CHAVEZ CARTEL SHARE NEW SINGLE ‘MIDNIGHT SKIES’ NEW EP ‘MAN’S BEST FRIEND’ OUT MAY 5
A swaggering, dazzling mix of classic rock and modern hues, the brand-new track Midnight Skies from Gold Coast quartet Chavez Cartel will light up the night sky and drive into your soul. Moody, edgy, yet ever-so-charming, Midnight Skies also marks a polished glimpse into Chavez Cartel’s upcoming new EP Man’s Best Friend, officially set to release on Friday May 5.
Opening with swirling textures, affable beats and crisp guitars, Midnight Skies evolves into a pulsing cinematic rock dream, like a vintage Camaro tearing through a dark and dusky desert. And while the tones may be coated in smoky modernity, Midnight Skies would equally be at home soundtracking HBO’s Peaky Blinders, showcasing the Gold Coast group’s glamorous grit and reflecting the band’s eclectic yet complementary influences; a fact that carries throughout the broader upcoming EP, as drummer Tom Isaacs explains, “We all have different inspirations and different artists we draw our inspiration from. For me, All Them Witches have a huge influence on my drumming and my thought process for writing music/structure/songs. I know Ben [Simpson, vocals] draws a lot of inspiration from artists such as Velvet Underground, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Oasis. Jack [Kelly, guitar] is more old school, he loves AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Josh [Kemp, bass] is a good mixture of all of us put together!”
Tracing the journey to their forthcoming new release Man’s Best Friend all the way back to 2021, the road to conjuring and shaping the end product was also firmly linked by a key inspiration: the hard-driving and rebellious spirit underpinning the aforementioned HBO series Peaky Blinders, including the series’ iconic opening credits featuring Nick Cave’s explosively moody Red Right Hand. Teaming up with ARIA Award-winning producer, musician and recording engineer Govinda Doyle, as well as Callan Holstein and Froggie Evans from Studio One16, to bring their striking new EP to life, the end result is a unique, dark and ambitious joyride on its sonic surface, while also deeply targeting themes of trauma, pain, strength and positivity. “It feels like it’s about damn time we released this EP,” shares Tom. “We recorded the EP back in May 2021, and we’ve been aching to release it. But we’ve been so busy since, we haven’t had the chance! It feels great though, we’re all ecstatic and can’t wait to share these songs”. “Lyrically the EP is about the life cycle of emotional traumas,” adds Ben of the EP’s thematic framework. “From pain and darkness to strength and light.”
Opening with acoustic haze that builds into a swooning rock fever dream via title track Man’s Best Friend, Chavez Cartel firmly thread their trademark prowl with emphatic vocals and scathing fuzz before morphing into their latest single Midnight Skies; a jangly, moody cocktail of toe-tapping proportions. Flitting between thunderous anthems (Coming Around) to sparse and gleeful menace (Writer’s Block), Chavez Cartel flex and unfurl every inch of their arsenal before the EP’s penultimate track, gifting a smouldering cover of Arctic Monkeys’ Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair and an unforgettable closing track in the form of previous single Dead Weekend, hypnotising with blues-infused alt-rock and a heart-pounding conclusion.
Following the release of the group’s previous EPs, 2019’s Lucky Lucy and Confidence Is All I’m Taking Home, Chavez Cartel harnessed the forced time away from touring during the pandemic years to instead focus and sharpen on their sound and songwriting, ultimately emerging with the six-track cinematic delight that is Man’s Best Friend. With early live recordings of some of the EP’s songs turning heads, including radio play on BBC’s Music Introducing, Chavez Cartel were recently able to bridge the UK connection down under, supporting English indie rockers The Reytons on their recent Australian tour. But there’s still plenty more across the pond action in store for the band, with a UK tour set for May, including a show repping Aus at The Great Escape. And ahead of the release of Man’s Best Friend, it seems the best is still yet to come for the group who embrace the loose acronym with their moniker: “Can Have it All Very EaZily”. “We’ve been at it hard and we can’t wait to showcase all that we’ve been working on,” concludes Tom. “Not only do we also have some new sexy merch but we’ve been experimenting with new sounds that add so much depth to the songs and it’s all ready for our fans.”
Midnight Skies is out today, Friday April 14.
Man’s Best Friend is due out Friday May 5.
