Alternative/indie | Musicosity

Alternative/indie

Lonnie Holley

Lonnie Holley (born 1950; Birmingham, Alabama)

Since 1979, Holley has devoted his life to the practice of improvisational creativity. His art and music, born out of struggle, hardship, but perhaps more importantly, out of furious curiosity and biological necessity, has manifested itself in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, performance, music, and filmmaking. Holley’s sculptures are constructed from found materials in the oldest tradition of African American sculpture. Objects, already imbued with cultural and artistic metaphor, are combined into narrative sculptures that commemorate places, people, and events. His work is now in collections of major museums throughout the world (The Museums of Fine Arts, San Francisco; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Philadelphia Museum of Art; The Smithsonian American Art Museum; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, and many others), on permanent display in the United Nations, and been displayed in the White House Rose Garden.

Holley did not start making and performing music in a studio nor does his creative process mirror that of the typical musician. His music and lyrics are improvised on the spot and morph and evolve with every event, concert, and recording. In Holley’s original art environment, he would construct and deconstruct his visual works, repurposing their elements for new pieces. This often led to the transfer of individual narratives into the new work creating a cumulative composite image that has depth and purpose beyond its original singular meaning. The layers of sound in Holley’s music, likewise, are the result of decades of evolving experimentation.

Holley has released five critically acclaimed albums––Just Before Music, 2012; Keeping a Record of It, 2013; MITH, 2018; National Freedom, 2020; Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection (with Matthew E. White), 2021. His sixth album, Oh Me Oh My, produced by Jacknife Lee, which includes collaborations with Bon Iver, Michael Stipe (REM), Moor Mother, Sharon Van Etten, and Rokia Koné, comes out March 10, 2023, on Jagjaguwar.

He has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, and shared stages with Bon Iver, Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Bill Callahan, Saul Williams, Tinariwen, Daniel Lanois, and many others.

He has also experimented with film, photography, and video throughout his career. His directorial debut, the short narrative film I Snuck Off the Slave Ship, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

The 2023 podcast, Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children, follows the history of the infamous reform school in Alabama (which many refer to as a “slave camp for kids”) and profiles Holley’s early life and the struggles he and so many others suffered at the hands of the state of Alabama.

In 2022 Holley was named a USA Artist Fellow. His visual art is represented by Blum & Poe Gallery (Los Angeles) and Edel Assanti Gallery (London). He continues to make art and music from his home and studio in Atlanta, Georgia.

Floodlights

Five lives that collided to make a stamp of their own.

Floodlights’ dynamic live performance is raw and intimate, intertwined with powerful outbursts and marching rhythms. Evocative lyricism lies at the heart of their songwriting and is enhanced by their unique sound. They explore themes of personal turbulence, national identity and the Australian landscape as a form of escapism. Floodlights write honestly and poetically in the hope that it resonates with others.

Gaining global attention with 2019’s sold-out EP 'Backyard' and 2020’s critically acclaimed debut album 'From a View', Floodlights went on to play sold-out shows and festivals across Australia, performing alongside the likes of Amyl and The Sniffers and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Appearances at all three Falls Festivals over the Australian summer has sling-shotted them into this year, whilst gearing up for tour dates with Pavement (USA) in early March.

With the highly anticipated 2023 release of their second album, Floodlights showcase their distinctive style and compelling evolution as a band.

Club Angel

22-year-old Eora/Sydney-based producer and DJ Club Angel today announces his signing to Astral People Recordings (Milan Ring, Wave Racer, Skeleten) and shares his debut single, ‘Control Dem’.

Today’s signing announcement harks back to the roots of the Eora/Sydney-based label, management and touring company. “The sounds of UKG and Bassline play a very important part in the history of Astral People, some of our early shows we promoted were debut tours for legends like DJ EZ and DJ Q, so we're very excited to be finally bringing this world to our label with Club Angel,” explains Astral People co-founder Tom Huggett. “There's definitely a real club resurgence taking place globally right now and we feel like Club Angel is an artist and DJ who can hold his own on any dancefloor.”

