Meet: We chat to John Russell from Brisbane’s glorious 4000 Records label on music, passion, mixtapes and the 4000 Records Birthday Party.
4000 Records in Brisbane is celebrating its second birthday today – an innovative boutique agency that has on its roster some of the most exciting and diverse talent in Brisbane. And that is quite a feat considering Brisbane is an absolute hotbed of artistic talent at the moment. Backseat Mafia has enthusiastically reviewed output from …
Premiere: Let’s Set Sail’s ‘A Savage Goo’ is an enigmatic and beautiful fusion of dream pop, folk and ambient music.
We are honoured to premiere the sonically arresting track ‘A Savage Goo’ from Dublin’s Let’s Set Sail: an enigmatic folk-infusion set on a bedrock of gurgling electronica and haunting vocals. Singer Warren McCarthy’s voice opens the track: naked and raw, a worn, whiskey-soaked gravelly tone infused with the heartache of generations. This is beautifully counterpointed …
Track: Jack River releases a powerful spine-tingling anthem advocating change ‘We Are The Youth’.
Jack River (real name Holly Rankin) has just released the energising, anthemic ‘We Are The Youth’, with its spine-tingling call for positive change in the face of climate change, First Nations struggle and violence against women. This single has all the emotional impact of a classic like Peter Gabriel’s ‘Biko’: barely restrained, seething anger against …
Track: Sydney’s A Swift Farewell are welcomed back with another anthemic blast of ‘Sunburn’
Following the release of the effervescent ‘Mousetrap’ (premiered by Backseat Mafia) , Sydney outfit A Swift Farewell are back with another sparkling piece of pop/punk joy. While eschewing the blast of their last release, A Swift Farwell showcase their ability to switch moods and tones, providing quiet reflective interludes with an anthemic chorus – all …
See: The effervescent Jacob Fitzgerald releases heartwarming romcom visuals for his poptastic single ‘Pretty Good For My Mind’
We wrote recently that Jacob Fitzgerald‘s single ‘Pretty Good For My Mind’ fizzes like a shaken bottle of carbonated pop opened while trampolining, with a quite sprightly bounce and a style of its own. It is a track that is infectious with no vaccination needed (although, please, get one anyway). Fitzgerald has now released a …
News: Richard Ashcroft (The Verve) announces new solo album of acoustic songs from his back catalogue and drops shimmering version of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’
Richard Ashcroft is set to release the new album ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’ on October 29th via RPA / BMG. The album features twelve newly recorded acoustic versions of classic songs from his back catalogue spanning both his solo career and his time with The Verve. The album is now available to pre-order here with ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ provided as an instant download. You can have a listen to …
Track: Sydney singer songwriter Jack Nolan unveils an atmospheric slice of Americana in his new single ‘Gabriel’, title track to new album due for release in October
Sydney’s Jack Nolan has a new single out, ‘Gabriel’, which is an atmospheric slice of what is called American, (amusingly translated to the Australian milieu as Darlinghurst Country – inner city urban country). An evocative piece of storytelling is delivered in a multilayered parcel that jangles and sparkles with an organic feel. Nolan’s vocals and …
Track: Darren Cross releases new single and video for the exquisitely delicate track ‘Rabbit Hole (Polka Dot)’.
Fresh from the release of his astounding album ‘DISTORDER’ (reviewed by me here), Sydney’s Darren Cross has just released a single and video for the track ‘Rabbit Hole (Polka Dot)’ from the album. This track is a soothing break from the often bleak and abrasive nature of the album – it represents Cross the folk …
Track: Reb Fountain unveils the beautiful, reflective track ‘Foxbright’ ahead of the release of her album ‘IRIS’
Building up to the release of her album ‘IRIS’ through Flying Nun Records on 1 October 2021, Reb Fountain has just released the achingly beautiful track ‘Foxbright’, the fourth single from the album. This is a more reflective and restrained Fountain, but just as powerful and mesmerising. ‘Foxbright’ has a delicate, fragility and celestial melodies …
Premiere: North Arm unveils their gorgeous new single ‘Bring The Daylight’ and announce new album
Sydney artist Roderick Smith works under the project North Arm and we are honoured here at Backseat Mafia to premiere his new single and video ‘Bring The Daylight’. Soft as a Sydney breeze skipping across the waters of Sydney Harbour, and with a dappled sunshine light, this is an absolutely gorgeous, reflective track bursting with …