Album of the Week - BIRDS OF TOKYO {Brace}

Sunday Spotlight: Tkay Maidza

Coming to us from Adelaide via Zimbabwe it's the sensational Tkay Maidza. Her debut Tkay dropped on Friday with 14 irresistible party jams after a sensational EP and a feature features and singles the full length recording is finally here!

Tkay has made a name for herself touring relentlessly, playing multiple music festivals and getting a shit load of radio play.

Following Carry On with Killer Mike (Run the Jewels), Tennies and Simulation, Tkay is an album packed with some familiar tunes already. Working with the brilliant Martin Solveig and Motez recently Tkay is the Australian princess of the dancefloor.

Let's have a Sunday session with the almighty artist known as Tkay now!

Weekend Album of the Week - Saturday

It's finally out, Two Vines the third studio album from Empire of the Sun hit the shelves yesterday, alongside tomorrow's spotlight artist, Tkay Maidza.

Let's take a big listen to all the sounds that make up this EPIC third record from the Australian duo.

Fresh Friday Countdown #41 - Friday 28 October 2016

20 - Bliss N Eso - Dopamine {Feat. Thief}
19 - Hilltop Hoods - 1955 {Feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum}
18 - Macklemore - Drug Dealer {Feat. Ariana DeBoo}
17 - Drake - Controlla
16 - Sia - Cheap Thrills
15 - Empire of the Sun - High & Low14 - Amy Shark - Adore 
13 - Kid Cudi - Surfin' {Feat. Pharrell Williams}
12 - Mura Musa - Love$ick {Feat. A$AP Rocky}
11 - MO - Final Song
10 - Drake - One Dance {Feat. Wizkid & Kyla}
9 - Anne-Marie - Alarm
8 - Sia - The Greatest {Feat. Kendrick Lamar}
7 - Illy - Papercuts {Feat. Vera Blue}
6 - Drake - Sneakin' {Feat. 21 Savage}
5 - Calvin Harris - My Way
4 - Drake - Fake Love
3 - Illy - Catch 22 {Feat. Anne-Marie}
2 - Peking Duk - Stranger {Feat. Elliphant}
1 - The Weeknd - Starboy {Feat. Daft Punk}

Thursday Album of the Week

Mid Week Album of the Week

Tuesday Album of the Week

Album of the Week - EMPIRE OF THE SUN {Two Vines}

Sunday Spotlight: Katy Steele

After three Little Birdy records Katy Steele has finally unleashed her solo album on the world. The much loved Australian singer from Perth WA has a relationship with next weeks feature album (hint, hint) and had huge success with Little Birdy from around 2002 until around 2010.

Katy Steele has one of those amazing voices and from Little Birdy anthems to her debut solo record Human, Steele is a star. Let's celebrate her achievements today with some new and old hits.

Out on the Shelves.... Yesterday (Includes tomorrow's spotlight artist)

Jimmy Eat World release their ninth studio record 15 years after the smash hit single Bleed American.

Speaking of 15 years old remember when Korn were big, well they also released a new record yesterday, it's called The Serenity of Suffering.

Sort of her sixth album Lady Gaga releases Jolene. After her critical acclaim in American Horror Story - Hotel, it's back to the music game for young Gaga. Not only Lady Gaga but Florence Welch is featured o this record and Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) assists on production and writing of the lead single "Perfect Illusion"

The brilliant Anderson. Paak is back with producer Knowledge for NxWorries, or No Worries for fans of good English.

Yes Laawd! is their debut after an EP in 2015. So excited for this!

Sia has re-released her brilliant album This is Acting, it's one of my two album of the year nominated records. The album features a few new songs, a couple of different versions of the Greatest (with and without Kendrick Lamar) and a remix of the catchy Move Your Body. I was sad not to see Sia release a second 2016 record, however like Flume (soon to release an EP of Skin off cuts) Sia must have hours of good unreleased music.

The Sean Paul version of Cheap Thrills went all the way to Number One in the US, well done SIA! More from Katy Steele tomorrow as she will be my feature for the Sunday Spotlight.

