‘Looking Past the Pandemic’ with Maxine from Sydney, NSW

Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of…

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5 New Release Albums you’ve got to listen to right now

2020 has been a rollercoaster year (to say the least). By this stage, you might have resigned yourself to spending all your time in your living room, venturing not much further than your garden. Amid the chaos and stress of the pandemic, however, many of us have turned to music for comfort, or as a…

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WWE 2K Battlegrounds Review: A Shallow, Functional Brawler

As crammed as the name suggests, WWE 2K Battlegrounds introduces yet another entry to 2K’s “Grounds” series, off the heels of NBA 2K Playgrounds 2. The crux of these experiences revolves around the fact that they never take themselves too seriously. Over the top game play and stylised visuals keep this game from feeling like…

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Track of the Day: NAIPIA “Tightropes” (2020)

The UK based pop-rock band NAIPIA is making waves this year with their recently released official video clip for their track “Tightropes”. The single has a quick and upbeat rhythm with compelling lyrics of personal growth and balancing the light and darkness within us. Known for their songs about youth and personal journeys, the track…

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Excusive Single Premiere: Skyepaint ft. Bares “Pipe Dream” (2020)

Today we are premiering “Pipe Dream”, from Skyepaint, featuring Bares. Skyepaint is the moniker for Novocastrian synthpop songwriter/producer Amos Wellings. He has teamed up with Melbourne-based indie-pop singer/songwriter Bares to create a bright summery tune, just the tonic to dance away your problems.  “Pipe Dream” will be released on all streaming services tomorrow. “Pipe Dream” is an…

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Album Review: Greatest Hits – Volume One (2020 EP)

The first thing that strikes you about Greatest Hits’ new EP is that these songs are mature. They’re self-aware. You get the distinct impression that no-one has tried too hard to write them. This is a personal opinion, but I enjoy an Indie Rock outfit that isn’t afraid to pay respect to the prog rock…

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TIFF Review: Director Francois Ozon returns to his roots with Summer of 85

Queer cinema has come through quite well over these past few years. We have had great examples like Call Me By Your Name, Love, Simon and Moonlight; foreign entries like BPM (Beats Per Minute), the Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman and BAFTA-winning The Handmaiden and hidden indie gems like Princess Cyd, Beach Rats and God’s Own Country. All of these films have had critical acclaim and they…

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Vacations

Guest Playlist: Vacations share the inspiration behind their new album Forever in Bloom

It’s been two years since Newcastle indie pop quartet Vacations released their debut album. Now, the group have returned with their latest LP Forever in Bloom. The tracks on Forever in Bloom are full of bright synths, dreamy guitars and punchy drums, creating a danceable groove that is consistent for the duration of the album….

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Spider-Man Remastered

Sony confirms no PS5 upgrade for Spider-Man owners

If you were hoping to replay Spider-Man: Remastered on your PS5, we bear some unfortunate news. We’ve known for a while that Insomniac’s Spider-Man was coming to PS5 alongside the stand-alone Miles Morales expansion. Questions have lingered over a potential upgrade path for Spider-Man PS4 owners moving to PS5. Fans who already own a PS4…

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Ultra Mono

Album of the Week: IDLES are just as angry and forceful on Ultra Mono (2020 LP)

Ever seen a band post about current affairs on their socials, and then read comments where morons say something to the effect of “stick to music”? There’s a very good chance you have. IDLES are the type of band that this would occur to regularly. They’ve built a platform on their anti-establishment themes, lyrics, persona and…

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Lionhearts

Book Review: Nathan Makaryk’s Robin Hood tale misses the target in sequel Lionhearts

Robin Hood is dead. A grief-stricken Will Scarlett takes on the mantle, struggling to balance the need to survive with the desire to end those who have taken everything from him. But he is not the only one calling himself Robin Hood; others have co-opted his friend’s myth, and their intentions are less than pure….

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Three of the most popular Razer accessories go wireless

Razer has announced three of its most iconic gaming peripherals are getting the wireless treatment. The BlackShark V2 Pro, DeathAdder V2 Pro, and BlackWidow V4 Pro are part of the brand’s latest range of wireless flagship products. Now gamer’s will be able to enjoy their favourite games without the hindrance of cables getting in the…

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Abi Tucker reflects upon her time in Heartbreak High in latest single “Friends for Life”

Abi Tucker has a new single out “Friends for Life” taken from her album Who Do You Really Know, which was released in January this year. Many might remember Tucker as a star actor in several iconic Australian dramas, including The Secret Life of Us, Heartbreak High and McLeod’s Daughters. Parents may even recognise her…

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Bose announces second-generation Sleepbuds coming to Australia next month

Bose is dipping its toes back into the burgeoning world of wellness tech with the next generation of the brand’s bedtime wearable. The Bose Sleepbuds II will arrive in Australian stores next month, bringing demonstrably better noise masking than the first-gen model, as well as new categories of content designed to better target relaxation and…

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Track of the Day: Jack Grace “Daydreaming” (2020)

Jack Grace has relocated from Sydney to Paris and continues to make inspiring music from the French capital. He has just released his latest single “Daydreaming”, which follows on from “A Ribbon” which was released earlier this year. “Daydreaming” is musically sparser in style than “A Ribbon” but if ever there was an argument for…

