Little Boat Trusting Lane

Book Review: Mel Hall’s The Little Boat on Trusting Lane is a compassionate story of complex relationships

Mel Hall’s debut novel, The Little Boat on Trusting Lane, is a tender and thoughtful reflection on the power of community in the process of healing. The Little Mother Earth Ship is an alternative healing centre based out of a houseboat aboard stilts in the middle of a scrapyard on Trusting Lane. Richard, who runs…

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Album Review: Hiatus Kaiyote – Mood Valiant (2021 LP)

Grammy Award-nominated Hiatus Kaiyote have long defied categorization with their jazz-funk-neo-soul-wondercore and their latest LP continues that, albeit as their most cohesive album yet. The Melbourne four-piece are back with their first album in six years, titled Mood Valiant, after lead Naomi ‘Nai Palm’ Saalfield‘s mother who owned two valiant wagons, one white and one…

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WEST.

Exclusive Single Premiere: WEST. “Do 2 Me” (2021)

WEST. is the moniker of Sydney-based producer Ally McMahon. Originally hailing from England, his music is overflowing with summer-infused beats, and we are thrilled today to be premiering the track, “Do 2 Me” ahead of its release on Friday. McMahon writes: “You know what you do to me? Starting to feel like I’m eating out…

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Interview: Sigrid on “Mirror”, body image and the luxury of time

Norway’s Sigrid was planning on working in the Norwegian government’s Department Of Culture if it weren’t for her breakout EP Don’t Kill My Vibe that cracked international charting success and led her to the stages of Glastonbury and Reading. The following year, the BBC named her the Music Sound of 2018 – no small feat considering…

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Lucy Dacus

Album of the Week: Lucy Dacus – Home Video (2021 LP)

Drenched in nostalgia and melancholia, Lucy Dacus does sadness at its best and most potent. Now onto her third album, Dacus returns with Home Video, eleven songs that are a deep dive into her coming-of-age years in suburban America. Written mostly from a bibliographical viewpoint, much of Home Video is Dacus exploring her own being,…

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Stella Farnan

Track of the Week: Stella Farnan “The Blue” (2021)

Stella Farnan was one of our artists to watch in 2020, but a global pandemic slowed up the progress of most on the list. With 2020 pretty much a write-off for all, we are pleased to see that Stella has hit the accelerator in 2021. She released “Boxes” in May, and today releases “The Blue”,…

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Space Jam game

Space Jam: A New Legacy: The Game revives classic the Shaq-Fu brawler

Space Jam: A New Legacy is getting a video game tie-in that recalls the greatest arcade sports games of the 16-bit era. It’s a 2D, pixel art, side-scrolling beat-em-up in the vein of Shaq-Fu and Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City. Space Jam: A New Legacy: The Game was developed by Digital Eclipse. DE is the…

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a’Mare, Crown Sydney Review: Golden-age service with a side of theatre

Alessandro Pavoni doesn’t have anything to prove. His Ormeggio at the Spit – old enough to be considered legendary – has always been a reference point for Sydney’s excellent spread of trattoria-inspired eateries. The Mosman restaurant’s more recent turn, skewing seafood and flirting with Puglia, has only solidified that reputation. But the chef is clearly…

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Interview: The cast and creators of In The Heights on bringing the film from stage to screen

As In The Heights prepares to dance its way on to the big screens here in Australia (you can read our review here), the cast and creators were on hand at a global press conference to discuss making the film, including director Jon M. Chu, creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and screenwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes. Our own…

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Sydney Film Festival announces teaser art films for 2021

As the Sydney Film Festival prepares to return to theatres for its 2021 season, running from the 18th-29th August, it has teased a line-up of art titles ahead of its official program launch. Set to screen alongside such already announced titles as Mads Mikkelsen‘s crime comedy Riders of Justice and The Kids, a revisit with…

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Summer in San Diego: 7 things to do in 2021 in the Southern Californian city

With San Diego turning 250 in 2019, the city and its surrounds have been shaping up a massive year of openings, new attractions and familiar favourites that ensure the coastal Southern Californian destination remains at the top of everyone’s vacation lists, as we head into Summer 2021. Here’s a guide to what you need to…

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Justin Stewart Cotta

Track by Track: Justin Stewart Cotta takes us through his album Melodies for Eulogies

Justin Stewart Cotta is one of those multi-dimensional artists with seemingly a finger in every pie. Whether it be singing, songwriting, writing poetry, acting, guitarist or playing the piano, he is obviously an artist with wide-ranging talents. With a knack for writing big anthems and with lyrics that resonate with us all, Justin brings together his…

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Film Review: In The Heights is a feel-good reminder of the joy of the big screen musical

Any film that has an air of positivity about it can all too easily be framed as “the movie we need right now” coming off the global lockdown stage of the pandemic.  Sure, a film that makes you laugh, smile, or cry (in the good way) is going to be enough of an escape after…

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Author Interview: Helen Scheuerer on A Lair of Bones, second series jitters, and building her very own fantasy universe

It’s been a little over a year since Helen Scheuerer officially closed out The Oremere Chronicles with short story collection Dawn of Mist. Now, the indie author is prepping for the launch of an all new dark fantasy series, Curse of the Cyren Queen. It all kicks off on July 15th with A Lair of…

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Interview: Christopher Scott on choreographing In The Heights; “They could have done this live”

After In The Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda enlisted director Jon M. Chu to bring his acclaimed stage production to life on the big screen, Chu extended his arm to longtime collaborator Christopher Scott, the three-time Emmy nominated choreographer who helped shape the movements of the Step Up films. Ahead of the film’s Australian release, Peter…

