BIGSOUND Live 2015 Feature Artist - HOWQUA

If you're still sitting thinking about getting those tickets to BIGSOUND Live, it would be wise to say YES and get in while there's still a couple left. The conference has sold out, but there's still a chance to head along to see a mighty fine collection of music's best and brightest... artist like HOWQUA, who will be in Brisbane next week to showcase his talents. Where can you get your tickets? Over at the QMusic site, of course. Where can you read about HOWQUA and BIGSOUND? Right here, like below... enjoy!

HOWQUA

Performing at the Title Track BIGSOUND Pre Party, Tuesday September 8 @ The Brightside

and as part of BIGSOUND Live 2015

 Wednesday September 9 - 9:50pm @ The Flying Cock

HOWQUA, thanks for stopping by for a chat! How's your week been so far?

Howqua: It’s been nice and busy. It’s consisted of a mix of earning enough cash working several jobs to pay for overseas touring adventures and making sure I have enough time to get everything sorted.

In a world full of labels, how do you describe your music?

Howqua: I suppose I just try to write as honestly as I can.  I’d like to think it's pretty 'guards down' lyrics with some noises to accompany it.

What are your thoughts on the BIGSOUND concept? Any acts you'll be keen to check out during the event?

Howqua: I’ve never been to BIGSOUND but from afar I’ve watched it build over the years and become a very important stepping stone for several artists.  There’s a bunch of acts I’m looking forward to seeing this year - Methyl Ethel, Pearls and Gang of Youths to name a few.

You'll be performing on  September 8 at Title-Track's pre-BIGSOUND party at The Brightside as well as on September 9 at The Flying Cock during BIGSOUND Live! You have a short space of time to play for people who may not know you or your material well. So, how do you decide what songs you'll be playing during your showcases?

Howqua: With showcase sets being quite short there is always going to be thoughts on why or why not a particular song should make the set list.  But I honestly don’t think there is really any right answer. Based on that I think I’ll just play the songs I most enjoy playing and take it from there.

We all know of the awesomeness of BIGSOUND and we've all heard that SXSW is pretty darn good as well, but are there any other similar showcases or venues in the world that you'd like to play, that we should know about? Anywhere else we should be dreaming of visiting before BIGSOUND returns to us, September 2016?

Howqua: I’ve always thought CMJ would be an amazing showcase to play in New York and The Great Escape in the UK would also be good fun. Although it’s super local for me, I think playing The Forum would be an amazing experience. Playing the Bowery Ballroom in New York has also been a dream.

Have you got any upcoming music releases planned that we can look forward to? What about touring plans?

Howqua: My debut EP “Naked” has only be released locally so an international release is on the cards for that.  This month I am also about to embark on my first ever North American tour which is pretty exciting.

Say you were picked to curate a music festival. You've got the budget to pick whoever you want. Who are five acts that would definitely make your list and why would you choose them?

Howqua: Arcade Fire: I’ve always really dug their tunes but I’ve never seen them live so this seems like a great opportunity to.

Charles Bradley:  I saw him play one year at Golden Plains and he just oozes soul.

Ben Smith: He is a great local singer/songwriter who has been a big inspiration for me and I’d love him to be a part of this.

Bjork: Someone to rep the weird and wonderful Icelandic vibes.

Daft Punk: Flashing lights and a list of hits sound like the perfect addition.

QUICK HITS:

Your dream collaboration would be with?

Howqua: Justin Vernon

When they name the HOWQUA biopic, what's the title going to be? 

Howqua: Straight outta Croydon.

Your favourite songwriters are?

Howqua: Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen and a million more.

The best gig you've ever been to was?

Howqua: Bon Iver at the Forum was a pretty memorable one.

When they air the HOWQUA MTV 'Behind The Music' special in thirty-three years time, what will they say about you?

Howqua: That I did things differently.

Thanks for the chat HOWQUA! Make sure you head along to his showcase set at BIGSOUND Live next week, so you can see him off on his North American tour in style. 

10 and 1 - Stop Children What's That (BIG)Sound?

BIGSOUND LIVE 2015 PREVIEW

by Matt Bond

With Splendour all but a muddy memory for the thousands of music fans lucky (?) enough to attend, everybody's attention should now be placed firmly on the BIGSOUND conference and Live event. BIGSOUND Live is not only THE place to find the next great Aussie acts, but you get to enjoy showcases from some of the country's greatest established artists. By day, you can head to the conference to listen to talks from speakers encompassing all aspects of the music industry. By night, you can get on down to incredible music as the Live event takes over the best of Brisbane's Fortitude Valley gig venues for two nights in September (9th and 10th). The team here at It's My Kind of Scene rate BIGSOUND Live as our favourite two nights of the year, as we've discovered some of our absolute favourites there over the past three years.


Little May, Thelma Plum, Tkay Maidza, Bad//Dreems, Karl S. Williams, Kira Puru + The Bruise, The Hello Morning, The Trouble With Templeton, Clairy Browne and The Bangin' Rackettes, Adalita and more... we've gotten to take in showcases from a truly impressive range of musicians that we've fallen in love with or fallen in love with even more. BIGSOUND is the best. And this year's line-up promises another amazing BIGSOUND Live adventure, so I've picked out ten acts I would love to see. It's a 10 and 1, so I'm supposed to throw out an act I don't want to see, but this is BIGSOUND and everyone is there because they deserve to be... so I'll come up with a cop-out 1 while you take in the music of 10 of BIGSOUND 2015's best.

