Down Under Triple Play: Elli Schoen - Babaganouj - Kinsky

Elli Schoen - Hard Heart.

Background promo - With immediate spins from Triple J's Home and Hosed and Unearthed Radio, 'Hard Heart' is quickly resonating with critics and listeners alike for its stripped-back honesty and throat-catching emotion. The track features exquisite layered harmonies, frank lyrics, and tender melodies - but the true star is Schoen’s voice that soars with remarkable expression. She answers the unmet expectations of a disappointing boyfriend with an indie-folk tale that’s equal parts sorrowful and empowering, sassy and wise. Just think of it as the most redemptive break-up song you’ve ever heard.

"Hard Heart is about when someone hurts you and you never truly regain that vulnerability," says Schoen. "But it has an uplifting feel and energy towards it, it's a break-up song that isn't depressing." The song was produced by pop heavyweight Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe, Meg Mac) who has a knack for nosing out bangers and polishing hidden gems. Joel says of the sessions, "Elli's performance on Hard Heart is arresting and more than a little heartbreaking. I was kinda blown away when she did this vocal, it hits you right between the eyes."

Recently supporting Gang of Youths, Abbe May and Katy Steele, Schoen is set to take her live show around the country (details TBA), while also putting the finishing touches on her new material. "I'm so excited to launch onto the national music scene and release
an album. It hasn't been a quick shoot to stardom, it’s been a slow burning journey but it's worth the wait," she explains. "I’ve learnt a lot and grown a lot - both as an artist and a person. The time is now right."

'Hard Heart' demonstrates clearly the superb vocals of Elli Schoen. The song is a little reminiscent of First Aid Kit material, nothing wrong with that, this is high quality indie folk and it's no surprise that Elli is getting noticed.

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Babaganouj - Do Rite With Me Tonite.

Background promo - Drenched in Brisbane pride, power pop-rock outfit Babaganouj have grown a legion of fans since their 2011 inception. While keeping with their distinctly Australian style, The Nouj’s sound is reminiscent of Teenage Fanclub, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Yuck, taking inspiration from Creation Records and Flying Nun classics.

In 2014, the band gained serious radio attention with their releases ‘Too Late For Love’ and ‘Bluff’. This success took them on a number of headlining tours, as well as each leg of the Blurst of Times festival tour. Along with frontman Charles Sale’s signature on-stage power lunges, the Triple J Unearthed favourites have supported the likes of The Preatures, Smudge, Veruca Salt, The Lemonheads, Northeast Party House and The Creases.

Continuing their powerhouse rise, 2015 saw Babaganouj play at the inaugural Mates festival in Sydney, Brisbane’s Bigsound conference, and come in as finalists for Qmusic’s Billy Thorpe scholarship. They also released their singles ‘Can’t Stop’ and ‘Hit Song’ to a head-boppingly enthusiastic reception.

Looking forward, the trio of writers is set to record three EPs in 2016, showcasing each member’s vocal talents. As well as their own headline tours, they’ll continue to spread their sound through festivals and international supports throughout the east coast. In everything ‘Nouj produces are infectious lyrics, intense riffs and unreal magnetism.

Babaganouj 'Pillar Of Light’ Tour

Friday 22nd April 2016 - Waywards, Sydney NSW - Babaganouj takeover night
Saturday 23rd April 2016 - The Toff In Town, Melbourne VIC
Sunday 24th April 2016 - Spotted Cow, Toowoomba QLD w/ Good Boy
Friday 29th April 2016 - The Helm, Sunshine Coast QLD w/ Good Boy
Saturday 30th April 2016 - Minimum Wage Club, Shark Bar, Gold Coast QLD w/ Good Boy
Friday 6th May 2016 - Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane QLD

We featured Babaganouj back in September 2015, and along comes another EP that's just to good to pass up on. With energy and spark the band deliver up some more power pop and rock, full of hooks and charm.

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Kinsky - I Am The Mountain.

Background promo - After their critically acclaimed 2013 debut album Sunset On The Good Fight, Sydney soul roots band Kinsky are back with a new 6 track EP The Edge Of The Wine-Dark Sea slated for release in 2016. The band is excited to announce the lead single off the EP “I Am The Mountain”. 

In the past 2 years the 9-piece have shared the stage with international acts such as The Skatalites, Groundation and Balkan Beat Box as well as top Australian acts such as Dubmarine and Kingfisha to name a few, quickly becoming prominent faces in the Australian roots music scene, commanding legions of fans along the way. 

Songwriter and lead singer Ernie Garland teamed up once again with legendary Catalan studio engineer Enric Carbonell in Tokyo to mix the new tracks at the esteemed Volta Studios resulting in their biggest, warmest, jumping-out-of-the-speakers-sounding record to date. A swinging reggae groove with a punchy, horn-laden hook, “I Am The Mountain” is a big-sounding, emotive take on the power of collective change when the wellbeing of current and future generations is under threat from greedy, short-sighted, big-moneyed agendas. 

“We’re seeing it locally in Australia where there’s a constant struggle, a constant push-back by people who will be directly or indirectly affected by a government’s poorly thought policy to hand over prime agricultural lands to big miners. It’s insane. If big miners are allowed to go in unchecked to dig up our food bowls then we will be left with nothing but slag-piles and ugly holes in the ground and a permanently damaged water table. To secure our future we must manage the land sustainably and respectfully. It shouldn’t be a hard concept to grasp.” 

Upcoming Shows 
Sat 23rd April - Venue 505, Surry Hills NSW
Fri 6th May - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW 

Kinsky deliver up a potent and powerful reggae vibe with 'I Am The Mountain'. The song is beautifully produced and strikes a really good balance both musically and vocally, so that every part stands out with sonic clarity. Wonderful!


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