Harts

               

"Angels Walk Below” is the third single off Melbourne-­‐ based multi-­‐instrumentalist / songwriter / producer, Harts’ debut album, due out later this year. Harts is readying his debut album for release after returning from Minneapolis where he spent time jamming with Prince at Paisley Park Studios, receiving an invitation from Prince himself; “He reminds me of how I was at that age” (Prince).

The first two singles off the album, “Leavn It All Behind” and “Lovers In Bloom,” landed radio play worldwide. In Australia on Triple J and Unearthed, in the UK on BBC 6 and Amazing Radio, US on College Radio, and Europe on Radio 3 Spain and France Inter Radio. The tracks also received a number of blog features,and a TV sync on French Late Night program “Le Grand Journal”. Harts also recently caught the attention of legendary music producer, Quincy Jones and collected even more global recognition as previous single “Lovers In Bloom” was tweeted out by Questlove of The Roots.

“Angels Walk Below” features everything we've come to expect from the young funkateer in funky rhythms, catchy falsetto melodies and that signature Harts guitar work. Like all the tracks on the album, Harts wrote, performed, recorded, produced & mixed the track himself in his bedroom studio. Lyrically, the song follows one of the strongest themes present on the album, dealing with uncertainty. “Angels Walk Below” is a timeless funk/pop/rock tune that further cements Harts as the upcoming rising star that he is and a musical force to be reckoned with. Harts will be touring the record in Australia as well as heading back to the US to work with Nick Littlemore (Empire Of The Sun) on a new upcoming project later in the year. 

The Zilis

         

Ontario-based Americana rockers The Zilis, the band just premiered their new video for "Trumpets of the Tide" on Folk Radio UK. Drawing influences from bands like Dr. Dog, The Avett Brothers and The Vines, the trio blends roots rock with shades of blues and folk. They’ve been featured on the Canadian television show disBAND and have opened for renowned artists like Bon Jovi, Kiss and The Sheepdogs. The band consists of Sean Royle (guitar/vox), Justin Bozzo (Bass/vox), Zander Lamother (Drums). The Zilis will embark on their "Give Me Liberty!" US tour this month. 

Green Stone Garden

         

There’s something about GreenStone Garden’s music that remains as elusive and genuine as their home city of Darwin. Sometimes you want to escape; sometimes you can’t believe you’ve found paradise at your doorstep. As forthcoming single Steam muses, “It’s like the city let go of the rain”. Together since 2011, alt-rock band GreenStone Garden has become emblematic of the Darwin music scene. They’ve received critical and industry recognition with the band winning the rock category of the ‘2013 Northern Territory Song of the Year Award’ for single ‘The Island’ and lead singer Mike Meston winning the Folk category in 2012.

Green Stone Garden have supported the likes of Boy and Bear, Cat Empire, Gomez, Jeff Martin, Husky, Dappled Cities and Big Scary, all of whom have permeated the band’s melodies, storytelling and performance, along with the far away influences of Grizzly Bear and Lou Reed. ‘The Island’ from ‘North’ EP garnered airplay around the nation including spot-play on Triple j and also reached a top ten position in the AMRAP charts. As Home and Hosed host Dom Alessio said, “What can I say? This is just an excellent song”.

This year, GSG has returned to the studio to once again work with celebrated Australian producer Steven Schram in Melbourne, with mastering by Grammy nominated Brian Lucey (The Black Keys, Chet Faker, Arctic Monkeys) in the US.  The result is the expansive new single Steam - set to be released 18 August 2014 - showcasing a new sound for the band and accompanied by a second interstate tour.

Justin Hunter

      

T.H.R.O.N.E.S. is the first single from Justin Hunter's upcoming remix album 'Keyism'. The album was written and produced in Hunter's hometown of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, with Thomaz Charuk (Silent Titan & Thundamentals). Taking it back to basics, T.H.R.O.N.E.S. is a fusion of a melodic piano base, with modern electronic music. It is creative, raw, organic and real. The track represents life in the Blue Mountains, the highest point, at it’s finest.

“I felt living on the mountain was always the better place to be, which translated to the concept of a king on his throne –living ‘at the top’, ruling a nation, yet being ‘home’ .

-Hunter

Vicetone

            

‘Astronomia 2014’ is a cover of the legendary Tony Igy’s original track. Ruben and Victor disassembled the original and gave it a complete face-lift using all their own sounds. Vicetone’s tribute captures the simplicity of the original while giving it the signature Vicetone treatment of cascading harmonies, big drops, and a dramatic break. This cover brings a fresh, new life to the wildly popular original tune. If you ask Vicetone why they decided to rework this track, in their own words:

 “We grew up with the original track in our high school days, and we have great memories that we associate with the melody. We wanted to give new life to the track and completely re-do the track so it can be played on festivals and in clubs, and also sound like the current generation sound. This our tribute, together with Tony Igy, to a classic track and we're happy that he likes our new version!”