Fresh Friday Countdown #40 - Friday 21 October 2016

20 - Drake - Too Good {Feat. Rihanna}
19 - Kid Cudi - Surfin' {Feat. Pharrell Williams}
18 - Mura Musa - Love$ick {Feat. A$AP Rocky}
17 - Kings of Leon - Waste a Moment
16 - Hilltop Hoods - 1955 {Feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum}
15 - Amy Shark - Adore 
14 - Empire of the Sun - High & Low
13 - Bliss N Eso - Dopamine {Feat. Thief}
12 - Sia - Cheap Thrills
11 - Tkay Maidza - Simulation
10 - Drake - Controlla
9 - Drake - One Dance {Feat. Wizkid & Kyla}
8 - MO - Final Song
7 - Anne-Marie - Alarm
6 - Illy - Papercuts {Feat. Vera Blue}

5 - Peking Duk - Stranger {Feat. Elliphant}
4 - Calvin Harris - My Way
3 - Sia - The Greatest {Feat. Kendrick Lamar}
2 - Illy - Catch 22 {Feat. Anne-Marie}
1 - The Weeknd - Starboy {Feat. Daft Punk}

Mid Week Album of the Week - LIVE!

Tuesday Album of the Week

Album of the Week - TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB {Gameshow}

Sunday Spotlight: Lisa Mitchell

Three albums on, after a stint on the first season of Australian Idol Lisa Mitchell returns with the dreamy Warriors.

Her debut Wonder in 2009 was sublime and a fine record, Bless this Mess was a beautiful collection of tunes and I cannot wait to get into Warriors.

Lisa Mitchell is an incredible young talent and I think if anyones music is made for a Sunday Session it's Lisa's, so lets chill with some dreamy pop....

Fresh Friday Countdown #39 - Friday 14 October 2016

20 - Sofi Tukker - Drinkee
19 - SAFIA - My Love is Gone
18 - Rudimental - Healing {Feat. J Angel}
17 - Birds of Tokyo - Brace
16 - Amy Shark - Adore 
15 - Skrillex & Rick Ross - Purple Lamborghini
14 - Drake - Too Good {Feat. Rihanna}
13 - Empire of the Sun - High & Low
12 - Mura Musa - Love$ick {Feat. A$AP Rocky}
11 - Hilltop Hoods - 1955 {Feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum}
10 - Sia - Cheap Thrills
9 - Drake - One Dance {Feat. Wizkid & Kyla}
8 - MO - Final Song
7 - Bliss N Eso - Dopamine {Feat. Thief}
6 - Anne-Marie - Alarm
5 - Illy - Papercuts {Feat. Vera Blue}
4 - Illy - Catch 22 {Feat. Anne-Marie}
3 - Calvin Harris - My Way
2 - Sia - The Greatest {Feat. Kendrick Lamar}
1 - The Weeknd - Starboy {Feat. Daft Punk}

Out on the Shelves.... Tomorrow (Includes the Feature Record)

Yes this week's fantastic feature record from Sydney group Jagwar Ma finally hits the shelves and online stories tomorrow. Every Now & Then is the groups second release.

Also out tomorrow is UK X Factor runner up Rebecca Ferguson's (not to be confused with Girl on the Train star) fourth record SUPERWOMAN.

Kings of Leon are becoming more and more irrelevant so let's see if their seventh album Walls will bring them back into the mainstream.

Lisa Mitchell also returns after a few years away from the spotlight and her album Warriors tomorrow. This will be her third and it follows the delightful singles "The Boys" & "Warhol".

From NZ the Naked & Famous are set to release album number 3 tomorrow and if Higher is anything to go by, it's more brilliant POP!

And finally Two Door Cinema Club give us album number three featuring radio hits "Are We Ready? (Wreck)", "Bad Decisions" & "Gameshows".

Tuesday Album of the Week

Album of the Week - JAGWAR MA {Every Now & Then}

Sunday Spotlight: Sticky Fingers

Straight out of Sydney and they write songs about streets I frequent often it's Sticky Fingers. They recently released their third full length release and it's featured some big radio hits already.

Sticky Fingers first grabbed our attention in 2013 with the extremely catchy Caress Your Soul, ever since then it's been catchy hit after catchy hit.

The five piece show that indie music still has a solid place in the Australian music scene. Let's take a listen to some of the groups hits to date. I'm sure there are plenty more on the way!

Weekend Album of the Week - Full Stream

Oh Solange, what a pleasure it has been featuring the follow up to the uber cool True EP all this week. Well excluding holiday Monday. How good was holiday Monday btw.

Anyway you can listen to the full album via a streaming service HERE

And farewell the album with this cute video here:

Next week with the countdown to the 2016 ARIA Awards now on we will feature a brilliant Australian record which has already spawned two terrific singles. Tomorrow a great Sydney group will be featured on the Sunday Spotlight and late next month we will have some more killer music lists for you.

Until then let's enjoy and take a seat at Solange's table, heaven!

