I talked with two members of Schapis who have recently released their debut album Rituals of Torture and Death.
I stumbled across this band online and discovered they were from Melbourne so I went to catch up with them on the winter solstice fittingly.
Check out their latest album Rituals of Torture and Death
I meet up with three members of Crossbone carnival where we talked about working on new metarial, Band compititions and music.
Check their song break it below
I caught up with the MC’s of Combat Wombat Elf and Izzy a few days ago who are just as passionate about music as they are activism.
We chatted about activism living in Squats, Sydney, traveling and how Izzy and Elf got involved. How the group started and meet. Also about the new album and meaning behind the title.
Check the interview Below
You can listen and buy their new album here.
Even give it a listen below.
Peace Out
A long time ago…. in a galaxy known as the milky way… There was a evil evil doer. who had extenders on his shoes. But didn’t quite know how to use them. The man’s name! Dr Collussus! Which was then pulled for a Doom Rock group to one day partake the same name.
Which I found kinda cool. I meet up with Dr. Colossus during their practice for Negative Waves Festival.
Which I mean damn.
Check this sweet as tits lineup! Sold out of cause!
Negative Waves Sweet tits lineup. I won’t bore you with going through the lineup. Because Dr Collosus will. I did manag to chat with them about how they started the band where they are going and how far they are in creating their latest album.
Check it.
I caught up with Simon and Sunny of Kat O and the Collelctables before their EP release to find out about their music, What inspires them and their DIY ethic.
Great people to who are making some great music right here in Melborune.
Check out their latest EP What U Put up With
You can also keep in touch with them here
Long ago… In a upstairs of a pub far far away… Two band members of a obscure small band were interviewed by a man where questions were asked… Things were said. Where it was all, well, quite damn interesting!
I chatted with Jake and Rich from Drug Sweat. While Jakes girlfriend band Parsnip played on stage at the Barwon Club. We chatted away.
Was interesting to find out how the band came about and much more. Rich also plays in Ooga Boogas. While Jake also plays in Ausmutants and like a million other bands.
This interview was also played on the Triple R Graveyard Shift Which you can check out Here.
I got a chance to chat with The Living Eyes as they were gearing up to spend the weekend at Golden Plains seeing that Billy is in Ausmutants and were opening the whole damned festival!
They are a great bunch of guys with a bright future and a true love for music and a scene which has created an amazing lo fi rock sound. That just keeps on getting more popular and stronger everyday.
Also got to see where the hard copys of Anti Fade Records live. I’ll even show you.
We Learn that the Living Eyes are mastering their new album yet untitled, We talked Geelong Bands, Working towards cool things and European tours with the Frowning Clouds and playing some cool gigs.
Catch them with a heap of awsome bands at Jerkfest III at the Barwon club on the 25th of March.
Then Listen to them Here
Regina Spektor has released her newest album Remember Us to Life which sadly feels very same same. I adore her sound and style but there isn’t anything I’d say ground breaking on this album.
She has some poppy layered songs which this time around don’t tend to work.
That being said what I love is when you strip her sound right back to just singing and a piano or with light instrumental elements. This where Regina truly does shine. She creates a real sense of how it is to feel depressed but enlightens us on her journey and her mind. Doing so in such a simple way of using her vocal talent and piano skills. I’ve always preferred her songs to Amanda Palmer but hey. Both are great in their own rights.
Sadly though I feel Regina Spektor and her pop efforts on What We Saw from the Cheap Seats were remarkably better.
This is how she takes us into the album in Older and Taller with lyrics such as “enjoy your youth” “sounds like a threat” What can I say I’m older now and I didn’t enjoy my youth I’d have to say I’m much happier now! Lies Regina Lies!! Honestly though I feel I’m enjoying myself and life much better then my actual youth. But hey that’s just me. Just enjoy your life I say. Not just your youth.
Also explaining what sounds like a well off child’s expression of depression on Grand Hotel is well kinda missing it’s point and not hitting it’s mark at all here just kind of boring me lyrically. Maybe I’m missing the point? But vocally and musically it is totally on point.
