Browsing Tag

Perth

heaven // alone seared their striking alt-metal aesthetic into the airwaves with their sophomore release, cognitive decline

Posted on 14 November 2023

With melodic grooves as rhythmically seductive as the White Pony LP fused with an early 00s metal aesthetic in the same vein as Mudvayne, complete with white-hot searing riffs and cataclysmically all-consuming breakdowns, heaven // alone asserted themselves as one to watch via the unveiling of their sophomore single, cognitive decline.

The vocals effortlessly keep pace with the seamless sonic transgressions as they veer from atmospheric harmonies that draw you into the ennui to guttural cries that will throw you right back to when Mushroomhead held dominion over the alternative scene.

The Perth-hailing five-piece may be fresh from their debut, but through their stylistic authenticity, alchemic song crafting and polished production, you can consider them a triple threat as you lose yourself in their evocatively compelling ingenuity.

cognitive decline was officially released on November 3rd; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Be Clear: Highly rated Australian artist Any Girl moves on from Reija Lee with the quite sublime Into The Black

Posted on 9 July 2023

After over 40 million streams under her previous artist name, Any Girl reinvents herself and shows us why she is one of the best in the game on the must-listen new single to pour love deep inside despite the cracks emerging, Into The Black.

Formally known as Reija Lee, Any Girl is an exceptional Perth, Australia-based indie electronic-rock singer-songwriter who performs with a cutting edge to slice away all those previous fears.

“On the surface, Into The Black is a song about the dreaded ‘situationship’. But in a deeper sense, it’s about our fear of the unknown. The lyrics portray someone who would rather be in an unfulfilling relationship, simply because it’s what they know, and it’s better than their fear of being alone. But the uplifting feeling of the chorus and the lyric ‘in the black’ being used as a metaphor for intimacy, kind of poses the question of whether giving in is always such a bad thing. Change is scary, but sometimes comfort is just what is required in the moment.” Any Girl

Wanting something intimate but going back into old habits due to her past romantic encounters, Any Girl has dropped a soul-nearing single which guides us through modern-day love. This is excellent and sung so purely, by a young woman who desires so much more than something which she knows won’t fulfil her like it should.

Into The Black from the acclaimed Perth, Australia-based indie music producer/musician Any Girl is surely one of the best singles released yet in 2023. This is dreamy stuff which will have hearts beating so much faster than before.

Packed with emotion and wonderfully electric honesty, this is special like a first kiss which will never be forgotten.

Turn this up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Sonica unveiled their ethereally experimental shoegaze revival, Wait for Me

Posted on 11 February 2023

With one of the most experimental revivalist approaches to Shoegaze known to the airwaves, the Perth-based outfit, Sonica, easily set their lush reverb-swathed tones apart from the rest. Intent on not being another Lush, Ride, or Curve replica act, Sonica found innovative ways of distorting their dream pop melodies without bursting the semi-lucid bubble

The bleeding vocals from Claire Turton stand up to the mesmeric plate, containing the same ethereal beguile as Cocteau Twins and Siouxsie and the Banshees in the moody standout single, Wait for Me, which pushes grungy tones into the midst of the euphonic kaleidoscopic accordance. Leaving ample space for the gritty and cold timbre of 80s post-punk, the four-piece revisited the golden era of shoegaze by taking a route never tread before.

Wait for Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Risk It All: Australian hip hop artist SpAzMaTiC J opens us up to the dark path on Catch Me If I Fall

Posted on 30 October 2022

Feeling those creaking four walls moving closer in and destroying everything, SpAzMaTiC J wonders if he will actually be okay on the brand new single, Catch Me If I Fall.

SpAzMaTiC J is a Perth, Australia-based indie hip hop artist who, after dealing with a myriad of traumas, is now ready to conquer the world.

”If he can help at least one person get through whatever it is their going through at that time and provide the feeling that their not alone then he has achieved his goal of helping others and turning his life of hurt and pain into someone’s medicine.” ~ SpAzMaTiC J

Seeing those memories flash again and again while feeling so alone, SpAzMaTiC J guides us deeply into a single which will be felt deeply by anyone who has dealt with those scary mental health demons. Rapped with a genuine honesty whilst pouring his heart out, this is a special release made with a vivid style which will stop many in their steps.

