• Well hello there new Calvin Harris single. Yes, the super producer has finally put his ‘Motion’ project to bed and is moving on with his new single ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. Featuring an appearance by Disciples, the new track was both released and serviced to media yesterday, with a remix package reportedly due on August 21.
• Flight Facilities have unveiled a remix package of their latest single ‘Heart Attack’, which features a vocal appearance by Melbourne songstress Owl Eyes. There’s a cover by The Presets’ Julian Hamilton (who co-penned it), along with remixes by Snakehips and Throwing Snow. It’s out now.
• It feels like we’ve been waiting an eternity for that new Natalie Imbruglia music to materialise. According to this week’s Sony Music release schedule, however, we’ve only got another month to wait, with her cover of ‘Instant Crush’ finally due for release on August 14. The album will follow on September 11.
• Another new release popping up on the local schedule this week is Little Mix’s third studio album ‘Get Weird’. The LP, now available for pre-order through the Australian iTunes store, will be made available in 12 track standard and 16 track deluxe editions; the latter coming with two bonus video features. The LP features the current top ten single ‘Black Magic’ and is due locally on Friday November 06.
• The album announcements keep coming, with Scottish electronic outfit Chvrches confirming they’ll release their all-important sophomore album ‘Every Open Eye’ in late September. The follow-up to 2013’s ‘The Bones Of What You Believe’, the LP is preceded by lead single ‘Leave A Trace’, which is available now as an instant grat track. ‘Every Open Eye’ is due on Friday September 25.
• It’s been No.1 for a couple of weeks now, but fans of John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Two Strong Hearts Live’ concert tour will soon be able to have a visual souvenir of it, with the live DVD hitting retailers on Friday August 21.
• The ticket ballot has opened for the silver anniversary edition of the Meredith Music Festival. Aunty Meredith will roll out the welcome mat to her supernatural amphitheatre on December 11, 12 and 13, with the line-up to be revealed “soon enough”.
• Angus & Julia Stone have been confirmed as the support act for all outdoor dates on the forthcoming tour by legendary group Fleetwood Mac. So no appearance in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, but all other days are a ‘go’.
• Aussie outfit Kisschasy have decided to call it a day. With the tenth anniversary of the release of their debut album ‘United Paper People’ coming up on the first of next month, the band released a heartfelt statement to their fans saying, “We don’t feel like, as a band, we can supersede what we’ve already accomplished musically. We have three records that we’re incredibly proud of and, rather than milk the band for everything it’s worth, we feel the best way to honour our fans and the music is to bow out with integrity”. They’ll give fans one last hoorah, however, embarking on a national tour throughout October, on which they’ll be performing their debut album in its entirety. Tickets are on sale now.
• BAM! That’s the sound of Little Mix making their chart intentions incredibly clear with their latest material; ‘Black Magic’ debuting at No.1 on the UK singles chart, knocking David Zowie’s ‘House Every Weekend’ from one to five in the process. Years & Years’ latest ‘Shine’ remains in the No.2 position for a second successive week, while Sam Feldt’s ‘Show Me Love’ premieres at No.4. Avicii’s ‘Waiting For Love’ makes a big re-entry into the charts – at No.6.
• And though the Years & Years boys may be feeling like bridesmaids on the British singles chart, there’s no such worry over on the British albums chart, where their debut long player ‘Communion’ has premiered right at the top. Ed Sheeran’s ‘X’ is down to No.2 in a week where no other album debuted in the top ten. The closest to the feat was Fifth Harmony, whose belatedly-released LP ‘Reflection’ debuted at No.18.
• He’s been threatening to take over for weeks and his patience has finally paid off; Omi has finally knocked Wiz Khalifa from the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. That said, Wiz can’t be too disappointed, having reigned in the top spot for 12 long weeks, albeit non-consecutively. But how long can Omi reign for? