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.

Track of the Day: Sparrows “Over & Out” (2018)

From that mesmerising bounce, spun into a tribal-like dance, to the wispy vocal performance from Sydney artist Sparrows reminiscent of a vocalist like Lykke Li, “Over & Out” is a strong case for the return of euphoric dance-pop in 2018. The singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, born Jessica Nitties, has chosen to put this solid work…

Read more

Virgin Australia to begin flying direct services between Hobart and Perth this month

In just a few weeks time, Virgin Australia will become the first airline to introduce direct services between Hobart and Perth, opening up a necessary connection between two of Australia’s fastest growing cities. The airline will fly the thrice-weekly return service on a Boeing 737, providing travellers with better and easier access to the two…

Read more

Hong Kong’s e-Sports and Music Festival shows how lucrative competitive gaming has become

A few days on and the dust has finally settled from Hong Kong’s most lucrative e-Sports event to date, the ICBC (Asia) e-Sports & Music Festival. The event, which was officially organised and promoted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and title sponsored by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, was significant as…

Read more

Film Review: Kin (USA, 2018) attempts to balance family drama and sci-fi for something different

It takes quite some time before Kin ramps into its intergalactic promise, with Aussie directors Jonathan and Josh Baker stretching their indie short Bag Man into an odd hybrid feature to try thin the chunky line between on-the-road family drama and sci-fi. And while the uneven plot can be frustrating to witness as it slowly…

Read more

The 6 best Father’s Day menus in Sydney for 2018

Whenever Father’s Day comes around Sydneysiders are tempted in every direction by some of the city’s top restaurants, all of which offer up special menus to help you treat dad the right way. It’s often one of the best days of the year to really tease out a dining destination’s finest dishes at reasonable prices,…

Read more

The 5 best gifts ideas in Australia for Father’s Day 2018

Father’s Day is but a few days away with Sunday 2nd September coming up fast. Got a gift for dad yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got you with a few last minute gift ideas for Aussies to get across, from one of the most beautiful whiskies of the year to a pure shot of adrenaline. We’ve…

Read more

eSports fever hits Hong Kong as three-day EMF begins

While Asia is certainly not lacking when it comes to regular events for eSports fans, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) are throwing their sizable hat in the ring this weekend with the return of the now annual ICBC (Asia) e-Sports & Music Festival (EMF). Kicking off last night with a fluffy of dramatic bass drops…

Read more

Games Review: Okami HD (Switch, 2018) remodels its intuitive controls for an endlessly beautiful adventure

Okami was a work of art before it was ported to numerous modern platforms, inspiring a new generation of players with its mythic take on the old Zelda formula, but this Nintendo Switch port in particular gives it a necessary new life.

Read more

Tech Review: B&O strike a fine balance between form and function with Beoplay P6

The initial question with a Bang & Olufsen product is almost always “is it worth the price?”. The Danish consumer electronics brand has a habit of playing in the “Ludicrously Expensive” price range, but has always managed to justify that high price point with an equal focus on luxurious design and world-class performance. No matter…

Read more

Exclusive Single Premiere: Tyne James-Organ “Graceful” (2018)

While currently on the road with LANKS, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Tyne-James Organ has found the time to release a follow-up to last year’s deeply personal “Watch You Go”, the delicate single which immediately endeared the young artist to music fans across the country. Titled “Graceful”, the new song is a boppy showcase for Organ’s versatility, still…

Read more

Track of the Day: Guerilla Toss “Green Apple” (2018)

Dense and hypnotic, New York art-rock group Guerilla Toss have given us another delicious oddity with “Green Apple”. Following the swift and absurd “Meteorological”, it’s the second cut from forthcoming album Twisted Sister and is just as propulsive with a very tye-dyed distorted vocal performance from lead Kassie Carlson and a particular frantic thrust from…

Read more

Tech Review: Google Home Max has brains, brawn and big sound

The Google Home Max is, in this reviewer’s opinion, the best sounding standalone smart speaker on the market. That’s an arguable point of course, but after weeks spent trying this imposing device with various styles of music (and a few podcasts) it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid going full cheerleader mode over its performance….

Read more

Tech Review: Sony SRS-XB31 turns up the bass for an excellent portable party speaker

If you want the concise verdict on Sony’s recently released SRS-XB31 Bluetooth speaker then all you need to know is that they’ve taken last year’s well-reviewed SRS-XB30 and given it some noticeable improvements with better design, punchier bass, and a more comprehensive range of light patterns. It’s mostly as simple as that, sitting in the…

Read more

Sydney artist Ruel joins Kanye West, Tyler, the Creator, Ms Lauryn Hill and more for Camp Flog Gnaw

The seventh annual Camp Flog Gnaw, a music carnival presented each year by Tyler, the Creator, is particularly notable for Aussie music fans this year as the jam-packed lineup includes prodigious Sydney singer Ruel. the talented 15 year old musician, who played a his first ever solo headline tour across Sydney and Melbourne earlier this…

Read more

Hotel Review: InterContinental’s ambitious Downtown L.A. property is a stunner

It’s not everyday you spot a helicopter buzzing around Los Angeles at eye-level. Dramatic and impressive, the check-in at the sky lobby of InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown is an astounding way to usher in the guest experience at this (almost) one-year-old luxury hotel; reception is placed on the 70th floor, surrounded by enormous floor-to-ceiling glass…

Read more

Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Tia Gostelow feat. LANKS “Strangers” (2018)

