny-pearce-reef-rave, and fans can register for presale tickets now, with the 24 hour presale kicking off on Thursday 14 November at 9am local time.
$1 from every ticket will be donated to the Children’s Hospital Foundation. This is a foundation that funds cutting-edge equipment, vital research and on-the-ground support for kids with all illnesses, injuries and conditions, throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales.
The underwater inspired, fun-filled family day out will include an array of roving performers, face painting, singing, dancing, and of course, Pearce’s famous Toddler Techno Show, with special appearances by Pearce’s favourite friend Kuma The Monkey live, as well as some special surprise guests in store, all in honour of Bikini Bottom’s favourite fry cook, SpongeBob SquarePants. “My Reef Rave is the ultimate day out for the modern family, from newborns through to grandparents – I’ve seen them all from the last tour,” shares Pearce. “It’s an interactive show for the kids, and fun music for both kids AND parents. Families always dress up at my shows, so I’m excited to see how the outfits look at an underwater themed event.”
Honouring a quarter of a century since Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants first leapt onto screens back in 1999, the Reef Rave tour ultimately evolved from Pearce’s viral reworking of another children’s fave; and in news set to delight both the young and the young at heart, chances are high that attendees may very well be able to meet the sponge of the hour when Pearce takes to the stage across the summer. “Earlier this year I remixed a few theme songs like the Paw Patrol theme song. It went viral on social media, which opened the doors to working much more closely with Nickelodeon,” shares Pearce. “SpongeBob is turning 25 this year, so we thought it would be good to celebrate his birthday together! We’re planning on having him attend some shows, take photos with the little ones, maybe even sing happy birthday at each show. SpongeBob played a huge role in everyone’s childhood so we’re going to involve him as much as we can in each city. It’s really exciting!”
The renowned pioneer of Toddler Techno, Lenny Pearce is at heart a dad and a DJ, with the talented artist specialising in remixing songs that toddlers know, and that parents can vibe to. A multi-generational sensation, Lenny Pearce is also beloved for his creative talents witnessed as a member of Justice Crew, the Australian dance-pop collective that stormed their way to taking out the crown of Australia’s Got Talent in 2010. Also the brother of fellow Justice Crew member and current Purple Wiggle John Pearce, Lenny Pearce is a born creative, with his recent rise to stardom coming in the wake of 12 months of high octane activations, including a #1 ARIA accredited techno album with The Wiggles, viral renditions of Wheels On The Bus and Macerena, and his infectious YouTube videos that are entertaining children and parents alike, all over the world.
Back in 1999, the landscape of animated TV was changed forever with the advent of a yellow sponge stealing hearts and primetime instantly. SpongeBob SquarePants has gone on to delight generations of viewers, with the show’s whimsical setting, humour and heart amassing a legacy that also extends to video games, merchandise and theme park attractions. Now celebrating 25 years since the world was introduced to SpongeBob himself, his loveable neighbour Patrick, the money-loving Mr. Crabs, the maniacal schemes of Plankton, and the colourful setting of Bikini Bottom as a whole, it’s little wonder why SpongeBob’s joy and laughter has led to it becoming one of the most loved cartoons in history.
Cool off this summer and submerge the family in Lenny Pearce‘s Reef Rave tour, an engaging and inclusive fun filled activity for the entire family.
Tickets for Lenny Pearce’s Reef Rave tour are available Friday 15 November from teamwrktouring.com/tours/lenny-pearce-reef-rave.
LENNY PEARCE – REEF RAVE TOUR
Tickets from teamwrktouring.com/tours/lenny-pearce-reef-rave
SAT 21 DEC | HINDLEY ST MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE, SA | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
THU 16 JAN | THE CUBE, CAMPBELLTOWN, NSW | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
FRI 17 JAN | NORTHS, CAMMERAY, NSW | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
SAT 18 JAN | EVERGLADES, WOY WOY, NSW | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
THU 23 JAN | REHCABITE HALL, PERTH, WA | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
FRI 24 JAN | REHCABITE HALL, PERTH, WA | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
SAT 1 FEB | CHELSEA HEIGHTS HOTEL, CHELSEA HEIGHTS, VIC | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
SUN 2 FEB | SHOPPINGTOWN HOTEL, DONCASTER, VIC | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
SAT 15 FEB | 170 RUSSELL, MELBOURNE, VIC | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
SAT 1 MAR | HELLO SUNSHINE FESTIVAL, MELBOURNE, VIC | AA
Tickets available HERE
SUN 2 MAR | GEELONG ARTS CENTRE, GEELONG, VIC | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com
SAT 8 MAR | HELLO SUNSHINE FESTIVAL, GOLD COAST, QLD | AA
Tickets available HERE
SUN 9 MAR | ARMITAGE CENTRE – REGENT THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA, QLD | AA
Tickets available from www.teamwrktouring.com