THE 10:

Ali Barter

Ayla

BANFF

HOWQUA

I Know Leopard

Major Leagues

NGAIIRE

Tempura Nights

Tired Lion

Winterbourne





THE ONE (?):


Whoever Is Playing When Those 10 Previously Mentioned Acts Are On...
Sorry :(

You should see everyone! Which isn't possible, but you'll do your best as you run around the Valley trying to get in as much music as you can. It's like a marathon, but with bands. Enjoy! Don't forget to get 'yo tickets now over at the BIGSOUND site. You can check out the full line-up too and see who'll be speaking at the conference if you're keen to head along. It will be well worth it.

2014 Scene Awards - EP of the Year

We’ve covered new artists, Australian artists and best videos but the fourth instalment of our 2014 Scene Awards brings us to that little thing we love to love, the EP. A teeny glimpse of an artist’s work, the EP is such a tease, offering so much and only making us want more from some of our favourites. With so many favourites, it was hard to keep this list down to four. Don't ask us how, but we managed to. There may have been some office brawls over it, but we're not supposed to talk about our secret fight club. Oh no... we've said too much. Here's our fave EP's of the year! 

EP OF THE YEAR:

#4. Naked by HOWQUA

When I saw Howqua supporting Little May at their sold out show at the Black Bear earlier this month, I was standing quietly at the side of stage, watching a man perform with his entire heart and soul to a half empty room and a whole bunch of people trying to purchase their boutique beer and beverages at the bar. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good boutique beer as much as the next person, but there was absolutely no way I could take my eyes and ears off the stage when this man was standing on it. When his set finished, I couldn’t wait to get to the merch table at the back, because there was no way I was going to let him leave without letting me purchase what has become a constant in my life and my last late year contender for our EP of the Year Award.


The things he bought to the stage that night are exactly the things that I walked away with in that tiny cardboard package; simple stories of heartbreak and courage, yearnings and fears all wrapped up in soothing synths and driving beats and emotional guitars and maybe most importantly that voice, that unbelievably powerful, spine tingling voice of his which evokes emotions and picks apart a teeny part of my heart every time he sings those lyrics; “waiting for the sun to rise, waiting for the sun to set, waiting for the sun to rise again…” They are a representation of the whole EP, so true and so simple. Sometimes it seems the simplest things are the most affecting and Howqua has managed to turn the simplest of emotions into song and create an EP that will hang around as one of my favourites jot just for this year, but for a long time yet. (Jo Michelmore)

#3. is it right? by Our Man In Berlin

If you’d told me 18 months ago when I first welcomed Our Man In Berlin into my beloved music collection that I’d be writing about their EP at the end of 2014, I may not have believed you. Not because I doubted whether I’d still like them, I just don’t believe in fortune tellers and all that crap. What I do believe is that when a band is this good, that talent should be celebrated and hence when Matt and I were discussing the best EP’s of the year, this was the first one that popped into my mind.


From the urgent beats throughout to their awesome ability to balance light and dark simultaneously in each song, from the charmingly addictive sounds of Justin Martin’s keyboard skills and the enchanting sounds that Trevor Shotam manages to pull out of a guitar, to that spine tingling and incredible voice of Haydn Mansell’s, is it right? showcases the talent of five guys so early in their career already willing to experiment with sound, test their boundaries as musicians and take their listeners on an intensely enjoyable journey with them. It’s a journey I look forward to continuing through 2015, with new songs already being written and recorded. Maybe I should start believing and get that fortune teller to let me know when I get to hear them, because I can’t wait. (Jo Michelmore)

Runner-Up: Little May by Little May

Little May are no strangers to these here Scene Awards. Why, just yesterday they took out the Australian Artist of the Year award! A big part of that win can be attributed to their knockout debut EP, Little May. We knew it was going to be one of our favourites from the moment it was announced. After all, in 2013 we heard the EP songs ‘Boardwalks’ and ‘Hide’ and with those two on the track list it was already a winner. ‘Boardwalks’ was almost the yin to the yang of ‘Hide’. Bittersweet regret followed by a darker betrayal. Each as commanding of your attention as the other and wonderfully showing how Little May’s Liz Drummond, Hannah Field and Annie Hamilton can easily hold influence over your emotions. You get to take a ride on the emotional rollercoaster throughout all of Little May.


