Tag: Australian artists

MIKEY J – Singles Review: “She’s So Fine/Fell So Hard”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews13 Comments

Hailing from the fair city of Melbourne, Australia is singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mikey J (aka Michael Johnson), who humbly refers to himself as “just a dude who loves music“. Inspired by some of the great songwriters of the past, life experiences and his family, his songs are a mix of rock, blues, folk, funk and indie influences, all of which he performs and records in his simple setup at home. He’s been writing and recording music since his teens, releasing his first self-titled EP in 1999 at the age of 17 with his then band Blue Tracer. In 2011, he released a solo album Happy “​六​” Anniversary, inspired by and dedicated to his wife Ella. Nearly 10 years would pass until his next release ISO​-​Inspiration, an album inspired by the Covid lockdown, in October 2020. Since then, Mikey J’s been on a creative tear, dropping five more albums, most recently Muffet Way, a 14-track behemoth he released last May, as well as numerous singles.

Now he’s recorded his latest album Made in China, another ambitious work to be released in March that will feature 14 tracks inspired by the twelve years Mikey J spent living in Shanghai. The songs delve into love, growth and personal struggles, reflecting the people, places, and experiences – including a pet and a typhoon – that shaped his life during that period. In a recent interview with Marc Schuster for his Abominations blog, Mikey J explained “It’s where I became a man. I moved to China pretty much on a whim after leaving a pretty toxic relationship, for what was supposed to be maybe two years at most of fun! I then met the girl of my dreams, we got married, had a kid and all of a sudden it was twelve years later! It was such an exciting period of Shanghai’s development as well – 2005 was when it really started to develop in a big way and it was just so fun! I wanted to write an album that was a little more thematic than I have previously written and China seemed a pretty significant part of who I am. I had some ideas about people, places and events that were pretty memorable and it just kind of came together! Of course, there is a good smattering of my patented sappy love songs about my wife to boot!“

Last month, on December 5th, he released the first song from the album, “Where Do I Belong?”, and now returns with two more songs released as a pair, “She’s So Fine” and “Fell So Hard“, which dropped January 9th. Both songs are totally different in sound and structure, with straightforward and honest lyrics about meeting and falling in love with Ella, the woman who would become his wife. “She’s So Fine” opens strong with a gnarly, almost bluesy guitar riff accompanied by snappy drums and a thumping bass groove. Mikey J’s impressive guitar prowess is on full display as he layers multiple textures and riffs throughout the song, highlighted by a great solo in the bridge. Mikey J said that the song was somewhat inspired by The Easybeats, an Australian band from the 1960s, while “Fell So Hard was inspired by the Beatles.

“Fell So Hard” has a slower tempo, with a melody and instrumentation reminiscent of songs by the Beatles in their mid-career period of 1966-68. I really love the mellotron sounds as well as the jangly guitar work that nicely channels that of George Harrison. Mikey J doesn’t have a particularly strong singing voice, but his vocals are endearing and heartfelt as he sings of how he fell for Ella: “I met a girl who stole my heart, she snatched it clean away. I was alone, just drifting through life, but I fell for her that day. She looked at me, and the world seemed to stop. I fell for her so hard that fateful day.”

I like that “She’s So Fine” and “Fell So Hard” offer up a completely different vibe and sound from each other, and also that both sound different from “Where Do I Belong”, with its hard-driving beat. It’s a clear indication of Mikey J’s ability to cross music genres and styles in his songwriting and musicianship, which he puts to good use on Made in China, making for an interesting listen indeed.

Here are the songs on YouTube:

And on Spotify:

Mikey J’s Socials: Facebook / X / Instagram / Threads / BlueSky

Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Soundcloud / Amazon Music

G. SAMEDI – Single Review: “Icarus”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews5 Comments

There’s so much great musical talent out there that it sometimes makes my head spin. I’ve recently written about quite a few exceptional artists and bands, and today I’m pleased to introduce another – silky-voiced Australian singer-songwriter Sam Dawes, who goes by the artistic moniker G. Samedi. Sam’s actually no stranger to this blog, as he’s also the lead vocalist and songwriter for Sydney band Thunder Fox, who I adore and have featured numerous times. While still actively involved with Thunder Fox, who will be releasing their second album later this year, Sam decided at the beginning of 2020 to record and produce some of his songs as a solo artist. In little more than a year, he’s already released seven singles (the first was actually a double single), all of which are fantastic. His latest is “Icarus“, which dropped April 30th.

