Month: June 2021

Rest For The Wicked is a new project from Melbourne artist Ben Townsend and Sydney based multi-skilled producer Tasker. Unhinged. Colourful. Wondrous.

“RFTW was born through a mutual connection to ingenious creativity which expanded our abilities and plunged us deeper into the unknowingness of what our minds are capable of creating” said Tasker. The result is a set of hazy, raw genreless pop songs. Loose and sweet on the surface with a melodic, dark heart. ‘Bones’ is their debut single.

“Tasker and I are two flawed, emotional, manic mischief makers who are on both ends of the spectrum which created the perfect blend of chaos. Whilst creating, we find comfort in each other’s vulnerabilities which helps us grow and make more exciting music. We learn a lot from our conversations with each other about the fascinations of life and helps to further broadens the topics we choose to write music about” (-Ben)

Alongside creative director in acclaimed Brisbane artist James Hornsby, Rest For The Wicked have created a world unto its own, where sonics, colours and emotions collide into a beautiful mess that immediately commands attention.

Catch Rest For The Wicked on tour with acts that have actually released music on the Grapevine Gathering tour this November or talking all sorts of nonsense in their private WhatsApp fan group.

Ben Townsend, under the moniker Ivan Ooze, built a cult following through tours with Wu Tang Clan, Ice Cube, Azealia Banks and Peking Duk, as well as his own sold out shows nationally. He garnered a devoted audience for his infamous live show that would include everything from backflips, freestyles and stage dives and for developing real connections with his fans via social media.

Tasker is a prolific songwriter & producer with cuts for artists across a variety of genres including G Flip, Alison Wonderland and Tia Gostelow, plus official remixes for Hayden James, and DMA’s. With his various roles in a number of touring projects he has supported 5SOS, Sticky Fingers, Wavves and more.

“SUCCESSOR” is a tribute to love, to that one person who inherits your heart. So says the act, Agency, as they describe what serves to be their most captivating body of work. Here is the second half of this amazing body of work…

Features a beautifully captivating cover of the Stevie Wonder classic KNOCKS ME OFF MY FEET. Song styles include a bit of funk, retro-soul, and even contemporary pop. The act also incorporates a bit of retro-quoting in two songs, interpolating Now That We Found Love as well as Get Down On It as well as a little nod to Prince (in I Like Where This Is Going as well as Dance It Out). And don’t overlook the Janet-inspired lead track YUP YUP! Remixes are coming!

This morning Glass Animals have released the latest edition of their ‘Dreamland’ remix series, teaming up with rising star Oliver Malcolm for a fresh take on their 2019 single ‘Tokyo Drifting’. This follows previous remixes of ‘Tangerine’ with Arlo Park, ‘Heat Waves’ with iann dior and ‘Space Ghost Coast To Coast’ with Bree Runway. Alongside today’s remix release, Dave from Glass Animals has also teamed up with Oliver Malcolm for Episode #4 of his ‘Cereal Bars’ YouTube series. Watch the episode here .

‘Tokyo Drifting’ is taken from ‘Dreamland’, the band’s hugely popular third full-length album which entered Australia album charts #6 and saw the band take out top spot in the 2020 Triple J Hottest 100 with their hit ‘Heat Waves’. This was one of three tracks to chart in the 2020 countdown alongside ‘Tangerine’ at #18 and ‘Your Love (Déjà vu)’ at #51. Glass Animals also came in at #34 in the 2019 Hottest 100 countdown with the original version of ‘Tokyo Drifting’ with Denzel Curry.

Oliver Malcolm is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who recently release his debut EP ‘Are You Living In The Real World’. He got his start early, teaching himself how to spin records at 12 years old. Shortly after, he downloaded Logic and taught himself how to produce – working with IDK, Aluna George, Joey Bada$$, Jay Rock, Masego, Tinashe and more. Now twenty, Oliver has developed his own voice. Touching everything from the production, vocals, songwriting, engineering, mixing and mastering, Oliver’s sound is unique and does not fit the mold of one genre. Quick to be praised by the likes of New York Times, TIME Magazine, Pigeons & Planes, Interview Magazine, CLASH, NME and more, Oliver Malcolm is priming his trajectory to be a long and critical one. A multidisciplinary at heart, this is just the beginning of what music lovers can look forward to from the new artist.

