Its been a huge, gigantic, event filled July for Adelaide rapper Allday. With the release of his highly anticipated third album at the start of the month, followed by his energy packed, upbeat, Veronica-filled set ‘Allday and Friends’ at Splendour in the Grass. Things don’t appear to be slowing down for Allday anytime soon with his Australian tour kicking off next month, followed by a North American Tour in September and October with Mallrat.

Starry Night over the Phone is the third album from Allday, after the release of the 2nd album, Speeding released back in 2017. There appears to be a shift with Allday, musically and personally since he has relocated from Australia to Los Angeles and it seems that perhaps the Los Angeles sun has been doing him good?

The album displays a sophisticated fusion of hip hop, R&B and pop with layers of melancholy which create a sombre feeling that is balanced by insightful lyrics. The release of the album displays a balance of some striking vulnerability, but also clarity in songs such as: Atmosphere and See You When I See You, but, not forgetting his sense of humour with lines like:  “I found a bag mushrooms in my friends apartment. I ate like 50, now I’m making friends with martians” in Best Life, which serves as an empowering anthem about, obviously living your best life, which seems necessary to balance out the feel of the album where he speaks out about navigating his way through heart ache, bad habits and loss.

His unique take and blend on hip hop and rap creates an aesthetically pleasing experience that is easy on the ears. Starry Night over the Phone is a polished album and Allday seems to have found his groove and connects with what his knows best and what he does well.

The album has 4 singles: Wonder Drug, Protection, Lungs and Restless (featuring Australia’s favourite twins The Veronicas) which have all added to the impressive dreamscape collection that uniquely weaves in and out of genres. What’s so special about the album is at first listen it is hard to pin point exactly what genre it is because of the mix of singing, rap and sound. It feels like he is very much carving his on path as it is reflective, and honest. After listening to the album, its easy to see why the album has peaked at 7 on ARIA charts

Before heading back to North America he will be embarking on his Australian Tour. His Brisbane show has sold out, however.

• 17 August – Metro City, Perth
• 24 August – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
• 30 August – HQ Complex, Adelaide
• 31 August – Festival Hall, Melbourne

Tickets on sale: alldaytunes.com

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Single Review – Nik Navy’s Keep You Safe

Local Roots fav NIK NAVY is back with his new single! ‘’Keep You Safe’ is the follow up to his powerful single ‘Colour Me’ about his experiences with the 2017 same sex marriage plebiscite. ‘Keep You Safe’ is a more tender, slow release song. This song seems a bit more stripped back and we see a more raw and vulnerable side to NAVY as he sings about keeping his loved one safe and standing by them. The song has the perfect blend of piano along with his unforgettable angelic pipes.

Once again, when listening to his music all I hear is a young SOHN in the making.  NAVY said “I try to make all of my music sound like one big sonic hug that just envelopes every bit of you, so this just seemed like the perfect combination.” Loves me a sonic hug!

Looking forward to seeing what 2019 holds for NIK NAVY.

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Single Review – Alana Wilkinson’s Closer

Poetry meets folk in Alana Wilkinsons ‘Closer’. What a burst of light she is! Seriously though, after watching the film clip for Closer I am convinced she actually is a ray of sunshine! She breathes life into ‘Closer’ with her golden charm, guitar and beautiful voice. The up beat, joyful track is the perfect way to welcome Summer. Her voice reminds me of a young, more upbeat Amy Winehouse or perhaps even Australia’s own Odette.

It is still very early days for Alana Wilkinson but with a voice like that I’m sure she is going to go far. How could she not?

She will be playing at the Queenscliff Music Festival on 23 November and playing at the Woodford Folk Festival on the 27th of December.

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Single Review – Josh Cashman’s Fortune Cookie

Reviewer – Tristan Winter

This is a darling lil’ tune from a lil’ darling with beautiful luscious locks. Josh Cashman is a Melbourne local and his new single is ‘Fortune Cookie’. I’ve had this tune in my head all darn day. He sings: “I’d rather the cookie than the fortune”. Same, Josh. Same. Beautiful production and catchy lyrics. There is something so peaceful about this song, but it also has melancholic vibes.

His music is embedded deep within roots and soul within a dash of rock and folk.

He toured around Australia, New Zealand and USA as a support act for Tash Sultana and is quickly beggining to make a name for himself.

