Author: Simon Clark

Books Editor. An admirer of songs and reader of books. Simon has a PhD in English and Comparative Literature. All errant apostrophes are his own.

Amazon Prime Video and CBS team up to “Make It So!” for Star Trek‘s Picard spin-off

With filming on the as yet untitled Picard Star Trek spin-off series underway, this week it’s been announced that Amazon Prime Video will, under a multi-year agreement with CBS, be the exclusive streaming home of the new series in more than two hundred countries and territories outside the U.S. and Canada, including here in Australia. Each…

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Track of the Day: Le Boom and Æ MAK “Dancing Bug” (2019)

Irish electro-pop duo Le Boom have teamed up with fellow Dubliner Æ MAK, to release “Dancing Bug”, a bright and playful track that’ll put a smile on your face and spring in your step. To accompany the single, the band have dropped the delightful and impeccably choreographed music video you can find below. With videography…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Eden Mulholland “How Am I Lonely” (2019)

Last week, New Zealand singer-songwriter, composer and collaborator Eden Mulholland dropped new single “How Am I Lonely”. Now, this week we’re pleased to bring you the exclusive premiere of the accompanying music video.  The video is comprised of live footage from the 2019 Auckland Fringe Festival show Movement of the Human, where Mulholland was involved…

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Tour Diary: Singer-songwriter Jade Bird (UK) takes us behind the scenes of her recent US tour

Over the last couple of years, London-based singer-songwriter Jade Bird, has enjoyed something of a breakthrough. Within the last twelve months alone she has found herself on several end of year Best of round-ups, was selected for the BBC Sound of 2018 and won the 2018 Grulke Prize for developing non-US act at SXSW. She’s…

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Brisbane bands to pay tribute to Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison with a suicide prevention fundraiser

This week marks one year since we were left reeling with the news that Scott Hutchison, front man of the acclaimed Scottish band Frightened Rabbit, took his own life.  In tribute to Scott and the songs of Frightened Rabbit, several local bands are coming together to perform at Tiny Changes BNE, a tribute concert at…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Hope D “Swim” (2019)

This morning we’re excited to bring you the exclusive premiere of “Swim”, the new single from Brisbane singer-songwriter Hope D. The single, which will appear on the songwriter’s forthcoming debut EP is an empowering anthem for the disenfranchised within our society. According to Hope D, the track “tells the brutally honest story of the internal…

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Track of the Day: Michael Paul Lawson “Wolf By The Tail” (2019)

Norfolk, VA-based singer-songwriter Michael Paul Lawson has released “Wolf By The Tail”, the first taste of his forthcoming EP, Some Fight’s You’ll Never Win, which is all set for release on July 12th.  Bringing to mind the likes of Jason Isbell, Drew Holcomb, Townes Van Zandt and others, “Wolf By The Tail” finds Lawson situated…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Tobias Hengeveld “Separation Street” (2019)

Melbourne singer-songwriter Tobias Hengeveld today releases Naughts & Ones, his anticipated third solo album. Coinciding with this release, we’re stoked this morning to bring you an exclusive first look at the accompanying visuals for ‘Separation Street’, the third single lifted from the completed album.  Directed and cut by Mark Murray, and shot by Adrian Harrold…

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Track of the Day: Drop Legs “Witness The Eucalyptus” (2019)

Byron Bay five piece have followed up their 2018 debut album King Brown Sun Down, with their latest slice of smooth and chilled vibes, new single, “Witness The Eucalyptus”.  The first of what promises to be many singles this year, “Witness The Eucalyptus”, is the product of several differing elements and genres all combined into…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Angus Dawson “Ngurra” [Acoustic] (2019)

Last month, WA producer and singer-songwriter Angus Dawson released “Ngurra”, a poignant and introspective single born out of his experiences working with Western Australia’s remote Indigenous communities. Today we’re excited to bring you an exclusive first look at an acoustic live performance clip Dawson has put together for the single – it’s utterly beautiful stuff!…

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Trent Dalton wins big at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards

Tonight the best and brightest of Australian publishing descended on Sydney and the Grand Ballroom of the International Convention Centre for the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards – the Australian equivalent of the Oscars for the bookishly inclined.  If you’ve been even vaguely following the Australian literary world over the last twelve months then the…

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Album Review: Fire and Whistle Theory – Take Me Alive (2019 EP)

Three years since the release of their debut EP, Golden Guns in 2016, Brisbane blues rockers Fire and Whistle Theory, have released their sophomore EP Take Me Alive. Featuring a collection of tried and tested crowd favourites and new songs, the band took a live approach to the recording, hoping to capture a raw, genuine…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Mini Simmons “A Way With Murder” (2019)

Earlier this month New Zealand’s Mini Simmons dropped, “A Way With Murder”, the third offering from their forthcoming debut album. Today we’re excited to bring you an exclusive first look at that single’s brilliant accompanying music video.  Filmed and edited by Christian T. In Auckland, New Zealand, the video offers up a fun, somewhat kitschy,…

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Track of the Day: Dan Howls “King Si” (2019)

Ahead of a big interstate tour, Fremantle-based bluesman Dan Howls has offered up a taster of his forthcoming album in the form of the swaggering new single, “King Si”.  Over the last few years Howls has been making steady inroads in the already bustling WA music scene, culminating in the release of his debut album…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Miles Recommends “You’re Never Alone” (2019)

This morning we’re excited to bring you an exclusive first look at music video for “You’re Never Alone”, the latest single from Melbourne-based Miles Recommends. Given that the band was conceived whilst guitarist/vocalist Des Atkinson was living through a military coup in Bangkok in 2014, it perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise that, “You’re Never…

