New Signings & Team-Ups: October 27
KazJames/ Ivan Gough team-up gets global release
Balearic house trackInside Your Arms, a collaboration between Australian DJ/producersKazJamesandIvan Gough(half ofL’Tric),has a global release.Armin vanBuuren’slabel Armada Music has it for Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, USA, Canada and Mexico while ONELOVE for the rest of the world.
Inside Your Armsis the first of two collaborations between the pair. James is based in London, where in between DJ stints around the world (including a 10 hour back to back to back set withSethTroxler&Skreamat Coachella), he featured on theFast And The Furious 7soundtrack, collaborated with NY house legendJunior Sanchezand UK label FFRR and released a singleShow Me All Your Love.
Grammy-nominated ARIA and APRA winner Gough, one of the first Australian DJs to expand internationally, had a globalclublandhit this year with theL’TrictrackThis Feeling.
Dot Dash/ Remote Controlfadein Milwaukee Banks
Dot Dash / Remote Control Records firmed up a world deal withMilwaukee Banksfor their debut albumDeep Into The Night,due out in early 2016. Milwaukee Banks is the electronic/ southern hip hop/ cloud rap project of Melbourne basedEdo &DylThomas. First singleFaded,out now before a run of East Coast dates November 27 to December 12, comes with a video shot with local photographer and cinematographerAndrewDiprose.
Sony Music to release PC Music tracks
Sony Music Entertainment Australia announced the November 20 release of British producer and DJDanny LHarle’sBroken FlowersEP. It is the first release from a deal cut by EDM label PC Music and Columbia Records.
PC Music was founded by Britishproducer A. G. Cookin mid-2013 and is home to a collective of performers and electronic musicians includingHannah Diamond, Kane WestandDux Content(a collaboration between Cook andHarle), as well as associate projects such as XL Recordings’QT.PC Music’s chart success earned itFACTMagazine’s “label of the year” award while theNew York Timesdubbed itsgroundbreakingPop Cube event in the city in May “a high-concept extravaganza”.
Damian Marley isTidal’snewest artist owner
Damian Marley(pictured) isTidal’snewest artist owner, announcing the news as a late addition to the star-studdedTidalX 10:20 Festival at Barclays in New York on October 20. Marley joinsJay Z,Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye West, Jack White, Arcade Fire, Usher, NickiMinaj, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Calvin Harris, Daft Punk, deadmau5, JasonAldean, J. Cole, MadonnaandLil Wayneas artist owners for the digital streaming service.
Future Classic addsWafia
Future Classic has teamed up with 21-year old Brisbane experimental folk actWafiaand issues herXXIXEP on November 20.WafiaAlRikabihas been issuing records since her late teens, inspired byEsaoAndrews, Oscar Wilde, BonIver, Matt CorbyandDaughter. Her new singleHeartburncaused enough interest that she had to post its powerful lyrics on social media.
Wafia
Indicapublishing deal forRinMcArdle
IndicaPublishing has struck a worldwide deal with emerging Adelaide-born Sydney-based electro-soul singer songwriterRinMcArdle. Her five-track debut EPLefty Lou & TheHamleyStreet Blueshas chalked up 17,000 hits onSoundcloud. The five tracks, recorded in Sydney withTigertown’sChris Collins, were written at a time when McArdle experienced and overcame struggle and addiction while living onHamleyStreet in Adelaide.
Adelaide Fringe makes Julian Clary an ambassador
To boost its global reputation, Adelaide Fringe announced British comic and authorJulian Claryas its 2016 Ambassador. It’s the first time it’s used an overseas name for the role, and the first time the quick witted Clary – known for his flamboyant costumes and sly sexualinnuendo– has been given an Ambassador role.
Clary’sThe Joy Of Mincingplays the Fringe during its February 12 to March 24 season, his first appearance in Adelaide in a decade.This year the Fringe posted a 22% increase in ticket sales and attendances in excess of 2 million people.
Spirit Music Group flies with Joe Walsh
Spirit Music Group inked a global publishing deal with It covers his entire solo output asRocky Mountain Way, all his work withThe Eaglesand future compositions. Walsh quips that the Spirit team, lead by President and CEOMark Fried“seem to know my catalogue better than I do! I’m amped to have them on my team.”
Vibes On A Summer’s Day appoints Frank PR
The rebooted Vibes On A Summer’s Day (January 24 at Bondi Pavilion, Sydney) has appointed the Sydney arm of Britain’s Frank PR to handle publicity and sponsorship. PromoterJoeConneely, who ran the event between 1994 and 2003, likes Frank PR’s “reputation for authenticity and edginess, which is what Vibes is all about.”
Although the festival’s return is next year confined to Sydney,Conneely’slong terms plans are to hit the other cities and take it overseas. The first acts are unveiled on October 30.
Australia signs co-production film/TV deal with Malaysia
While the Australian music and tech industries watch apprehensively to see the effects of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a positive outcome has generated for the country’s film and TV sectors. The Australian Government has signed a bilateral treaty to provide investment, licensing and co-production. Malaysia is the 11thpartner in this for Australia. The others include Singapore, China, Canada, Germany and South Korea, with India and Denmark on the horizon and plans to renegotiate the current UK treaty.