Tesla Boy

            

Tesla Boy is a project born amidst the gritty backdrop of the 80’s and 90’s Moscow music scene. The Russian four-piece, who divide their time between New York and Moscow, create soaring synth-pop that exists somewhere in an alternate universe void of geographical borders and time- where Prince might just be the long-lost member of Cut Copy.

Today, the band release their new single, "Strong," exclusively on Vice Noisey, a soaring 80’s inspired anthem with glittering synths and an infectious beat that bleeds with all the heart and soul of a Tesla Boy track. “It’s really important to me to be a person who can make a connection between the cultures - western and eastern,” muses frontman and principal songwriter, Sevidov, about why Tesla Boy’s music has the ability to resonate with listeners. “I'm from Russia, and I travel all over the world, and I sing for different people from different countries. My mission is to unite our cultures. It's very important for me.”

Halcyon Drive

         

Melbourne’s Halcyon Drive is proud to announce the release of their latest single Apart. Following on from the band’s upbeat lead single ‘Whitewash’; Apart builds on the duo’s unique pop sound, building anticipation for the band’s debut EP release to be released late 2014. Fast becoming stalwarts of the Melbourne live music scene, Halcyon Drive have had a massive year of acclaimed live shows. Recently supporting Panama (Syd) on their national tour at a sold out Northcote Social Club, supporting local gurus Sons of Rico, and touring bands such as Louis London and Jesse Davidson, it’s genuinely hard to find a weekend when these boys aren’t gracing a stage somewhere in a dingy, dark corner of Melbourne town.

With just one guitar, one (and a half) drum kits, live loop experiments and their trademark “catchy as balls” pop hooks, Halcyon Drive’s live shows are truly what sets them apart from the rest of the indie ratpack. With not a laptop in sight, layering crescendoed live loop mixes and shape-shifting dual drum segments, as put aptly by a gig reviewer, “If PETA cared for drum-kits as much as newborn kittens, Halcyon Drive would be constantly having fake drum-blood thrown on them outside red-carpet events”.

The band’s previous single ‘Whitewash’ has achieved Triple J airtime, over 50,000 online plays on Soundcloud, global blog affection, and a NIDA/ TripleJ film clip collaboration. Produced by Steven Schram (San Cisco, The Cat Empire, Little Red) and mastered by Brian Lucey (Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys), Apart strays slightly from the past “upbeat, urgent nature that the guys have made their signature sound”, but maintains the sentiment and theme of previous releases.

Ypsigrock Festival

      

Ypsigrock Festival returns this August for its 18th edition at its stunning location: the imposing Castle of Castelbuono, in Sicily, Italy. The charming venue takes you back in time, inside the medieval town Castelbuono, nestled between the Madonie Mountains and the sea on Sicily’s north coast. Established in 1997, Ypsigrock Festival has earned a reputation as one of the most suggestive European festivals. It’s an enchanted pocket sized event turned out to be the benchmark for addicted indie-rock lovers. Ypsigrock is a choice of quality and it differs, cause it mixes up several charming aspects of a music festival with an exclusive location.

The main stage is set in a truly breathtaking square, a natural amphitheater shaded by the impressive Castle of Castelbuono and the lovely town is crowded by thousands of festivalgoers. Getting to Castelbuono means discovering the inner heart of the most unknown Sicily: an unexpected journey through artistic, natural and cultural beauty, essential statements of the genuine Made in Italy. The equipped camping area is located inside Madonie National Park, a spectacular natural area in the middle of the green woods that surround Castelbuono. Ypsicamping is a fantastic place where it’s possible to join the Festival in a friendly and absolutely relaxed atmosphere.

Ypsigrock Festival is also the best chance for a great vacation destination in the summer, completely lost

among several Mediterranean’s undiscovered jewels: Cefalù’s marvelous sands, Pollina’s rocky shores

with transparent sea and Madonie’s incredible peaks, all from the extraordinary panoramic position of

Castelbuono, affording a magnificent view of a land rich in charm, decorated with a thousand colours and

enriched by delicious cuisine. Every year Ypsigrock Festival brings in Sicily, always for the first time ever, a wonderful selection of international artists, in a timeless and incredible spot. It’s difficult to find a better place for people with a steady cultural, natural and musical attitude! Ypsigrock Festival is the centre of art.