Mix Tape 32
Kicking off 2023 with some awesome new selections in Mix Tape 32, give it a spin…
Love Fame Tragedy, the acclaimed solo project from Matthew “Murph” Murphy, guitarist and lead singer of alt-pop chart-toppers The Wombats, unveil their latest single Don’t You Want To Sleep With Someone Normal?. Produced by Jacknife Lee (The Killers, U2), the track is the second offering from their upcoming second album, Life Is A Killer, out 29 March via Bright Antenna Records.
Don’t You Want To Sleep With Someone Normal? is a semi-fictionalised representation of a hugely tumultuous time in Murph’s life and marriage; a glossy pop self-portrait of someone in complete freefall, interspersed with real life voice notes from his wife Akemi.
Speaking on the track, Murph says “’This song is mainly about making light of all the crap I put my wife and myself through over the last 5 years or so. All the mistakes, all the empty apologies, and all the comically hellish scenarios I would put us in. Jacknife Lee took all this and then made it sound magical.”
San Cisco have teamed up with Australian synth-pop group CUT COPY for a twinkling and magical, Summer-ready remix of their recent single and forthcoming album title track Under The Light and official visualiser.
“Here it is! Under The Light, two ways remixed by synth lords Cut Copy,” San Cisco explain. “We feel like we’ve grown up with their music so having them remix this track was such a cool, surreal experience! The dub remix is where it’s at! To celebrate, we’ve pressed a 12” exclusive to our webstore limited to 150 copies.”
On the new remix, CUT COPY add “Under The Light is a lovely tune that reminded me of some of my favourite dreamy Australian pop from the 80s. So I wanted to do it justice and ended up finishing two different Cut Copy remixes for it. Initially, I’d planned to choose a favourite, but I couldn’t decide, so in the end the band said “hey, why not put them both out?”!”
RICKI-LEE teams up with ARIA Award winning director James Chappell for the music video for her anthemic new #1 single Ghost. Ricki shared, “I have been wanting to work with James for so many years now, and we finally got to make some magic together for this video! He is such a visionary, and I feel so lucky that I get to work with such talented people to bring my songs to life. We had so much fun doing this video and I know people are going to love it!”.
Multi-ARIA award-winning, Ghanaian-Australian artist, Genesis Owusu shares his new single and video, Survivor as a twelfth track addition to his ARIA award winning sophomore album, STRUGGLER, out now via OURNESS / AWAL. The surprise release arrives ahead of Owusu’s Australian tour this December, and his incredible showing at last month’s ARIA Awards, where he won Album of The Year, Best Independent Release and Best Hip Hop / Rap Release for STRUGGLER.
After collaborating on STRUGGLER’s complete visual identity, globally-celebrated Aotearoa/New Zealand multidisciplinary artist, Lisa Reihana returns to direct the accompanying video for Survivor. Reihana’s work spans a diverse range of mediums. From film, to costume and body adornment, plus video installation, Reihana has rightfully earned a reputation as a world-renowned artist and producer, engaging in thought-provoking dialogues around the concept of culture. A visual spectacle, Reihana’s artistic vision transpires a post-apocalyptic universe of fire and industrialism, replete with choreographed dancers centred on the imminent and commanding figure, Genesis Owusu. The song itself opens to a bold and blaring percussive arrangement as Owusu’s verses dart and duck between the arrangement’s rhythm, at lightning speed.
Owusu says on the release: “THE STORY NEVER ENDS, THE ROACH KEEPS ROACHING. THROUGH SPACE, TIME, FIRE & BRIMSTONE.”
With every release, Teenage Dads unapologetically embrace their eccentricities without shame or apology. Fresh off the back of taking home the 2023 Michael Gudinkski Breakthrough Artist ARIA Award, Teenage Dads return with their latest single Tale Of A Man – a buttoned up, bright and breezy replayable track to soundtrack the Summer ahead. To mark the occasion the band have also revealed the official video clip for the new single. Tale Of A Man is out now everywhere via Chugg Music.
Known and loved for their colourful arrangements of jangly guitars, catchy riffs and infectious melodies, Tale Of A Man showcases both breeziness and depth from the breakthrough act with a very Vampire Weekend-esque ring to it. “Tale of a Man is about your favourite friend,” vocalist Jordan explains of the upbeat and infectious new track, “and the loving and adventurous relationship that you share, and the challenges you face due to periods of separation. In spite of this you remain invested in your future together, as you lie in wait for what lies ahead for you both.”
To mark the occasion, Teenage Dads have also revealed the official video clip for Tale Of A Man. To compliment the fun and adventure within the single, the band explain “it only felt right to capture that but in a fairy tale fashion for the offical video clip. The tale follows 4 friends who evade a monster across baron fields, coastlines and seas all in search of their dream destination, Paris.” Shot on location in Mornington Peninsula, the band add “We shot the video really close to home, however these places that we’ve grown up in suddenly felt fantastical once we were clothed in real chain mail. It really felt like a step back in time.”
West Thebarton unveiled their new clip for their latest single Desire, the latest single of their forthcoming new studio album Mongrel Australia due to be released March 22, 2024, via Domestic La La!
Just like life at times, filming of the clip didn’t quite go to plan. The film crew were filming, the band were banding and the smoke machines were smoking… just a little bit too much! Setting off the fire alarm, resulting in a visit from Adelaide’s finest local heroes from the SA Metropolitan Fire Service and a hefty $965 fine!
Mongrel Australia is the follow-up to their stunning 2018 debut, Different Beings Being Different, and features eleven tracks, recorded in The Little Smoke© (Adelaide, South Australia). Produced & mixed by Dylan Adams, engineered by Jack Nigro at Twin Earth Studios, Somerton Park, SA.
Two years after celebrating their 40th Anniversary with a sell-out national tour and reissue of their much-loved albums Movin’ On & We Are Stronger, Melbourne ska pioneers Strange Tenants are back with a new single Hebba Hebba Hubba Hubba Ho.
For a band known for their left-wing labor politics – something which frontman and co-founder Bruce Hearn has continued with his Woody Guthrie-inspired solo work of late – the new single is something of a departure. A tongue in cheek song about sex, written in response to the overt preciousness of some elements of today’s political correctness, the song shows that the group is not shy of kicking against its own perceived side of politics when it feels it’s necessary.
“After decades of writing songs about war, racism, inequality etc,” says Bruce, “we felt compelled to a funny song about sex in response to the crazy and oppressive wokeness which pervades our modern culture. As it turns out, a funny song about sex is a profoundly political statement!”
Unveiling the ultimate angst-rock anthem, beloved Budgewoi pop punk trio Short Stack return with their heaviest single to date: IDGAF out now via UNFD.
Following on from the band’s previous 2023 release, the buoyant bop Shotgun Wedding, IDGAF howls with prowling textures, soaring vocals and electronic hues, with hip hop-meets-pop production in its verses fused alongside stadium-ready refrains.
Marking a sharp stylistic pivot from the iconic trio, IDGAF builds on the Short Stack past while gazing firmly to the future; and it’s a track that’ll have you reaching for the repeat button and/or screaming along to its earworm and guitar-heavy chorus.
“This is by far the heaviest song we have ever done, and my favourite thing about it is that if you read the lyrics you would not think that is the energy of the song,” shares Short Stack of their latest release. “The theme is really about dichotomy, the lyrics vs the music and then the quiet, chill verses against the big, angry chorus. This song really came to life when we were in the studio, we had so much fun with it and pushed ourselves creatively.”
Sleaford Mods are pleased to announce the release of their cover of the Pet Shop Boys’ iconic single West End Girls, with all profits from the track going to Shelter as the band continue their longstanding collaboration with the homeless charity. A video for the song, directed by Ewen Spencer, can be watched now while the single is available to stream.
The Nottingham duo created a version of the 1986 classic single between tours for their latest album UK GRIM, and then sought the blessing of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe to release the track. Not only did Sleaford Mods’ West End Girls meet with the pair’s approval, but the Pet Shops Boys were inspired to remix the cover and that version will now feature as one of the tracks on the limited edition single. Hifi Sean has also contributed an Acid House meets Hi-NRG remix for the release, while Sleaford Mods’ own Andrew Fearn has added a heady vocoder led mix under his solo guise of Extnddntwrk.
Clearly apparent from their own minimal approach to music, Pet Shop Boys have always been an important influence for Sleaford Mods, with Chris and Neil’s ability to merge sophisticated electronics and rich character often serving as a lodestar for producer Andrew Fearn and frontman Jason Williamson’s partnership. “West End Girls is a song that’s very close to my heart, my coming-of-age track in so many ways,” says Andrew Fearn of their motivation to pay homage to Pet Shop Boys.
