Castlecomers latest single, ‘Rosie’ (directed and edited by Sean Dooley) expresses a fun and energetic foot tapping experience. Involving YouTube‘s famous comedian Superwog and a variety of different cultured people. This video will no doubt put a smile on anyone’s face and could potentially make you dance.
Starting the video with a question “how do you dance?” following through with some fun dance moves and psychedelic patterns to brighten up your day. To quote one viewer “it’s the kind of song I blast in my room while getting ready for uni, and dance stupidly on my bed!”.
This video clip definitely holds a sort of innocent and happy energy within it. This will definitely go viral quickly amongst the fans and fans-to-be of Castlecomers in the very near future. I can definitely see this clip spreading into the top 40 scene.
Rating: 8.5 / 10
Video Review: Jess Harlen – Weaving (2012 Single)
Jess Harlen has released her second single ‘Weaving’ from her latest album Park Yard Slang (produced by Plutonic Lab). She has now dropped the video clip featuring her bass guitar player Camilla Charlesworth and krump dancer HallowDreamz. The video was shot at Chinatown in New York which was a pretty apt location I’d say.
Harlen has recently relocated from Melbourne, Australia to Boston in the States (wise choice) and has since made some great impressions with the Americans. She has come a long way since her work as backing singer for Australian renowned roots-reggae band Blue King Brown. Having followed her work these last few years, I’ve always wondered why she isn’t already famous.
However, it seems like with Jess’ persistence and diligence she has gained some significant moments such as recently performing at the Waiata Maori Music Awards and now her songs are featured on TV shows such as Australia’s Bondi Rescue and the new American TV show Made In Jersey. Her work is finally starting to pay off! My prediction is that 2013 is going to be a massive year for the lady, so keep your eyes peeled!
Check out the video clip for ‘Weaving’ below!
Rating: 4/5
Abbe May – Karmageddon (2012 Video Clip)
Abbe May’s newest single ‘Karmageddon’ is all attitude and production. The attitude is in her delivery, the production is expensive and crisp; a sharp tailor made suit that she’s free to strut around in until she gets bored, which I’d imagine won’t take long. She could get away with something more abrasive if she so wished, but her decision to keep things clean and minimal seems to be quite deliberate, as if there’s more shock value in mysterious synthscapes than dirty guitars. And maybe there is.
The song does its best to be a catchy radio friendly affair with its ABAB pop structure, but ends up flowing out in one long exhalation, and this quality may prove to either crown or crucify the song once it hits the airwaves.
When I’d decided to review the new Abbe May video, I sort of expected a girl strumming electric guitar in the desert/upskirt in the back seat affair, so I was surprised to discover nothing but a portrait of Abbe addressing the camera with her hair going spastic for a solid three minutes. Abbe works the camera, bringing the lyrical content and overall mood of the track into the context of the video with a flick of her hair and her long penetrating gaze. It’s more emotive and interesting than watching Thom Yorke’s bubble fill up with water or Gotye having his face painted in stop motion, and overall it’s much more successful than any of her previous videos.
Abbe May really is the star of the show here; both the song and video would be absolute rubbish without her.
Watch the video below:
Rating: 3/5
Izzy n The Profit – New Day (feat. B-Don) (2012 Video Clip)
This track is a cool, calm and collected contribution to the booming identity of Aussie hip-hop as we know it. Western Sydney based rappers Izzy n The Profit with support from B-Don have upheld the conventions of the genre, by spinning lyrical webs of hardship, mateship, and the infectious positive outlook on life held by many Aussie hip-hop artists. This track could be compared to early work by Illy, Pez, and groups like also Sydney based Daily Meds.
While the song bares little innovative or entrepreneurial ideas for Aussie hip-hop, it is a strong continuity of the Sydney music scene, and will play close to the experiences of listeners that live in Western Sydney.
The film clip is apparently low-budget, however, the artists and videographers have worked exceptionally well with what they have, by including a number of familiar locations and sights from the city of Penrith. These include scenes outside Penrith Police Station, on and around Penrith Railway Station, and a strong presence of shopping trolleys and brown-bagged bottles. While the clip doesn’t give the most positive representation of Western Sydney, 6 years of school in Penrith allows me to empathise with how satirically accurate the clip is.
Overall the song is well constructed, and exceptionally executed. I look forward to hearing more from Izzy n The Profit.
Rating: 3/5
Check out the clip below
The Tiger and Me – Pantomime (2012 Single)
The Tiger and Me are a thoroughly underrated band of the 2012 music scene. Their most recent release ‘Pantomime’ is a somewhat drift away from their earlier work, which has a relatively dirty rock, almost rock-lesque (rock and burlesque) feel to it.
