Southern Exposure is a special showcase of Australian music taking over Piano’s in New York City this Thursday night, from 8pm to 3am, as part of CMJ 2014 – proudly presented by Australian publication the AU review and showing off some of the finest up-and-coming talent from the Great Southern Land. Let’s take a look at the bands playing the event:
SASKWATCH
Saskwatch is the nine-piece eclectic soul band that has quickly become renowned for its signature ecstatic horns, tight rhythms & soaring vocals- capable of breaking hearts one minute & eliciting frenzied dancing the next. Earlier this year they released their full length LP ‘Nose Dive’ – “a celebratory tale of the complex nature and wonder of life, expertly crafted by these magicians of thrilling soul.” ToneDeaf 2014
OKENYO
Triumphant, sorrowful and achingly beautiful are declarations that describe the wondrous melodies neo-soul/electro goddess Okenyo that have us transfixed. She has been described as the lovechild of Janelle Monae and Frank Ocean and by online site happy.com as a “modern-day Cleopatra, exuberant with confidence, grace and a fierce sense of style and attitude”.
“My lyrics and music come from an amalgamation of my own personal stories, classical or mythical tales, philosophers, writers and the people I love or have loved. I really do see these writers, painters and storytellers as my co-writers and collaborators. I guess the only weird thing about that is that they are dead. Some kind of office Christmas party!” Okenyo.
FRACTURES
Pronounced dynamics, elegant harmonies and lush production are the hallmarks of Fractures, one of Melbourne’s most promising singer-song writers. Mark Zito, under the guise of Fractures, pairs infectious pop hooks with haunting narrative to create a unique sound, both dark and alluring.
Fractures’ self-titled debut EP continues to raise the bar. Released in July 2014, it blends the diverse hooks, swelling chord progressions, and swoon-worthy vocal harmonies for which Fractures is becoming renowned.
THE DELTA RIGGS
Renowned for pumping out high-energy jams & ferocious live shows, Melbourne genre benders The Delta Riggs have unveiled their rattling and rapturous new single “The Record’s Flawed”. This intoxicating anthem is the perfect exemplar of the boisterous, off the cuff and tripped out party atmosphere that fans can expect from the band’s curiously-titled second album, ‘Dipz Zebazios’.
Promising a huge progression from their acclaimed 2013 debut (‘Hex.Lover.Killer’), The Delta Riggs’ new full-length will highlight the ambitions of a group unwilling to sit at idle. A sprinkle of sonic influence can be heard the likes of English giants Kasabian, psych icons Primal Scream and art rock mainstays Divine Fits – all of whom the band have toured with in the past 18 months.
Souncloud – The Record’s Flawed
https://soundcloud.com/thedeltariggs/the-records-flawed
TKAY MAIDZA
Armed with just a pair of towering platform boots, an ability to write contagious club anthems to suit her lightning-fast emcee ow, and an undeniably soulful voice, Tkay Maidza has become one of the most buzzed about young artists in Australia in 2014.
At only eighteen years old, Tkay was not too long ago playfully rapping along with Youtube videos after attending classes at Uni and couldn’t imagine the effect of uploading her first startling single ‘Handle My Ego’ off-handedly to triple j Unearthed. Within hours the track – a mix of tongue-in-cheek verses, delivered with quick-re-feeling across a backing of thundering dubstep – was shared thousands of times…not bad for someone who had been rapping for eighteen months and singing for less than!
In the year that has followed, she’s toured the country, played sell-out club shows. Yet seemingly unfazed by the fuss, Tkay is focused on crafting and refining her unique music and determined to carve her own path.
FISHING
Released through Create/Control (AU/NZ), FISHING’s album Shy Glow was voted Album Of The Week by FBiRadio, RTRFM, Radio Adelaide, The Brag and received great appreciation also internationally. Fishing’ single ‘OOOO’, out in 2010, was picked up by Pitchfork within hours. Fishing released online a myriad of singles, mixtapes, remixes. In 2012 their double A-side-7” Choy Lin/White Sheet Beach, was released through labels Lefse (US) & Yes Please (AU). Both singles featured on influential sites (Fader, XLR8, Yourstru.ly). ‘Choy Lin’ clip was animated by Fishing and nominated for an FBiSMAC Award and Rage Indie Clip Of The Year. Fishing established a great live reputation and supported an array of artists (Purity Ring, SBTRKT, Yeasayer, Jungles). They collaborated with Alison Wonderland by providing vocals for her single ‘Get Ready’. Fishing sold out their Sydney album launch during VividLive, entertained punters at SITG 2014 with their DJ set and sold out the Sydney show of their national album tour.
BAD//DREEMS
In a world where indie guitar music has grown sullen and stale, where songs by garage bands are used to sell cars on TV and real rock and roll is no more than an inner city bartender’s tattoo, it’s nice to know the memo never reached Adelaide. Meeting at their local football club, BAD//DREEMS have emerged from the Adelaide underground, refreshingly untouched by modern trends
https://soundcloud.com/baddreems/dumb-idea
THE CAIROS
Get your hands on more about Brisbane’s The Cairos here: https://www.facebook.com/thecairos/. Their record Beautiful Boys is out now through Indica Records/MGM.
WHERE: PIANOS, NYC – 158 Ludlow Street, LES, New York NY 10002
WHEN: This Thursday – October 23rd – 8.00PM to 3.00AM
TICKETS: FREE! 21+ Only.
SET TIMES
8:00 to 8:30 = Saskwatch
8:50 to 9:20 = Okenyo
9:40 to 10:10 = Fractures
10:30 to 11:00 = The Delta Riggs
11:20 to 11:50 = Tkay Maidza
12:10 to 12:40 = Fishing
1:00 to 1:30 = Bad//Dreems
1:50 to 2:20 = The Cairos
Keep up to date on this event on the Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/316570218535478/