Jason Williamson continues “I’ve been listening to the Pet Shop Boys’ albums Please and Actually a lot, the music still fits this landscape so well. When Andrew suggested we cover ‘West End Girls’, it was important to honour the track’s brilliance. So, when Neil and Chris gave the track their blessing our tiny minds were blown, and when we received their remix… it was almost too much. It was brilliant!” For their part Pet Shop Boys say they were suitably impressed with the 2023 take on their classic, declaring: “Sleaford Mods have brought East End boys back to the West End streets for a great cause and we love their new version.”
Off the back of the release of his debut album Outsider, produced and recorded by Matt Corby & Alex Henriksson on the NSW North Coast at Corby’s Rainbow Valley Studios, comes Australian Alt-country singer Bud Rokesky with the sweet country track Getting Old.
This wonderful new tune takes a turn from the bluesy-Americana style we saw in Bud’s debut album, which featured the soulful track Strike Out, the sweet Baby & I, and the gentle Love My Baby More. Getting Old is an unfaltering country song that, you guessed it, explores the concept of growing older and how in reality – it truly is for the lucky.
Speaking on Getting Old Rokesky says:
“Getting Old came about mostly from experiences I’d had while driving the truck, but also from my personal life too. You never know what stories are held deep within the people you’re yet to meet and sometimes also with the people you know, until you make the effort to talk with them.”
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have shared new single Brambles, the second song to be taken from their forthcoming album Dark Rainbow, out 26th January 2024. It follows recent new album cut Man of the Hour, which saw support across BBC Radio 1 from Clara Amfo, Dan P Carter and Jack Saunders, as well as at Clash, Scenestr, Kill your Stereo, DIY, Dork, Evening Standard, HEAVY Mag, Guitar World, Kerrang!, The Line of Best Fit, Louder, NME, Rock Sound, Rolling Stone UK and more.
Brambles comes on with a palpable sense of foreboding and menace, and arrives as something of a plea for a perfect love. It’s a song that probes for an answer to why we give ourselves over to the pain that can come from relationships, Carter singing “Why does our love feel like brambles?”
It’s another song that leans into Dark Rainbow’s path of self-evaluation and reflection. Brambles claustrophobic atmosphere is ripped apart as Carter’s roaring vocal bursts the chorus wide open. Frank Carter explains further:
“Brambles is a melancholic bop born from the bramble thorns of love we let grow around us until we are tangled with no method of escaping unscathed. Like our neural pathways become stronger and deeper with each unconscious action, the thorns of love hook deeper and the brambles wrap tighter until we are barely recognisable and even our loved ones can no longer comfort us or lead us to safety for fear of being cut and torn themselves. An ode to the passion of love and a warning not to get lost in it when you go looking.”
Sydney trio Middle Kids share Bend – the latest single from their forthcoming album Faith Crisis Pt 1, set for release on February 16 and available to pre-order here now.
Produced by Jonathan Gilmore (The 1975, beabadoobee), Bend is a soaring, emotive track about “finding the truth beneath the truth”.
“I grew up with a solid framework for what life is, but I got to a point when I started to question some of the fundamental truths of what I believed. It was very painful and disorienting. I began to have this feeling that I couldn’t hold together all the things I valued, family, creativity, work, safety, community, spirituality.” explains lead singer Hannah Joy.
The video for ‘Bend’ is directed by acclaimed sibling directors The Potter Sisters who most recently directed films ‘Far West’ and ‘Nightswim’. Filmed in Austin, TX, the video features a heavily pregnant Joy centred still in the chaos of a skate park with local skaters Ignacio Arriagada, Cristobal Arriagada, Chloë James, Atlas Chaney, JD Torian Jr and Tayvian Trejo.
Following their recent global comeback with their long-awaited release of Perfect, The Veronicas are back with Detox, a wild fusion of Pop-Rock, Ska, poetry and Skate Punk that’s bound to elevate your heart rate, have you banging your head, and shouting along to its addictive hooks all Summer long.
Detox is the second release from The Veronicas’ forthcoming Gothic Summer album, the track explores the chaos and hypnosis of toxic relationships, while delivering provoking lyrics like “I’m on my knees, I’ll never leave – I love my friends like I love all my enemies”. Speaking of the single, Jessie and Lisa say “Detox is about the multi-sensory disorientation you feel being in a toxic relationship. The push-pull dynamic and control those people have over you, and the desperation to detox them out of your system.”
