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Having been part of the momentous test event on Merseyside two months ago, the popular band from Wigan on the outskirts of Greater Manchester power on to play a string of high-profile festival dates, including debut appearances at TRNSMT, Glasgow and Tramlines, Sheffield, during the summer months. Completed by multi-instrumentalist Scott Concepcion, swinging his Rickenbacker in the mould of Johnny Marr and the ever-reliable rhythm section of Jonny Cunliffe on bass and Ryan Durrans on drums, The Lathums also look ahead to a rescheduled, expanded and upgraded UK Tour for autumn and winter 2021.
A huge SOLD-OUT return to the North West awaits them at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse, with limited tickets remaining for landmark shows at Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom and London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town. The full list of The Lathums 2021 UK Headline Tour dates and confirmed festival appearances are as follows:
- Sat 24 Jul Sheffield, Tramlines
- Fri 30 Jul Pikehall, Y Not Festival
- Sat 28 Aug Portsmouth, Victorious Festival
- Sun 5 Sep Warrington, Neighbourhood Weekender
- Fri 10 Sep Glasgow, TRNSMT 2021
- Sun 26 Sep Manchester, Castlefield Bowl – w/Snow Patrol
- Wed 29 Sep Newcastle, O2 Academy*
- Thu 30 Sep Birmingham, O2 Institute*
- Sat 2 Oct Nottingham, Rock City*
- Sat 3 Oct Liverpool, Sound City
- Mon 4 Oct Cambridge, Junction
- Tue 5 Oct Brighton, Concorde
- Thu 7 Oct London, O2 Forum Kentish Town*
- Fri 8 Oct Southampton, The 1865
- Sat 9 Oct Bristol, SWX
- Mon 11 Oct Sheffield, O2 Academy*
- Tue 12 Oct Leeds, O2 Academy*
- Thu 14 Oct Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom*
- Sat 16 Oct Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse* SOLD OUT
- Fri 12 Nov Hull, Social – SOLD OUT^
- Sun 14 Nov Leicester, O2 Academy 2 – SOLD OUT^
- Mon 15 Nov Stoke, Sugarmill – SOLD OUT^
- Tue 16 Nov Cardiff, Globe SOLD OUT^
- Wed 17 Nov Oxford O2 Academy 2 – SOLD OUT^
- Fri 3 Dec Dunfermline, PJ Molloys – SOLD OUT^
- Sat 4 Dec Dundee, Fat Sam’s^
- Mon 6 Dec Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree – SOLD OUT^
- Tue 7 Dec Edinburgh, The Liquid Room – SOLD OUT^
*Upgraded and Rescheduled Dates
^Rescheduled Dates
Tickets for all venues sold via www.gigsandtours.com, www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.thelathums.com. All previously purchased tickets remain valid for rescheduled dates.
The Lathums also pick up rearranged arena tour dates with Blossoms and accept the invitation from Paul Weller to open his UK-wide run of shows later this year.
Having completed their debut album at Parr Street, produced by The Coral’s James Skelly, the band looks forward to revealing more new music before hitting the road.
For future release news and updates about sought-after tickets for The Lathums’ live shows, connect with the band online at:
https://www.thelathums.com
https://twitter.com/TheLathums
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
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Hey Rashid, congrats on your latest release, your TOR label debut! For our readers who might not have heard it yet, can you describe each of the tracks in three words/a sentence?
That’s a good question ! I would say…
“Never Knew” is soulful, nostalgic and raw.
“Chasing Ghosts” is industrial, haunting and warm.
“Still Think of You” is melancholy, lush and dreamy.
You’ve had a really strong 12 months with releases on the likes of Tale & Tone, TOR, XYZ… What do you think was the reason behind this exciting collection of new tracks? Have you been having an extra creative phase?
I think these tracks came from a desire to create during lockdown. I had a few months of creative focus in which the tracks came together. They each have their own story and meaning behind them, but in the end they worked quite nicely as a collection, even though this was not what I initially intended.
Where do you usually get your inspiration from, and has lockdown affected that (either in a good or bad way)?
My inspiration comes from nature, art and mainly from experiences in my life. But when it comes down to it the inspiration comes from within and is at a deeper level. It comes from being in the moment of creation fully.
Where would be your dream gig or show when the world opens back up properly again?
My dream is to tour the world and play in multiple countries, meet new people, and have unique experiences.
