We've teamed up with the famous Yours & Owls crew to bring you Illawarra's favourite Sunday session for another season.
Introducing Micra, the combined project of Bulgarian born and raised singer-guitarist Ivana Kafedjiyska and Australian guitarist-producer, Robbie Cain.
The pair, now based in Sydney, met by serendipitous fortune at an Unknown Mortal Orchestra show after the ticketing Gods coincidentally sat them next to each other. That chance meeting blossomed into a musical kinship which, after months of jamming in a friend’s Sydney basement, led to the formation of Micra in 2018.
The triple j-tipped band’s sound mines the wistful atmospheres and contoured bass lines of French band Air, while plotting the impulsive courses in arrangement and structure that fellow Australian Kevin Parker has made a name for, bolstered by the genre-chameleon-like pop sensibilities of Depeche Mode.
Atop it all is Ivana Kafedjiyska’s inimitable and strangely transfixing voice. Her anthemic melodies and the strength in her vocal expression provide a reassurance that despite the vulnerability that subtly colours her vocal character, her and Cain’s combined vision – the destiny of their serendipity - isn’t a wavering one.
Speaking about “Fuzz Captain”, Kafedjiyska said, “When left only with a brief interaction between yourself and a stranger, your mind is left to fill in the gaps about almost the entirety of who they are as a person.” Cain added, “Often the gaps are filled exactly how you want, leading to an idealistic picture of that person from a distance. Fuzz captain explores the hopeful lonely feeling of potentially meeting that stranger for the second time.”
Co-produced by the band with emerging Sydney producer/mixer James Christowski, “Fuzz Captain”, alongside earlier releases “Child Grows Old” and “Plastic” represent an early taste of this exciting duo’s heart-centred, psych-tinged indie rock.
More news on a long form release from Micra on the way soon.
“It's got depth, it's got drive, it's got some magic dust sprinkled on top” – Richard Kingsmill, triple j
“Wistful, angelic, delivered with a hint of melancholy” – The Line of Best Fit
“Divine, another sign of Micra’s addictive rise” – Clash
“Ariel Pink and Tame Impala thrown in for a mish-mash of psych- and dream-pop you'll get lost in” – Pilerats
- The Jensens
The angst and fervour of The Jensens debut release ‘Everybody Talks’ and the introspective rock of follow up ‘Sexless’ combine to create somewhat of a first phase in the bands career. They played incessantly around Australia for two years in support of the two records, delivering a live show with staggering energy.
Just 3 months after ‘Sexless’, the band released their mammoth 10-minute single ‘Emotion’. Encapsulating elements of funk, disco, prog and art rock, the band made a statement that reflected a sea change in style and perspective.
Now, in 2019, The Jensens are set to release their debut album ‘Hyacinth Haze’. A record that combines all the best elements of their past work. Two singles have already been released from the album, bittersweet opener ‘Coma’ and psyche-tinged lead single ‘Mt. Mura’.
The Jensens are also bringing their dynamic live show to audiences around the country. The band have shared stages with the likes of The Vaccines, Last Dinosaurs, Spiderbait, Twin Peaks, Saskwatch, Art of Sleeping and The Delta Riggs and have also played a number of festival stages such as Valley Fiesta, Jungle Love, The Blurst of Times, Deadlam and the inaugural Grampians Music Festival.
- SULT
Sult//indie dream-pop twins//Wollongong
- The Swamp Stompers
The Swamp Stompers play funky rock and blues with heavy grooves. Emerging from the dirty backwaters of Lismore in 2012, the three band members have since been banished to far-flung swamps across Wollongong, Katoomba, and Old Bar NSW. The band sounds like the musical lovechild of John Butler Trio, Led Zeppelin, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, with three-part harmonies, catchy guitar riffs, and dubstep inspired didgeridoo soundscapes setting this original blues-rock trio apart from the pack.
Since this fateful merging of musical minds, The Swamp Stompers have set about earning themselves a significant reputation as one of the most promising up-and-coming acts to emerge in recent years. The powerhouse trio has stomped their mark on prominent Australian festivals including Caloundra Music Festival (QLD), Blues at Bridgetown (WA), and the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival (NSW). The band is renowned for their incredibly high-energy live shows, with punters and peers left in complete awe by the raw power and finesse displayed by this seemingly unstoppable guitar riff-driven beast.
‘‘Catchy grooves, intelligent songs and youthful hunger – this band has the right mix of potions to take Australian blues and roots to the next level. One of my absolute favourites.’’ Lloyd Spiegel (Australian Blues Legend)
“We highly recommend you check these guys out as we firmly believe that these guys will be Torch Bearers of roots music in the 21st century.” Neil Mumme (Festival Co-Ordinator, Great Southern Blues Festival Narooma)
The band’s three singles have all achieved great success. ‘All My Loving [Feat. Holly Tapp]’ landed ahead of Tash Sultana’s smash hit ‘Jungle’ in the AMRAP rural charts ‘Top 10’ in November 2016, while previous single ‘Wicked West’ achieved Triple J airplay and a prestigious ‘MusicOz Award’ nomination. The band’s cult 2015 single ‘Swamp Stomp Boogie’ has just hit 12,000+ views on YouTube. Following up from The Swamp Stompers’ eclectic 2016 EP ‘Suspended Suns’, which features original drummer Mitch Broadhead, the band is set to release their highly-anticipated 4th EP ‘Shadows on the Wall’ in September 2018 with the new lineup consisting of Corey Legge, Luke Ligtenberg, and Oli Morley-Sattler