You can fall apart to the smart and sublime pop number that is ‘Bones’, cherish the happy memories of days gone by on ‘Dust’ and understand why Little May’s music has been labelled ghost folk on the haunting ‘Midnight Hour’. These five songs that make up the Little May EP flow seamlessly and expertly, each showing a new side of this talented trio. We called Little May the next great storytellers in music and when you listen to these tracks you’ll understand why. It’s like you’re sitting in a living room with the band while they talk to you about the ups and downs of life. It’s awesome. And it leaves me, as always, more than just a little excited about what’s to come from Little May. The internets say a debut album is expected in 2015. Just a little something to make you even more willing to embrace the new year. Until then though, we’ve got the Little May EP to listen to over and over until we meet Little May again. Please don't stay away too long. (Matt Bond)

WINNER: Monsters by Thelma Plum 

Oh hey there, two time EP of the Year winner Thelma Plum. She took top honours last year with Rosie and decided that once is never enough, so 2014 saw the release of Monsters and here we are again. EP of the Year. What? We’re allowed to think the only reason Thelma released an EP this year was so she could win another highly prestigious Scene Award. Just like last year, we never got around to doing up a proper review at the time of release. To be fair, I was in Europe and started to write one up on a bus, but I kept listening to ‘Candle’ and at the time I was really hating on a certain someone and the essence of the review was people are the worst and whoever hurt Thelma to have her writing a song like ‘Candle’ is the worst and there was a lot of rage so it’s probably best that didn’t become a thing.

What is good, is that Monsters became a ‘thing’. Not so much a ‘thing’ as a stunning piece of work once more from Thelma, we saw her step out of her acoustic comfort zone and embrace some highly fashionable electronic touches, with the production assistance of M-Phazes. She may or may not have stalked him until he worked with her. The lesson here is that stalking pays off, because Plum’s new venture more than delivered. The production sets Monsters apart from Rosie and gives it an identity unique to what we know Plum is able to do musically. But all of the trademarks you’d want from her music remain and thankfully so. Striking vocals that while sweet, pack a disarmingly effective emotional punch. Painfully honest lyrics you can’t help but relate to. And then there’s that ‘fuck you’ attitude we’ve come to love, but this time without actually busting out some swears. A Thelma Plum EP with not a ‘fuck’ in sight? Doesn’t mean that attitude isn’t there.

There’s the moments of heartache and heartbreak (‘Monsters’ and ‘Candle’), a gorgeous reminder of the past (‘Young In Love’) and an unexpected, Tarantino-esque party starter (‘How Much Does Your Love Cost’). The last song mentioned made it to #2 on our Top 114 Songs of 2014 countdown. Because it’s la-di-da-di-fucking amazing. There’s just something about Thelma Plum that makes me swear like a sailor. Thelma Plum did it again in 2014. Since there’s whispers of a debut LP for 2015, it looks like we’ll be seeing her graduate from this category to the Album of the Year one very soon. Artists to watch in 2015? Make sure Thelma Plum is on that list. And if you haven’t already, go get this EP. (Matt Bond)

2013 Winner:

Rosie EP by Thelma Plum

Runner-Up: The Love Club EP by Lorde

2012 Winner:

Told You So by Cub Scouts Sport 

Runner-Up: Love Lost In Design EP by Neon Wolf

Top 114 Songs of 2014, #50 - 41

Airling, Tkay Maidza, #1 Dads + HOWQUA!

#114 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80 - 71

#70 - 61

#60 - 51

#50. FISHING FOR GOLD

by HOWQUA

I won't be your victim anymore,

And you can't break my spirit like before.

We get sent a lot of music from a whole bunch of great artists to check out. It's probably the best part of this whole blogging thing we've got going on. We get to listen to songs we might not have had the chance to if we were just listening out for new tunes on the radio or on rage or... Spotify or whatever. So Jo checked out an email about this HOWQUA guy and did a really good review (I'm allowed to compliment how awesome Jo is... sometimes) of this track 'Fishing For Gold' and I gave it a listen and was completely blown away by how talented this HOWQUA fella is. He's got a fantastic and emotive rock voice that he can belt out in a way that reminds me of both Counting Crows' Adam Duritz and Eddie Vedder. 90s rock star vocals. The best kind. Yeah, so getting to listen to a track from an artist like HOWQUA definitely makes me enjoy this whole blogging thing. I think it's safe to say that if we keep hearing gems like 'Fishing For Gold', HOWQUA is going to be making a big impact very soon. (Matt Bond)

Let me be honest. I wrote about struggling with my words when I wrote about HOWQUA earlier this year and here I am, actually finding it really difficult to write about this song again. I’m afraid if I write anymore I’m just gonna sound like some kind of crazy fan girl and the thing is, he’s so good he deserves better than crazy fan girls. I just really appreciate a singer who has the ability to be so utterly honest in his music, facing his dreams and his demons through his creativity, because facing my own are still things I’m trying to figure out how to do. “I won’t cry beside your grave, I’ll dance on it instead”. With the ability to put feelings like those into song, artists like HOWQUA and songs like ‘Fishing For Gold’ sure do help. (Jo Michelmore)  

#49. SO SOLDIER

by #1 Dads ft. Ainslie Wills





You've been hiding that secret under your shirt collar,
 You can breathe easy. 

Tom Iansek is a man of many talents. Taking some time away from Big Scary, he's created the side project #1 Dads and teamed up with some of the best singer-songwriter types in Australia on tracks like 'So Soldier'. Stepping into that lead vocal role for this number is Ainslee Wills and her voice with Iansek's guitar (and voice on back-up, he's very good too) are a match made in music heaven. 'So Soldier' is one of those songs that you're convinced no one could actually dislike. Everything about it is extremely likeable. If someone was to say, "hey, I don't like that 'So Soldier' song," I would call them a liar and ask what sick game they're playing. Anyway, can't get enough of this one. (Matt Bond) 

#48. PULL THE TRIGGER

by Apes

I feel like you're inside of me,
Waste my mind and let me breathe.