What’s next for you? We’ve heard that you’re big into NFTs and artwork, and are working on some cool installations… can you tell us more about that?
I will be launching my first NFT collection soon. It consists of 6 pieces all with unique visuals and music. I’m very excited about it and I really enjoyed the project! I’m looking at many new artistic projects that involve bringing together art, music, film and immersive experiences. Stay tuned for more updates!
Rashid Ajami’s ‘You Don’t Know Me’ EP is out now on Tale & Tone. His ‘Never Knew’ EP is Out Now on TOR, get it here.
https://www.instagram.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
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At 20, Finn Askew is more focused than ever; ambitious, self-reliant, and prepared for the thrilling future he is building for himself. Praised by The Line Of Best Fit for his “candied indie-pop” that would “fit on your 2014 Tumblr dashboard”, “genre defying” by Equate Magazine, “a young prodigy” by Rolling Stone Australia, “an artist to be reckoned with” by Tone Deaf, and amongst others, a “breakout musician to know in 2021” by GQ Australia; Finn’s meteoric rise from zero studio experience some two years ago, to his signing to Polydor Records in 2020 who released his debut Peach EP, is a testament to his constant hustle and enthusiasm for experimentation. Trying on genres as often as he does new sartorial styles, guided by his own intuition, Askew continues to deliver with ‘Paranoia‘ taking his artistry to new heights.
‘Paranoia‘ is out now via Polydor Records, buy/stream it here.
Stay connected with Finn Askew:
Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
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![MARLO DELIVERS RAVE ANTHEM 'NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE' ON CENTRAL STATION RECORDS [OUT NOW ON CENTRAL STATION RECORDS]](https://www.thepartae.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MARLO-DELIVERS-RAVE-ANTHEM-NO-OTHER-ALTERNATIVE.jpg "MARLO DELIVERS RAVE ANTHEM ‘NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE’")
BUY/STREAM: MARLO – NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE
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Stealth Music Group are excited to announce: Promiseland Festival 2021! This will be the first festival to run since 2020. Promiseland Festival is a brand-new multi-genre music festival, to be held on the Gold Coast. Taking over Doug Jennings Park for one day in October, the festival is a welcome addition to the region’s party calendar.
For its inaugural edition, Promiseland will boast a lineup of: Reggae, Hip Hop and Alternative Artists on one major stage. The festival will feature a luxury VIP area, a food truck court and plenty more. It will transform the scenic park setting into an immersive experience.
Featuring the best in Aussie & New Zealand Artists, this will be a ‘do not miss’ event for any Reggae / Alternative / Hip Hop fan. In what will also mark the beginning of the warmer months, get you crew together and enjoy a day out listening to some great music.
The First Round Allstar line-up includes: Katchafire, Sons of Zion, 1814, Nesian Mystik, Drax Project, HP Boyz, Lisi, DJ Noiz, Melodownz + more to be announced!
Promiseland Festival
Saturday 2nd October
Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast
Gates: 12pm
Line-up:
Katchafire
Sons of Zion
Drax Project
1814
Nesian Mystik
HP Boyz
Lisi
DJ Noiz
Melodownz
Donell Lewis
Kennyon Brown
Ardijah
Tomorrow People
Ladi6
Stndrd
+ more to be announced!
Tickets go on-sale: Thursday 1st July – 10am
Buy Tickets: CLICK HERE!
Artist Press Kit Link: CLICK HERE!
For more info, go to:
Brisbane riders of the ether Nice Biscuit return armed with the thrilling new jam Passing Over (out July 7th) and word of a brand new EP.
Nice Biscuit’s idiosyncratic brand of psych rock gets another revision on Passing Over, their collective kaleidoscopic lenses in sharper focus, with more space and time given for the music to stretch out and explore.
Nice Biscuit are now crafting a driving and immersive wide-screen sound, where repetition suggests the sound of worn tyres kissing the road on a long journey onto destinations unknown.
“Passing over was really fun for us to work on. After writing darker and higher energy music in Create Simulate, we really wanted to dial it back a bit and focus on making music that was a bit more groovy and easy to dance to. Coincidently, this was when we were starting to play shows again as restrictions were easing. This song matched our excitement to be playing and sharing music again with everyone. I guess we really just wanted to dance with everyone again.”