‘Pantomime’ is an upbeat and definite dance tune. I have a real soft spot for this band and I think their new single is headed in the right direction musically. With three lead singers the band often swap between a lead male or female vocalist. In ‘Pantomime’ we just hear the lead female vocalist, which works well with the pop rock style of the music.
The new video accompanying the song adheres to a certain formula of music videos. By this I mean, it has the lead singers facing the camera whilst something interesting occurs in the background. Although, this is predictable, it is a formula for a reason – it works. I can’t wait to hear more from these guys!
To find out more info about the band and their upcoming gigs check out this site: http://www.thetigerandme.com.au/
Rating: 5/5
Carmen Smith – They Don’t Know Me (2012 Single)
While singer Carmen Smith may have gained widespread recognition through her recent appearance as a contestant on The Voice, she is certainly not a newcomer to the Australian music scene. The past few years have seen her working with some of Australia’s best performers including Guy Sebastian, Thirsty Merc, Diesel and Gary Pinto. The 27th of August sees the release of her own single, ‘They Don’t Know Me’ and four track EP of the same name on iTunes.
I must admit I was surprised when I first listened to this track. I expected an acoustic soul number more akin to Smith’s previous track, ‘Polaroid’ (which can be downloaded from www.carmensmithmusic.com until the 26th August). Instead, I was blown away by a big, funk track filled with strong bass and edgy vocals. This is certainly not a background music track. It commands attention the instant it begins.
‘They Don’t Know Me’ sounds like a live jam session, and is stylistically similar to pieces like ‘Cold War’ by Janelle Monae, who Smith herself draws comparisons to. While vocally I was reminded of fellow Australian performer Jessica Mauboy’s sound, there is a distinct strength and determined confidence in Smith’s voice and in the energy she projects.
‘They Don’t Know Me’ is a powerful, pumping funk track that is as individual as Carmen Smith is herself. A definite must have for soul and funk fans playlists.
Rating: 4/5
For more info on Carmen Smith visit:
www.carmensmithmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/CarmenSmithMusic
Listen to a pre-release sample of ‘They Don’t Know Me’ for yourself on the behind the scenes video below.
Video Review: Chasm Feat. Fashawn, Solo and David Dallas – ‘Highs and Lows’ (2012 Single)
If I could only use a single word to describe the video for Sydney producer, Chasm‘s, current release ‘Highs and Lows’, it would have to be smooth. In the latest installment from his third album, This Is How We Never Die, Chasm has created a cross continental collaboration featuring US rapper, Fashawn; Sydney based Solo and NZ’s David Dallas, each of whom feature in the video for the track.
‘Highs and Lows’ is an introspective track with depth, and the simplicity of the video allows you to become fully immersed in it without distraction. There are no crazy special effects in this video, nor is there an attempt to make it into a mini movie all of it’s own, which is so refreshing. Instead, the video is a clean and crisp glimpse into the world of the artists involved and into the emotions behind the lyrics.
The production on this video is exceptionally high quality. It is beautifully shot and feels personal and intimate, with a sense of hope. As a Sydney-sider, the inclusion of relatively distinct local footage adds a sense of familiarity and only serves to increase a personal connection with the track.
Check out the video for ‘Highs and Lows’ below.
Rating: 4.5/5
Jess Harlen Interview: Park Yard Slang Album Launch – Notes Live (17.03.12)
We caught up with Melbourne-based artist Jess Harlen at her ‘Park Yard Slang’ Album Launch at Notes Live in Newtown just before she headed over to Boston. She talks about her latest album ‘Park Yard Slang’, Plutonic Lab, RuCL, her musical influences, scoring an awesome review by Rollingstone Australia and her plans for the near future.
Filmed by Liza Moscatelli & Jackie Te Aroha
Interview by Jackie Te Aroha
Edited by: Marie Flanagan
Track: Let You Down’ by Jess Harlen (2012 Single from album “Park Yard Slang”)
Footage also taken from original video clip to ‘Let You Down’ with the permission of the artist.
(c) Marie Flanagan for Mosca Media Australia 2012
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Jackie Te Aroha
www.twotwentytwo.com.au
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Photographs of the night can be found by clicking here.
Interview: Obie Trice chats with Mosca Media at Lopez Records
Obie Trice - Bottoms Up (2012 LP)
Obie Trice chats with Nastasha Tupas from Mosca Media at Lopez Records + Studio B + Kimball’s Barbershops: 116 Queen Street, St Marys, Sydney, NSW Australia 2760 (January 23, 2012)
Video & editing by Nastasha Tupas (Mosca Media)
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Song credit: Obie Trice – “Bottoms Up (Intro)”