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Interview: RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under winner Kita Mean on snatching the crown and learning about herself

You’re a winner, baby! The anticipated first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under has sashayed away but not before crowning its rightful winner – New Zealand drag queen, Kita Mean. Along with the crown, Kita Mean secured herself a one year’s supply of Revolutions Beauty Cosmetics and a cash prize of $30,000. Having victoriously…

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QT Hotels & Resorts launch their very own riesling in collaboration with Seppeltsfield Wines

They’ve already created their own gin in collaboration with Four Pillars, now the personality-led QT Hotels & Resorts have gone and made their very own white wine. In partnership with Seppeltsfield Wines, QT have mined the iconic Quelltaler Vineyard and come up with the QT Riesling. Available exclusively across QT’s signature restaurants and bars in…

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Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life Preview: You’re full of Tall Tales, Sparrow

This week Sea of Thieves will launch A Pirate’s Life, one of the game’s most impactful updates ever. The update, which launches in tandem with its Season Three content drop, is a set of five new Tall Tales all centred around Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Tall Tales are the Sea of Thieves version…

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First Impressions: Kevin Can F**k Himself is one of the season’s most original offerings

When Kevin Can F**k Himself begins you’d be forgiven for worrying that Annie Murphy, so great as the vapid Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek, has drastically reduced herself to playing the stereotypical put-upon wife in the all-too familiar sitcom set-up of schlubby husband acts like a man-child and gets away with it because he’s endearing,…

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Film Review: Love Spreads is a contained drama uplifted by winning performances

As most musicians can attest, the hopeful critical and commercial success of your debut album ultimately means very little if your sophomore record under-delivers.  Such is the dilemma for Glass Heart, the fictional girl group at the centre of Jamie Adams‘ familiar-feeling Love Spreads. Seeming personal vendettas, the strain of writer’s block, and the clashing…

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Tijuana Cartel

Track by Track: Tijuana Cartel take us through their new album Acid Pony

Earlier this month Gold-Coast based electronic dance band Tijuana Cartel dropped their latest album, Acid Pony. It’s a tantalising mix of a range of influences, whilst remaining guitar-driven with a danceable vibe. There is some psychedelia with grooves that never end, mean fat beats, and also some sweet vocals. It keeps shifting and changing, but…

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Vermont

Melbourne’s Vermont take us behind the scenes of filming the music video for “Erased”

Last month Victorian outfit Vermont released their first track of 2021, “Erased”. This followed on from their well-received self-titled EP which dropped last year. They’ve amped up their sound in a grittier sonic direction, with the familiar alt-rock and some electronica elements threaded throughout. They might have cranked things up, but there is still a…

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Rift Apart

Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart Review: A preview of the generation to come

As a gamer in his late thirties, Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart makes me wish time travel was real. I’d rush back to find my 15-year-old self, show him these visuals and watch his brain meltdown in real-time. Previously on Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart is the sixteenth entry in the Ratchet & Clank series…

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Chelsea Warner

Guest Playlist: Chelsea Warner’s top 10 “Drama” playlist suggestions for songs to plot revenge/be petty to

Chelsea Warner is a Sydney-based producer and multi-instrumentalist. Classically trained at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, she has broad tastes, with some smooth R’n’B and alt-pop to the fore. Her latest single is “Drama”, a tune that showcases her silky voice and adroit songwriting. “Drama” is a song that many young adults will be able…

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Tribeca Film Festival Shorts Review: Enjoy is a delicate look at depression in men

A sensitive subject that manages to transcend its 18 minute containment, Saul Abraham‘s Enjoy is a delicate look at depression, specifically in men, and how difficult it is to remove your own psyche from spiralling downwards. 1 in 8 men in Australia experience some form of depression or anxiety, 3 times more common than it…

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The best truffle dishes you need to try in Sydney for Winter 2021

Truffle season has rolled around once more, with plenty of menu takeovers across Sydney showcasing unique flavour profiles including the beloved fungi. Adding a little luxury to your next night out, these lashings of truffle turn any dining experience into an indulgent one. To save the hassle and to get those taste buds tingling, we’ve…

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Win a family pass to the animated fantasy Moonbound

Thanks to Rialto Distribution we have five family passes (Admit 4) to give away to the upcoming release of the animated fantasy film Moonbound, based on one of Germany’s most popular children’s books, in Australian cinemas from June 24th, 2021, just in time for school holidays. When Peter sets out on a magical journey to rescue…

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Melbourne International Film Festival returns to cinemas for 2021 program

Building on the success of last year’s 2020 online-only festival – which had the largest audience reach in their history – The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will afford its largest platform to date, with the 2021 festival presented as a hybrid with both digital and physical access. Returning August 5th-22nd, MIFF 2021’s packed program…

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Film Review: Luca is a love story at its core that celebrates individuality

On the surface Luca appears to be one of the more slight Pixar entrants.  A studio that is known for its near-perfect track record, there’s a certain narrative around the brand that seems to paint any of their films that doesn’t quite reach the emotional highs of an Up or an Inside Out as a second-tier…

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Papa J’s is Cronulla’s new lounge bar inspired by old-world glitz & glamour

While Sydney’s been getting plenty of new bars this year, building up a strong post-2020 scene that feels refreshing and exciting, not much new has popped up outside of the typical haunts. Cronulla muscles into the scene with the launch of a new art deco bar called Papa J’s. Part of a small family that…

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