In a year that has already seen them gaining national radio nods from their Create Simulate EP with the songs ‘Candle’ and ‘Limbs’, their forthcoming EP, Passing Over, suggests Nice Biscuit have more gems waiting and aren’t wasting time looking back as they push forward on their inspired search for new sounds.
The EP shows a softer side of the Biccies, delving into the worlds of personal growth and emotional intelligence, breaking down the barriers of change, and entering new stages of life. They find solace in playful chords and melodies, warmer tones, laid-back grooves and enchanting vocals, sung by Grace and Billie. Four songs complete the EP, each creating a fresh colour palette and showing the band’s natural ability to create songs together. Recorded by Alistar Richardson and mixed by Sam Joseph, the EP will be released in late August with the first single and title track Passing Over dropping on the 7th July.
The first single Passing Over follows the passage of a sunset, gradually cloaking the landscape in darkness, and with it bringing a sense of relief and separation from the bright light of the daily grind. Slowly as darkness and quiet takes over, we ‘soak into the shining stars’ and give ourselves space to process the days’ intensity to give a sense of renewal and rest. The light filters in and the sun passes over us again, starting the next day anew as the cycle begins again.
The track came about from combining two half-written songs by Nick and Jess – the guitar and bass lines naturally interlocked, hit their stride and travelled down the open road together. The swinging drum beat filled the space between the guitar and bass lines to create a repetitive groove that evolves as the track progresses. Finally, an old 70’s organ in the studio was harnessed to its full capacity in order to add depth.
Follow Nice Biscuit online:
Nice Biscuit are:
Billie Star (vocals, keyboard, percussion)
Grace Cuell (vocals, keyboard, percussion)
Nick Cavendish (bass)
Jess Ferronato (guitar, vocals)
Kurt Melvin (drums)
Title: Losing Sleep
Label: Ultra Records
DVBBS team up with fellow Canadian and alternative sensation Powfu for their new track “Losing Sleep,” which sees the duo experimenting with a masterful blend of alt-punk and electronic music. Opening with mellow instrumental melodies, Powfu‘s heartfelt vocals shine through as “Losing Sleep” laments on a lost lover. DVBBS‘s influence comes in soft basslines during the culmination of the track, which is guaranteed to pull at any listener’s heartstrings. Powfu has been riding the wave of his TikTok popularity from “death bed (coffee for your head)” song, which got him signed to Columbia Records and just surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify alone. “Losing Sleep” is the latest from DVBBS‘s forthcoming album “SLEEP” and follows their recent “Lose My Mind,” for which they sampled Yebba, and “Fool For Ya” – a dancefloor filler, which announced the forthcoming LP. You never know what kind of sound this adventurous duo has up their sleeve next, so stay tuned for more from the new album!
“‘Losing Sleep‘ is the definition of fresh, we’re excited to share this one.” – DVBBS
“‘Losing Sleep‘ is an acoustic idea I wrote a few years ago and posted on my IG. It’s really cool to see DVBBS take it to the next level” – Powfu
Only a few producers have risen to the top in the electronic music scene as quickly as DVBBS, who captured the industry’s attention with hits like “Tsunami” and “Not Going Home” and never let it go. The Canadian brothers Alex and Christopher have been continuously cultivating their sound since their debut in 2012 and have racked up an impressive display of collaborations with renowned names from diverse musical backgrounds, such as blackbear, 24kGoldn, Jasmine Thompson, Belly, NERVO, Juicy J, and more. DVBBS continue to prove there’s nothing they can’t accomplish. Their hits such as “La La Land,” “Gold Skies,” and the breakthrough “Angel” are staples in every dance music fan’s library. Prior to the global pandemic, DVBBS performed a staggering 250 dates per year at some of the world’s hottest music festivals and top-tier clubs, including Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas, Ultra Music Festival, Hakkasan Las Vegas or Ibiza‘s Amnesia, and Ushuaia. Throughout their career, DVBBS has proved they are relentlessly dedicated to expanding their global footprint and bringing cutting-edge new music to their listeners.