U2/Madonna manager adds Amy Schumer to books
U2/MadonnamanagerGuyOsearyadded fast rising US comedianAmy Schumerto his Maverick Management roster,Billboardconfirmed. Schumer is riding high with herTrainwreckmovie a US blockbuster, the Comedy Central seriesInside Amy Schumerwinning anEmmyand gaining new fans after opening for Madonna’sRebel Hearttour.
Young Henry’s show off Bon’s big balls
As theAC/DCtour looms, authorClinton Walker’s1994Bon ScottbookHighway To Hellis being reissued with updated chapters. As part of this, brewer Young Henry’s is unveiling a new beer Big Balls, “a big and ballsy IPA so turbocharged that we think Bon himself would have been a little apprehensive at first.”
It’s also hosting “bontastic” launch parties. The first is on October 31 at midday at its Newtown Sydney headquarters where co-ownerRichard Adamsonreveals, “There literally isn’t a day that goes by at Young Henrys where Bon Scott era AC/DC isn’t blasting out of the speakers of thebrewhousewhilst our brewers pump out beers.” The other, on November 12 will be at Cherry Bar at, where else, AC/DC Lane in Melbourne. Walker will be at both launches to sign, while illustratorGlenn Smithwill havescreenprintsfor sale.
Multicultural acts showcase talent
State of Cultureis a showcase presented by Multicultural Arts Victoria at Melbourne’s at John Curtin (Thursday November 26) to reveal the talent that’s come through its various initiatives.
These include music mentoringVisiblefor musos from refugee and asylum seeker communities,ReMasteredMythswhich brings together artists of diverse cultural backgrounds for sessions to create new material,Producers Loungefor emerging producers underMohamedKomba(akaMomo,Diafrix), and spoken word inter-faithCommon Ground.
Performances are from acoustic Afghani pop singer songwriterRezaFazeli,Persian vocalistSaharnazKia,
Hazaragipoetry and soundscapes fromLapkatft.FarkhondaAkbar, West Papuan rhythms and harmonies fromBlack OrchidStringband, trip-hop meets Ethiopian scales withLemLemBand, nine hip hop names fromProducer’s Lounge,Ethio-jazz, reggae and dancehall actNhattyMan & TheLalibelaswith live beats, soundscapes and spoken word from budding producers and poets.
The show is supported by Scanlon Foundation, Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, Victorian Multicultural Commission and PBS FM. Full details at multiculturalarts.com.au.
Sydney Opera House’stwo-yeardeal with Airbnb
Airbnb, which just booked its 2 millionth Australian customer, has struck atwo-yeardeal with the Sydney Opera House. Airbnb will pay for thousands of its customers to tour the SOH and increase its reputation as a must-go tourist destination. Airbnb will also support the Opera House’s year-round contemporary music and environmental programs.
Spotify takes to the skies
In its first US airline deal, Spotify will have its 30 million-song catalogue on select Virgin America flights. “We’re dedicated to finding ways to bring music into every part of consumers’ lives, wherever they are, whatever they’re doing, whatever their mood,” said,Erin Clift, the Swedish-founded company’s Vice President for Global Marketing and Partnerships.
123 Agency brings inZefereli
The 123 Agency’s latest client isZefereliakaAlistarRichardsonof Brisbane bandTheCairos.This year he’s been touring his solo project, and with54321the second single off his debut albumWithdrawals.
Fox International choosesMediaHub
Fox International Channels Australia rappedMediaHubAustralia as its playout platform for all of its channels throughout Australia and New Zealand including entertainment channel FX.
Australian twist for Smirnoff campaign
Smirnoff’s global campaign #WhatWeBring, about how music brings people together, might use Canadian electro-pop singerKieszato front it. But there’s an Aussie element: one of the five remixes of herDjembaDjemba-producedGive It To The Momenttrack comes fromCassian,who will be featured in the brand’s documentary on the track’s culturally glob al remix journey.
Boag’sgoes for a symphony
In a world-first in its latest campaign, Launceston brewery JamesBoagcreates a “symphony” from the rugged Tasmanian environment it brews its beer from. It created a new instrument called themeteorphonium(from ‘meteorology’, the science of the weather, and ‘phonium’ from the Greek word ‘phone’ meaning ‘voice’) whichconverts live environmental and weather readings into music.
Award-winning English composer and sound designerNick Ryanand software technologistDaniel Joneshand-built the instrument. It is 1.7m in diameter and 300kgmsin weight with nine bronze singing bowls and a central “tongue drum” housed in a handcrafted Tasmanian oak frame. It was placed at Ben Lomond National Park where it collected readings from the elements – including wind speed, humidity and atmospheric pressure – to create a symphony of drumming and chiming. The tracks, downloaded fromhttp://www.boagssymphony.com.au, start off with a calm northerly wind becoming more intense.