“Since day dot we’ve been blown away by the music,” shares Zachary Hamilton-Reeves, who, alongside John Halstead, forms one half of Club Angel’s management team Seven Seven Music. “For us it’s been about finding the right partners who are as big a fans as we are. We are very excited about Club Angel’s signing to our friends Astral People. It’s a classic pairing, with Astral's strong history in dance music and Club Angel’s beyond-his-years approach to it.”

Heavily inspired by late 90s UK dance music, Club Angel explores the moodier side of 2-Step, Jungle and Garage with tight drums, sampled orchestral stabs and melancholic vocals. ‘Control Dem’ bursts forth with lively, syncopated percussion, warbling sub-bass and infectious vocal hooks, a remarkably self-assured, impossible-to-hold-down introduction to the Club Angel project, a gun-fingers-in-the-air workout of rhythmic dexterity and melodic stickiness.

On the new track, Club Angel shares, “I initially wrote ‘Control Dem’ back in 2020 when I was still trying to find my sound, and it felt like a real eureka moment for me. I can vividly remember how excited I was after throwing that vocal on the initial idea, must’ve listened to the same 16 bar loop 100 times!”

Previously performing and releasing music under his own name, Gabriel Espinosa has long established himself as a prodigious fixture in Sydney’s underground electronic scene, having produced for the likes of ASTA, Colin Haye, Hey! Astro and more, receiving airplay on FBi Radio (who highlighted the then-18 year-old as their Independent Artist of the Week) and 2SER, and recently remixing Fred Again..’s ‘Hannah (The Sun)’. ‘BIG’, his track with Boy Soda, was also added to rotation at FBi Radio and garnered airplay across triple j, CADA, 4ZZZ, 3RRR, Double J and more.

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Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys

Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys have been kicking the dust off their heels since 2015. This has led them beyond the borders of their home county (Inner-West Sydney), around Australia and on two tours to the US. On top of their own sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne over the last couple of years they have also appeared at numerous Festivals including Boogie Festival, Meadow Fest, Festival of the Sun, Out On The Weekend, Ninchfest, Riverboats and Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The band released their debut album “Late Night Essentials” at the end of 2020. The record was named Album of the Week on FBi Radio and 2SER and, following a launch tour in 2021, they were named Best Live Act in NSW at the National Live Music Awards. In Australia they have also supported the likes of Orville Peck, The Nude Party, Tony Joe White, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Felice Brothers.

2023 has shaped up to be a big year with the band hitting the road with Texan blues and Americana artist Charley Crockett on his first Australian tour at shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Following that will be the release of the second Caitlin Harnett & the Pony Boys album with an extensive tour behind it. Get ready once again to dance, laugh, cry, hear the unfiltered Caitlin stories first-hand and experience the joy in the room at one of their gigs. Giddy Up!a

“Her voice is like Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval was jerked out of a long sleep.” The Guardian

“Lush, Americana-style folk tunes, jangling guitar and a whole lot of honesty.”Sydney Morning Herald

“It’s quintessential Caitlin Harnett, vocals that soar with heart and hold the same sense of intimacy as the greats, all set against a backdrop of modern Americana.” NME

“Harnett wants to make you smile; she doesn’t want you to cry in your beer, but rather slam it down and and boogie.”Newcastle Herald

“In particular circles around Sydney the name Caitlin Harnett is spoken in revered tongues, like the whispered password to a music scene Illuminati. Learn the handshake, feel the twang and order a round.” Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J

“Their newest release will warm your heart while gently slicing it in two – our favourite type of ditty.” RUSSH Magazine

“Lead singer Caitlin Harnett fills the void that is a distinct lack of alt-country in Sydney’s music scene. Whether you’re in the big smoke or by the water, this track is bound to become an instant addition to your summer playlist.”FBi Radio

“The Sydney-sider’s single “Make You Feel Blue’ is knock-your-socks-off material. Has there been a sad song thats made us happier in recent times? Probably not.” Meadow Fest.