Title: No More
Label: Stabby Records
Multitalented Sam Blacky returns with her newest single “No More,” the perfect track to be your anthem to turning a new page and living it up this summer. It bears her signature tech-house style, running on a deep, driving bassline that incorporates plenty of rhythmic shakers and synths, complete with soulful and captivating vocals. Like most of Blacky‘s music, “No More” feels right at home being played at clubs or festivals in some of the world’s most beautiful venues, since she draws most of her inspiration from her worldwide travels. Out on her own imprint Stabby Records, the single follows up Sam‘s latest “Paradise.” With the pandemic rapidly receding in many areas of the world, keep an eye out for where Sam might be making appearances in the coming months.
“‘No More‘ is super special to me not only because of the message in the lyrics, but also because this song can empower those who hear it and sing along in an almost cathartic way, saying goodbye to past negativity. It’s all about moving forward and realizing what you’re worth. I definitely feel “No More” being played out in clubs and festivals this summer as a sort of ‘f*ck you’ anthem to anyone or anything that has hurt you.” – Sam Blacky
Samantha Black is a multitalented DJ/producer, model, and influencer professionally known as Sam Blacky. Originally from San Diego, Sam spent several years in Australia, where she first fell in love with producing music and performing live. Since moving back to Los Angeles, music and performing have taken a front seat in her life. In addition to her hectic modeling schedule, Sam has performed live across the world from 2017 to 2021, from Mexico to Ibiza to Bali, racking up over 120 gigs a year at some of the premier electronic festivals and clubs on the planet. With the global pandemic in 2020, Sam released a series of videos on Youtube called “A New World,” where she streamed live sets from some of her favorite places in Mexico, giving viewers a taste of vacation vibes even while staying safe at home. Before all the music, her modeling portfolio included brands such as Nike, L’Oréal, Galore, Marie Claire, Superdry, Guess, Sports Illustrated, Malibu, and Playboy, giving her a unique creative perspective to all types of cultures and styles to bring to her music. With the launch of Sam Blacky‘s label, Stabby Records, and her first releases, 2021 is set to be a breakout year for Sam as she expands her artistic brand.
Where are you currently based?
The city of cyberpunk vibes and neon signs; my home away from home… Tokyo, Japan. What’s good?
How did you first start playing music?
Technically I used to play the flute quite diligently in my elementary school band but my real interest in music developed when I was going through a period of writer’s block in my late teens. No poetry was coming out, so I decided I needed a new outlet to express myself or I was going to combust. Then I discovered DAW’s and made little secret songs on my Apple Laptop with loops, beats and samples. It wasn’t until 2017 when I had a keyboard workshop in college where I really started to learn about music theory. A lovely professor from Yamanashi taught me about chords and how to play Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra. Finally in 2018 I got myself an Akai Mini and I was just blown away by the limitless possibility of musical creation. I’m telling you, it felt like the sky was the limit!
What’s been happening recently?
I just got my very first gig to perform my original music in the coming months and I am so nervous yet excited. Something about singing songs that I personally wrote as opposed to acting as somebody else just sends chills up my spine. But I think that’s what turns me on, because creativity is a high-risk energy. Will I fail or fly?
Your new single ‘Rise’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
More like who. My producer and homegirl is an artist from Russia who goes by the title MILIAH but I call her by her first name, Emilia. She has been a wonderful creative collaborator and business partner whom I trust. I sent her a demo which had a street-like Travis Scott beat and she transformed it into this mystical, dream indie-pop, shoegaze rock hybrid that blew my mind. “This is how I imagine your song,” she told me. I just adored the little details she added to it which made it sound otherworldly, and I’ve been blown away by people’s response to it which has been overwhelmingly positive.
Often during our production phase, she asks me: “What do you want?” which instantaneously puts me in touch with my true desires for my art. Every instrument and effect is chosen just for me, and I fall in love with music a little harder. God do I need my guitars and 808’s! I’ve learnt a lot about communicating my artistic vision effectively to others which is a skill. It can get really specific sometimes, and leaves no room for “oh yeah that’s fine.” Nobody needs that. What is expected of me is to be nothing short of a bad bitch who knows what she wants and how to get it.
How did you go about writing Rise?
There is a book that has become my Bible. It’s called The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path towards Higher Creativity. In it, it has an exercise called Morning Pages where we’re supposed to write 3 pages straight from one’s stream of consciousness into a notebook. This is done to kill the censor within, or the inner critic, which had dominated my life for years. I didn’t even know if I was a real artist. I judged myself and my work too heavily to even create, let alone show people what I made. But once I was able to put pen to paper with no B.S excuses getting in my way, I began to write dozens of songs like never before. I had made music in the past, but not quite like that. I lost my mind and broke down crying in the process. I was a force of nature; a wildfire or a hurricane. The Dark Night of the Soul that I endured for months to see my end goal, which was creating a body of work, come into fruition was not in vain.