Curious about the name G. Samedi, I asked Sam how he came up with that moniker. He told me it’s “just a silly amalgamation of my real name, Samuel George Dawes. People would call me Sammy D at school, I liked the character ‘Baron Samedi’ from James Bond, and it just came together nicely.” Well, I think G. Samedi is an ideal name, as it suggests an air of sophistication and sexual mystery, both of which are characteristics of his wonderfully unique sound.

Drawing from R&B, soul, trip hop, electronic and alternative rock elements, Sam creates moody and sensuous soundscapes for the expression of his bold lyrics addressing the darker and more introspective aspects of love and relationships. Then he delivers them with his distinctive soulful vocals that go from smooth, sultry croons to plaintive falsetto. He writes all his own music and lyrics, records and programs all instruments, sings all vocals, and produces and mixes all tracks. The only think he outsources is the mastering.

“Icarus” is a stunning and fascinating track, featuring a complex, almost progressive arrangement and a colorful array of instruments and synths. The song opens with stirring synths and an almost gospel-like organ, accompanied with tinkling piano keys. I love Sam’s expressive vocals, which sound especially vulnerable as he laments about falling out of love for his partner and the resulting pain he caused her and the damage he did to their relationship, while admitting he still has strong feelings for her: “I still needed her after all / I fell away, wings like Icarus melting on my bleeding lust. I knew I’d fly too close for us.” As the organ recedes, the melody settles into a languid R&B groove, highlighted by a mix of shimmery and gritty guitars and a thumping drumbeat. His layered vocal harmonies are really beautiful too, turning more plaintive and heartfelt as he implores her to reconsider: “I just love you, isn’t that enough?” The song ends with sounds of a droning synth and pounding drum.

“Icarus” is wonderful, and another in an unbroken string of really stellar singles by this talented artist. If you like it, do take a little time to listen to some of his other songs as well on one of the music platforms below.

Follow G. Samedi: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Stream his music: Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

Purchase: Bandcamp / Amazon

ANCA – EP Review: “Tomorrow in Sight”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn ReviewsLeave a comment

ANCA album cover

Anca is a lovely young indie singer/songwriter from Sydney, Australia who released her equally lovely debut EP Tomorrow in Sight in December 2017. She writes heartfelt lyrics based partly on her own personal experiences, and sets them to delicate piano-driven melodies. She played piano and drums on all the tracks, with assistance from Ian Craig on guitar and JimmyJay Lovelace on bass.

Her folk-pop music style contains elements that at times remind me a tiny bit like Jewel, yet sounds totally fresh and original. In her bio info, Anca shares her feelings about the EP: “This is my debut EP of the best songs I wrote before turning 21. Recorded on the piano I grew up with, I am incredibly excited to share the music from this period of my life. After the release of this record, tomorrow is in sight with my adult songs coming next year!”

Opening track “Trainwreck” sets the tone with a sweet piano riff and gently strummed electric guitar creating a mood that’s soothing, yet lighthearted. ANCA’s delicate vocals are enchanting as they skitter across the soundwaves. She explains the meaning of the song and its charming video:

“Trainwreck is a song where I am laughing at myself for how terrible I am when it comes to dating. The particular story starts with me starting to see a guy and things going really well until we hang out and I have a few too many and make an absolute idiot out of myself. The video definitely goes overboard – I didn’t really break a glass in the original but the catastrophe level was pretty close! But hey, if you can’t laugh at yourself then what can you do? At least one of us found it funny!“

On “Red Flags” Anca muses on whether she should open herself up to a possible relationship: “I could be wrong, maybe I should let you in“, yet she has reservations, afraid of being hurt: “Red flags run from my eyes. I know it’s hard to see when you’re so high.” The track features a beautiful little guitar riff, accompanied by subtle piano and gently pummeling drums.