“One of the finest slices of country soul you’ll hear this year. A gorgeous mood with that voice that hangs heavy in the air and dips into all the right forlorn corners.” Post To Wire

Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys

Row Jerry Crow

In a world of borders, walls and big brother, we look for a higher power. With disillusion of our leaders, hatred of the top 1%, and fake news drowning our feed, who speaks for us?
Silly cat videos, DIY life hacks, and stupid memes have taken the place of harmony, flatpicking, and nose bleeding banjo tunes.

Row Jerry Crow are here to bring meaning back to your ears.

Precise, ridiculous, mind bending, bowel destroying Bluegrass for the next century.

So clean the seamen of the poop deck, cast the rear admiral to the bowels of the ship, pick up an oar and let us find land together!

Tiny Habits

Tiny Habits is an American folk-pop group formed in Boston in 2022. The trio consists of Berklee College of Music students Cinya Khan and Maya Rae and alumnus Judah Mayowa.[1] Their first EP, Tiny Things, was released in April 2023. Their debut album All For Something was released May 24th, 2024.[2]

Pretty Uglys

Pretty Uglys are 3 piece surf/punk band based in Perth WA. The first half of 2022 has seen them join forces with SKEGSS as main support for their WA tour as well as multiple festival slots and headline shows.

Their latest single 'ROLL ON' is out Oct 6th, followed by their EAST - COAST debut happening at The Chippo, Sydney Oct 7th and WA headline release show later in the month. Having shared the stage with some of Australia’s favourite artists such as RUBY FIELDS, SPACEY JANE, PIST IDIOTS and SLY WITHERS as well as their debut film clip for SOAK IT UP getting added to ABC's RAGE, the wave is not slowing down anytime soon.

Maple Glider

Maple Glider is the project of singer/songwriter Tori Zietsch (sounds like peach). Hailing from Lismore and schooled in Brisbane, she now lives in Naarm/Melbourne and released her debut album 'To Enjoy is the Only Thing' in June 2021.

Her second album 'I Get Into Trouble' is out October 13th 2023, including singles "Don't Kiss Me" and "Dinah", and the new released Double A-Side "You At The Top Of The Driveway" / "You're Gonna Be A Daddy" (focus track).
She'll be touring Australia's East Coast this November.
Maple Glider has sold out two debut London headline shows this September. Her first LP earned over 22M streams, and had her performing on NPR's Tiny Desk At Home, and Colbert's #PlayAtHome series.

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Isabel Rumble

Isabel Rumble weaves stories together with nuanced vocals to create a space of open hearted intimacy and connection. Drawing upon a strong folk roots influence, Rumble offers a contemporary sound likened to Laura Marling and Mazzy Star, inviting listeners into a cocoon of reflection on the subtleties of love, nature and human relationships. Isabel’s intuitively crafted songs define an observant and soul-stirring emerging young artist.

Growing up on Yuin country on the far south coast of NSW gifted Isabel with a strong connection to the land, a theme returned to often in her songwriting. After a period of study in Naarm/Melbourne, Isabel has since lived beside Austrian alps, amongst Finnish forests and in the German countryside. She currently resides at the foot of the ancient mountain Kunanyi in Nipaluna/Hobart.

After time overseas in 2019/20 Isabel returned to Australia to record and release her debut EP Warm Wind. The title track of the home recorded, self produced and self funded project received the Folk Federation of Tasmania’s annual Songwriting award and was shortlisted for the Australian Songwriters Association awards.

Isabel has since toured alongside guitar virtuoso Daniel Champagne and New Zealand’s Holly Arrowsmith and performed on stages with Australian folk icons Ruth Hazleton and Lucy Wise. She has played at Cygnet Folk Festival, Party in the Paddock, MONA, Tasmania’s renowned Dark Mofo, Junction Arts Festival, and sold out her 2022 Precious Burden single launch in Naarm/Melbourne. Her music has been played on various radio stations including Double J. Isabel was selected from amongst 444 applicants to partake in the 2023 Women in Music Mentor program through AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association).

2022 saw Isabel release two singles from her debut album, which has been recorded with Tasmanian producer Luke Plumb (The Mae Trio, Ruth Hazleton), and will come out on March 31st 2023. The third single and title track Bird Be Brave was released in February. The full length record is set to be a powerful debut from one of Australia’s newest contemporary-folk voices.