I finally emerged like a classic Phoenix from the ashes, and that’s when I wrote the lyrics to Rise in my journal at what must have been 3AM.
Where and when did you record?
It wasn’t until the end of November 2020 where I was half-alive yet somehow more fiery and alive than I’d ever been.
I was in my bedroom recording Rise on my phone. I didn’t even have a home studio back then, and this jerk producer told me that he’d stalk me like ‘A’ from the TV show Pretty Little Liars, sarcastically wished me good luck and that I wouldn’t find anyone to work with me and my ‘pseudo’ talent. I swear that just made me work ten times harder. Another producer whom I looked up to didn’t really respond to my request when I asked for the STEMS to his beats, unfortunately. But being told no is not the end. No is just the beginning of a creative career. I’ve gotten immune to it. There is a saying that rejection is God’s protection and that there is a better plan for you. So I don’t get disheartened anymore at seemingly lost opportunities. It’s important to never lose sight of the end goal and keep going no matter what.
These guys led me to think: “Why are there so many male producers? No shade, but where are the women in music? I want to work with a female creative in particular.” It was through the internet I googled specific communities and found She Is The Music, and it was there I was able to connect with Emilia. I listened to her song Wild and loved the production on it, so I reached out to her via Instagram DM’s. So in the end, I’m thankful for the doors that closed on me. I’m lucky to have built my goddess gang since then.
How did you approach the recording process?
It was honestly very simple, smooth and straightforward. Since I didn’t even own a mic back then, I actually just recorded three vocal takes on my Android phone (which goes to show how much technology has advanced) and emailed it to Emilia’s friend Dmitriy, who did the mixing and mastering on the track. It was as though all the obstacles that I had faced were finally removed and things started opening up for me.
How did the concept for the music video come about?
I thought I was going to leave Japan in May, so I wanted to capture the essence of the title ‘The Land of The Rising Sun’ by putting in a sunrise. We had the idea to shoot one day at night, and another during the day to showcase the video moving from darkness to light which is what the song is about.
Where did you film and who did you work with?
Through a Facebook group for filmmakers & videographers in Tokyo, I was able to connect with Guillaume Tauveron, a French director & filmmaker who was so sweet, kind and hilarious. Since he has shot in all the popular locations, we wanted to go somewhere unique so we shot at Makuhari Beach which was so much fun and made me grateful to be this free-spirited independent artist filming by the ocean. I want that beautiful time back. I used to fantasize about making a music video since FOREVER. It’s a dream come true not only to have made one but also put it on YouTube and have my own little artist channel. I used to pray for this. I’m really lucky.
You have an EP coming soon, please tell us about it:
YES! Some of my favourite rappers and rockstars have had alter ego’s like Megan Thee Stallion’s Tina Snow and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. I wrote this song called Heart Candy which has S-A-S-S-Y lyrics like “you’ll never find a girl like me I’m hard to replace.” I was like, who is this girl? Sasha Fierce? There is a cute yet dangerous dolly sound on it that made me come up with a name for my very own alter ego & EP title Gothic Lolita Gem, which is more inspired by the Japanese fashion style than Nabokov’s novel. I don’t think I need a persona to create music, though. Everything is 100% me. I’m a shapeshifter though, so that might confuse people. One day I’m like a noir film and another I’m technicolor. I’m constantly changing, like a chameleon.
I’ve experimented with a lot of different sounds and styles on the EP and I have a feeling I’ll always be doing that. I can’t wait to release it! Stay tuned for it to drop sometime this year.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Eve’s album Scorpion. I was born in the late 90’s so I’ve been having nostalgia for 00’s music. The track Stronger by Kanye West. I’m on some what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger type of energy. A Little Bit Dangerous by CRMNL, because I’ve been in villain mode after people came for my neck and failed. And I think the duo RHYME SO are sick. Their 360 video for ‘Hot’ with the virtual club was a visual experience to remember.
What do you like to do away from music?