Fresh Friday Countdown #38 - Friday 7 October 2016

20 - Drake - Controlla
19 - Sofi Tukker - Drinkee
18 - Kanye West - Fade
17 - SAFIA - My Love is Gone
16 - Skrillex & Rick Ross - Purple Lamborghini
15 - Hilltop Hoods - 1955 {Feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum}
14 - Mura Musa - Love$ick {Feat. A$AP Rocky}
13 - Banks - Gemini Feed
12 - Empire of the Sun - High & Low
11 - Drake - Too Good {Feat. Rihanna}
10 - Drake - One Dance {Feat. Wizkid & Kyla}
9 - Sia - Cheap Thrills
8 - Amy Shark - Adore 
7 - MO - Final Song
6 - Bliss N Eso - Dopamine {Feat. Thief}
5 - Anne-Marie - Alarm

4 - Illy - Papercuts {Feat. Vera Blue}
3 - Calvin Harris - My Way
2 - Sia - The Greatest {Feat. Kendrick Lamar}
1 - The Weeknd - Starboy {Feat. Daft Punk}

ARIA 2016 Nominations | Winners | Predictions

2016 sees the ARIA Awards return to the Star Event Centre in late November. Below are the nominations and my picks in red. Below are the artisan awards and the winners from today's nominations event are in red.

Notice my two album of the year nominations (both Australians btw) are leading the pack with Flume getting 11 nods (and some awards today) and Sia grabbing a tidy 6 for her fab album This is Acting. Sadly The Greatest will not be on a new album but a deluxe version of this record.

TELSTRA ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Avalanches – Wildflower (Modular/EMI)
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
RÜFÜS – Bloom (Sweat It Out/Sony Music)
Sia – This Is Acting (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood (EMI)

BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Sarah Blasko – Eternal Return (EMI)
Delta Goodrem – Wings of the Wild (Sony Music)
Jessica Mauboy – This Ain’t Love (Sony Music)
Montaigne – Glorious Heights (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Sia – This Is Acting (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

BEST MALE ARTIST
Bernard Fanning – Civil Dusk (Dew Process/Universal Music)
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Illy – Papercuts (feat. Vera Blue) (Warner Music Australia)
Guy Sebastian – Black & Blue (Sony Music)
Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood (EMI)

BEST GROUP
The Avalanches – Wildflower (Modular/EMI)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity (Flightless Records/Remote Control Records)
RÜFÜS – Bloom (Sweat It Out/Sony Music)
The Veronicas – In My Blood (Sony Music)
Violent Soho – WACO (I Oh You)

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
DMA’S – Hills End (I Oh You)
L D R U – Keeping Score (feat. Paige IV) (Audio Paxx Agency/Sony Music)
Montaigne – Glorious Heights (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Olympia – Self Talk (EMI)
Safia – Make Them Wheels Roll (Warner Music Australia/Parlophone)

BEST POP RELEASE
Flume – Never Be Like You (feat. Kai) (Future Classic)
Illy – Papercuts (feat. Vera Blue) (Warner Music Australia)
Sia – This Is Acting (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood (EMI)
The Veronicas – In My Blood (Sony Music)

BEST DANCE RELEASE
The Avalanches – Wildflower (Modular/EMI)
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Hayden James – Just A Lover (Future Classic)
L D R U – Keeping Score (feat. Paige IV) (Audio Paxx Agency/Sony Music)
RÜFÜS – Bloom (Sweat It Out/Sony Music)

BEST URBAN ALBUM
Citizen Kay – With The People (ASP/MGM)
Drapht – Seven Mirrors (The Ayems/Sony Music)
Koi Child – Koi Child (Pilerats Records)
L-FRESH The LION – Become (Elefant Traks/Inertia)
Urthboy – The Past Beats Inside Me Like A Second Heartbeat (Elefant Traks/Inertia)

BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Tina Arena – Eleven (EMI)
Bob Evans – Car Boot Sale (EMI)
Bernard Fanning – Civil Dusk (Dew Process/Universal Music)
Robert Forster – Songs To Play (EMI)
Paul Kelly – Seven Sonnets & A Song (Gawd Aggie Recordings/Universal Music)

BEST ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
Sarah Blasko – Eternal Return (EMI)
Matt Corby – Telluric (Mercury Records Australia/Universal Music)
Peter Garrett – A Version of Now (Sony Music)
Jarryd James – Thirty One (Dryden Street Limited/Universal Music)
The Temper Trap – Thick As Thieves (Liberation Music)

BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE
Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Jarryd James – Thirty One (Dryden Street Limited/Universal Music)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity (Flightless Records/Remote Control Records)
Sia – This Is Acting (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Violent Soho – WACO (I Oh You)

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Adam Brand and the Outlaws – Adam Brand and the Outlaws (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Bill Chambers – Cold Trail (Checked Label Services)
Fanny Lumsden – Small Town Big Shot (Social Family Records/Universal Music)
Sara Storer – Silos (ABC Music/Universal Music)
The Wolfe Brothers – This Crazy Life (ABC Music/Universal Music)

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Ball Park Music – Every Night The Same Dream (Stop Start Music)
Boy & Bear – Limit Of Love (Boy & Bear/Universal Music)
Gang Of Youths – Let Me Be Clear (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
The Living End – Shift (Dew Process/Universal Music)
Violent Soho – WACO (I Oh You)

BEST HARD ROCK/HEAVY METAL ALBUM
The Amity Affliction – This Could Be Heartbreak (Roadrunner Records)
Hellions – Opera Oblivia (UNFD)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity (Flightless Records/Remote Control Records)
Parkway Drive – Ire (Resist/Cooking Vinyl Australia)
Twelve Foot Ninja – Outlier (Volkanik/MGM)

BEST BLUES & ROOTS ALBUM
Jimmy Barnes – Soul Searchin’ (Liberation Music)
Kev Carmody – Recollections… Reflections… (A Journey) (One Louder Recordings/Universal Music)
The Cat Empire – Rising With The Sun (Two Shoes Records)
Russell Morris – Red Dirt Red Heart (Chugg Music/MGM)
The Wilson Pickers – You Can’t Catch Fish From A Train (ABC Music/UMA)

BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM
Justine Clarke – Pyjama Jam! (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Pat Davern – Alexander The Elephant In Zanzibar (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Sam Moran – Play Along With Sam: BEST. DAY. EVER! (6 Degrees Records/MGM)
Play School – Famous Friends: Celebrating 50 Years of Play School (ABC Music/Universal Music)
The Wiggles – Wiggle Town! (ABC Music/Universal Music)

PUBLIC VOTED AWARDS

BEST VIDEO
Courtney Barnett – Elevator Operator (Milk!/Remote Control)
Delta Goodrem – Dear Life (Sony Music)
Flume – Never Be Like You (feat. Kai) (Future Classic)
Hilltop Hoods – 1955 (feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum) (Hilltop Hoods/Universal Music)
Illy – Papercuts (feat. Vera Blue) (Warner Music Australia)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – People-Vultures (Flightless Records/Remote Control Records)
Guy Sebastian – Black & Blue (Sony Music)
Sia – Cheap Thrills (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Troye Sivan – YOUTH Acoustic (Sydney Session) (EMI)
Violent Soho – Like Soda (I Oh You)

BEST AUSTRALIAN LIVE ACT
Courtney Barnett – National Theatre Tour (Milk!/Remote Control)
Flume – St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2016 (Future Classic)
Gang Of Youths – Gang Of Youths National Tour (Mosy Recordings/Sony Music)
Hilltop Hoods – The Restrung Tour (Hilltop Hoods/Universal Music)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity Tour (Flightless Records/Remote Control Records)
The Living End – Shift Tour (Dew Process/Universal Music)
RÜFÜS – Bloom Tour (Sweat It Out/Sony Music)
Tame Impala – Australian Tour (Modular/Universal Music)
Violent Soho – The WACO Tour (I Oh You)
You Am I – Bargain Bin Bon Vivants Tour (The You Am I Set/Inertia)

APPLE MUSIC SONG OF THE YEAR
Flume – Never Be Like You (feat. Kai) (Future Classic)
Hilltop Hoods – 1955 (feat. Montaigne & Thom Thum) (Hilltop Hoods/Universal Music)
Illy – Papercuts (feat. Vera Blue) (Warner Music Australia)
Kungs vs. Cookin’ On 3 Burners – This Girl (UNI/UMA)
L D R U – Keeping Score (feat. Paige IV) (Audio Paxx Agency/Sony Music)
Marcus Marr & Chet Faker The Trouble With Us (Detail Records)
Sia – Cheap Thrills (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Troye Sivan – Youth (EMI)
Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood – The Fighter (Capital/EMI)
The Veronicas – In My Blood (Sony Music)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
Adele – 25 (XL/Inertia)
Beyonce – Lemonade (Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment)
Justin Bieber – Purpose (DEF/Universal Music Australia)
Coldplay – A Head Full Of Dreams (PLG/Warner)
Drake – Views & If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (Universal/Universal Music Australia)
One Direction – Made in the A.M & Four (SYCO/Sony Music Entertainment)
Taylor Swift – 1989 (BIG/Universal Music Australia)
Meghan Trainor – Title & Thank You (Sony Music Entertainment)
twenty one pilots – Blurryface (Atlantic/Warner)
The Weeknd – Beauty Behind The Madness (Universal/Universal Music Australia)