My first proper introduction to Apes was as the support act for Band Of Skulls in the early part of this year. The thing is at that gig they were one of those bands I didn’t know well, but had me going “Oh! This song! That’s this band!” which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What that means is that they write great rock songs which keep me so busy rocking I forget to figure out who is singing. I’m generally so busy listening to the guitars and nodding my head to the drums and remembering all the great rock gigs I’ve been to that the band name leaves my brain until the next time that rock voice blares out of my speakers again. Never fear, after that gig the name Apes is etched into my brain and ‘Pull The Trigger’ isn’t a song to forget. This is Australian rock at some of its memorable best. (Jo Michelmore)

After seeing Apes support Band of Skulls earlier this year it’s been a fast and furious affair. Except there has been no illegal street racing and Vin Diesel hasn’t appeared once. I have on some days, however, listened to at least seven of their songs, sometimes whilst driving in my car. (Katie Langley)

#47. THEY SAY

by Kilter ft. Tkay Maidza

And I never had someone like you, like you, someone...

Ned East aka Kilter would have to be a shoo-in for 'Class of 2015' lists. The 20 year old, Sydney based producer is already showing he's got the skills when it comes to laying out future-classic electronic beats and he's also got an eye for collaborating with crazy/good talent like Citizen Kay, Ngaiire and in the case of 'They Say', Tkay Maidza. Known for her fast-paced rhymes, the rap dynamo takes a moment to let us know she's got pipes too and a voice that's perfectly complimentary to Kilter's brand of electronic goodness. Easily one of the best dance tracks of 2014. (Matt Bond)


Alright, admission time. I didn’t know much of Kilter until I heard this song. A name on a list of names of people who played Splendour and Listen Out, a name is all Kilter was. Nowadays I know he’s a Sydney-sider with a healthy habit of making some beats that are near impossible not to move to. Some of those beats reside right here at number 47, along with the vocal of Tkay (we’re totally on a first name basis these days alright?) and they’re beats that are world class. I can hear them in a club only a few kilometres from my own house and I can hear them pounding across a tent in a giant music festival somewhere in the middle of Europe. Maybe that’s just because the last couple of days I have been dreaming of returning to Europe or maybe it’s because that’s where they belong. Let’s go with the latter option. (Jo Michelmore)
 

#46. WASTED PILOTS

by Airling





A broken in mess,
You don't need no one to tell you how it is.

You could say Airling had a pretty good year. Stepping into the spotlight after backing up Emma Louise and being part of the band Charlie Mayfair, Hannah Shepherd decided to go it alone under the new moniker, Airling. She scored a lot of triple J love with the tracks 'Ouroboros' and 'The Runner', supported Ella Hooper and a showcase slot at BIGSOUND Live. That's not to mention being crowned the Unearthed winner for a spot on the Splendour in the Grass line-up. That's an awesome year... way better than mine. Probably better than yours too. What I loved the most about Airling in 2014 was this track, 'Wasted Pilots' which tells you everything you need to know about what makes Airling such a special music maker. Dreamy electronic touches with even dreamier, ethereal vocals... you won't be able to get enough. And Thelma Plum's in the clip. Everything's better with Thelma Plum. (Matt Bond)

Gosh this one is a really nice piece of pop perfection. There are understated synths, a sweet sense of innocence, a bass line that is discreet but so very important and a drum beat that starts simply and ends up being integral to what the song becomes. All of that and Hannah Shepherd’s lovely voice floating across the top of all those sounds and challenging you not to love it. You shouldn’t fight it, really. This is perfect electronic pop and perfect pop is just….perfect. Of course. (Jo Michelmore)

#45. I AM NOT AN END

by Montaigne

I am not your end,
Does that make me alone?

I get the same excited feeling when listening to Montaigne's music as I did when Kimbra was first kicking about at the start of her career. It exists in its own wonderful place with its own sound and identity, seemingly different from everything else, but it's still pop-tacular and infectious enough to get stuck in your head for days/weeks/months. On one hand, 'I Am Not An End' is a bit quirky. On the other hand, there's huge pop hooks and a massively powerful voice that will leave any listener suitably impressed. 'I Am Not An End' presents a fierce, independent new artist with a voice demanding to be heard. It's smart and emotional, but it's also just really, really, ridiculously good pop music. And I love pop music. (Matt Bond)


Montaigne has already received praise from all ends of the music industry. The radio people on JJJ love her, the actual music journos who get paid to write about things they like and paid to write about things they don’t, love her and those crazy people who sit at home and write lots and lots of words about things they like and sometimes things they don’t for no monetary reward at all (some would call them bloggers) love her as well. Ok, so I might be one of those people in the last group who love her but you only have to hit play once to know why. ‘I Am Not An End’ is glorious in its pop and a tragedy in its themes and that’s what makes it so very perfect. She has a voice unto her own, a sound unto itself in today’s soundscapes and that special something that can be hard to describe but is present, the relatable at arms distance quality which makes her seem kind of magical. Oh I don’t know what I’m saying, I suppose that’s why I’m not one of those radio or journo peeps, but I do know I like Montaigne. A lot. (Jo Michelmore)

#44. SOMETHING FROM NOTHING

by Foo Fighters

Bid farewell to yesterday,
Say goodbye I'm on my way.