Catch Me If I Fall from Perth, Australia-based indie hip hop artist SpAzMaTiC J is a worrying tale that rips deep into the real-life experiences which can change everything. This is a truly gripping single with such a sad picture presented, that reflects the feelings of so many millions in our healing world.

Listen up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Can’t Believe I Wanted You: Adelina drops the breakup anthem of 2022 with Out Of Love

Posted on 23 October 2022

After being rattled to the core and feeling so let down when she required strength to overcome a massive obstacle, Adelina can’t believe that she swam in troubled waters for so long on the sizzling new single Out Of Love.

Adelina is a dazzling indie-pop solo singer-songwriter who grew up in Perth, Western Australia and has Kosovo-Albanian roots.

Displaying a tender lyrical awareness and sensationally taking our hearts back to a traumatic moment, Adelina is rather excellent on this outstanding new song that will awaken your past. Holding her values to her soul this is a reminder that we are worth so much more than we probably realize.

Out Of Love from the impressive Perth, Western Australia-born indie-pop starlet Adelina is an emotional single that paints a sadly familiar picture about a broken love that has caused so much pain. Sung with a pure velocity and pulsating with so much to treasure, this is a hot song that will be stuck in your head for hours.

When you know it’s over, the path becomes so much clearer.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more via the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Burrow exposed the fear masquerading as perfectionism in his shoegazey indie debut, Spiral

Posted on 9 October 2022

Boorloo/Perth-based musician Drew Kendell has broken away from the hardcore scene to reign melodiously supreme under the moniker Burrow in the indie rock arena. His debut single, Spiral, is an achingly intimate serenade which consumes you with the same sense of soul as The National while playing with shoegaze-y distortion and cutting post-punk tones.

Spiral acts as a grippingly honest and revelationary exposition on the fear that masquerades as perfectionist behaviour. Between the lines and the shimmering reverb, it is a reminder to connect with our inner child and an acknowledgement that being human is a process.

As someone who constantly turns to Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine for catharsis, my shoegaze bar is set pretty high; Spiral still took me to a new plateau of appreciation for the stirringly sweet innovation effortlessly exuded by Burrow.

The official music video for Spiral will officially release on October 7th. Check it out on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Steve Hensby Band checks where they are stepping on the groovy journey to ‘Jamtown In Mukinbudin’ (feat. General Justice)

Posted on 15 July 2022

Sending our moods into an enlightened marvel to behold, Steve Hensby Band shows us their world class quality that uplifts the vibe that rockets in the night on ‘Jamtown In Mukinbudin‘ (feat. General Justice).

Steve Hensby Band is a Perth, Western Australia-based indie 9-piece band who fuses in various elements of funk, soul, ska, with their delicious sprinkle of folk.

”Steve Hensby is a Berklee College of Music graduate and WAMI nominated musician who also works as a session player in the Perth area. He has played with the likes of Tim Minchin, Steve Poltz, Randy Feltface, WASO, Perth Symphony Orchestra and Taasha Cootes.” ~ Steve Hensby Band

Warming up our hearts with an honest release that represents our time just right, Steve Hensby Band is the type of band that will get your feet tapping in delight with a terrific blend of soothing vibrations to get your whole body moving all night.

‘Jamtown In Mukinbudin‘ (feat. General Justice) from Perth, Western Australia-based indie 9-piece band Steve Hensby Band is a tasty track to stimulate the appetites of those who love that extra groove in their morning coffee. Filled with an unreal amount of quality that has horns aplenty, this is a song to get wrapped naturally inside for hours on end.

When you find that real jam inside your soul that uplifts you, there is no turning back.

Listen up to this new track on SoundCloud and see more on the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Siobhan Cotchin drops a remarkably forthright adulting reminder to us all on ‘Growing Pains’

Posted on 10 June 2022

Knowing that she needs to progress in her life while currently feeling like she is stuck like there is glue on her shoes, Siobhan Cotchin is at her honest best as she navigates this voyage that has no training manual with her new single, ‘Growing Pains‘.

Siobhan Cotchin is a 21-year-old Perth, Western Australia-based indie singer-songwriter who performs with the kid of vocal dreaminess that will spark your imagination alive.