The accompanying music video was created with Australian Pro BMX Rider-turned-Video Director Pat Freyne and is heavily inspired by the song’s fighting energy of keeping your head above water. Featuring references to the spontaneity of Quentin Tarantino’s greatest dance scenes, The Veronicas explain their vision, “We contrasted wide shots with extreme close ups, and purposefully improvised dance scenes to encourage physical and emotional mirroring in the moment. A mix of 60s choreography, fused with some Michael Jackson kicks and high energy, to encapsulate the fighting emotional volatility of the song. The video ends in a burst of underwater color and sinking euphoria upon the tempo change, giving in to the push-pull cycle of the song’s lyrics.”
Future Islands have shared The Fight, the latest new song from their forthcoming album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, out on 26 January 2024. Atop a sensual, synth-based groove, lead singer Sam Herring vies for self-preservation via his trademark impassioned vocals: “I won’t fade away / I will face every day / As if it’s my last one / And I will keep you safe / Just like our past was / Fight for love every day.”
From the start, Future Islands have been singular and instantly identifiable, with Herring’s life-worn croons and cries backlit by Gerrit Welmers’ melodies and charged by the rhythms of William Cashion and Michael Lowry. That premise hasn’t changed on People Who Aren’t There Anymore, but never before has the band sounded so empathetic and Herring so integrated, with what he is singing and how they sound blended like a dioramic mosaic.
People Who Aren’t There Anymore, the band’s seventh album, heralds a new chapter for Future Islands who, despite having formed nearly two decades ago, continue to challenge themselves and each other. Where they’ve pursued ever-higher energy anthems in the past, they’ve turned inward this time and unlocked a new level of ferocity. The album delivers some of their most inspiring and heart-breaking tracks by doing the opposite: taking their time, and making each breath, syllable and cymbal crash count. The result is a powerful, defining statement from a group of musicians that have made the best album of their career.
Ghost Atlas, the melodic alt-rock side project from Jesse Cash of ERRA, has released a double A-Side – Seeker (Stretch The Night) and In The House Of Leaves.
“Seeker (Stretch the Night) is arranged in a way that is less conventional structurally, and more of foundation to tell a story,” he shares. “It started with the opening chord progression having been originally written on guitar in DADGAD open tuning. I was playing around with the idea of transferring the chords to piano and liked the idea of having the song just be those chords for the entire duration. I felt that the chord progression was interesting enough and having it continue altering slightly for several bars left a lot of room for vocal variation to prevent the flow from becoming stagnant. I liked that my only means of keeping a sense of dynamic throughout was to rely upon the production layering and fluctuating intensity in the vocals. The song is constantly weaving in and out of tension and release until the end when it finally opens up into a full band performance.”
New Zealand indie-rockers PARK RD return with the new single, Save The Planet, another taste of their anticipated forthcoming debut album. After showcasing this year at SXSW Sydney and Going Global Music Summit in Auckland, Save The Planet arrives before the band head into a busy summer across NZ.
A staple of their live set for the past 12 months, Save The Planet is a track which has become a favourite among fans for good reason. Putting the guitars front and centre alongside frontman Tom Chamberlain’s distinctive baritone vocals, the track perfectly captures the indie-pop sound that will be seen on the band’s upcoming debut album, set for release in early-2024.
PARK RD have established themselves as one of NZ’s most-exciting new bands, on the back of two EPs, a series of singles, and a killer live show. The past 12 months has seen the band perform at festivals such as SXSW Sydney, Rhythm & Vines, Soundsplash & Le Currents, and support Spacey Jane and Summer Thieves.
ARIA Award winning artist Jessica Mauboy releases the commanding new feature track Never Giving Up.
‘I choose the right for us to be’ is the powerful opening lyric that sets the tone for Jessica Mauboy’s latest release Never Giving Up. This song pulled straight from Mauboy’s heart is an anthem for anyone feeling the pressure and tension that is going on in the world right now.
In a powerful statement of solidarity, Mauboy sings, ‘Don’t let them take away your voice.’
“I’ve always stood up for and supported various communities. The conversation that’s happening in the country and across the world right now is an important one. There’s so much healing and action that needs to happen, and this is my little contribution to that; I hope. I want to be a part of the change for all people, for our elders and the next generation,” she says.
Jason Derulo has unwrapped the official music video for his acclaimed collaboration with fellow Multi Platinum global superstar, GRAMMY® Award-winner Meghan Trainor, Hands On Me (Feat. Meghan Trainor), the colorfully clever visual sees both superstars trying out The Simple Life in a classic reality TV takeoff, highlighted by a special appearance from the one and only Paris Hilton. The hit reality show starring Paris Hilton and bestfriend Nicole Richie, recently celebrated its 20 year anniversary.
