Author: Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.

Catherine: Full Body Review: Punishment has never felt so good

I’m not sure why I did this to myself. Glutton for punishment maybe? Whatever the reason, there are times I regret picking up Catherine: Full Body, which has caused painful flashbacks to almost 10 years ago when I almost reverted back to 9 year old me – the kid who was totally fine with smashing…

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Track of the Day: Lewis Coleman “Animal” (2019)

Freshly signed to Ivy League Records, Melbourne multi-instrumentalist Lewis Coleman has made a stunning debut with “Animal”. A shrieking, infectious and immersive offering from one of Australia’s most exciting new talents, the single sprouts from an acoustic guitar, spiralling into psychedelic territory as Coleman’s fascinating voice guides the transformation. Written, performed, recorded and produced in…

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Track of the Day: GL “Night Habit” (2019)

Melbourne based funk lords GL have turned in a squeaky after-hours jam with “Night Habit”. Their new single, a throwback to 70s disco-soul, follows singer Ella Thompson’s hazy performance with warbling synths and heavy percussion. It’s the perfect package of vintage pop, and a welcome return from a duo who have been sorely missed since…

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This speyside distillery is coming to Sydney to give 51 year old whisky away for free

Speyside distillery Craigllachie, known as “The Bad Boy of Speyside” for their famously rebellious nature, is about to make whisky history by doing something no distillery has done before. In short, they’re about to give away a recently uncovered, long forgotten 51 year old whisky (that’d be worth a fortune) for free. Specifically, the traditional…

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Track of the Day: Pusha T Feat. Kash Doll “Sociopath” (2019)

Hard-bodied Virginia emcee Pusha T popped up last week with two new releases, the stronger of which is “Sociopath”. The track, a Kanye West produced outtake from last year’s acclaimed DAYTONA, has King Push sketching a lover well-versed in the art of finessing rich fools. Over the kind of minimalist production best suited to his…

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The ultimate guide to Bangkok’s world famous street food

There are many reasons why Bangkok is one of the most exciting cities in Asia, but first and foremost would be the city’s spectacular street food culture. The bustling Thai city is often seen as a reference point for diverse and delicious street food, maintaining a reputation for no fuss curb-side dining that has endeared…

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Track of the Day: The Run “Missing Out On” (2019)

Melbourne outfit The Run hit on a mix of confidence and heartbreak with new single “Missing Out On”, zoning in one their endearing indie-soul with a beautifully written number that hopefully means an album is on the way. Connor Morel’s expressive and impactful vocals drive the track, grabbing onto vintage soul and giving it an…

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Young Henrys and Hartsyard are doing bottomless lunches in Newtown this month

Contemporary comfort food mecca Hartsyard and Newtown brewing legends Young Henrys are collaborating! That’s not really surprising though, seeing as Newtown’s many, many amazing businesses are known to cross roads regularly. What is surprising is that it’s resulted in the two forces coming together to host bottomless lunches. Every Saturday of this month, there will…

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Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney to host steak dinners of rare and exclusive cuts

Sydney’s acclaimed Rockpool Bar & Grill is about to launch what is being described as Australia’s most exclusive steak tasting dinner and masterclass series. Set for the last Tuesday of every month in the restaurant’s elegant private dining room, Head Chef Corey Costelloe will lead a session of rare and exclusive cuts of beef, none…

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It Chapter Two Review: Terrifying and touching – a masterful sequel

There is good reason Stephen King’s story of It has endured for decades. Amongst his best work, the famed horror author has always been strongest when he’s sketching elegant parallels between fight and flight. Sure, that’s been done to death in modern cinema, and the dynamic between the two states has been mined by horror…

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Track of the Day: EarthGang “Up” (2019)

Finally, Dreamville heavyhitters EarthGang have put out the official studio version of new track “Up”. The track, appropriately OutKast-like in its eccentricity, has been floating around in their live sets for months now, but now it has been officially served to build up hype for debut album MirrorLand. Although there is no set release date…

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Five tips for anyone looking to start their own podcast

Making a podcast should be simple, and it is for the most part. The increasingly popular artform has outstripped many other forms of media thanks to its sturdy platform of self-expression and creativity. It helps that there are some truly creative people out there starting their own podcast series and putting it out to the…

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Six things to do in Sydney over the next few weeks: September-October 2019

A bit of Santa Monica at one of Sydney’s best hotels, a brand new luxury buffet, a vintage Paris-inspired wine bar and an immersive dessert wonderland. These are just a few of things locals and visitors can expect in Sydney over the next few weeks, popping up as the weather (hopefully) warms up for spring….