WINNERS: Artisan, Fine Arts and Comedy Awards:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Tony Buchen for Montaigne – Glorious Heights (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi for The Avalanches – Wildflower (Modular / EMI)
Alex Hope for Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood (EMI)
M-Phazes for Illy – Papercuts (ft. Vera Blue) (Warner Music Australia)
Harley Streten for Flume – Skin (Future Classic)

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Nick DiDia for Bernard Fanning – Civil Dusk (Dew Process/Universal)
Eric J Dubowsky and Harley Streten for Flume – Skin (Future Classic)
Tony Espie and Robbie Chater for The Avalanches – Wildflower (Modular / EMI)
Alex Hope for Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood (EMI)
M-Phazes for Illy – ‘Papercuts (ft. Vera Blue) (Warner Music Australia)

BEST COVER ART
Robbie Chater for Lost Art for The Avalanches – Wildflower (Modular / EMI)
Kristen Doyle for Delta Goodrem – Wings of the Wild (Sony Music Australia)
Karen Lynch for Bernard Fanning – Civil Dusk (Dew Process/Universal)
Jack Vanzet for RÜFÜS – Bloom (Sweat It Out / Sony Music Australia)
Jonathan Zawada for Flume – Skin (Future Classic)

FINE ARTS AWARDS

BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM
Nicole Car – The Kiss (ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Joe Chindamo & Zoe Black – The New Goldberg Variations (AlFi Records / Planet)
Flight Facilities – Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Future Classic)
Katie Noonan & Brodsky Quartet – With Love And Fury (Kin Music/Universal Music)
Richard Tognetti | Australian Chamber Orchestra – Mozart’s Last Symphonies (ABC Classics/Universal Music)

BEST JAZZ ALBUM
Don Burrows & James Morrison – In Good Company (ABC Jazz/Universal Music)
Stu Hunter – The Migration (The Habitat Productions)
The Idea of North – Ballads (ABC Jazz/Universal Music)
Vince Jones & Paul Grabowsky – Provenance (ABC Jazz/Universal Music)
Emma Pask – Cosita Divina (Independent/Emma Pask Music)

BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW ALBUM
Kate Miller-Heidke – The Rabbits (Original Live Cast Recording) (ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Josh Pyke & The Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Live at the Sydney Opera House (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra – Gallipoli Symphony (ABC Classics/Universal Music)
Various Artists – The Divorce (Original Cast Recording) (Universal Music Australia)
Various Artists – Velvet : The Original Cast Recording (Social Family Records/Universal Music Australia)

BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM
Gawurra – Ratja Yaliyali (CAAMA Music/Rocket)
Joseph Tawadros – World Music (Independent / Planet)
Melbourne Ska Orchestra – Sierra Kilo Alpha (FOUR FOUR/Universal Music)
Paul Grabowsky | Monash Art Ensemble | David Ngukurr Boy Wilfred | David Yipininy Wilfred – Nyilipidgi (ABC Jazz/Universal Music)
Seaman Dan – An Old Man Of The Sea (Hot Records)

BEST COMEDY RELEASE
Luke Heggie – You’re Not Special/Anythink is Possible (Century Entertainment)
Matt & Alex – Play It Out (ABC Music/Universal Music)
Kate Miller-Heidke – I’m Growing A Beard Downstairs For Christmas (feat. The Beards) (Cooking Vinyl Australia)
Roy & HG – This Sporting Life (ABC Music/Universal Music)

Mid Week Album of the Week

Album of the Week - SOLANGE {A Seat at the Table}

Long Weekend Album - BON IVER {22, A Million} - Holiday Monday

Sunday Spotlight: War Paint

Outta LA this four piece slays on their latest album Heads Up. Their third record marks this indie cool Californian groups place in the hot indie scene for all the cool hipsters.

In 2010 BBC placed the group on their Sound of 2011 list. The prestigious list has launched many a career and is a massive achievement.

Let's listen to some of their career highlights thus far. Happy mid long weekend.

Long Weekend Album of the Weekend - BON IVER {22, A Million}