backseat mafia
News: South Summit announce national tour in support of sophomore EP ‘Creatures’
Up and coming five piece indie rockers, South Summit have announced a 10 date national tour on the back of their recent sophomore EP release, ‘Creatures’, the follow-up to 2021’s debut EP, Merlin’s. The band consists of Isaiah Reuben (lead vocals), Josh Trindall (bass), Fynn Samorali (lead guitar), Nehemiah Reuben (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Nathan …
Meet: Is this all there is? An interview with Steve Kilbey (The Church) on the new album ‘The Hypnogogue’, the US tour, being a stand-up comedian and the temporal nature of existence.
The Church – a veritable and venerated music institution – are about to release their new and much anticipated album ‘The Hypnogogue’. The band celebrated its 40 years as an entity in 2020. I caught up with singer, songwriter, bass player and spiritual leader Steve Kilbey on the eve of the album’s release and on …
News: Bluesfest Byron Bay add a further 18 artists to lineup with more to come.
Nine weeks out from the start of the 34th edition of Bluesfest Byron Bay, a further 18 acts have been added to the previously announced artists. The acts, in alphabetical order are Bobby Alu, Buttered, Clarence Bekker Band, Coterie, Dami Im, Daniel Champagne, Dog Trumpet, Electric Cadillac, Frank Sultana, Frank Turner, Hussy Hicks, Lisa Hunt’s …
Track: The wonderful Summer Flake release double singles ‘Barnacle Bill’ and ‘Ordinary’ and announce a launch gig on the eve of their new album ‘One Less Thing’
The rather brilliant dream pop maestros Summer Flake are fluttering their collective eyelashes at us on the eve of the release of their new album ‘One Less Thing’, with a double blast of goodness in the form of singles ‘Barnacle Bill’ and ‘Ordinary’. ‘Barnacle Bill’, accompanied by a simple performance video (interspersed by the odd …
Track: Hollow States ask ‘Who Knows What A Man Is?’ – a track cloaked in a delicate and shimmering glow
Huck Hastings is a frequently reviewed and beloved artist here at Backseat Mafia both through his solo work, collaborations with other artists (see his gorgeous collaboration with Charlie Gradon last year) and as part of the trio Hollow States along with Joel & Hayden Woolf. The reason? His is an eloquent and velvet voice that …
Track: Arty Ziff feels like a ‘Rockstar’ with Lemonade Baby in a joyfully ambient track.
Naarm/Melbourne producer Arty Ziff (nom de plume of Mitch Kelly) has teamed up with Brisbane musician/producer Lemonade Baby to produce a snaky ambient piece of electronica entitled ‘Rockstar’: a slightly tongue-in-cheek proclamation delivered over smooth bubbling syncopated rhythms and vocoder-touched smooth-as-velvet vocals. As with his last released ‘Byebyebaby’ featured by us late last year, Arty …
Premiere: KEZRA says we are all a little bit ‘Insane’ via an effervescent blast of pop goodness and a launch party.
We are very honoured to premiere the new single ‘Insane’ from Naarm/Melbourne singer KEZRA. This is a vibrant hyperkinetic blast of pop brilliance that fizzes and bubbles with verve. Jangling guitars shimmer underneath KEZRA’s velvet, expressive vocals and a dramatic anthemic chorus creates a euphoric burst. And, as any pop song should, there is a …
Premiere: Hobart ambient magicians follow sparkle and shine with their new single ‘Isla’
Last month we brought you the extraordinary debut single ‘Sentimental Health’ from the ambient Hobart instrumental band follow and it is with the greatest of joy we premiere their shimmering follow-up track ‘Isla’, with its gorgeous video as a spectacular visual accompaniment. Crystalline guitars etch delicious sonic contrails across the clear blue sky, sparkling and …
News: Daughter release the elegantly meandering new single, ‘Be On Your Way’ ahead of news of long-awaited first album in 7 years
Indie dream-pop darlings, Daughter, are making a welcome return after 7 long years with the release of new album, Stereo Mind Game, due to be unveiled on the 7th of April. The trio of Elena Tonra (vocals, guitar, bass), Igor Haefeli (guitars, bass, keyboards) and Remi Aguilella (drums, percussion) have released the glorious first single, …
Live Review + Gallery: A Swayze & The Ghosts bring the roof down as they rock Altar in nipaluna/Hobart 16.12.2022
It felt like an eternity since A Swayze & The Ghosts had played (or at least, it did for me). Covid-19 has delayed the inevitable rise of one of Tasmania’s finest alternative exports, with the band having had to take the same extended break from touring, writing and recording that most other artists have. However, …