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Cheateau Victoria Review: Supremely convenient for British Columbia’s stunning capital

Quaint, friendly and absolutely delicious. There are many ways to describe the historic British Columbian capital of Victoria, a small city with a very big heart. It’s often referred to as the highlight on any Canadian itinerary – it’s certainly one of mine – and anyone would surely agree once they walk the serene Ogden…

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Interview: Chef Xerxes Bodhanwala on authentic Peruvian food in Perth

Perth’s dining scene is full of surprises, especially when it comes to the city’s forever-booming scene of premium hotels popping up between all that increasingly present street art, old school nightclubs and refined cocktail bars. One such surprise is UMA Restaurant at Pan Pacific Perth. It’s Peruvian food making use of local produce and sustainably…

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Track of the Day: Iggy Pop “Sonali” (2019)

True icon Iggy Pop is stately and composed on new track “Sonali”, a jazzy cut from new album Free. His first since 2016 LP Post Pop Depression, Free has already been telegraphed well by first single “James Bond”, but this one’s an even softer and meandering look into what the veteran musician, with nothing left…

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The Johnson Review: Art Series’ first Brisbane property plays it safe

Though The Fantauzzo may be one of Brisbane’s hottest hotel openings of 2019, it’s not Art Series Hotels’ first property for the city. That honour belongs to The Johnson, which made its debut back in 2016, making an impact as a clean-cut tribute to the lasting legacy of master abstract artist Michael Johnson. Part of…

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Manta, Woolloomooloo Review: A legend by every measure

It would require no stretch or exaggeration to proclaim Manta a legend in Sydney’s dining scene. The high-end fixture of Woolloomooloo’s illustrious finger wharf has for 9 years now been the first port of call for schmoozy seafood-centric lunches and luscious business dinners thanks to its uncompromising worship of the highest quality produce. Nothing has…

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Singapore at BIGSOUND: Get to know .gif, Caracal and Lincoln Lim

Throw post-hardcore into the same show as indie-folk and dark electronica, and you might have a very confused crowd. That is, unless you’re at a showcase event like BIGSOUND, where the Australian music industry completely gives themselves over to a few days of discovery, sifting through live music both homegrown and international. That kind of…

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KFC have brought back their ungodly Zinger Pie

KFC have brought back their fan-favourite special Zinger Pie to all Australian stores nationwide, resurrecting a limited edition classic that the country hasn’t seen since 2013. Once again, the 100% ‘Straya creation will be available at all of KFC’s Australian locations for a very limited time, allowing people to get their mouths around the golden,…

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Queensland is mecca for music festivals this year

If all the promised festivals hitting Gold Coast and Brisbane go down without a hitch this year, we could see Queensland become the new premier spot for live music in Australia. Seeing as Gladys B (I don’t know how to spell it; not worth Googling) is running festivals out of NSW so kids can keep…

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Track of the Day: Little Brother “Black Magic (Make It Better)” (2019)

Beloved hip hop group Little Brother are back with their first studio album since 2010’s Leftback. The now-duo (9th Wonder left in 2007) of rappers Big Pooh and Phonte surprised the industry when they released a new project, May The Lord Watch just last week, delivering on the high expectations that come with such top-tier…

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Track of the Day: Morioh Sonder “I Want To Die On My Birthday” (2019)

Berlin based art-rockers Morioh Sonder are much more than a head-turning (and concerning) track title on new single “I Want To Die On My Birthday”. The first cut from their forthcoming EP, a heady and twisted hybrid of surf rock and Brit-pop takes the band into the stratosphere, mixing it up with shiny synths and…

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Three Singaporean acts looking to make an impact at BIGSOUND

Once again, BIGSOUND kicks off next week (3-6 September), bringing the Australian and international music industries together for one hell of a rowdy, insightful and fun few days exploring, questioning, prodding, poking, and celebrating live music. Question is, have you locked down your schedule yet? As always, the best way to tackle BIGSOUND is to…

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Three new drinks that will dominate Father’s Day this year

If the way to dad’s heart is through premium alcohol, you’ve got your job all set out for you this year as Father’s Day fast approaches. Three of the most widely recognised and super premium brands have either released new expressions, or are doing something different for Dad Day, in 2019. And they are well…

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W Brisbane Review: No shortage of excitement at this luxury hotel

W Hotels are about to stage a massive comeback in the Australian market, returning down under with three properties, one for each major city across the east coast. While Melbourne and Sydney openings are on the horizon, Brisbane was the first to receive the luxury Marriott brand’s renewed energy when W Brisbane cut the ribbon…

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Track of the Day: Molly Sarlé “Twisted” (2019)

Those in the mood for slow-swaying minimalism should take immediately to today’s Track of the Day, coming from the fearless Molly Sarlé. As one third of folk trio Mountain Man, the ethereal singer twirls new single “Twisted” around a skeletal instrumental to keep the focus on her penetrative voice. Reverberating from a barely-there strum, Sarlé’s…

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OPPO have launched the world’s first 5G-powered hotel in Australia

Following the launch of their OPPO Reno 5G smartphone, OPPO have dived into the pop-up hotel game with a world’s first. That’s the world’s first travelling 5G powered smart hotel, mind you, and it’s currently sitting in one of the coolest spots in the Gold Coast, making use of a shipping container to fully highlight…

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13 Father’s Day gift ideas for the last minute shopper

You’ve got less than a week till Father’s Day comes around for 2019. 1st September marks the annual gift-giving occasion, which doubles as a good time to see exactly what’s floating around the market and turning heads this year. To help lessen any stress, we’ve zoned in on 13 of our favourite tech, gaming and…

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Marriott announce new luxury Autograph Collection hotel for Tokyo

Marriott International are about to welcome a second Japanese property into their coveted Autograph Collection, announcing the signing of mesm Tokyo. Located at the exciting Takeshiba Waterfront Development Project, the hotel will occupy 10 floors of the multipurpose WATERS takeshiba building, offering guests a highly personal, individualised experience befitting the storied collection of unique hotels…

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