The social isolation of the pandemic has really put me in an introspective state for the last 18 months. During this time I’ve become a 200 Hour YTT Kundalini Yoga practitioner which has brought me a lot of inner peace along with Deepak Chopra and Alicia Keys’ Divine Feminine meditation series. That reminds me, I need to complete my goddess Kali yoga challenge! She is a Hindu deity that embodies Shakti and despite her associations with death, doomsday, sexuality and violence, she is actually considered to be the loving mother of the universe. I am all about spirituality, liberation and raising consciousness. But I’m not one of those fake good vibes only type of people. I’m a lightworker and a shadow healer.
I love manifestation candles, crystals, divination, essential oils etc. I used to hide that side of me because I was scared people wouldn’t take me seriously, but I’ve learnt that when I step into alignment with my authenticity and everything I thought was ‘weird’, that’s where my people are. Spiritual babes are some of my favourite kinds of people because I know they’re committed to personal growth. I almost decided not to pursue music in favor of a more strictly truth-seeking path like a tantrika or a dakini, whom I have been told I was in a past life, until I remembered a quote by Marilyn Manson: “Music is the strongest form of magic’. My vibration increases tenfold when I’m creating songs – it’s so much fun!
What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?
I signed up for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s one year program this March so I’ll be continuing to study the modules for that course. Plus I just sent in my college applications for the fall semester so I’m hoping things go according to plan during these unprecedented times. I’m also learning how to DJ.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Your girl is a true foodie who loves to travel. I just had the most delicious butter prawns and chilli crab from Singapore Seafood Republic for Father’s Day so I’m still basking in that post-meal glow. I am flirting with Ayurvedic recipes since I’m trying to up my wellness, but if you would have asked the old me, I’d have probably said strawberries with Godiva chocolate and Italian spaghetti. Things are slowly changing now. I switched up my pasta in favor of zucchini noodles, or affectionately called ‘zoodles’ which I thought were pretty delicious.
The pandemic has me fenced in, so when I’m craving fresh air I like to go to Kasai Rinkai Park and chill near the water and BBQ tables.
Photo by Taylor Mansfield
“One of my favourite new artists”
Arlo Parks
“Modern rock anthems…’Porcupine’ is a breakthrough moment”
Pigeons & Planes
“Her songs are rich, accomplished and instantly relatable”
Dork
Introducing Aotearoa / New Zealand via London singer songwriter Molly Payton who today shares new single and video ‘Honey’, her first music of 2021.
The London-based 19-year-old is currently in her homeland of New Zealand, where she completed the track remotely with her frequent collaborator Oli Barton-Wood (Nilüfer Yanya, Porridge Radio, Sorry), as well as Grammy-award winning producer Jimmy Hogarth (Sia, Amy Winehouse) and British songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich. ‘Honey’ follows Payton’s breakout EP Porcupine, released last Autumn to wide critical acclaim, which led to her being flagged as one to watch by the likes of Pigeons & Planes, Dork, The Line of Best Fit, Steve Lamacq at 6Music and Jack Saunders at BBC Radio 1. It also caught the ears of fellow artists, including Arlo Parks, who chose Payton to appear alongside her takeover of Spotify’s ‘Our Generation’ playlist, commenting of Payton’s music “there was just this sense of rawness and earnestness that really reminded me of things that I’ve lived myself.”
Where Porcupine celebrated the freedom and chaos of Payton’s young adulthood, navigating her new city of London in her first year after high school, the introspective tone of ‘Honey’ hints at a coming of age. In her words; “Honey is about that moment in a relationship where things stop working as well as they used to. This song was me taking responsibility for my part in the decay of it all, acknowledging that I’d been distant and that I’d keep trying to make things work. I think there’s also an undercurrent of frustration with myself for letting my past interfere with my present. Like most songs I write it was mostly just me working through my own mind and emotions, but I guess the message of this song would be to make sure you’re not giving too much of yourself away. Take time to make sure you’re ok so that you can support the people you love.”
The thematic shift is one that mirrors Payton’s return to her roots. Originally intended to be a short stay, her time in New Zealand was extended as UK lockdowns prevailed. As well as spending time with the friends and places she left as a teenager, it also fuelled her resolution to reconnect with the memories and tribulations of her past, and process them through her songwriting. Revolving around the adage of looking back in order to move forward, she describes her coming output as “honest, reflective and hopeful.” Her time back home also allowed her to rediscover the catharsis of playing live, with Payton performing a series of full-capacity headline gigs against the backdrop of New Zealand’s low Covid rates and eased restrictions.
