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PORTIA CLARK RELEASES EMOTIVE NEW SINGLE ‘Look What You’ve Done’

Maria Predavec News 06/12/2023Black Of Hearts, Identity Pr, Music, Portia Clark

PORTIA CLARK

RELEASES EMOTIVE NEW SINGLE

‘Look What You’ve Done’

Much like the artist herself, Portia Clark’s latest single ‘Look What You’ve Done’ is powerful, inspiring, and uplifting.

Portia co-wrote her brand new single – the first taste of her upcoming album, scheduled for release in 2024 – with Audius Mtawarira (Flo Rida, Delta Goodrem, Jessica Mauboy), a multiple ARIA and APRA award-winning African-born, Sydney-based hitmaker.

Throughout ‘Look What You’ve Done’, gentle guitar picking, suspended strings and a softly swaying beat cradle Portia’s sublime, soul-stirring vocal performance. “Were you really born here to suffer?” she ponders, channelling her own hardships in order to portray complex emotions through song.

Born into poverty in Lusaka, Zambia and ostracised from her church following a teenage pregnancy, Portia also survived domestic violence before finding true love and relocating to Perth, Australia in 2014. Here, Portia has created the kind of life she always dreamed of, together with her loving husband Brendan and their three children.

Slick production consistently serves to enhance Portia’s exceptional vocals, which retain their rightful place under the spotlight for the duration of ‘Look What You’ve Done’. She also poses a string of important questions during her deeply personal latest single: “Where is the joy in the life I’ve been fighting for?…“Would God really want all this despair behind every door?

Portia is living proof that unwavering faith can transform lives. “Singing’s my life. Portia reflects of the gift that gave her hope and ultimately saved her. By consistently pushing through adversity with courage and persistence, she noticed her dreams started to closely resemble reality.

There’s a significant lyrical shift from first to third person in the second chorus of ‘Look What You’ve Done’ – “Oh look what we’ve done…” – as Portia finally feels supported, no longer needing to shoulder life’s burdens alone. Listeners would then be wise to brace themselves for her awe-inspiring, climactic powernote – Portia’s idol Whitney Houston springs to mind – during the song’s soaring bridge: “It’s time to look inside, it’s in all of you/ Unconditional love inside your heart.”

Through bravely sharing her story and her incredible singing voice, Portia hopes to “uplift people that feel down”: “When I sing my music, I want to be able to encourage people that are hurt. I want my presence – when I stand on stage, singing – to connect with people. I want them to feel better about themselves by the time I’m done singing, because I know how it feels to be hurt and have nobody to talk to. People have different ways of healing and finding encouragement. Just reading my story could save someone’s life.”

‘Look What You’ve Done’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

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ULTRA AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES PHASE 1 LINEUP

Maria Predavec News 17/11/2023Black Of Hearts, Identity Pr, Ultra Australia

ULTRA AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES PHASE 1 LINEUP

ULTRA WORLDWIDE UNVEILS PHASE 1 LINEUP FOR 2024 AUSTRALIAN FESTIVALS

HEADLINERS INCLUDE ARMIN VAN BUUREN, BRENNAN HEART, DARREN STYLES, STEVE AOKI, AND ZEDD

CARL COX TO PERFORM HYBRID LIVE SET AT ULTRA AUSTRALIA

ULTRA Worldwide has announced its Phase 1 lineup for the 2024 Australian events, which will launch with the debut edition of ULTRA Beach Gold Coast on Friday, April 12, at the stunning location, Broadwater Parklands. On Saturday, April 13, ULTRA Australia will return to Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

The Phase 1 headliner lineup features an array of multi-award-winning and platinum-selling artists from across the world including ULTRA pioneers, multi-platinum artist Zedd, A State of Trance boss Armin van Buuren, and global party starter Steve Aoki. British icon Carl Cox will perform a special hybrid live set at ULTRA Australia only.

ULTRA Australia will also feature headlining performances from hardstyle favourites Darren Styles and Brennan Heart.

The one-day event in Melbourne will include the mammoth Main Stage and the hub of underground sounds at the RESISTANCE Stage. ULTRA Beach Gold Coast will host its inaugural edition as a single-stage event.

ULTRA Australia takes pride in creating an all-encompassing entertainment experience for its fans from around the world. Revel in mesmerizing performances from the ULTRA Angels, relax in the designated, shaded ‘chill out’ areas, enjoy culinary delights from a vast array of local food trucks, and taste cocktails from the various bars stationed throughout the festival grounds.

