Yes, I’ve been away. And no, I’m not fully ready to come back yet (still sorting out this so-called “life of mine”). But I thought I’d just drop a quick post about some things that have happened since I published nos. 21-30. And there have been quite a few developments in the meantime. So let’s briefly recount.
PART 21: #AUSMUSICTSHIRTDAY WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. YET AGAIN
The event, held on 15 November 2019, not only brought the industry together. It also exceeded everyone’s expectations in terms of funds raised for the partner organisation, Support Act. The final numbers are here:
And I’m very grateful to all my friends who took part in my little project and shared their music-related stories. You can read them all here.
PART 22: MELBOURNE MUSIC WEEK (MMW) CELEBRATED ITS 1OTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY. IN STYLE
There’s no point in me writing about it theoretically. Instead, watch the recap below:
And if you’ve missed curious facts from the previous editions, have a read through my original post here.
PART 23: SOME SURPRISES AT THE ARIA AWARDS IN NOVEMBER. NICE AND NOT-SO-NICE ONES
For the first time in history the ARIAs were live streamed on YouTube. Which is how I watched. And that’s mainly the reason why you can see my face reflected off my laptop’s screen in most of the photos I posted on Twitter. Soz, will do better next time.
But here’s a pretty decent pic of Matt Okine and Alex Dyson (ex-Triple J Breakfast presenters) pretending to be DA ARTIST who cleaned up on the night (and you’ll defo know who it is).
Own image
There were some unpleasant surprises in the broadcast, though (like NOT showing the award for Best Hip Hop Release which Sampa The Great won). But there were also some awesome things that happened. You can see the full list of the winners on the ARIAs website. My super subjective fave ones are: The Teskey Brothers were named Best Group, RÜFÜS DU SOL scored for Best Dance Release and Guy Sebastian’s Choir got the gong for Song of the Year.
PART 24: MUSIC-THEMED CHRISSY GIFTS. AND WHAT I GOT, TOO
When I was researching for that topic, I spent HOURS flipping through websites and LOL-ing. People’s imagination is never-ending. From stubby holders and socks, to card games and a loo mat.
The prezzies I suggested for Aussie music lovers are good for any occasion, really. So if you’re currently looking and don’t feel inspired, knock yourself out – here’s the link to my selection. You’re welcome.
Oh, and one thing. Looks like my family – I mean, Santa – finally got my music obsession. I found a pair of these awesome party earrings under the tree.
PART 25: GEORGIA MAQ’S GONE ELECTRO-POP ON HER NEW ALBUM. AND IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE
When I heard Georgia Maq’s solo album, that she dropped quite unexpectedly in December last year, I was so moved (literally) that I decided to review it – a thing that I don’t really do often these days. And I gave it totally deserved 5 stars.
I’m happy to see that the record has been getting some traction and it’s actually one of the most visited posts on my blog. So I reckon you guys found it special, too 🙂
PARTS 26 & 27: THE TURN OF THE YEAR. AND THE DECADE, APPARENTLY, AS WELL
I dedicated three posts to that hectic time of the year, aka New Year’s Eve, bidding farewell to the past 12 months and welcoming THE UNKNOWN.
Firstly, I sent you to less crowded parties in different states with the message of “stay away from Sydney” on NYE in this post. Did you? I did but I still spent it at a gig.
Secondly, I recapped 2019 here. And from March 2020 perspective, I can actually say with 100% certainty that it was a good year in the Australian music. So I’m glad I caught so many bands live, managed to interview some wicked artists and learned heaps of new things about Straya in general.
And third of all, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and recorded the first ever vid with my take on things to come in 2020 in Oz. Actually, I enjoyed it so much, I needed to divide it into two parts not to bore you to death. You can find both vids on my FB page. Some of my predictions/expectations have already come true, i.e. Tones And I dropped new music just a week ago.
PART 28: TRIPLE J’S HOTTEST 100 COUNTDOWN. IN OTHER WORDS, BILLIE EILISH ON TOP
I’m pretty sure ya’ll already know what it is. But in case you still ain’t got a clue – here’s a nice Q&A I prepared for you that answers all the what’s, why’s, where’s, when’s, who’s & how’s.
