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Showing posts with label Sydney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sydney. Show all posts

Friday, November 13, 2015

Just Rolled In: Pepa Knight - "Eventually" (Tame Impala Cover) [indie folk / dream pop / acoustic]

One of holaOLA's mainstays, Australia-based Jinja Safari front-man Pepa Knight, never ceases to amaze. Here he is again in all his dreamy folk-pop glory taking on one of my favorite songs of 2015 so far, "Eventually" from Tame Impala's arguably impeccable third LP Currents.

In his own words, this is the bonfire-n-chill version, and I can't agree more. His complex acoustic take on the powerful song marries his beautiful vocal harmonies and other-worldly instrumentation including flutes, lutes, glockenspiels, resonator guitars, synths, and light percussion, leaving us with a new song just as great as its predecessor, only more suitable for a peaceful night around a glowing campfire with close friends.

Be on the lookout for Pepa Knight's second solo EP, Hypnotized, Vol. II, expected for release in early 2016. And if you haven't heard his debut EP released last year, enjoy that here.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Just Rolled In: Jinja Safari - "Find My Way" [tropical pop / indie pop / afropop]

Despite what your calendars and thermometers may say, summer's here! And if you happen to be in another part of the world where it's pretty cold right now, rejoice, because it just takes one quick (or repeated) listen(s) to the new single from Sydney, Australia's seminal indie pop band Jinja Safari to be teleported to a warmer, brighter, and happier place.

"Find My Way" comes to us in the wake of founding member Pepa Knight's recent solo effort Hypnotized Vol. 1 EP and serves as the preliminary taste of Jinja Safari's upcoming sophomore LP. Inspired by experiences while touring in the UK, "Find My Way" is a joyous celebration of life to say the least, and if you watch the official music video, which is composed of five years' worth of footage collected by vocalist Marcus Azon of the band's exploits, you can witness for yourself how much fun these guys have while traveling abroad together. Jinja Safari's usual afropop beats, island guitar, tropicalia flourishes, and other worldly influences come together beautifully with the soaring vocal harmonies on this buoyant track, which will certainly find its way to the top of many a summer playlist.

Stream "Find My Way" and/or watch the official music video below, and if you approve, you will definitely dig Pepa Knight, so stream his recent EP here.



Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Just Rolled In: Sans Parents - "Loose People" [indie rock / garage pop]

Yet another new project rising from the ashes of the breakup of the beloved Australian indie pop band Hungry Kids of Hungary (see Rolls Bayce and Born Joy Dead), Sans Parents have just released  "Loose People", their second single as a band.  The four-piece is made up of two ex-Hungry Kids, Kane Mazlin (vocals/keys) and Ryan Strathie (drums), as well as former HKOH touring member Alex Bennison (lead vocals/guitar) and Babaganoüj/ex-Yves Klein Blue member Charles Sale (bass). They debuted their first single, "Coming Back To You", last November before Sale had joined. That 2-minute aggressive garage pop jam is followed by "Loose People", another short and catchy song that sounds kind of like the 90s indie rock equivalent to Paul Simon's "Kodachrome", filled to the brim with breezy guitar hooks and irresistible vocal melodies. Seeing as they're two for two so far, you can add Sans Parents to that list of up-and-coming Australian bands that churn out nothing but instantly appealing pop greatness.

Stream "Loose People" and "Coming Back To You" below.


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Just Rolled In: Burn Antares - "Crystal Love" [psychedelic / rock 'n' roll / 60s revival / soul]

The 1960s might be long gone, but luckily enough for us millennials (and nostalgic baby boomers), psychedelic rockers Burn Antares from Sydney, Australia are gracing stages and studios today channeling the soul, melody, and groovy vibes intrinsic to that decade's music. Fronted by the seductive pipes of Grace Farriss, daughter of INXS keyboardist/guitarist/composer Andrew Farriss, Burn Antares manages to catapult us back almost half a century with their psychedelic guitar riffs and solos, jangly percussion, ceiling-busting background vocal harmonies, blazing organs, and of course, Farriss's soulful, energetic vocals, which are quite evocative of those of Stevie Nicks.

Already having released an excellent self-titled debut EP in late 2013, Burn Antares are back with the single "Crystal Love" from their upcoming EP Fur Coat & The Peace Boat, which is being released this October. Check out the track below, followed by their beautiful rework of INXS's song "By My Side" and a full stream of their debut EP.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Just Rolled In: Pepa Knight - "Clams" [world / indie pop / tropical]

After making a big splash with his euphoric single "Rahh!" a few months ago, Central Coast, Australia's Pepa Knight is back with another catchy-as-hell single, "Clams", littered with his spirited lead vocals, tribal percussion and chants, Indian-influenced guitar/sitar plucking, and melodic backing vocals, which altogether, make it easy to understand why he describes his uplifting brand of worldly indie pop as 'tipi pop'.

If you're in Australia, you can catch Pepa Knight in concert August 1 in Sydney or August 7 in Melbourne. If not, enjoy the music on his SoundCloud until his debut Hypnotized is released later this year.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Swell EP: The Tambourine Girls - The End of Time EP [psychedelic / folk rock / britpop]

The Tambourine Girls is the side project of Simon Relf, the guitarist of Sydney, Australia's psychedelic indie pop band Deep Sea Arcade. With help from some friends and DSA bandmates, Relf has brought us his distinguished debut EP entitled The End of Time via Chugg Music. While it projects the psychedelia and nostalgic 90s Britpop characteristic of his main band's music, The End of Time stands apart with its reverb-heavy spiraling of guitar solos and acoustic strumming, its hazy pace, and its loose adherence to the traditional pop structure. Stream The Tambourine Girls' five-song EP below (purchase it here) and be sure to 'follow' the band to receive news on future tours and releases.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Just Rolled In: FISHING - "Your Mouth (feat. Jonas Nicholls)" [electronic / indie pop / beats]

The Australian electronic duo FISHING from Sydney produces radiant sample-laden electronic music influenced by hip-hop and indie-pop. With their debut LP Shy Glow coming out this week via, and with summer finally here (for most of us) I found it all too appropriate to share the latest sunny single from the record entitled "Your Mouth", featuring Jonas Nicholls of fellow Sydney band SURES on vocals, as well as a couple other songs from the new album. If you're lacking summer vibes I'm sure this will help.