Four time Golden Guitar finalist, Allison Forbes, presents her brand new single ‘Save You Now’. The bones of the song is losing that version of the life you created and not knowing what to do next. It witnesses sheer desperation, whether observing it in somebody else or experiencing it within yourself, shaking your head and wondering how things went so wrong. Forbes’ voice sails across these emotions and delivers them easily. This folky yet hard-hitting alt-country ballad produced by ARIA Award winning Matt Fell, will leave you asking yourself that exact question if you lost everything. Featuring backing vocals by the incomparable Shane Nicholson, this song is sure to summon some truth for even the hardest of hearts.

Allison Forbes is a new-age outlaw of country music. Tamworth’s rebel child is a breath of fresh air and an outburst of originality in songwriting. Nominated for four CMAA Golden Guitars in 2021, Allison’s debut album ‘Bonedigger’, produced by ARIA Award winner Shane Nicholson, debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Music Album Chart in February 2020 and was the second highest-selling independent artist across all genres that week. She stuck around on charts and radio for the remainder of the year and was voted Most Popular Female Artist in the Independent Country Music Awards. The controversial single ‘Broken Radios’ reached #1 on Australian country radio and she has no intention of slowing down any time soon. Already, Forbes has recorded a brand-new album ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ with ARIA Award-winner Matt Fell set for release later in 2021.

Allison Forbes has secured her spot tightly in Australia’s alt-country scene. Brave and authentic insightful lyrics and addictive melodies, her stories will charm the pants off you. An honest and inspiring performer, her voice soars easily through any style with strength, warmth, and consideration. A dark gothic thread weaved through the straw of a country music basket of goodies.

Another Little Roadside Kiss” is the kind of song we all want to hear right about now. With its guitar driven groove, it is a jump in your car, roll down the windows and crank the music kind of tune.

The 4th song to be released from Chase’s upcoming CD titled Trespassing Castles. Following on the heels of “Even Now”, “Right On Time” and “Breathe In The Summertime.”

Once Covid is in the rear-view mirror, Chase will be back co-hosting the Above the 44th Songwriter Series featuring top writers from across Southern Ontario

SUPPORT FOR DL

“DL has been riding high on a wave of praise and accolades and deservedly so.”
Tone Deaf (AUS)

“Delivering chilled Hip-Hop injected with a strong blend of soulful R&B and Pop, Melbourne-based DL’s distinctive melodic rasp and playful wordplay has cemented his place as one of Australia’s most exciting and emerging artists.”
I Am Hip Hop (UK)

Melbourne-based rap artist DL returns with his latest heartening single ‘LOVE’ featuring ARIA nominated singer Nathaniel. The Nu-soul / Pop crossover was produced by SB90, and mixed by Charles Daly (Amy Shark, Allday, Mallrat).

This uplifting banger is jam packed with good vibes & infectious hooks. The elusive electric piano, punchy synth chords & imperious beat pave the way for DL’s crafty flow & the suave vocals of Nathaniel; providing an elevated melody over an effervescent chorus that bursts with bright production and electronics. The glowing candidness of the song is a nod to its romantic message.
DL talks about the meaning behind ‘LOVE’ ft. Nathaniel:

“‘LOVE’ is a song I wrote about a woman and the feels I got even before meeting her. There was just that something about her; and yeah, we ended up walking down the aisle together, and we’ve created two beautiful daughters since. They’ve straight up given ‘LOVE’ more than one definition. This song is celebrating all of it. I’m legitimately thrilled and so proud to share it.”

Previous releases have seen praise from online blogs Tone Deaf and I Am Hip Hop (UK). DL has been heavily supported by New Zealand’s largest urban radio station Mai FM, along with the likes of Radio Adelaide, PBS FM and KISS FM, where his single ‘No Time For Love’ ft. Sammie charted in their December Top 10.

Throughout his career, DL has collaborated with established artists Guy Sebastian and Sammie. In the live arena, he has shared the stage with the likes of Keri Hilson, Bobby Valentino, Next and Chris Sebastian.

In the coming weeks, DL will reveal an accompanying live acoustic video for ‘LOVE’ ft. Nathaniel.

‘LOVE’ ft. Nathaniel will be available worldwide on Friday May 28