It is followed by another vid in which I take you through some poignant things that came out of the voting. Like, an almost complete absence of Indigenous artists in the countdown. Makes us question how much Aboriginal music is played on Triple J and other Australian radio stations at all.
Oh, and Billie Eilish’s bad guy was the no. 1 song of 2019. But I guess that didn’t really surprise anyone.
Since then, Triple J has also held The Hottest 100 of the Decade. Again, some funny things happened. Some songs that were pretty high in other countdowns lost their position in the ranking (FISHER’s Losing It (no pun intended) – no.2 in 2018 – made it only to no. 95 in the decade).
Most importantly, however, Tame Impala’s “The Less I Know The Better” was voted the best song of the decade. It’s cool because it’s an Aussie song that beat the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Kanye West or Lorde. Kevin Parker was pretty susrprised himself:
PART 29: LANEWAY STILL IS ONE OF MY FAV AUSSIE MUSIC FESTIVALS. PERIOD
Laneway is one of a very few festivals that hasn’t been cancelled in 2020. Straya doesn’t have it easy this year: if not bushfires, then floods or coronavirus hit the country and its music industry.
Laneway also faced a scare this year when 1975’s Matty Healy fell ill, and the band had to miss out on the Brissie leg. Luckily, the singer recovered quickly after being hospitalised in QLD’s capital and rejoined the rest of the festival legs.
Overall, the vibe was pretty good, I reckon.
PART 30: 14 ATYPICAL AUSSIE LOVE SONGS. OR NOT
Valentine’s Day was the last occasion I posted about here. My selection of the love songs was slightly less obvious. But that was the point exactly.
Since then there have been some new releases in Oz and I would add one more song to the list. This one. (Kevin Parker again, I know! But it’s just a good tune).
Obvs, the lyrics are open to interpretation but I choose to classify the song under the romantic category.
Now, in other news since my last post on here.
- The Gooch Palms called it a day on their socials. Or a decade, to be precise. They released quite an emotional message to their fans, too.
And it’s pretty staggering because the band released a very good single on 4 Feb and it happens to be one of my fave tracks of theirs in general. At least they truly know when “it’s time for them to fold’em”.
2. A few other bands have shared new music as well. Amongst them Kwame, Jack River or Northeast Party House.
- Slowly Slowly‘s “Race Car Blues (RCB)” debuted at #7 on the ARIA chart & #1 on the Australian Vinyl chart. Pretty effing amazing. Go listen to the album because it’s gooooooood.
- Cry Club‘s most recent release Oblivious is very pink and very dancy.
- I’ve already mentioned Kevin Parker twice in this post but I need to remind you again that Tame Impala dropped their first album in 4 years on Valentine’s Day.
- My boiz Dunnies (Dune Rats) “hurried up and waited” with the new album which did appear on the last day of January. For me, the track that opens up the album defines their entire crazy career.
3. Cub Sport‘s new song Confessions coincided with Tim’s coming out as “gender-free”.
Tim posted on the band’s socials that “You can use pronouns he/him or they/them but this is more about identifying as free within myself. Free to follow my heart, free to flow with the energies inside and around me, free to form my own self not built by others.”
4. I’ve been declined the request to interview THREE awesome Aussie acts on their European tours IN A ROW in the span of one month. Not gonna mention their names because it’s not their fault and I’m not a child. But it did hurt a little 😦 Anywayz, mark my words, I will get those interviews in the future. It takes much more than that to discourage me.
5. The majority of gigs in Oz since January have been bushfire benefits, small intimate ones and big-ass arena shows alike. The amount of time, effort and love the Aussie music industry has shown those most affected is beyond anything you could imagine.
Also international celebrities have been very supportive of the cause and many overseas acts (like Queen) made it Down Under to headline shows.
The most famous one is probs Fire Fight Australia, a massive gig with epic headliners. It was hosted by comedian Celeste Barber who, apart from being the funniest in the world, also helped raise USD 50 million dollars on FB towards the cause.
6. One word: coronavirus.
A virus that is currently paralysing everything in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD and because of which the music industry (globally, not only in Oz) is sinking deeper every day. But that’s a topic for a completely separate post…
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Silly McWiggles. A blog about Aussie music. 