“I couldn’t remember the last time I had this much fun shooting a music video. Thank you to Paris and Meghan for making this so special.” – Jason Derulo
“I had so much fun shooting this video with Jason and paying homage to the queen, Paris Hilton and the Simple Life. Can’t believe I’m in a music video with these two legends!” – Meghan Trainor
With a big summer of touring ahead, and an acclaimed, sold out, symphony tour behind them, Birds of Tokyo are back with a new track called Lion.
“Lots of our other singles – like “Lanterns” or “Plans” – are collective statements”, explains the song’s co-writer, Adam Spark. “They’re about people coming together and finding strength in a common experience. This one is different – it’s about an individual who wants to redefine themself. Whether it’s career, sexuality or location there seem to be a lot of people making fresh starts out there post-Covid so this song is tapping into that “you do you” feeling that’s kinda everywhere at the moment.”
Lion is about embracing individuality. The song’s protagonist is trapped; she wants to break free and be her true self.
To sign off on what has been a ripper of a year for the Hard-Ons, they release a brand new 7 inch single with 2 unreleased album tracks, Miserable and Fck Off Cnt Features 2.
The single is available on limited edition red vinyl (100 only), limited edition light blue vinyl (100 only), black vinyl and digitally.
About Miserable, Blackie says ‘this one had many faces on it .. tried it Doo Wop / 50’s style and was set to play it acoustic before I let the band make it kick arse .. I’m so glad I did!’
So be prepared for an arse-kicking!
Tkay Maidza shares an avant garde video for Won One, the razor-sharp new single off her latest album Sweet Justice, out now via Dew Process and Universal Music Australia. Alongside the video, Tkay has announced her first extensive headline North American tour to kick off in February 2024.
Directed and produced by Munachi, the powerful video sees Tkay at one with the elements as she addresses her experiences with misogyny in the music industry. The excoriating but high-minded song, produced by Stint, draws connections between the men who try to control women’s careers and the men that do women the world over wrong every day. It plays like an exorcism, channelling all the apathy and animosity she felt towards music industry chauvinism.
Of the release, Tkay says, “‘Won One’ was therapeutic to write. I don’t feel bad about anything that I said. It was almost like automatic writing – I didn’t overthink it, I didn’t edit any word that I put in.”
Sweet Justice, the follow-up to Tkay Maidza’s 2016 self-titled debut also includes the single Silent Assassin (produced by Flume) which was nominated for Best Hip Hop/Rap Release at the 2023 ARIA Awards, as well as Ring-A-Ling, WUACV, Out of Luck and collaborations with Lolo Zouaï, Amber Mark, Duckwrth, Stint and Kaytranada. Receiving critical praise across the board, the record was the result of a dark night of the soul—and ensuing epiphany—that led to a series of professional and personal reckonings. Sweet Justice isn’t a revenge album, but it does stem from a profound sense of karma. In a traditional sense, it’s a breakup record: about Tkay splitting off from her self-doubt and warped sense of self; the toxic figures that populated the last chapter of her life; and the idea that she should stick to any one lane. Sweet Justice embodies the beautiful contradictions of Tkay’s art: it’s a coming-of-age record by someone who’s mastered the game; an album about karmic justice and accountability that’s bright, breezy and incredibly fun. In Tkay’s mind, it’s a rebirth album, harnessing the feminine power that was innate in her the whole time.
Fresh off releasing their heaviest single to date and performing at Good Things Festival in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane earlier this month, beloved pop punk trio Short Stack have unveiled an accompanying music video for their track IDGAF, featuring footage taken on and off stage throughout the festival.
Capturing the enigmatic energy of their latest tune as well as their Good Things Festival adventures, including the team’s impromptu drive from Melbourne to Sydney after last minute flight cancellations, the music video for IDGAF is pure Short Stack goodness and a must-watch to add some good vibes to the end of 2023. And keep an eye out if you were in the Short Stack crowd at Good Things – you may very well spot yourself in the brand new clip!
Swedish action rock legends THE HELLACOPTERS have announced the release date for the long overdue physical re-issue of their classic album Grande Rock from 1999, which hasn’t been available to purchase on vinyl for over 20 years. This new edition of Grande Rock will be released on February 16th, 2024, as a 2LP, 2CD and digital edition all of which contain both the remastered original album as well as a revisited and remixed version with additional guitars by Dregen, plus additional percussion and piano and new backing vocal tracks. Just like the original release back in 1999, the vinyl edition exclusively features the Venom cover Angel Dust as a bonus track.
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