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Interview: BATTS talks The Grand Tour, working with NASA and Outer Space

As you might have guessed we are big fans of BATTS here at the AU. With her debut album, The Grand Tour, released last week we sat down with the Melbourne singer-songwriter to find out a little bit more about the creation and recording of the album, how NASA got involved, and – just for good measure…

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Guest Playlist: The songs that inspired Jackson Carroll’s “Holy Hell”

Sydney singer-songwriter Jackson Carroll dropped his sublime debut single, “Holy Hell” last Friday. The single is the first taste of Carroll’s forthcoming EP, and if the rest comes anywhere close to this single then we’re in for a treat. The single was recorded at Sydney’s Noisegate Studios, with Luke Carra (Caravana Sun) and Ian Pritchett…

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Track of the Day: James Parm “I Know I Know I Know” (2019)

Montreal’s James Parm released his debut record, Oh My Darling, last week. The album is a striking blend of Parm’s musical influences: 90’s garage rock, jazz and hip hop. With the single, “I Know I Know I Know”, a propellent slice of post-punk falling more towards the garage rock end of the spectrum.  Parm has…

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Shortlist announced ahead of the 2019 ABIA Awards Night in May

With just under a month to go until the ABIA Awards Night on May 2nd in Sydney, the folks at the Australian Publishers Association have whittled down the longlisted titles to what is an admittedly still healthy six titles per category. The ABIA Awards celebrate the very best of Australia’s literary scene, heralding the achievements of authors, publishers,…

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Track of the Day: Eleri Angharad “Earthbound (Acoustic)” (2019)

Ahead of the release of her Earthbound on Friday, April 12th, Swansea based singer-songwriter Eleri Angharad has released an acoustic rendition of the album’s title track in anticipation.  Inspired by a North American road-trip, which saw Angharad perform in Nashville, Greensboro, Chicago and New York, the album is a blend of traditional country music, with…

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Track of the Day: Sal & The Mandas “Smash Repairs” (2019)

“Smash Repairs” is the swaggering debut single from Sydney newcomers Sal & the Mandas. The track, which explores themes of mental health and recovery with humour and wit, is a strong opening salvo from a band fresh onto the scene.  Influenced by the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and The White Stripes, the…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Future Haunts “Weather Vane” (2019)

Brisbane indie rockers Future Haunts have returned from a bit of a break with a brand new single, “Weather Vane”, and we’re excited to be bringing you this exclusive first listen.  Following the release of their debut EP, Rubicon, in 2016 and the follow-up single “Make Time” in 2017, the lads from Future Haunts headed…

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Track of the Day: Amery “Never Growing Older” (2019)

Rwandan born, Belgian artist Amery fell in love with music from a young age, encouraged by his grandmother who gifted him an African drum when he was just five years old. Following a move to Belgium when he was twelve years old, and the discovery of new cultures and communities, Amery’s transformation into an artist…

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Interview: Ducks! (AUS/GER) talk found sounds, field recording and Things That Were Lost

Formed in 2014, Ducks! are the brainchild of singer-songwriter Lani Bagley, and the ARIA award-winning producer Craig Schuftan. The duo released their debut album Ding Ding Ding in 2016, which went on to be longlisted for the Australian Music Prize. Their second album, Nak Nak (the German equivalent of quack quack), was released in 2017. Ahead of…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: This Week In The Universe “Ultra Poseable” (2019)

Earlier this year, Sydney’s This Week In The Universe released Tellurian, the band’s sophomore album and the follow-up to their self titled debut. Today, we’re excited to premiere the video clip accompanying the second single from the album: “Ultra Poseable”. This Week In The Universe is the brainchild of musical brothers Beau and Casey Golden….

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Track of the Day: Gold Complex “Acrylic Heart” (2019)

Gold Complex are an eight piece soul band based in Toronto, Canada. The band have spent the last three years in the studio working on what would ultimately become their debut album: New Soul, which was released late last month. Our track of the day, “Acrylic Heart”, is that album’s centre piece a powerful and…

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Exclusive EP Premiere: primetime. – crimetime. (2019 EP)

Today we’re stoked to introduce you all to primetime., Melbourne’s latest self anointed “superb-troup” featuring members of Fan Girl, Sophisticated Dingo and more, as well as premiere their debut EP crimetime.  crimetime. is a raucous, swaggering and no bullshit slice of Australian punk rock. Occasionally jarring, but always full of character and attitude, the EP is…

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Track of the Day: The Oogars “Scream” (2019)

Earlier this month Gold Coast quartet The Oogars released their debut single “Scream”, on ode to embracing those moments that matter, and to stop wasting your time on things and people that just aren’t worth your time or attention. With a delightful blend of surf pop and doo wop “Scream”, is bright, fresh and unabashedly…

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Track of the Day: Tadhg Daly “Hit The Ground” (2019)

“Hit The Ground” is the new single from Jersey born indie pop artist Tadhg Daly. With only two singles to his name so far, Daly has been slowly been making a name for himself in the UK. Whilst he’s only been performing for a relatively short period of time, he’s been invited to play at…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: Noah Dillon “Holding On” (2019)

Perth’s Noah Dillon has exploded on to the national scene of late, garnering attention from Triple J and punters up and down Australia’s East Coast on his recent tour. So, we’re particularly excited today to bring the exclusive premiere of a live studio video of his latest single “Holding On”.  Recorded live at Tunafish Studio,…

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