CHAVEZ CARTEL – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
WED 3 MAY | THE WASHINGTON, SHEFFIELD, UK
FRI 5 MAY | IMPERIAL, MEXBOROUGH, UK
TUE 9 MAY | THE GOOD MIXER, CAMDEN, UK
THU 11 MAY | GRAND CENTRAL | THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL, BRIGHTON
FRI 12 MAY | INN ON THE SQAURE | THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL, BRIGHTON
SAT 13 MAY | THE FOLKLORE ROOMS| THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL, BRIGHTON
FRIDAY 19 MAY | THE GARRISON, BARNSLEY, UK
SATURDAY 3 JUNE | MANSFIELD TAVERN | MOONDOLL FESTIVAL, BRISBANE | TICKET LINE – https://bit.ly/3Y1V2UB
ROBBIE BOSTOCK SHARES NEW SINGLE CRYPTIC LOVE NEW EP EXPLORATIONS OUT MAY 12
A striking collision of slick blues and uplifting retro hues, virtuosic guitarist Robbie Bostock is today releasing his new single via the jubilant instrumental journey that is Cryptic Love. Showcasing Robbie’s burgeoning craftsmanship and dazzling delivery, Cryptic Love also offers a glimpse into the Gold Coast artist’s upcoming EP Explorations, due out on Friday May 12, with local fans able to catch Robbie live in action across a number of shows this May at one of Australia’s largest free music festivals: Blues on Broadbeach.
Busting out slinky basslines, sizzling guitarwork and soaring 80s undertones, Cryptic Love is an oscillating declaration of blues and Robbie’s love for the likes of Phil Emmanuel, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler and Hank Marvin, while ultimately also allowing the instrumentals to glimmer and shine. Self-produced, mixed and mastered by Robbie himself, Cryptic Love is a creamy and buoyant delight for guitar fans and beyond – and, as Robbieexplains, it’s equally a family affair, “For the single Cryptic Love I wanted to write a piece that incorporated a blues sounding verse but with a big uplifting chorus, with a bit of an 80’s flavour as well. Originally it was going to have vocals on it but my Strat guitar insisted on doing the singing! My sister Rachel Bostock also contributed a killer electric violin solo on it too!”.
Like a jet engine taking off into the atmosphere, Cryptic Love firmly opens the door for what’s to come on Robbie’s forthcoming EP Explorations. A wall-to-wall musical guitar journey, with Robbie helming the entire EP’s creation, alongside co-writing on final track Fading Off The Earth with his brother Brendan Bostock, Explorations truly lives up to its inquisitive moniker. Erupting with the toe-tappin’ Bostock Boogie, Explorations flits from blues and lush retro flavours (Cryptic Love) to hazy undulations (The New Rivals), surf-soaked doo-wop (Seashells), classic rock fare (In Guitar We Trust) and crystalline sonic fire and ice (Fading Off The Earth). With additional violins on the EP provided by sister Rachel, as seen today on Cryptic Love, Explorations is a overall a fascinating expedition, led firmly by Robbie and his trusty Stratocaster. “I do love to sing as well, but for me sometimes the music and my guitar can say everything I need the song to say without putting pen to paper,” shares Robbie of the ultimate decision to present Explorations as an entirely instrumental outing. “I decided to keep the EP all instrumental; I wanted the whole EP to be like an intriguing movie and take people on a journey”. Private stream Explorations.
Discovering music at a very early age, Robbie started playing the guitar when he was age 7, going on to form a band with his siblings, including Rachel on violin, Brendan on drums, and sister Sara Bostock on bass. With genres ranging from country to Irish, blues, heavy rock and more, the Bostocks performed into adulthood at pubs, clubs, festivals, weddings and parties, with their father’s work van transformed into an honorary tour bus for the siblings on weekends. But from competing with sister Rachel for the best solo on the night to Robbie himself branching out as a solo artist, Robbie has since gone on to turn heads across the industry, including performing with some of the greats from Tommy Emmanuel to Normie Rowe and the late Stevie Wright, as well as past appearances at Blues On Broadbeach and The Gympie Music Muster. Releasing a collaboration album with his mentor and long-time friend, the late Phil Emmanuel, via 2013’s Chariots Of Fire, Robbie also took home Instrumental Single Of The Year at the Australian Song Writing Awards in 2019 for his track The New Rivals. And as an accomplished session guitarist, Robbie has also recently contributed to a range of successful releases, including Amber Lawrence’s Living For The Highlights, which hit #1 on the ARIA Top 50 Chart.
Returning once again to Blues On Broadbeach in his home town in 2023, fans on the Gold Coast this May will be able to witness some of Robbie’s brand new musical creations live in action, with multiple performances across the festival locked in following the release of Explorations on May 12. And, as Robbie concludes, these shows are set to showcase his incredible guitarwork as well as vocals, originals, covers and beyond. “My shows at Blues On Broadbeach will be half singing and half instrumental, I do like to sing as well,” shares Robbie of his upcoming performances. “I’ll play my own stuff as well as some classics. 10 years ago, I released a collaboration album at the festival with Phil Emmanuel, so I will also play some songs from that album in honour of Phil’s legacy.”
Cryptic Love is out today, Monday April 17.
Explorations is due out Friday May 12.
Stream CRYPTIC LOVE
Private stream EXPLORATIONS
ROBBIE BOSTOCK – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
BLUES ON BROADBEACH
TUE 9 MAY | OASIS SHOPPING CENTRE, GOLD COAST
FRI 19 MAY | THE LUCKY SQUIRE, GOLD COAST
SAT 20 MAY| SAGE RESTAURANT
SUN 21 MAY | SAGE RESTAURANT
Info available at https://bluesonbroadbeach.com/
Listen: CRYPTIC LOVE
KEL SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO PARADISE
A lush and luminous journey draped in bittersweet warmth, the debut single Paradise from emerging Sydney singer-songwriter Kel is a feast for the senses and the soul. Accompanied by a self-directed music video also out today, Paradise marks a sublime introduction into Kel’s musical world, with the track set to launch tonight live in action at The Great Club (Marrickville) in Sydney.
An emotive, rock-inspired ballad, inspired equally by the soulful flavours of Finneas and Conan Gray and even Taylor Swift, Paradise was written and arranged entirely by Kel, with production courtesy of the legendary John Castle, whose previous work includes Vance Joy’s Riptide as well as work with Megan Washington, Angus & Julia Stone, and Cub Sport. Swelling between a softly euphoric ballad and a driving, dreamy anthem, Paradise also tugs at the heartstrings via Kel’s emphatic narrative surrounding lost love, as he elaborates, “Paradise is a song about a break-up. It’s a metaphor about losing something special about a place you might’ve shared with someone else, and how places and feelings change sometimes. It was inspired by a trip with my friends to a beach on the South Coast NSW. I wanted to write a song that felt like that place”.
With Kel impressively conjuring his debut track with John Castle remotely via phone calls and Zoom sessions, Paradise was then mastered at Studios 301 in Sydney by Steve Smart. But the track’s accompanying music video was ultimately a DIY and family affair, with Kel making the poignant music video for his first sonic release during a family holiday. “The music video was made by myself and some family on a holiday,” sharesKel. “As a current film student, I was keen to direct and film my own video. When I was writing the song, the opening lyrics stuck out to me. Sunrise and long hikes. So, I knew I wanted the main visuals to be central around a beach. The song is about a favourite place that doesn’t belong to you anymore. I’ve found that often we connect certain places with people, and when that connection’s lost, the place is not the same”.
Hailing from a musical family, Kel began playing multiple instruments and singing while in high school, going on to pen his first original compositions in year 12. After producing some videos of himself, Kel’s search began for a producer in earnest, ultimately resulting in his discovery of John Castleand falling in love with the talented producer, engineer and multi-instrumentalist’s sound and catalogue. From sending his videos to John, the two immediately began working together. While Paradise may mark the first single unleashed into the wild for Kel, the future looks bright for this talented up-and-comer currently working towards his debut EP. And if you’re lucky enough to be in Sydney tonight, you may very well catch some of Kel’s unreleased material this evening alongside his brand new single at the Paradise single launch at The Great Club (Marrickville). “You can expect a large variety of different songs,” reveals Kel of the musical treasures lying in wait for his upcoming performance tonight. “A lot of the time when I’m writing, I pull inspiration from other genres, so my live shows are a mixture of exciting and vibrant songs with a huge band, as well as some slower songs where it’s just me playing and singing with a piano. It’s a mix of ballads, rock driven sounds, and acoustic storytelling”.
Paradise is out today, Thursday April 13.
THUR 13 APRIL | THE GREAT CLUB, MARRICKVILLE NSW | 18+ (Unless Accompanied by Guardian)
Tickets https://musicboozeco.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/b978e6a7-1da6-4b3c-8591-a6f13e0c5e78 | 02 1519 4826 | All Oztix Outlets