A selection of Aussie artists have benefited from five individual $15,000 grants to assist in recording new material following a partnership between royalties agency PPCA and the Australia Council.
First launching in October 2013, after receiving thousands of applications, the five recipients of the $15,000 PPCA Australia Council were announced last week. Leading the pack is Melbourne singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, who will use the funding towards the creation of her debut full-length album, the follow-up to the internationally renowned double EP collection A Sea Of Split Peas.
The record will feature her backing band, The Courtney Barnetts (Dave Mudie and Andrew ‘Bones’ Sloane) and co-producers Dan Luscombe (of The Drones fame) and peerless Aussie producer Burke Reid. The good news arrives as Courtney Barnett is set to hit a ream of international festivals, including Primavera, Field Day, Firefly, and Canadian industry conference NXNE this year.
Brisbane via Melbourne songsmith Ben Salter has also scored a grant, putting the money towards recording the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2011 solo debut The Cat at Applewood Lane Studios (the site of famed producer Magoo). Melbourne melodist Ainslie Wills is also using her successful grant towards a second album, titled Oh The Gold, the sequel to her AMP-nominated debut You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine (proudly named among Tone Deaf’s Top 15 list of the year’s most critically underrated releases).
Rounding out the successful PPCA Australia Council grant awardees are the guitar-playing Grigoryan Brothers, recording a record mixing originals with Australian classical composotions, and The Bamboos’ Lance Ferguson, recording a new album with his Lanu side-project – set to feature collaborations with Megan Washington, steel guitarist Bill Savesi, the Melbourne Samoan Choir, and more.
PPCA CEO Dan Rosen offered his congratulations to the successful artists, adding: “we look forward to hearing the recordings that emerge as a result of this funding and wish all of the recipients the very best over the course of their recording careers.”
This Week’s New Tracks On Triple J
Adds:
The Black Keys – Fever [Warner]
The Bohicas – Swarm [Domino/EMI]
Citizen Kay – Manage [Independent]
Future Islands – Seasons (Waiting On You) [4AD/Remote Control]
Highasakite – Since Last Wednesday [Propeller Recordings/Caroline]
Jesse Davidson – Big Bois Gotta Eat [Warner]
Schoolboy Q – Break The Bank [Universal]
Split Seconds – Halfway There {Ft. Kathryn Rollins} [triplejunearthed.com]
Thief – Closer [Rabble Records/Shock]
Spots:
Airling – Ouroboros [Pieeater/Inertia]
SAFIA – Paranoia, Ghosts & Other Sounds [Independent]
TCTS – These Heights [Sony]
Velociraptor – Ramona [Dot Dash/Remote Control]
Industry News
Applications For The Seed Fund 2014 Grants Open
Applications for The Seed Fund, a not for profit Australian organisation first founded by John Butler in 2005, are now open for the various funding categories for 2014. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, The Seed offers financial support to emerging musicians and artists through three grant categories and two initiatives. Namely the $5,000 ‘Money For Managers’ grant, the #3,500 ‘It’s All About The Song’ grant, and a Management Workshop. The 2014 initiatives offer up to $5,000 in the Bush Bands Business mentorship program and the Song Cycles Inbound program. All applications are now open and close Monday 5th May 2014. For more details head to www.theseedfund.org
Call For Live Music Supporters To Attend Sydney Council Meeting
Following the launch of the Live Music Matters action plan to revive Sydney’s live music scene last year, the City of Sydney Council are hosting a meeting this Monday 31st March to adopt the action plan to save the city’s music scene. Ahead of the meeting Labor Councillor Linda Scott has put the call out to local musicians and advocates of live music to attend the Council meeting to show their support of the proposed changes.
“On Monday I’ll be fighting the fun police and supporting live music in Sydney,” said Linda Scott in a media release issued yesterday. The public consultation for the Live Music Matters report saw a resounding endorsement for the recommendations, with 84% of respondents supportive and a further 11% offering support in principle.
“We need space for our children to learn instruments, places for our bands to rehearse, and places for our musicians to play. I’m pleased that there has been significant public support for supporting live music. Now it is time for action from Council” said Linda Scott. “I want to see Sydney as a place known for its high quality live music and performances, and a nursery for new local acts. I encourage all music lovers to come along to the Council meeting and to support live music and our local musicians.”
New Music Company From Former Shock/Big Day Out Publicist Launches
This week sees the official launch of Super Duper, a music PR and communications agency based in Sydney belonging to publicist Genna Alexopoulos, who was previously staffed with Shock Records and the Big Day Out. The first clients of her new company include The Cairos and Chance Waters (via Island), Papa Vs Pretty (EMI), and Chuck Ragan (Ten To Two), with Alexopoulos bringing her combined label and festival experience and channeling it into Super Duper. (via TheMusic)
Artist Signings
Dew Process Signs Darlia
Brisbane-based label Dew Process has signed buzzing British trio Darlia for the exclusive Australian release of their Candyman EP on 11th April, a six-track release featuring their debut single ‘Queen of Heart’ and title track.
Velociraptor Sign To Remote Control Records
Mighty Brisbane band Velociraptor, with is rotating lineup of 10 to 14 members, has signed with Remote Control/Dot Dash for the release of a new full length debut album later this year. The news coincides with the release of Velociraptor’s new single ‘Ramona‘ and an April tour.
Sheppard Land Deal With Decca Records
Brisbane indie outfit Sheppard have signed with historic British record label, and original home of The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones, Decca Records (supported by Universal Music worldwide). They are the first Aussie band to ever sign with the Decca and arrives as the band hit North America for a tour and the worldwide release of new single ‘Geronimo’.
Shock Records Sign Wunder Wunder
Wunder Wunder is the musical project of Melbourne via LA duo Aaron Shanahan and Benjamin Plant and Shock Records have just signed on the pair. The label will release their debut album later this year, led by first single ‘Coastline‘ a blend of electronic music and 60s/70s psychedelia.
Feed Her To The Sharks Join Victory Records Roster
Victory Records has signed Feed Her To The Sharks, a melodic metalcore quintet from Melbourne. Having toured with the likes of Asking Alexandria, Suicide Silence, August Burns Red and a slot on the 2013 Vans Warped Tour Australia. They’re now hitting the road with Buried In Verona and Fit For A King before hitting the studio to record their Victory Records full-length debut.