“‘Growing Pains’ is a super personal song about the realities of growing up. It’s about wanting to avoid all responsibilities of adulthood and the anxieties I think we’ve all faced at some point about who we are and where we fit in the world. It’s kind of an ode to my anxiety and the way it makes me act by ‘ghosting my friends’ and just generally avoiding people. I hope with ‘Growing Pains’, people can find solace and comfort in the lyrics and know it’s completely okay to be scared of the future and not know who you are. It’s all part of being human!” ~ Siobhan Cotchin

Mirroring the feelings of so many of us who have felt the wrath of the world bite through the walls of our precious hope, Siobhan Cotchin is rather outstanding here with a marvellous creation that will have you thinker deeper about current predicaments that are affecting us all right now.

‘Growing Pains‘ from Perth, Western Australia-based indie singer-songwriter Siobhan Cotchin is such a superbly introspective song from a young woman who is taking time out to work out who she really is. Her vocals are pleasing on the earlobes and her lyrics are sharp and bring you deep inside her life, as she tells us exactly what is going on.

With a tremendously understandable outlook from someone who feels deeper than most – this is a reflective release of the highest standard – from a gifted artist who knows what she needs to do next after this time to build up her armour for the battles ahead.

Listen up to this wonderfully honest single on Spotify and see more on her IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Scotland’s Starz Garden gets deep with their first release about that real connection on, ‘Only You’

Posted on 10 March 2022

Bringing us a lockdown-infused single that was first created as a simple acoustic number written first in 2019, Starz Garden reminds us that is so important to avoid getting too wrapped up in material things as keeping those human relationships alive is the only way forward on ‘Only You‘.

Perth, Scotland-based James Walter aka Starz Garden is a promising electronic pop/rock collective that makes spectacular soundscapes that takes you into a better world.

”The band’s first single Only You was written and recorded by James in early 2021, with input from Grammy award-winning producer, composer and instrumentalist Philip Larsen from Studio Killers and The Manhatten Clique, and LA-based producer Killian Cruiser. Philip won a Grammy for his mix work on Kylie Minogue’s “Come Into My World” and has worked with some of the biggest names in pop and dance music including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, Moby and Emeli Sandé.” ~ Starz Garden

Showing us into that universe that is all about acceptance and being happy, Starz Garden bring us a tremendous new single that will change your mood and have you beaming so bright like the stars that we are if we want to be.

‘Only You‘ from Perth, Scotland-born indie electronic pop/rock collective Starz Garden, is a call for all of us to rise up and remember that our human connection is all that we actually need to be happy in life. With so many people getting way too involved in the online space, this is that reminder to think further than what you see.

Life is all about being together with those special humans who keep you in check and inspire you to greater things.

Listen in to this new single on Spotify and see more via the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

She Do Anything For A Dollar: Perth rapper Young Pascal reminds us to stay true to our valuable hearts on flashing 5th single ‘City Lights’ (feat. Kid Rey and Perry P)

Posted on 15 November 2021

On a highly relatable track about meeting someone with so many stars in their eyes as they do silly things just for an ultimately worthless follow or like, Young Pascal is utterly brilliant on this latest single all about staying away from things that don’t actually matter with ‘City Lights‘ (feat. Kid Rey and Perry P).

Young Pascal is a youthfully promising Perth, Australia-based indie trap artist who raps about important topics, that are highly prevalent in society during these confusing modern times.

“City lights is all about getting lost in the sauce and losing yourself to chasing that temporary kick of happiness in life which happens to more and more people nowadays and an example is clout-chasing. People are so infatuated with their likes or follower count to feel like they are worthy, they’re getting blinded by the lights!” ~ Young Pascal

With a steady flow and smartly-penned lyrics about how easy it is to fall into the devilish trap that so many stumble easily into, this is a bass-bouncing warning that has your heart sore with sorrow that this actually happens. The flashing lights and addictive comparison social media can really suck you in so quickly, as this true story grabs you quickly like watching an engrossing movie.

‘City Lights‘ (feat. Kid Rey and Perry P) from the prodigious Australian rapper Young Pascal, is an outstanding effort from three top-notch artists who bring their best to the fore here. With raps of high quality and a background beat that has you nodding your head, this is up there with the best tracks in this genre from 2021.

Keeping your valuable soul away from the temptation filled potholes of heart destruction seems to be one of the most important missions of modern-day life.

Hear this truthful warning about the pitfalls of social media via Spotify and see more on his Twitter.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen