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r&b/soul

The Hornstars

There are many words that could be used to describe Melbourne band The Hornstars. Funky. Danceable. Loud. Quirky (have you seen that video?). But above all else, the Hornstars are all about fun, and their primary mission is to show their audience a funky good time.

The Hornstars sound is big, brassy and hard to pigeonhole. The lineup featuring Clancy Cullen (vocals), Daniel Bardan (trumpet), Bruce Cousins (trombone), Russell B Myers (tenor sax), Joey Mount (drums), Mike Holloway (bass), Peter Bonett (keys), Gareth Durant (guitar) and Eric Morand (alto sax and percussion) bring a wide range of influences to the mix. Jazz, soul reggae - it may not all be funk as we know it, but it is definitely funky.

The Hornstars formed in 2016, legend has it, after founding members were kicked out of their ska band for allegedly being “too funky”. What came next was inevitable. The band quickly recruited their 9-piece lineup and confected a set of catchy and danceable songs, which they took to the pubs and bars of Melbourne and beyond, and eventually released as their debut album in March 2020.

During the COVID-enforced hiatus, band members continued to write, getting together when restrictions allowed. The band’s song writing continued to evolve, sometimes reflecting what was going on in the world outside (witness the hard funk grooves of "No Gigs" and "Half Way There"), and at others expressing aspirations for brighter post-pandemic future ("Touch", "Say Goodbye"). Occasionally emerging between lockdowns in 2021, the Hornstars were greeted with an enthusiastic reception and sold out shows.

With their second album Half Way There released in August this year, the Hornstars are looking forward to playing more live shows in 2022 and beyond. And while we are still living in uncertain times, here is one thing to be sure of - The Hornstars are still having fun in 2022, and so should you.

Tyne-James Organ

Tyne first gained national attention in late 2017 with the release of the single, ‘Watch You Go,’ a detailed account of the death of his father, Rikki, in 2016. It was a song that was equally flowing with grief and joy, as Tyne, a kid from the raw, Northern suburbs of the former steel city Wollongong, pursued not only his dreams to become a professional musician, but his desire to achieve catharsis and find meaning in his father’s untimely passing. Released by stalwart indie label Dew Process, the song quickly captured the attention of the tastemakers at triple j radio, and was added to full rotation, bringing his music to a national platform for the first time. Meanwhile, Tyne continued his journey towards closure by encouraging discussions of loss and grief in the media as his profile continued to grow.

From there he pivoted with his follow up – the upbeat rocker, ‘Graceful,’ and with it showed off the next huge step in his artistic development. The single saw him aim big – going for a huge, rockier sound, while continuing to focus on the delicacy of his lyricism. Again, championed by triple j, ‘Graceful’ proved to be a major turning point in his fledgling career, leading to sold out national solo tours and support slots for big name acts like Jake Bugg, Lime Cordiale, and Middle Kids, as well as performing as part of his good friend and label mate Mallrat’s on stage show, including her momentous Splendour In The Grass set in 2018. In 2019, Organ released his debut EP, Persevere, spearheaded by the barnstorming single ‘Something New.’

By now Organ had grown from the surfer-songwriter from the NSW South Coast, into a fully-formed frontman with swagger, a voice as powerful in its deeper register as its highest falsetto, and three songs that had burned bright on national radio on high rotation for 18 months. This time he returned to perform at Splendour in the Grass on his own steam, packing out the country’s premiere festival stage with thousands of his own fans.

After years of hard work and inspiration spawned by overcoming tragedy and celebrating triumph, 24-year old Organ now returns in 2021 with his debut album, Necessary Evil. The album was recorded throughout 2020 with longtime creative partner Chris Collins (Middle Kids, Skegss) at his NSW Hinterland studio, Stokers Siding. The result sees Organ move from triumphant and jubilant at one moment, to introspective and tender at the next. He deals with grief and pain, power and passion – sometimes open and raw with bare bones acoustics, other times with undeniable swagger via chugging guitar riffs and a swing for the fences approach that only comes from letting it all go and letting the music speak for itself.

Alongside Sunday Suit, Necessary Evil features the upbeat rocker Graceful, the undeniable follow up Hold Me Back; and recent single Not Ready for Love cut so deep it became his most successful international single to date. The track earned the attention of BBC Radio 1 tastemaker Jack Saunders, who locked into that vocal line straight away, saying, “…he's got such a sick voice! He sounds like he's just woken up after a three-day bender with Mick Jagger and Ozzy Osbourne picked up the guitar and gone straight into the recording booth without even attempting to rehydrate in any capacity at all. I love the gravel when he really pushes his voice to the max!"

Organ has steadily grown his audience and reputation over the last few years with hard work, brilliant stage craft, wearing his heart on his sleeve and an undeniable talent for writing beautiful music. It's a courage that has endeared him to fans around the country and the world at large. He’s shared stages with The Lumineers, Jake Bugg, Middle Kids, and Lime Cordiale to name a few, and several sold out national headline tours in minutes. As well as playing some of Australia’s biggest festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Falls, Party in the Paddock, Yours and Owls and Fairgrounds.

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Stylus

Stylus were an Australian blue-eyed soul group formed in 1975. They were the only Australian act to be released by Motown Records in the USA. Stylus toured supporting George Benson, Average White Band, Ike & Tina Turner, and Little River Band. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, Stylus "scored a number of hit singles and became very popular on the Australian pub and concert circuit". The group disbanded in 1979 and subsequently had various reunions. In 1998-99 Japan's Toshiba-EMI re-issued three Stylus albums on CDs (For the Love of Music, Best Kept Secret and Part of It All). Their reunions have resulted in a live album, Still Alive (2003); and a new studio album, Across Time (2010).

JALEN NGONDA

Truly life-enriching soul music is an indomitable force of nature. No matter what sub-genre our current crop of musicologists may cite in the very near future to describe Jalen Ngonda’s riveting approach, he’s unequivocally a gifted songwriter and artist, blending classic and contemporary soul influences to create a sound that’s all his own. The last year has seen the release of his critically acclaimed debut album “Come Around And Love Me ” he has even swiftly followed it early in 2024 with two brand new singles, as an artist who writes songs every day, its a natural thing to keep fresh music coming out. Jalen is already catching the attention of the likes of Snoop Dog, Jill Scott, Kehlani and Olivia Dean, as well as Elton John, who predicted last Summer that “he is going to be a huge star”. Despite being extremely busy these past months playing sold-out tours in the USA, UK and Europe and promoting the album, the good news is that he is already planning the next recording sessions. Signed to Daptone Records a funk and soul independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York and the perfect home for him, Jalen possesses a rich, nuanced voice that sets him miles apart from the crowd. His music is as fresh and contemporary as anyone’s gracing today’s scene. . Music that may instil a nostalgia for the golden era of soul but from a very special artist that is very much of his time, a real once in a generation experience.

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Kutcha Edwards

Proud Mutti Mutti songman Kutcha Edwards brings focus back to his significant and wonderfully acclaimed album ‘Circling Time’ TODAY with the release of Mrs Edwards and a new music video for the track

Says Kutcha, “Imagine as a 6-year-old meeting your mother after being forcefully removed from her loving arms as a baby. ‘Mrs Edwards’ is about that moment when you’re told the person standing before you is in fact your Mother.

Imagine for that child when their immediate response is -“who is this stranger”

Imagine for that mother when she’s told - “It’s time for you to go”

The single release will coincide with a tour to northern parts of NSW and Sydney, followed by shows in WA and Melbourne.

Multi award winning artist Kutcha certainly has a way of connecting with audiences. As a respected elder, his performance experience takes you on a journey with stories from his life, the highs and the lows that segue so eloquently into each song choice lifting your spirit and inducing goose bump moments.

Kutcha will play at the following celebrated venues in October. They have been lovingly selected to highlight Kutcha’s inspirational vocals in each location.

A number of these beautiful theatres are steeped in history including The Star Court Theatre, Lismore, which was the first major venue for musical and theatrical events in Northern NSW, opening with much fanfare on 18th July 1921.

The Bowraville Theatre was opened in 1940 and operated as a racially segregated business, according to the Mackay Argus. Aborigines had to buy their tickets separately, enter the theatre by a separate side entrance, occupy inferior wooden seats below an interior wooden partition, but to do so after the program had begun and leave before the end."

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Mufaro

Mufaro is an R&B/Soul, Jazz & Hip Hop award-winning artist, specialising in blending genres to create unique experiences for his listeners. Having captivated the R&B/Soul scene in Brisbane, Mufaro is a QUBE Effect People’s Choice winner and has made appearances at Jungle Love Festival, Yonder Festival and the EKKA, as well as earning support slots for both local, national and international artists. His EP Closer was releases in January 2018 and displays his ability to blend the worlds of R&B And Jazz in this powerful storytelling medium. Since then, Mufaro has shown his versatility as an artists with tracks such as Samba, Show Me and, most recently, Late Night.

With obvious influence from heavyweights such as D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, Mufaro has been described as “one of the strongest Soul/R&B and Hip Hop acts” by The Music (2017), and the Zimbabwean native is only just getting started.

Yazmin Lacey

Yazmin Lacey (born in east London) is a British singer based in Nottingham.

Having written in her bedroom for her whole life, Lacey began to play acoustic shows in 2014. As her reputation grew locally in Nottingham, she came to meet the diverse group of musicians who would form her band The Running Circle. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Rita Satch

“Soulful vocals with a jazz-tinged charm, there’s a defiantly modern approach at play here.” – Clash Magazine.

A modern day siren, Rita Satch is fast becoming an unforgettable presence in Australia’s neo-soul movement.

Brought up on jazz and soul greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Nina Simone, Rita Satch has a powerful voice that transcends time. She has released 2 EP’s and has performed at world renowned festivals such as Glastonbury and Cheltenham Jazz Festival (UK).

Rita has received prestigious accolades for her songwriting, including first prize in the Unsigned Only Music competition and was a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition in 2015.

Satch regularly collaborates with the world's leading musicians, including Barney McAll (Sia, Gary Bartz) who featured her in his most recent releases, An Extra Celestial Christmas and Sweet Water.

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Maeta

On her new EP Habits, rising R&B songstress Maeta (20) sounds more comfortable and self-assured than ever. It is a reflection of her personal growth over the past year. She’s gone through and conquered a lot of issues, like toxic relationships, her own confidence, and has made a home for herself in Los Angeles. Channeling that life experience into her art, the result is a cohesive body of work about the emotional trials and tribulations of young adulthood. On lead single “Teen Scene,” produced by Kaytranada (Rihanna, Anderson .Paak, Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar), featuring rapper Buddy, Maeta says goodbye to a juvenile relationship, both with a sense of closure and curiosity. And on “Doesn’t Mean A Thing,” produced by Teddy Walton (Kendrick Lamar, Bryson Tiller, Kehlani), featuring singer-songwriter Leven Kali, she uses her sultry voice to contemplate the uncertainties of being in love. The EP is rounded out by productions from Mustard (Tinahse, Demi Lovato, Mariah Carey) and The Orphanage (Bebe Rexha, Alessia Cara, Tori Kelly).

Maeta first stole the hearts of fans through SoundCloud releases and Instagram cover clips. Her debut EP, Do Not Disturb, was released in November 2019 and encapsulated Maeta's many moods and emotions since moving from Indianapolis to Los Angeles earlier that year to focus on her career. It received critical acclaim, with Refinery29 saying of the first single “Babygirl,” “Honest to god, a song hasn't soothed my nerves as much as this one in a WHILE. I needed it.” Showcasing the breadth of her artistic vision, Maeta released striking visuals for each song on the EP, along with various covers for her #MaetaMondays social media series, during which she puts her own spin on an eclectic group of hit songs from the likes of Drake and Kehlani.

Maeta’s artistic parents - her mom is a visual artist, her dad plays the drums - nurtured and encouraged their daughter’s creativity and pushed her to freely explore her expressive passions including visual arts and even the art of make-up. And like many parents, the music they played around the house, including the Eagles and John Mayer, became the building blocks of her sound. At the same time, like most young people, she gravitated towards the music of her teen years including Kid Cudi, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé and SZA and their ability to use music to speak truth to their feelings. These influences, her natural singing ability and the fact that she is a self-proclaimed “daydreamer” who “falls in love too fast” and is drawn to sad songs, brought her to the sound you hear today - blending pop and soul with lyrics that allow Maeta to be a voice for those who struggle to express their emotions. Her goal: to be a positive light. She also has a passion for performing live, despite her stage fright, and her big dream is to play in front of thousands of people at large festivals around the world because she sees that as a place of “ultimate freedom.”

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Ruby Jackson

Described as “the little black dress in your wardrobe, an instant classic” (FBi Radio), Sydney-based songwriter, producer and performer Ruby Jackson has positioned herself at the heart of the Australian R&B scene.

During her high school years, Ruby fell in love with jazz music when she discovered the magic of Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole and Julie London. This sudden passion inspired her to study composition at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she honed in on her writing skills.

Since completing her studies, Ruby has been quickly flourishing into one of Sydney’s most authentic, world-class creators of music with songs that continuously strike a chord with her audience. This can be traced back to November 2022 when Jackson was selected as FBi Radio’s Independent Artist of the Week for her release ‘Get Around To It’, which quickly became a crowd pleaser for its smooth & classy alternative R&B touch.

In 2023, Ruby's singles 'Out Of Fashion', 'Guilty Pleasure', and 'You’ve Changed' dominated the airwaves, earning Double J rotation, triple j Unearthed rotation, alongside radio-play support from triple j, iHeartRadio and community radios nationwide.

Off the back of her impressive performances at BIGSOUND and SXSW Sydney in September 2023, Ruby released her much-anticipated debut EP Sweeter For Me in November, co-produced with one of Sydney’s renowned creators Finbar Stuart.

Fuelled by 2000s R&B Pop nostalgia, the timeless 5-track record tells a series of sincere stories with a beautiful, honest delivery - everything a debut should do. Sweeter For Me has recently been nominated for the 2024 AIR Awards (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) for Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or Ep.

Ruby has kicked off 2024 with a sold-out performance at Cockatoo Island’s Sunset Sessions, Hot Jazz Picnic, and has just recently sold out the Lansdowne with a headline show. February saw Ruby open for Ball Park Music as part of Sydney’s Twilight At Taronga, then up to Brisbane to warm the stage for International sensation Morcheeba (UK) at The Tivoli.

Following on from her standout shows at Blues On Broadbeach, Ruby will soon be announcing her much-anticipated East Coast tour. Don’t miss the chance to experience this soulful sophistication!

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