The ‘Fortune Cookie’ single launches will take place next month

• Sydney – Downtown Folk Festival – 13/10/18
• Melbourne – Wrangler Studios – 27/10/18 (All Ages Event)

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Single Review – Moaning Lisa’s Comfortable

Reviewer – Tristan Winter

Moaning Lisa are Australia’s answer to Best Coast. Calm, collected and ever so cool. ‘Comfortable’ is their new single from their upcoming EP. It is no wonder that ‘Comfortable’ was named BMA Magazines Song of the Year.  In ‘Comfortable’ they slow the pace down a bit and manage to have soothing music that’s easy on the ears, whilst having brutally honest lyrics.

Lead singer and guitarist Charlotte Versegi said: ”Comfortable was written during that in-between period of dating…it’s a confident, albeit sardonic, journey from accepting to celebrating being by yourself.”

Moaning Lisa formed in 2016 and have had a lot of success very quickly. They received national attention in 2017 with their debut EP ‘The Sweetest’.

Their music is honest, uplifting, heartbreaking and clever all at the same time.

The New EP ‘Do You Know Enough’ is out on October 19!

The post Single Review – Moaning Lisa’s Comfortable appeared first on Local Roots.

Single Review – Morning Glory’s With the Pinstripes

Reviewer – Tristan Winter

Brisbane’s, Morning Harvey are getting ready to drop their highly anticipated forthcoming debut album on the September 28th. So they’ve released a new single that is the title track to the new album! “With the Pinstripes” is the new tune and new album! I can’t fault this song. I feel like I’ve traveled back in time and for some reason it reminds me of Queen! Which is a delight!

They gained attention upon the release of their song ‘Susanne Money’. They received positive reviews all across the board and were the Artist of the Week for Triple J Unearthed.

They have toured extensively and shared the stage with the likes of The Dandy Warhols and Band of Skulls, Royal Blood. Dayum!

They will be touring up and down the East Coast in a couple of months.

• 29 NOV – Workers Club, Melbourne
• 30 NOV – Waywards, Sydney
• 7 DEC – The Foundry Brisbane

The post Single Review – Morning Glory’s With the Pinstripes appeared first on Local Roots.

Single Review – Spacey Jane’s Cold Feet

Reviewer – Tristan Winter

Spacey Jane are an Indie garage group from Fremantle, Perth and they are servin’ up the juicy goods once again with their new song Cold Feet. It’s a follow up to their tune So You Wanna which god damn was good one, packed with punch and energy.

Cold Feet is basically the result of The Stokes and the Pixies having a love child on this fine spring day. Seriously though, I legitimately thought it was Julian Casablanca’s singing. The sound is very mature and very thought out.

Fremantle has a knack for producing artists that are so in tune with their craft and as a result produce only the finest of art and music.

They are very charming and super spacey!

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Single Review – Austen’s Too High to Cry

Reviewer – Tristan Winter

Austen is blessing us with another tune which is a follow up to her song Storm which I loved so hard. Too High to cry is the name of this track and she takes us on another exciting journey. It’s a dreamy little tune with a catchy poppy hook to suck you straight in, as well as a  very relateable meaning of the song. I think at least. When I’m listening to this track all I hear is Chvrches and it is ever so divine!

Hailing for Brisbane, Austen tries to blend alternative writing roots with synth to create an atmospheric pop vibe that is borderline surreal. Most recently she has joined The Kite String Tangle as his support act for his national album tour. Her name has popped up on multiple Artists to Watch lists for Pilerates, Purple Sneakers and inthemix so it is safe to say that Austen is about to blow up at any minute.

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Single Review – Benefits’ Waste Your Time

Reviewer – Tristan Winter

Benefits is a recording project of Mason Lewtas (Deep Sea Arcade, Hedge Fund, Matrick Jones).

Waste my Time is the first single! For me, it is reminiscent of Badly Drawn Boy and I love me some Badly Drawn Boy. They combine indie pop with rock for an easy listening tune that will have you bopping in your boots. This summer bop is polished and very peaceful.

Their debut EP Turbulence is on its way and the group has promised us cohesive lyricism and open hearted emotion in every song.

The official single launch will be on the 6th of September at the Bank Hotel in Newtown, Sydney.

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Single Review – Jalmar’s Mi Paciencia

Reviewer – Tristan Winter

21 year old Jalmar is a new addition to the Australian urban music scene and his music is an absolute delight! With a Chilean background, his music combines soulful guitar with smooth melodies. His track Mi Paciencia is Kendrick Lamar meets Toro Y Moi. It is a delicious fusion of soul, RnB and hip hop that all comes together to create an effortless, fresh sound that I want more of.

It’s still early days for Jalmar so he is still a somewhat mysterious figure, but its such a treat when an artist can blend certain genres and successfully pull it off. With that guitar, clever rhymes and that Latino sass I look forward to hearing more of this Melbourne local.

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