ULTRA Worldwide continues to cement its status as the most international music festival brand, boasting active events on all six inhabited continents. The global festival brand is celebrated for delivering an unparalleled combination of top-tier electronic talent, cutting-edge technology and large-scale productions.

ULTRA BEACH GOLD COAST – FRIDAY, 12 APRIL 2024

BROADWATER PARKLANDS

ULTRA AUSTRALIA – SATURDAY, 13 APRIL 2024

FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE IN MELBOURNE

Tickets are on sale now at www.ultraaustralia.com

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EMILY BARKER RELEASES POIGNANT NEW SINGLE WILD TO BE SHARING THIS MOMENT

Maria Predavec News, video 17/11/2023Black Of Hearts, Emily Barker, Identity Pr, Music, Wild To Be Sharing This Moment

EMILY BARKER

RELEASES POIGNANT NEW SINGLE

‘WILD TO BE SHARING THIS MOMENT‘

After living in the United Kingdom for more than two decades, Emily Barker – the prolific, award-winning contemporary singer-songwriter best known for composing and performing the theme for Wallander, the BBC’s hugely successful crime drama starring Kenneth Branagh – returned home to Western Australia to begin a new musical chapter with her latest single, ‘Wild To Be Sharing This Moment’, out now through Everyone Sang/Kartel Music Group and embarking on a national tour with UK artist, Frank Turner.

I see a thousand worlds in the window
Of a train as it passes me by
Each one plugged into an orbit
Their own pain, their own lullaby.

While waiting for the train at London’s Kings Cross station, inspiration struck. Emily quickly plucked a notebook from her bag to document her musings. “I was people watching and thinking of how vulnerable we all are, with our own stories and secrets, all sharing this same moment in time and space,” she recalls.

Emily had been at a birthday party celebrating a friend’s son turning one and a wave of nostalgia washed over her for a simpler time living on a narrowboat in London. “I’d had a couple of G&Ts,” she quips.

On the train, “there were passengers sleeping at awkward angles, some reading, some playing games on their phones, some with masks, most without, some listening to music and tapping a foot, children clinging to parents.

“I found myself questioning where empathy has gone,” Emily remembers. “The song is about compassion. The war in Ukraine had just started and it was all feeling very intense, much like it is right now.”

How can we study the wounds of our history
and still send our children to war?

“I’m an advocate for keeping conversation alive across divides,” Emily stresses, “for trying to approach each encounter as an opportunity for connection. We must find our common humanity in order to make the world a safer, better place for us all to live in.”

Arresting drums and sparse, plaintive synths and guitar usher in Emily’s lilting, pensive vocal as a sustained undercurrent creates a sense of forward momentum. ‘Wild to be Sharing This Moment’ unfurls gradually, propelling the listener towards a vast, cinematic climax, each additional verse bringing new meaning to the instantly memorable chorus.

Isn’t it wild to be sharing this moment
The same very thimble of time.

The song’s accompanying music video, created by Headjam, zooms in on a formative moment: a group of teenage girls on school photo day, with Emily playing the role of photographer. “We don’t know anything about them, but we have this snapshot of a key moment in their lives and are left to wonder about their hopes and fears and who they might go on to be,” she explains.

Of the apposite timing of her latest single, Emily acknowledges, “Songs sometimes reveal a life of their own — the world changes around them, but they still speak to the moment.”

Truth is a hope to hold onto
And where it blooms we will go.

Alongside the release of ‘Wild To Be Sharing This Moment’, Emily Barker embarks on a tour opening for her long-time friend and collaborator, Frank Turner.

17 Nov – WELLINGTON Hunter Lounge
18 Nov – AUCKLAND Studio
21 Nov – CANBERRA The Basement
22 Nov – SYDNEY Enmore Theatre
24 Nov – BRISBANE The Tivoli
26 Nov – MELBOURNE The Forum
28 Nov – PERTH Astor Theatre
29 Nov – ADELAIDE Hindley Street Music Hall

Emily & Frank Turner will also appear at Queenscliff Music Festival on 25 and 26 November.

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JAKE STONE RELEASES EMOTIVE NEW SINGLE, LATE NIGHTS

Maria Predavec News 24/10/2023Black Of Hearts, Identity Pr, Jack Stone

JAKE STONE

RELEASES EMOTIVE NEW SINGLE

LATE NIGHTS

Late Nights is the latest offering from Melbourne artist, Jake Stone. It is the first of many
collaborations with prolific co-writer/producer Josh King.