While saying all this don’t let that put any doubt in her ability and talent as she still does shine through tracks like The Light and Obsolete these are where her talents and abilities truly shine.
I wish I could be more positive about this release but hey just go see her live and you’ll be blown away.
She is flawless when you strip back the sound to just instrumental elements. This is how her voice truly shines.
Still worth a listen just not her best effort when it comes to doing “pop”
Pro tip: Skip through the pop songs and listen to the slower more intimate ones over and over again.
Also one must never forget that she did the theme to Orange is the New Black.
Now I’ve heard about rap concerts going down at the White House in the last few years but damn NPR always find ways to pull off something cool. This time NPRs Tiny Desk Concerts were invited to the White House to record Common perform. This Tiny Mix Tape concert brings a incredible vibe I mean you got to remember this is in the White House one of the most recognised and known buildings in America.
This has to be significant. Especially during Obama’s last month of his presidency to have things like this go down and have real culture going on in the White House. This is truly amazing and a shows how pure art and music is in this day and age and how close to our hearts we do find these things.
Also that we respect artists to the point we look into their views on the world and what people actually have to say not just enjoy the art they create and praise them for their mind and not just creativity.
This is another step forward. Not to mention it’s a insanely good concert. Commons vocals are smooth the music is smooth. Common really does bring a amazing vibe not just rapping but also using spoken word to perfection.
The man seems to be getting more smoother and soulful with age. I mean damn this suits the White House vibe perfectly. It’s respectful it’s smooth it’s jazzy and chilled. Suits the situation to a T. Common is flawless in this performance and totally chilled I really do like when he breaks it down like this with a full band. this is something I’d really enjoy live and as a tour.
A great performance and great show put together by NPR Tiny Desk Concerts. A truly amazing on point performance of Common and band that he put together for the occasion.
Setlist:
Check out the full show Here.
Solange has released her Third Album A seat at the table With it’s polished pop sound and interesting guest vocals which include The-Dream, BJ the Chicago Kid and Lil Wayne. They all seem nicely placed within this slowed down chilled album confines.
At first listen this album could Maybe the background of a dinner party you’ve spent at least 500 dollars on and having this in the background? Then everyone gets angry and some drama breaks out after someone gets slapped in a lift on the way up to the dinner party? I can imagine this playing out in a hour long video clip. Or maybe it was reality and it already happened? Either way this album would suit the situation perfectly.
Solange has always had a laid back pop sound that seems to just slip into the background of any setting. It’s R&B style has always really does work with her vocals. She wants to shine while singing laid back songs and that’s amazing. Especially if you can pull it off (Which Solange can).
Everyone as of late has had personal interludes on their albums to really bringing a personality to an album. Solage is the same. But it’s good that artists are able to show how they feel and put their heart on their sleeves through spoken word. I struggle with doing stand up comedy sometimes and it turns into stories so I understand what it’s like to try to get something out or a message with out it actually connecting in the art you are involved with. It’s the beauty of the human condition really.
But managing to do so with out dodgy 90’s interludes which included party scenes or missed messages from a boyfriend this is deeper it’s got something more to it now.
It’s not just about the music but also sending a message and trying to educate along the way. Hey why not! As long as you keep me grooving while I sip my fine expensive wine then it’s fine by me Solange (Note: I don’t drink expensive wine or wine for that matter but if I did it would be while listening to this album)
The album does have a smooth and mellow flow throughout never gets too abrasive and keeps it “cool”. Perfect for relaxing and reflecting on what ever you feel like while looking into the distance at the same time.
this album does get into subjects like being black and producing and creating art in F.U.B.U. Writing and working on a album for three years will mean you have a lot to say.
I hope living in Australia does mean we are getting albums in this digital age a day before everyone else now. If this is true this is amazing!!
Also one of the last lines of Junie does remind me of my sister with the line “Don’t want to do dishes just want to eat food” I relate and understand there are people out there EXACTLY like this.
A beautiful quiet not in your face release of a beautiful album that slips into your day nicely.
Life That 