Molly Payton’s first offering came in the form of her debut EP Mess, which was co-produced with Oscar Lang (Dirty Hit), who she met at her new school soon after relocating to the UK at age 16. This was followed up by 2020’s Porcupine, which saw her strike up a new songwriting partnership with producer Oli Barton-Wood, embracing a fuller sound, a direct reflection of her contemporary experiences in London and changing tastes. Praised for her evocative lyricism and evolved songwriting, ‘Honey’ doesn’t compromise any of Payton’s edge, yet offers a more personal look into the workings of the young songwriter, and forecasts bright things for Molly this year.
‘Honey‘ is out now, buy/stream it here.
Stay connected with Molly Payton:
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Monet, Renoir, Pissarro and more: 100+ masterpieces of French Impressionism come to Melbourne direct from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts
French Impressionism | NGV International | 25 June – 3 October 2021 | Admission fees apply
In an international exclusive, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will present a major exhibition of more than 100 masterworks of French Impressionism in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), an institution renowned world-wide for its rich holdings of Impressionist paintings. Opening on 25 June 2021 as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series, French Impressionism will feature works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt and more – including 79 that have never-before-been exhibited in Australia. These important loans from the MFA’s iconic collection provide the rare opportunity to see a significant grouping of Impressionist masterworks in Australia.
French Impressionism will chart the trajectory of the late-nineteenth century artistic movement, highlighting the key milestones and figures at the centre of this period of experimentation and revolution in modern art. Through an arresting display of paintings and works on paper that showcases the breadth of the movement, the exhibition will evoke the artistic energy and intellectual dynamism of the period by placing emphasis on the thoughts and observations of the artists themselves, revealing the social connections, artistic influences and personal relationships that united the group of radical practitioners at the centre of this new art movement.
Presented thematically across ten sections, the exhibition will open with early works by Monet and his forebears, Eugène Boudin and painters of the Barbizon School, illustrating their profound influence on Monet’s use of the then radical method of painting outdoors en plein air (‘in the open air’) to capture changing conditions in nature.
The growth of the movement in subsequent decades is mapped through an exploration of the favoured subjects and ideas of the Impressionists. Moving through an immersive exhibition design, audiences will experience the hallmarks of Impressionism, including distinctive brushwork, unique points of view, arresting use of colour, as well as places dear to the artists, such as Paris, Fontainebleau Forest, Pontoise, Giverny, the Normandy coast and the South of France. Many artists also placed equal weight on recording movement and change in urban and domestic realms. Still life paintings, intimate interiors and street scenes by such artists as Manet, Renoir and Gustave Caillebotte will also feature.
These broader themes are punctuated by focused sections of the exhibition that examine significant moments and characteristics in the practices of a selection of artists, including Renoir and his experimentation with pictorial effects in the 1880s, as well as Pissarro and his role as mentor to a number of other artists.
An exhibition highlight will be a breathtaking display of sixteen canvases by Claude Monet, arranged in an immersive display reminiscent of the distinctive, oval gallery Monet helped design for his famous Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris, between 1922 and his death in 1926. Painted over a thirty-year period, these paintings depict many of Monet’s most beloved scenes of nature in Argenteuil, the Normandy coast, the Mediterranean coast and his extraordinary garden in Giverny. Together, these paintings demonstrate the full scope of the artist’s immeasurable contribution to the Impressionist movement.
MFA Boston’s significant collection of French Impressionism benefitted from the collecting efforts of individual Bostonians, some of whom visited the artists in France during the movement’s height. Mary Cassatt, an American-born artist integral to the French Impressionist movement and whose work is featured in the exhibition, advocated among her fellow Americans for their patronage of her French colleagues, ensuring that many great Impressionist paintings found their way into important American collections.
Danny Pearson MP, Minister for Creative Industries, said: ‘This exhibition is set to be another blockbuster for the NGV and a drawcard for Melbourne and Victoria. Not only do exhibitions like French Impressionism provide Victorians with the opportunity to see some of the world’s biggest names in art in their own backyard, they attract visitors who inject millions into the economy – supporting Victoria’s recovery and strengthening our reputation as the creative state.’
