New Signings & Team-Ups: July 26
UMG, Passion Pictures, producing Hutchence doco
INXS’s record label Universal Music Group and Passion Pictures are jointly producing a full-length documentary on the late Michael Hutchence. It is set for a worldwide release, and proceeds will go to Hutchence’s daughter Tiger Lily, INXS’s Creative Director Chris Murphy confirmed. Passion Pictures made the Oscar-winning Search For Sugar Man about forgotten US folk singer Rodriguez.
The documentary’s director Richard Lowenstein helmed many of INXS clips and cast Hutchence in the Dogs In Space movie. “As one of Michael Hutchence’s closest friends and director of the majority of his and INXS’s multi award-winning music videos, concert films, and his only lead role in a dramatic feature film, I have been working on the definitive documentary film journey into the heart and soul of this complex, shy, poetic and exceptionally charismatic man for many years,” Lowenstein said.
Sydney businessman Ron Creevey is also working on a documentary on the INXS star who died in 1997.
Dorsal Fins sign to Dot Dash
Melbourne based nine-pieceDorsal Fins have inked a deal withDot Dash and Remote ControlRecords. Today the band release new single Sedated, whichhad it’s first spin ontriple j’sHome and Hosedlast night. They’ve also announced astring of east coast dates inMelbourne, Sydney, Byron and Brisbanethroughout August.
Dinosaur City unearths first solo act
After introducing itself in March with a 22-act compilation album, Sydney collective Dinosaur City Records signed its first solo artist. Bourgeois Earth is the brainchild of pop songwriter Nicholas Griffith of the bands High-Tails and Big White. In fact, the concept for Bourgeois Earth came during a Big White American tour in March 2015 for Burger Records. He spent the next two weeks putting these stories into an album recorded mostly in Dulwich Hill, Sydney
Lead off single is Terrible Taste, which comes with a movie. Bourgeois Earth reveals, “Terrible Taste is cinematic in the way that it shifts and shakes and moves you emotionally, throughout inspiring imagery. That’s why I particularly wanted to make a film for this track. The film, being overtly arthouse works with clichés from bad horror movies. The twisting of the door handle, the peeling of the wax, the answering of the ever-illusive home phone. And the genius that’s lost his mind.”
Dot Dash/Remote Control find Lost Animal
Dot Dash/Remote Control have brought in Melbourne based cult musician Lost Animal (aka Jarrod Quarrell) who began producing music at the age of 16. He made waves with 2011’s Ex-Tropical. An album You Yang is out in September through Dot Dash / Captured Tracks in North America and Dot Dash / Remote Control Records for the rest of the world. First single Do The Jerk, a mix of electro pop and global influences, is currently out, and for which he launches at Howler in Melbourne on Friday August 12.
123 booking rising NT star Gawurra
On the eve of a run of festivals around the country, Stanley Gawurra Gaykamangu, a Yolngu performer from Arnhem Land now living in Melbourne, has assigned his bookings to 123 Agency. He is up for five categories in the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin, after winning the pop category for his demo for Ratja Yaliyali (Vine of Love) which was on his debut album out in April through CAAMA. Passionate about keeping his Gupapungu language strong by singing in the language, the young leader is also to be bestowed “elder” status by his people. Upcoming performances include the Walking With Spirits and Garma festivals and supporting Peter Garrett at Darwin Festival.
Barely Dressed cubes-in Jarrow
Barely Dressed Records and Remote Control expanded their roster with Jarrow, the solo garage pop/ psychedelia project of 20 year-old Footscray-based musician, producer and songwriter Dan Oke. Barely Dressed first noticed the act after the release of his debut self-released EP Legitimate in 2015. In the meantime, Oke took off to Nashville to study and perform. On his return, the signing was finalised. The first track off his debut album is Cube, which features his father on sax. After a round of Melbourne gigs, Jarrow will showcase at BIGSOUND in Brisbane.
Liam Payne distances himself from 1D with solo deal
Liam Payne is the third member of One Direction to sign a solo deal, while the band is officially on a hiatus. But while the other two stayed within the Sony family (Zayn on RCA and Harry Styles on 1D’s label Columbia) Payne has gone out of the band’s orbit. The solo deal is with Capitol Records UK, which is distributed in Australia through Universal Music. The 22-year-old is also assembling a new management team around him.