My love for Dave Grohl is no secret, on this here blog and in the real world. It’s as strong as my love for Jack White (oh Jack, oh sigh) and dare I say it, possibly even stronger. That’s probably because of Dave’s lack of ‘wanker’ factor. I mean, seriously, he took his band around America to record in classic studios all over the country (this one recorded in Steve Albini’s studio in Chicago) but he did all of this because of his passion for music, without a sense of "look at me I'm so cool", just a sense of wonder and awe. Of course, there’s more to the Foo Fighters than just Dave and it’s the other members who also deserve a round of applause (those playing at home please join in now) for their unbelievable skills on ‘Something From Nothing’, with its guitar worship and various feelings of rock. So much rock. The Foo Fighters? They can do no wrong in my eyes so add this to the list of things I love about them. It’s a long, long list. (Jo Michelmore)

I do love Foo Fighters but find that it’s sometimes hard to fully give myself over to them. It’s not Dave Grohl’s fault, but he looks an awful lot like my ex-boyfriend, who is a massive douchebag. I tend to combat this issue by avoiding all video footage of Foo Fighters, otherwise I find myself muttering things like “liar”, “cheater”, and “drunk” under my breath. I have not watched the video clip for this song, so it’s a thumbs up from me. (Katie Langley)

#43. FINISH THEM

by Tkay Maidza


 

Let me finish them,
Let me finish them... 

Oh hey, it's Tkay Victoria Maidza. You should already know Tkay. Not just because she's featured earlier in today's edition of our songs of the year countdown. You should already know her because she's been a 2014 music highlight, smashing it with every release. One of the tracks we loved this year was 'Finish Them', a statement of intention that there's a new power in the rap game. Well, that's how I'm choosing to interpret it because the track has #slay written all over it. If I used that even remotely in context I'll be ever so happy. The Bok Bok produced 'Finish Them' is the closest I'll get to agreeing with the Azealia Banks comparisons in terms of beats and the repeated 'what' and 'hey' backing segments, but that distinct Tkay delivery sets it on a higher plane. She won't be an Underground Queen for long. (Matt Bond)

 

It’s really odd to think that this time last year I had no idea who this unbelievably talented rapper from Adelaide was and even more odd to think I had no idea how much I would like her now. ‘Finish Them’ was my third taste of Tkay this year and she’s still avoided that “oh this one isn’t as good as the last one” thing that plagues some artists. While ‘Finish Them’ was totally different to the fun party times that ‘U-Huh’ was and almost a world away from the super cute stomping of ‘Brontosuarus’ from last year, it’s still got Tkay stomped all over it (ha, get it?), it’s built for the clubs and some serious arm throwing leg kicking manically dancing at 2am. Let’s just face it, right now, Tkay can do no wrong and I’m really enjoying that. (Jo Michelmore)

#42. DO IT AGAIN

by Robyn and Royksopp

One more time, let's do it again
Blow my mind, do it again

Grab yourself and drink (drank?), put on your finest duds and get ready to boogie, because this is one of the best dance songs of the year. Of always. This is a song you want playing at the clubs and then when it's over, you want the DJ to forget about Avicii for just one night, instead opting to repeat this track again. And again. And again and again and again. What? I'd be cool with that. We already knew Royksopp and Robyn were an electronic music match made in heaven after their track 'Girl and The Robot'. But 'Do It Again' kinda makes you think they should collaborate together all the time. I sure do hope they... do it again. Yeah, I never said I was cool. These guys, they're cool. (Matt Bond)

I have spoken of my love of Norway and its music (and royalty; hey Crown Prince Haakon, who is so cool he is obviously a reader of this blog), so that’s one half of this collaboration covered, but I’ve probably never mentioned my thoughts of Robyn, who, is a little difficult to dislike if one likes Sweden and pop music. I like both those things. ‘Do It Again’ is everything European pop music should be, quick, catchy and with a sense of urgency running throughout. The clip is all of those things too and as well as all that, they released a mini album and while one still questions why one doesn’t call this an EP or an album (these are questions for another time) if two of Europe’s greatest have done it who cares anyway? (Jo Michelmore)

This week I bought a floral shirt and decided that I like 'Do It Again'. At the outset these seem like trivial things. But I’m a rock chick who tends to lives her life in black, black and black, so this is big news people. (Katie Langley)

#41. WAR OF ONE

by Bertie Blackman

 And the rules that you make never let me win,
'Cause I'm always a freak that can never fit in.