Brendan McClements, CEO, Visit Victoria, said: ‘Winter in Melbourne is the perfect time to immerse yourself in our creative and culture experiences on offer such as French Impressionism at the NGV, coffee in the Paris end of town, drinks and dinner at one of our many world class restaurants, and an overnight stay in one of the city’s newest hotels.’
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, National Gallery of Victoria said: ‘Paintings by the Impressionists are beloved world-wide for the artistic innovation and visual curiosity they represent, as well as for their breath-taking use of colour. This exhibition will give audiences the extraordinary opportunity to study more than 100 masterworks up-close, including Monet’s radiant scenes of the French countryside, and to discover the truly revolutionary origins of this important moment in modern art history.
‘We are grateful to our presenting partner, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, whose rich collection of Impressionist paintings has the unique capacity to narrate the history of French Impressionism with nuance, depth and flare. This is the first time the MFA Boston has lent such a large selection of works to Australia, and we are incredibly grateful to them for entrusting the NGV with these extraordinary treasures. A thematic presentation of this calibre and breadth will not be seen in Australia for many years,’ said Ellwood.
Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, said: ‘We are delighted to share these iconic works with the people of Australia, so that they may experience this transformational moment in the history of art. French Impressionism highlights artists and their relationships, their shared ambition and mutual support—ideals that are reflected in our relationship with the National Gallery of Victoria. We are grateful to their extraordinary team for creating a beautiful showcase for our treasured works. Our mutual endeavor has been one of vision, creativity and collaboration. This exhibition is a joyous celebration of our connections and a reminder that individuals and institutions thrive through reciprocity and generosity.’
French Impressionism, presented by the National Gallery of Victoria in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will run 25 June to 3 October 2021 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Further information is available via the NGV website.
About the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Founded on February 4, 1870, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), stands on the historic homelands of the Massachusett people, a site which has long served as a place of meeting and exchange among different nations. The Museum opened its doors to the public on July 4, 1876—the nation’s centennial—at its original location in Copley Square. In 1909, the MFA moved to its current home on Huntington Avenue and today, the Museum houses a global collection encompassing nearly 500,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary. For nearly fifty years, the MFA has shared its deep collections and curatorial expertise with audiences around the world through traveling exhibitions.
The Museum is located at 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. For more information visit mfa.org or follow the MFA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Off the back of recent single ‘Shared Eyes’, singer songwriter Sarah Yagki is back with a fresh dose of goodness in ‘Can’t Hardly Lie’. It’s another step forward for the artist who has been dropping some gems through 2021, with ‘Can’t Hardly Lie’ stepping up as one of her most assured and confident releases yet.
Melodic, fully fleshed out and mixing with some more production technique, ‘Can’t Hardly Lie’ charts some great emotional range from Sarah as a vocalist. Earlier releases have seen her lean into some darker pop tones to relate a full spectrum of emotion from heartache to anger and rejuvenation.
‘Can’t Hardly Lie’ stands as a prime example of her talent to convey anger, bitterness and sharpness with love and heartbreak, striking a balance between both with natural ease.
“Can’t Hardly Lie is a track that I harnessed all my emotional energy, from love to pain to anger and regret, into a track and sculpted it to reflect this. It is, to date, my rawest song based on a personal experience in a relationship, and how I rediscovered and found my own sense of self and strength in it.”
Sarah Yagki
As with ‘Shared Eyes’, Sarah worked out of Obseen Recordings in Bowral NSW, with Klaus Hill on mastering duties. The material that came together through these sessions have come together in further defining Sarah’s whole artistic sound. Recently signing with Scott McKenzie and Premier Artists for bookings, we can expect to be seeing more from Sarah as live music continues to restart around the country.
With more to come this year, ‘Can’t Hardly Lie’ is another strong flex from the talented young songwriter.
“Her music is simultaneously raw and explorative; it’s rooted in pop, but reaches for wider…”
Happy Magazine“Melding pop melodies with heartfelt lyricism, her ethereal voice soars enticingly over experimental electronic beats.”
Little Indie Blogs
Happy Magazine“Melding pop melodies with heartfelt lyricism, her ethereal voice soars enticingly over experimental electronic beats.”
Little Indie Blogs
“Emotional vibes on this one from Sarah. It’s put together pretty solidly with a steady-cruising production and some clean vocals.”
Triple J Unearthed, Dave Ruby Howe
‘Can’t Hardly Lie’ is out now!
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