For a few months now, a gorgeous duet between Tia Gostelow and LANKS has been steadily winning fans over with it’s breezy tone and intimate vocal harmonies. That gem is titled “Strangers”, a dreamy pop record that has been buzzing around Gostelow as she dips into the second half of an already massive year, one…

Read more

Film Review: BlacKkKlansman (USA, 2018) – Spike Lee channels frustration for one of his finest films to date

Spike Lee is quite clearly fired up as he scatters sharp, defiant dialogue all through BlacKKKlansman, his first feature film since 2015’s good-but-uneven Chi-Raq and without a doubt one of his best works to date. That is no overstatement either, with Lee directing a big middle finger to the racism both explicit and implicit, by…

Read more

Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Max C Bud “Temptress” (2018)

Sydney musician Max C Bud is about the make a big name for himself as a solo artist with mellow indie gem “Temptress”, his debut single produced in collaboration with Boo Seeka’s Sam Croft. The song, which focuses around honesty in relationships, is a creative number crafted into a lane frequented by beloved acts like…

Read more

Hotel Review: Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Station gets by with a perfect location

The value of staying near Tokyo Station cannot be overstated, particularly for those relatively unfamiliar with the heaving, at times overwhelming capital city. Much has been written about the exceptional transport system of Tokyo, and this station is most certainly its beating heart, which is why a hotel like Courtyard By Marriott Tokyo Station is…

Read more

Film Review: The Meg (USA, 2018) is your expected dose of “Shark Versus Statham”

You don’t really need to know much about The Meg aside from that it is entertaining enough to justify it’s spot on the box office. That’s the most we could ask from a movie about a gigantic prehistoric shark unwittingly released from the depths of the ocean by hapless scientists who are stationed over the…

Read more

Cheap Flight Alert: Hawaiian Airlines sale features $899 return flights between Honolulu and Australia

Hawaiian Airlines have just lifted the lid on their current “Hawaiian Island Sale” for Aussie passengers looking to travel to the idyllic destination. These discounts even extend to the airline’s lie-flat Business Class, making luxury travel tad more accessible for those so inclined. The current offering is to Honolulu ex-Sydney and Brisbane and back from…

Read more

Hotel Review: Peppers repurpose Launceston’s grain silos with style

Originally erected in 1960, the stately grain silos perched on Launceston’s King’s Wharf, where the North Esk meets the Tamar, stood abandoned and disused for fifty years before an ambitious project led by Errol Stewart sought to transform the four empty barrels into a high-end contemporary hotel. That project began two years ago, resulting in…

Read more

Track of the Day: Moors Feat. Tune-Yards “Mango” (2018)

While we here in Australia wait patiently for a release date to be confirmed for Boots Riley’s stylish Sorry to Bother You, we can at least dip into another aspect of the film without delay. And it’s most certainly something we’re going to want to get around, as a project has sprung from two of…

Read more

Games Preview: Spider-Man is looking like a huge win for Insomniac Games

Insomniac Games has already proven highly capable when it comes to helming a gaming franchise. From Ratchet & Clank to Resistance, the Burbank-based developer has given PlayStation some of its most thoughtful and inventive gaming universes. It’s therefore no surprise that Insomniac’s first shot at an open-world Marvel-branded superhero game has become one of the…

Read more

Film Review: Superfly (USA, 2018) is an entertaining, overindulgent mess

Director X has already built a reputation for his stylish and inventive music videos, churned out over two decades with an impressive portfolio that overflows with mega-successful acts like Drake and Justin Bieber as well as beloved hip hop titans like Ice Cube and JAY-Z. It was only a matter of time before he crossed…

Read more

Track of the Day: RÜFÜS DU SOL “Underwater” (2018)

Building towards their new album Solace, the unstoppable RÜFÜS DU SOL have today released their new single “Underwater”. Giving us deeper insight into their third album, which it said to be largely influenced by a contrasting Californian landscape, the complex and beautifully layered track is a noticeable step forward for the Aussie-bred trio who are…

Read more

Vision Direct opens shop in Sydney, is giving away 100 designer glasses for free this week

After a successful opening offer in Melbourne, Aussie brand Vision Direct is now ready to push their new Sydney retail store, which recently opened near Wynyard Station on George Street. Similarly to what they did in Melbourne, the retailer has put up a very tempting offer for any fashion-savvy Sydneysiders who are in need of…

Read more

Peking Duk joins David Byrne, Khalid and more in Hong Kong for Clockenflap 2018

Clockenflap, the biggest annual music and arts festival in Hong Kong, has just released the first round of its 2018 lineup. The world-class music program, which has built a reputation of featuring a large range of styles across both international and local musicians, will feature no less than 13 Hong Kong live debuts, 2 Asian…

Read more

Why Queensland rapper ZEKIEL has a certified hit on his hands with debut single “Writing Away”

Clever worldplay and a banging beat is usually all you’d need to move a hit between the increasingly thinning lines that once divided hip hop and pop. “Writing Away”, the debut single from Queensland’s ZEKIEL has that in spades, but on top there’s also a genuine, earnest expression of lost love, plenty of character, and…

Read more

Live Review: Gary Lightbody flooded with fan-mail at Snow Patrol’s first Sydney show in years

“Someone passed me a note so damn right I’m going to read it, and if anyone else wants to pass me a note then I’ll read that fucking note too”, shouted Snow Patrol’s affable frontman Gary Lightbody after reading aloud what appeared to be an invitation to a comedy gig in Sydney. A fan had…

Read more