Over the last couple of years, Russell Webster from Shining Bird has been running songwriting mentor programs at Bulli High School and I’ve come along occasionally to offer advice on the business side of music. One of the artists he discovered as part of this program was young singer/songwriter Alara Livingstone. Over the last year Russ has been working with Alara to help produce her music and today sees her debut single Because Of You released via the Silhouette Label. At just seventeen years of age, Alara has a voice and sense of melody well beyond her age. The single is streaming everywhere now, if you’re a fan of artists such as Faye Webster, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, Hozier and the like you should go and give it a listen. You can also catch Alara playing live next Friday March 28th at The Brewhouse in North Wollongong.
Speaking of local music, but on the total opposite end of the spectrum, L.O.W. have emerged in the last year to help revive the spirit of south coast hard core. The played a blistering set early on at Yours & Owls Festival and have become regulars on the local live music circuit. They very recently released their debut EP, which is super powerful in the spirit of classic eighties hardcore sounds. You can stream it everywhere now and stay tuned for a vinyl release soon!
I was looking into my vinyl purchases this year so far and realised a lot of them have been reissues, so I thought I’d highlight a couple to get across. Firstly, is a reissue of the self-titled album from Mcphee, an obscure but much sought after Australian record from 1971 that is best described as loose and jammy acid/prog rock with strong vocals. My favourite album from nineties alt rock band The Lemonheads is Car Button Cloth and last month it received a super deluxe reissue, it is quite expensive but packaged incredibly, we sold out of the first few we got, but if you are after one, drop us a message and we can order it back in. Finally is an album I didn’t know got a reissue but I randomly discovered they had recently given it a first time vinyl pressing, it is the 2009 album from the interesting and underrated Sydney band Philadelphia Grand Jury titled Hope Is For Hopers.