Reflecting on Late Nights, Jake shares: “A big element of the song is this need for victory after a breakup; someone who comes out better off and seems to move on too quickly.”

Is it even possible to ‘win’ a breakup? When relationships end and people get hurt, there can be no winner. And continuing to hang out with mutual friends, post-breakup, tends to stall emotional
progress by keeping your ex front of mind as well.

Opening with a plaintive, meandering guitar line, Late Nights finds our protagonist stuck in a
heartbreak spiral while his partner has already moved on: “Still thinking ‘bout the way that you let it end/ Still thinking ‘bout the way you said we’re better as friends/ But right now it doesn’t feel like it…”

Insistent drumbeats add dramatic impact to the song, before its stripped-back pre-chorus,
featuring taunting layered vocals, plays the blame game: “And I remember the way that you framed it/ You as the victim, when we both know it’s blameless…”

Then enter Late Nights’ soaring chorus, delivered as though summoning up all remaining
willpower to release the heartache: “Did you really mean what you told our friends?/ ‘Cause I really never thought that I’d be the bad guy…”

Nearing the song’s conclusion, driving beats underscore a crucial narrative shift heading into the bridge: “This is the last time/ Thinking about all the late nights/ Wondering why your heart broke mine…” With power finally reclaimed, Late Nights concludes how it began: paring right back to that winsome, pensive introductory guitar line.

Although this song’s lyrics were mostly completed within 30 minutes – using Heartbreak
Anniversary by Giveon and Falling Asleep At The Wheel by Holly Humberstone as reference points – Jake describes the overall signwriting process as “bizarre”. After transposing some piano chords onto the guitar, Jake and his co-writer/producer then pitched the melody up a couple of octaves and viola! Late Nights finally crystallised after a few days spent toiling away in the studio.

But it was the mixing and mastering process that really brought Late Nights to life. Blake Malone, a Gold Coast-based producer best known for his collaborations with Amy Shark, worked his mixing magic and Jake remembers, “It was amazing. He heard something different in the song, which totally transformed it.” Then once world-renowned mastering engineer Leon Zervos (P!nk, Rihanna, Beastie Boys) added final touches to Late Nights, Jake extols, “This is perfect! This is what we want. This is the best song we’ve ever written together!’

Late Nights is out now across all streaming platforms.

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BWS KEEPS YOU COOL WHILE THE LINE-UP IS HOT!

Maria Predavec News 26/09/202326/09/2023Black Of Hearts, BWS Cool Room, Identity Pr, Music

BWS KEEPS YOU COOL WHILE THE LINE-UP IS HOT!

BWS Cool Room returns with ARMANI WHITE,
LIME CORDIALE & MEMPHIS LK

As the Aussie Summer prepares to deliver the heat, BWS is preparing to bring the cool with the highly anticipated return of BWS Cool Room music series. And the best bit? Fans can apply to be part of these very special gigs for FREE by entering the ballot.

The chilled-down-not-out live music events will pop-up in Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne and feature a stellar line-up of Australian and International talent inside a custom built BWS Cool Room (yes, they’re really fridges) across the eastern seaboard.

Among this year’s line-up of hot artists, global hip-hop superstar, Armani White will touch down in Australia for the very first time in Victoria, with surf-rock legends Lime Cordiale and electronic sensation Memphis LK leading the charge for Sydney and Newcastle.

The BWS Cool Room is a multi-sensory live music experience – a giant, purpose-built stage-come-fridge that invites fans to step through its fridge doors and into a gig like nothing else. We know the world has been wondering what a music gig would feel like if it were in a larger-than-life fridge, and now fans can feel it for themselves. Once again, the artists are turning up the heat and this year BWS are turning up the surprises.

Headlining the Victorian BWS Cool Room stage is Billion-streaming U.S Rapper and social media music sensation, Armani White who catapulted to stardom with his viral hit record, ‘Billie Eilish’ which reached over 15M Spotify streams alone. This will be his first ever performance in Australia.

The US star says he’s ecstatic to get the call up for the exclusive BWS event.

“When I got the call to perform inside a huge BWS inflatable cool room, I just had to say YES! The creativity and the concept for something like this is extremely impressive and it is what I am about musically. As an artist I am all about pushing the boundaries but still making sure my music is for all of those who appreciate it.

“I have never been to Australia before and I really want to be amongst a crowd that bring the vibe and the energy.”

As part of the inaugural SXSW® Sydney calendar of events, BWS has partnered with Lime Cordiale who will kick-start the 2023 Cool Room series with a bang at Central Park, Sydney as part of the festival of music and innovation on 19 October 2023.