Payne himself is not letting on about how far he’s flying from the band’s golden egg nest. He reckoned, “I’m really happy to have signed to such a prestigious label as Capitol Records UK. Capitol Records has an amazing history stretching right back before even Frank Sinatra and I’m really looking forward to becoming part of their story. One Direction will always be my family; I’m now excited to show what I can do as a solo artist.”
Golden Friend wakes up to Jade Imagine
Melbourne label Our Golden Friend’s third signing is Jade Imagine. It is the new musical project of Melbourne musician Jade McInally. She fronted her own band Tantrums, was a touring member of Teeth & Tongue and plays bass in Jess Riberio’s live band. She left Teeth & Tongue to concentrate on her solo career, making a bow with the single Stay Awake. It was written and recorded by Imagine with Dave Mudie (Courtney Barnett) on production and mixing duties. It is the first single lifted from a limited edition 7″ vinyl which will be released on Monday August 8 – the same night she plays a free Monday Night Mass at the Northcote Social Club with The Ocean Party, Dreamin’ Wild and Forever Son.
Kobalt administering Nettwerk publishing
Kobalt is administering Nettwerk Music Group’s publishing catalogue, which has 18,000 songs gathered over 30 years ago. Kolbalt came into the picture after KMC, an investment fund it advises and manages, bought a significant portion of the Nettwerk publishing catalogue.
New digital agency for ANZ Stadium
Atomic 212 is ANZ Stadium’s digital advertising agency after the sports and entertainment stadium discontinued doing its digital media in-house for the first time. Daniel Farrar, ANZ Stadium’s Digital Services and Development Manager said 212’s “understanding of the digital landscape” would help promote major events set for 2017.
Tax time for Adelaide musicians
APRA AMCOS, Adelaide music business/ technology cluster and St Paul’s Creative Centre are offering a tax session for Adelaide musicians (free for APRA AMCOS members). Speaking is Ben Turner, Senior Manager – People Advisory Services at EY, a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Turner will discuss how to manager finances, maximize tax returns and tips on running your creative outlet as a small business. It is on July 27 at St. Paul’s in Pulteney St. This event will be held on Level 1 of the building. Please contact Elizabeth with any access requirements on (08) 7320 3307.
Knox to help cyclone victims
Fijian reggae-rock singer songwriter and guitarist Knox, well known to Australian audiences through his tours since 2013, has recorded a new single to help the recovery efforts since Cyclone Winston struck his homeland on February 20 and destroyed 41,000 homes. Never Give In is released in Australia through TruTone Entertainment, which will donate A$1 from all iTunes download sales to Fiji Red Cross.
In Fiji, Knox has “legend” status, winning four categories at the second Fiji Performing Rights Association Music Awards last May.
3RRR collaborates with visual artist on poster
As part of its 4th anniversary radiothon (August 19 to 28), Melbourne’s 3RRR has with creative agency Actual Size, commissioned Melbourne artist Billie Justice Thompson to create a poster around the line A Jewel In The Junk Heap. Thompson works with paint on glass and Perspex, and with watercolour to pay homage to the kitschy delights of eating, drinking and the day-to-day miracles of existence.
The A Jewel In The Junk Heap tag was actually used by the station in the mid-90s to describe the seminal station back on a poster designed by local artist (and current subscriber) Greg Ades. This slogan seemed fitting for the station’s ruby anniversary. Thompson admitted, “I was so stoked to be asked to do the Radiothon poster. What an honor. This year more than ever we need to get behind our community radio stations. Can you imagine life with out them? Awful!”
Cleverman sold to New Zealand
Distributor Entertainment One has, on behalf of Goalpost Pictures Australia and New Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures, sold Cleverman to TVNZ. The first of the six indigenous-themed episodes began this week on TVNZ OnDemand, with screening on TVNZ’s new male-oriented channel Duke at a later date. The critically-acclaimed ANZ collaboration series was green-lighted recently for a second season in Australia. Cleverman has also been sold to the UK’s BBC3.
AirIt spreads word on NT music
Following the announcement of the winners of the MusicNT NT Song of the Year awards in Darwin, Amrap has created a playlist on AirIt featuring the winners.