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Know Before You Go: Van Gogh Alive is Sydney’s new “it” exhibition

With COVID-19 cases low, more people in Sydney are looking to get back to a sense of normalcy, alongside, of course, common sense practices to avoid further restrictions and keep the community safe. And that’s great news for Australian company Grande Exhibitions, who have created and, across 50 cities, shaped the innovative, multi-sensory art experience…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Lucy Eaton “Rotten Love” (2020)

Lucy Eaton was born in Australia, but currently resides in California, and we have the exclusive premiere of her debut release “Rotten Love”, a fun whimsical take on trying to win over someones affection. Eaton has a gift for writing lines which reference the everyday and resonate with the listener.  She is armed with her ukelele…

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The Church, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Living End and more join Bluesfest 2021 Lineup

The Bluesfest organisers have just announced the third batch of artists who will be performing at next year’s festival. Legendary psych-rock group The Church will be making their Bluesfest debut, headlining this latest lineup announcement. Adored singer and Eurovision 2019 star Kate Kate Miller-Heidke will hit the stage to showcase her amazing vocal talent. Iconic…

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Book Review: Laura Elvery’s second collection is anything but ordinary

The premise for Brisbane writer, Laura Elvery’s second collection of short fiction, Ordinary Matter, is enticing. Inspired by the twenty times a woman has won a Nobel Prize for scientific research, it is a collection about womanhood, feminism and motherhood. But, also about big issues which are very much prescient today, such as climate change and politics. From…

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QT Hotels across Australia to tackle 2020 stress with in-room meditation programs

Over the past few years, the idea of wellness and mental health has become increasingly entwined with classic conceptions of hospitality, focused on providing truly restorative stays and getting to the heart of why people take vacations to begin with. From the jungle-entrenched eco-resorts in Bali, to high-end hotels in major cities like London, New…

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‘Looking Past the Pandemic’ with Dizzy Fae from Minneapolis, Minnesota

Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of…

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Virgin Australia responds to NSW-SA borders opening up with more flights

In response to news that South Australia has opened borders with NSW and ACT, Virgin Australia has rushed to ramp up its domestic network between the states. Given that residents of NSW and the ACT are now able to travel to South Australia for leisure or work, the airline has acted swiftly and immediately scheduled…

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Miller Roberts

Track of the Day: Miller Roberts “Heart on Your Sleeve” (2020)

Miller Roberts is the moniker for singer/songwriter Millie Robertson. She is new on the scene as a solo artist and has recently released her debut EP, Square One. “Heart on Your Sleeve” is lifted from this EP, and we are excited to make it our Track of the Day today. I’m sure that fans of…

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‘Looking Past the Pandemic’ with Elme from Melbourne, VIC

Keeping travel dreams alive and setting goals has never felt more important. We can all agree that 2020 has been an unfortunate year so far, and almost every facet of daily life has been wrought by this ongoing global pandemic, the start of which now feels like forever ago. The arts has been one of…

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Tokyo Lamington opens a Sydney flagship in Haymarket

It appears that the recent collaboration between Koko Black and Tokyo Lamington was indeed a sign of bigger things to come, with the Tokyo-born dessert store officially opening a flagship in Sydney today. Founded by N2 Gelato mastermind Min Chai and former Black Star Pastry alum Eddie Stewart, Tokyo Lamington is an ode to Australia’s…

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Exclusive Album Premiere: The English Rain – Echoes of You (2020)

Today we have the premiere of the long-awaited debut album, Echoes of You from Brisbane band The English Rain. It’s hard to believe that it’s taken the band this long to put out an album, given the depth of their catalogue. The English Rain was co-founded by Steve Boom and Neil Steward who met in…

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Bethesda

Xbox acquires Bethesda Softworks

“Today is a special day,” begins the most seismic announcement Phil Spencer has ever made. It certainly is. Xbox has announced overnight that it will acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. The deal, worth USD $7.5 billion, makes every studio under Bethesda’s umbrella and all of the IP they produce, from The Elder…

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Therabody Wave Roller Review: Self-massage just got smarter

After launching their highly sought Theragun line of percussive massage guns in Australia, Therabody seem more than ready to grow with the burgeoning world of smart tech wellness products. And their first non-gun step in that direction is the Wave Roller – a smart, vibrating version of the classic foam roller, aimed for a convenient…

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Series X preorder

Here’s where to preorder an Xbox Series X/S in Australia

Both the Xbox Series X and Series S will open preorders first thing tomorrow morning. See below for where you can preorder yours and make sure you secure a console at launch. Series X preorder will open at 8am AEST (that’s 7:30am ACST, 6:00am AWST, and 10am NZST) at retailers around the country. Pricing appears…

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Intrepid’s Urban Adventures brand launches virtual tours

India, Poland, Mexico – all off the cards for Aussie travellers anytime soon. But that isn’t to say we can’t at least take some of our senses to these far-flung destinations. With Virtual Travel the trend of 2020, Intrepid’s fiercely local, day-tour-oriented Urban Adventures brand has launched numerous ticketed digital tours along that very idea,…

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