Bertie Blackman has consistently provided us with good time throughout her music career. It's with her new album, The Dash that she's truly at the top of her game with pop gems like 'War Of One'. The opening guitars make sure you're hooked from the get go, leading into some dramatic battle cries from Blackman that will have you ready to fight in a war of one or wherever Blackman wants you to fight. She'd be a pretty badass leader. There's a fair bit of 80s throwback going on and that just makes me love it more. Who didn't love some 80s power pop? If you didn't, you're sick. Bertie Blackman continues to show she can do no wrong. There needs to be more recognition of her talent. (Matt Bond)


Ooh ooh ooh, it’s the 80s and there is someone wearing purple lycra, someone wearing knitted leg warmers and someone wearing white reebok shoes nearby. I always think it’s so funny where one’s mind wanders when one hears a song for the first time and how that place changes and morphs as one hears the song more and more. It’s morphed a couple of times, but it’s still a track that needs moving to, the bass line a call to get your Rocky on Sylvester Stallone style and the synths a call to get your bubble skirt and side pony on while shaking your ass all the way up or down a staircase. Yes, the mind continues to wander. (Jo Michelmore)

Top 114 Songs of 2014, #60 - 51

Taylor Swift, Sharon Van Etten, The War on Drugs + Sam Smith!

#114 - 101

#100 - 91

#90 - 81

#80 - 71

#70 - 61

#60. WAITING

by HOWQUA





It's been raining here for days,
And I can feel these drops on my weary face. 

It’s so hard to write words about songs that become more than songs to you. They’re not just notes and chords, they aren’t just words in tune and they’re more than just a collection of sounds. Some songs are a comfort, they are a sense of security, they are a memory and an experience and they are the things that get you through the days as you’re waiting for the sun to set, waiting for the sun to rise, they are the things that remind you to breathe when it’s all too hard. They sometimes become your life line, they become a definition of a time and an experience and they become a reflection of yourself. Some songs are more than songs. Some songs are the best of friends. (Jo Michelmore)

#59. STAY WITH ME

by Sam Smith





And deep down I know this never works,
But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt.

It would only be too easy to think men dropped off the face of the pop music planet in 2014. Oh, yes... it was a banner year for the women of pop and they totally dominated. But one male artist did have a massive breakout year on the charts, both commercial and critical, and that was the UK's Sam Smith. Marketed as the dude version of Adele, he took the song 'Stay With Me' to the upper echelon of Top 40s all around the world. Of course, when you achieve something there's going to be those throwing shade your way. Smith copped it over being gay, white, not being a supermodel, not having the waistline of a supermodel and more. Do you think he gives a flying fuck? I highly doubt it. At the end of the day, the only thing that should matter is the quality of the music. And Sam Smith more than delivered with 'Stay With Me', one of the most successful tracks of 2014. (Matt Bond)  


So you’re a white guy Sam Smith? Yep. So you’re a gay guy Sam Smith? Yep. So you’re an average sized guy Sam Smith? Yep. And your name is Smith, Sam Smith? So you’re an average sized, white gay guy with an average name, Sam Smith? Yep. Sometimes I get really angry at the world I exist in. Because sometimes some people can be incredibly ignorant and harsh and just plain stupid. Listen to this song again. See? All of the things I mentioned don’t matter at all, no matter how many times they are discussed or googled or read about. All that matters are the things that matter, like love and longing and all the things that Sam Smith sings about in not so many words in one of the most beautiful pop songs of this year. Sometimes the only thing that makes sense to me is the music I listen to.  And sometimes, most times, that’s all I need. (Jo Michelmore)

#58. OVER YOU

by Ingrid Michaelson ft. A Great Big World





Maybe if I tell myself enough, maybe if I do,
I'll get all over you...

For fans of singer-songwriters, they who believe that the words are just as important as the music, Ingrid Michaelson and A Great Big World teaming up must have been something of a dream come true. It was for me. Ingrid Michaelson has won a legion of fans throughout the globe for her stirring lyrics and beautiful melodies, while A Great Big World burst onto the scene late last year with the monster hit ballad, 'Say Something'. That the result of the two acts letting their powers combine was an experience as perfect as 'Over You' really wasn't a surprise. These are musicians that know all the tricks to send you on an emotional rollercoaster. They're even going all Pachebel's Cannon-ish on us, which is like emotional trolling. Why do you think you hear Michaelson's tracks on every damn TV show? Because her music makes you feel something. And generally that feeling is sadness, but as I've repeatedly mentioned, I'm a sucker for a sad, sad song and they make me weirdly happy. 'Over You' is a song and a story I just can't get sick of, no matter how much I listen. (Matt Bond)  

I wish I didn’t relate so much. I wish I didn’t hear every single key on that piano. I wish I didn’t hear the feeling in every single one of those words. I wish I couldn’t feel those strings. I wish I wasn’t so transparent. I wish I didn’t let things bother me so much some days. I wish I didn’t know exactly what those words meant “I’m falling around you”. I wish all of these things, but then maybe I don’t, because if I wished them all away I wouldn’t have this feeling of absolute adoration of a song that brings a tear with every single listen and that’s a feeling I don’t ever want to go away. (Jo Michelmore)

#57. YOUR LOVE IS KILLING ME

by Sharon Van Etten





You like it when I let you walk over me,
You tell me that you like it,
Your love is killing me.