“We’d been looking for a way to play a meaningful part of SXSW Sydney and the BWS Cool Room is giving us a distinct and fun way for us to do just that, we’re thrilled to be kicking-off the series of events this October,” said the band.

The infectious five-piece band recently released their latest single. ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and landed four songs in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of 2022 including ‘Holy Moley’, which featured a collaboration with the multi-talented British actor, DJ, and musician Idris Elba.

“Music is a truly authentic way for us to connect with young Aussies and the BWS Cool Room is the perfect platform for us to do this,” said An Le, Head of Brand Marketing at BWS. “After seeing the impact of BWS Cool Room last year, we’re excited to continue to evolve our unique voice in music and to reach more communities over Summer. We have bold ambitions to go bigger and are thrilled to unveil our line-up of artists for this year!”

BWS COOL ROOM 2023 ARTISTS, DATES & LOCATIONS:
• Lime Cordiale – Central Park, Sydney, NSW – 19 October 2023
• Memphis LK – Empire Park, Newcastle, NSW – 23 November 2023
• Armani White – Point Ormond Reserve, Elwood VIC – 7 December 2023

To attend, music fans must sign up via the BWS website to receive their entry into the ballot. Fans will also automatically go in the draw to win a Golden Ticket; 2 double passes to attend Armani White’s show in Victoria including flights, accommodation and a meet and greet with the artist himself. These are sure to be the hottest music tickets of the summer festival season.

All details can be found at bws.com.au/the-drop/cool-room

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AMY WINEHOUSE EXHIBITION COMING TO AUSTRALIA

Maria Predavec News 13/09/2023Amy Winehouse, Black Of Hearts, Identity Pr

AMY WINEHOUSE

EXHIBITION COMING TO AUSTRALIA

A moment in time with Amy, Before Frank

Marking the 20th Anniversary of Amy Winehouse’ celebrated debut album International Photographer, Charles Moriarty, brings intimate collection to Australia.

On the eve of what would have been Amy Winehouse’ 40th birthday, internationally renowned photographer, Charles Moriarty, has announced the Australian tour of ‘Amy, Before Frank’, a personal tribute and intimate collection of timeless photography captured when a young, fresh faced, 19-year-old Amy Winehouse was on the cusp of global stardom.

Back in 2003, when Charles Moriarty was asked by a mutual friend to photograph a local singer by the name of Amy Winehouse, he had no idea of the heights that the honest, self-assured 19-year-old he was introduced to would eventually reach. The Irish photographer ended up shooting the cover for Amy’s debut album, Frank, with the two striking up a friendship that remained close for many years.

Charles Moriarty’s Amy, Before Frank collection features a series of photographs that are fun, mischievous and capture a remarkable period for one of music’s most significant and iconic figures. Moriarty’s photographs are charming, intimate, insightful, and emotional for fans of Amy who have stayed close to her turbulent life journey, and it’s heart-breaking, all too soon, end.

On bringing Amy, Before Frank to Australia, after 20 years since Amy was introduced to the world “it’s time for people to know the girl I knew; Amy before the fame, Amy before Frank” said Charles Moriarty.

Moriarty’s images have quickly made a transition into collective cultural memory, through both the iconic cover for Frank and now at London’s National Portrait Gallery, where one of the images from this exhibit sits in the permanent collection.

Presented by Behind The Gallery, the Amy, Before Frank collection will arrive in Sydney in October, before travelling to Melbourne in November, at a time that also marks the 20th anniversary of her internationally acclaimed debut album, Frank, which was originally released on the 20th October, 2003.

“Charles captured the innocence, honesty, happiness of Amy before the cusp of fame happened. The trust in the shots of Amy from Charles is based upon friendship and not something we have seen like this before. It’s a side of Amy rarely shown before, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone in Australia”. Said, Stephen Dallimore – Behind the Gallery.

Over 30 images will be featured and on display in Sydney at the m2 Gallery in Surry Hills. The free-of-charge exhibit will be open to the public from the 18th – 22nd October, from 10am – 5pm each day with the opportunity to hear directly from Charles Moriarty who will share personal insights and anecdotes from his time spent with Amy, in person on Saturday 21st October at 12.30pm.

The Amy, Before Frank exhibit will then travel to Melbourne’s @14 Gallery in Collingwood, open to the public from 1st – 5th November, 10am – 5pm each day. Moriarty will also be hosting an in-person artist talk on Saturday 4th November at 12.30pm.

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