“Learning to Let Go” has her coming to terms with the pain caused by a failed relationship and moving on: “Learning to let go was the hardest thing I’ve ever known.” Continuing on that theme, Anca closes the door on any hope of a reconciliation on “Talk About It.” “Why don’t you run away. I don’t know why you want to talk about it. I know why I don’t want to talk about it. You’re not gonna change my mind.” And though the song is clearly pop-oriented, her vocals at times have a bit of a hip hop quality in their cadence.

Anca turns somber on the haunting “Hey Anna,” addressing the pain and despair of someone having the unattainable goal to be perfect: “Hey Anna, get out of my head. You made your point, I heard what you said. / What the mirror shows, is someone I don’t know. You know I’d give anything to be perfect.” But then she sings an emotional tribute to the strength and inspiration she gains from her grandma on the folk ballad “Nana’s Song.” “When I’m with you, I don’t have to be afraid. If I cry, you chase the monsters away. When I’m with you, I don’t have to wear a mask. If I tried, you see right through it anyway.”

It’s an uplifting finish to a fine EP that takes us on Anca’s journey of self-discovery and life lessons learned. I hope she delivers on her promise of new music very soon.

Connect with ANCA:  Website / Facebook / Instagram
Stream her music on Spotify or Apple Music  and purchase on iTunes or Bandcamp

SAM CLARK – Song Review: “Out of Reach”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews3 Comments

Sam Clark is a talented and charismatic singer/songwriter/actor with a long list of professional accomplishments in TV, film and music. Born and raised in Australia, Sam is now based in Los Angeles, and has just released a terrific new single “Out of Reach,” along with a beautifully-filmed, heartwarming video.

According to his website bio, Sam rose to fame in Australia with his starring role in the long-running TV show Neighbours, for which he was nominated for several awards during the program’s 850+ episode run. He released a debut album Take Me Home in 2010, which generated two singles, “Broken” and “Devastated,” that garnered #1 spots on the ARIA Physical Singles Sales chart. A year later, he dropped the excellent five-track EP my own way…  Sam went on to star in his first feature film Mental, for which he also wrote and performed several original songs. After moving to Los Angeles he starred in the Emmy-winning FOX/Paramount production Grease: Live. He’s now in production on his next album with his Grammy award-winning songwriting partner Bill Grainer. “Out of Reach” is the first single from that album, which is planned for release later this year.

Sam Clark

“Out of Reach” is a lovely pop song about discovering you’re blessed with love you never thought you’d find. Sam explained his inspiration for the song: “I want my songs to be catchy without compromising their lyrical content. If I had to choose a single theme that runs through all my songs, it would be love.”

Musically, the track has a catchy, upbeat melody, with crisp percussion and warm acoustic guitar throughout. Sam’s charming vocals are incredibly pleasing, and perfectly suited for the positive, heartfelt lyrics: “A hopeless dreamer but I’m wide awake. I never thought that it could feel this way. You are beyond my wildest disbelief. I always thought this kinda love was out of reach.”

The delightful video was filmed by Carlos PenaVega and Giovanny Lago, and directed by David Del Rio. It shows Sam arriving home on the day of his birthday, only to be disappointed when he learns all of his friends and family are busy or unable to get together to celebrate with him. He then discovers a pair of hiking boots in a gift box, along with a note that starts him on a treasure hunt that ultimately leads him to a spot in the hills where his friends and girlfriend are waiting for him. Then he gets a big surprise when his parents show up, making him realize he has love in all its forms – romantic, friendship and family.

Both song and video left me feeling happy, and that all’s right with the world. And that’s something we can sure use a lot more of right now!

To learn more about Sam, check out his Website

Show him some love by following on:  Facebook /  Twitter /  Instagram

Stream his music:  Spotify /  Soundcloud

Purchase:  iTunes