It's come to my attention that this particular edition of our countdown might be a little bit depressing. Well, I brought it to my own attention doing write-ups for the last three songs and then I got here to Sharon Van Etten's showstopping track, 'Your Love Is Killing Me' and realised the mood might be getting a little somber around these parts. Oh well, if you're not into your moving, sad-o numbers... you'll get over it. I'm not the one with the problem here. 'Your Love Is Killing Me' is what music is all about. An artist truly cutting loose and telling a story that can come painfully close to mirroring a story of your own. Sometimes it comes with a harrowing vocal performance that sets your heart racing. This is one of those times. (Matt Bond)


Alright then. You wanna pick up my heart and chuck it on the floor? You wanna have a little stomp on it while you’re there? Go ahead, throw some Sharon Van Etten on. You don’t even have to find my heart, I’ll take it out and give it to you just so it doesn’t beat so desperately anymore. Some despairing piano, some marching desperate drums and that voice, the sound of hopeless and inconsolable misery, ‘Your Love Is killing Me’ is every desperate moment I’ve had picked up and rolled into song and you know what it is? It’s beautiful is what it is. Beautiful and painful and beautiful, which are sometimes one and the same thing. (Jo Michelmore)

#56. COLD

by Winterbourne





Life goes by I'm lessening,
Everything.

If you were after a couple of guys doing catchy indie-pop songs these days, you’d have literally* a million to choose from (*when I say literally, I don’t mean literally, I haven’t counted. Literally in the way the kids use literally these days, which means not actually literally, just mostly very heartfelt) but you get my point, there’s a lot of bands making sweet indie pop sounds at the moment. What you don’t always get with those million bands is the honesty, the life lessons and the feelings of warm, cosy comfort with each chord and every lyric. Those kind of feelings only come with the best of those indie-pop guys and with tracks like ‘Cold’ Winterbourne are proving that they are some of those indie pop guys who are literally* just the best. (Jo Michelmore) 

Two guys with guitars, big dreams and big voices. Winterbourne have taken their music from the streets of Sydney, where they've honed their craft as buskers, and out into the world. And what a song to introduce themselves to a much bigger audience. 'Cold' is another embraceable folk-revival tune that puts Winterbourne in the company of another of our favourite acts, Little May. A slow burn of an opening that reels you in with emotive lyrics that tell a story in your head with perfect harmonies. Everything's going along nicely and then the pace picks up, the music gets that little bit louder and you find your foot tapping along uncontrollably. A lot like many of Little May's tracks. No wonder both acts are just finishing up a tour together. Anyway, the sound is exciting and makes you want to hear more of 'Cold' and of Winterbourne. Another act to add to our 'must watch' list for 2015. (Matt Bond)

#55. RED EYES

by The War On Drugs





And you don't go home,
But you abuse my faith.

I'm not going to lie to you, I had never heard of The War On Drugs before 'Red Eyes' came along. Get over yourself, neither had you, you hipster wankfest. Stop pretending you're cool. If you're still with us, let's have a chat about how fantastic this song is. It's Arcade Fire's The Suburbs meets 80s power-Springsteen-ish rock. Don't you feel like you were born to run? I do. Adam Granduciel's lyrics are like a stream of consciousness being hurled onto paper, a running commentary of heartache that's wisely masked behind an incredibly catchy indie-rock song to make it more digestible. I might not have heard of The War on Drugs before 'Red Eyes', but I'm going to make sure I know all about them from here on in. (Matt Bond)   


The clip for ‘Red Eyes’ is like this pseudo talent contest type situation, where the band sit down and watch a lady dancing, a smoking clown, a tragic musician, a hoola hooper (is that what they’re actually called?) and a tiny little guitarist all audition to be a member of their band. Each of the band members holds up a card with a cross or a tick on it for each contestant. Only one wins, as is the case with most of these things. The thing is, I wonder how the contestants would judge the band if the situation were reversed? Well I’m saying four giant ticks, because ‘Red Eyes’ is pretty darn likeable and if it’s a talent contest, I don’t even have to justify that, because my tick says it all. Tick! (Jo Michelmore)

#54. WHENEVER YOU WANT IT

by Clare Maguire





I don't wanna be alone, I just wanna have someone,
Who laughs at my shit jokes, won't break me when I'm already broken.

My mighty heart is breaking. Urgh, Clare Maguire... you are the bees knees, so damn fine and you're blowing my mind on 'Whenever You Want It'. You might remember Maguire from when she was a butt-kicking electro diva. That's changed. You might be able to tell by the lack of electronic sound on this track which is a piano ballad. If you noticed that, you are a big winner today. 'Whenever You Want It' is a big change, but Maguire shows she can comfortably reinvent herself as more of an acoustic singer-songwriter that knows a thing or two about penning relatable tales of heartache and pain and not wanting to be alone. I don't think anyone that listens to this and pays attention to the lyrics will be able to get away without being moved. Helping matters is Maguire's enchanting voice that makes a piano/vocal track sound so incredibly full. (Matt Bond)


There are points in your life that make up who you are. Moments that define you. You don’t always like to visit them, but they are there, following you around like shadows and sometimes they are shadows you never wish to see again. Sometimes something makes you face those clouds and make friends with them so that when they do visit, you’re ready for them. Those shadows tapped me on the shoulder when I heard ‘Whenever You Want It’ the first time. There they were, the simple piano notes and the words; “I don’t wanna be alone, I just wanna have someone”. The clouds crept in, making me sit up and take notice, forcing me to be uncomfortably calm with so many moments that describe me. I’ve still not made friends with those shadows, but when songs like Clare Maguire’s come along with words like  “…won’t break me when I’m already broken”, they make the shadows that visit a lot easier to face. (Jo Michelmore)

#53. MY ONLY FRIEND

by BAD//DREEMS




Do you think I'm good enough?
Never have been good enough.

Even though I'm 75% sure they were singing about incest when we stumbled upon them (Jo says 80%), BAD//DREEMS were one of our favourite finds at this year's BIGSOUND Live event. The large crowd assembled to see them were buzzing throughout the performance. They're effortlessly cool, don't seem to have any douche-y qualities and could be the rock band we deserve, not the one we need. Did I get that right? I think I stole it from Batman. Forget that last part, 'My Only Friend' falls somewhere between stoner rock, grunge and garage pop. Whatever they're doing, they're doing it well. (Matt Bond) 

#52. BURY ME

by JP Klipspringer

It comes each day, it drags you in,
It spits its blood, a summer wind... 

Like I said about Our Man In Berlin earlier and let’s be honest, like I’m going to say about someone else in the next 51 songs in our countdown, when I speak of 2014 and the things that blogging has bought me, I’m going to mention the artist responsible for number 52, because I couldn’t even count the number of times I’ve listened to this song and the number of times I’ve been glad I found JP Klipspringer. ‘Bury Me’ is one of those special songs that was all gold and glistening and like nothing I’d experienced before when I first heard it and it’s one of those songs that has never lost its shine, it is still now as goosebump inducing as it was back in March and I’m thinking it may stay that way for a very, very long time. It’s as sad as it is beautiful, as beautiful as it is uplifting and it’s one of my absolute favourites for 2014. (Jo Michelmore)

#51. SHAKE IT OFF

by Taylor Swift

I'm dancing on my own, I make the moves up as I go,

And that's what they don't know...

Is there anything here that I could cover that hasn't already been done? You know it all... Taylor Swift, biggest music star on the planet. Biggest album of the year. Two of the biggest songs of the year. Spotify slayer. Crossover superstar that mixed up the standard pop to country route American artists have been doing for sales over the past couple of decades. Victoria's Secret mega babe. We could throw in her previous achievements like that time she won the Grammy for Album of the Year? What haven't we been talking about? Her relationships. Her public image generated by gossip magazines. How lame Harry Styles is. How Lorde and her should be my best friends because I think we'd have heaps of fun together. Tay-Tay, T-Sweezy, T-Swift... she ain't got time for none of that, she doesn't have time for any hate and she's just going to shake it off... shake it off. But seriously Taylor, have a think about the best friends thing. #callme (Matt Bond)   

I had a theory about lil ol Taylor that I wrote about a few weeks ago. It was something along the lines of old Swifty being Shifty. Well, thems the facts, she was, she is. She’s also a really good pop star who sings really, really catchy pop songs. This is one of them. I stand by my original statement. But I also stand by this one; I love Taylor Swift. End. (Jo Michelmore)

Top 25 - 9 November, 2014

Michelle Xen, Winterbourne + Harts!

1. Thelma Plum - Young In Love





2. Tkay Maidza - Switch Lanes





3. Hey Lady - My Head, My Heart





4. British India - Wrong Direction (NEW)





5. Michelle Xen - Short Term Plan (NEW)





6. Wayfarer// ft. Donna Arendse - Night Games





7. Winterbourne - Cold (NEW)





8. Little May - Bones





9. Love and Other Crimes - Pray Woman (NEW)





10. Calvin Harris ft. Haim - Pray To God





11. HOWQUA - Waiting (NEW)





12. Ali Barter - Community (NEW)





13. Crazy Old Maurice - Another Day





14. Harts - When A Man's A Fool (NEW) 





15. Chvrches - Dead Air (NEW)





16. Dear Plastic - Epic Delay





17. San Cisco - Run





18. Jessie Ware - Pieces





19. Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat (Re-Entry)





20. JP Klipspringer - Let You Go (NEW)





21. Howling Bells - Original Sin





22. Pepa Knight - Coyote Choir





23. Tanzer - That's Why Darling





24. Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie





25. Chvrches - Under The Tide

Song Review - Waiting

Waiting

by HOWQUA

EP: Naked (available 7 November 2014)

When a song stops you in your tracks, when you immediately turn to face the sound so it hits you straight in the face, that's when you know you've found an exceptional musician. When a lyric reaches into the depths of your mind, finds your thoughts and puts them into words in a way you didn't know you were even thinking until they were spoken; that's when you know you've found an incredible songwriter. When an instrument finds your innermost feelings and takes them out of your body, bit by aching bit and nurtures them with the utmost of care; that's when you know you've heard an incredible song.


When a songwriter like Melbourne's HOWQUA releases a new song, I know that I need the time and space to pay attention to it. After my introduction to his sounds earlier this year with the beautiful performance of his song 'Fishing For Gold', I couldn't wait to hear more. I expected something that would take me to places only the greatest of musicians have the ability to take me, right to the centre of my existence. How such a talent even knows where that is when I have trouble locating it myself some days is a question far beyond me, but I know that there's only a few things in the world that take me there and music is one of them. Whatever the meaning and sense of 'Waiting', it's a song that I adore and an indication that this talented artist is going to be heading straight to the top of my favourites list for 2014. 

Jo Michelmore gives 'Waiting' four Michael Hutchence heads out of five...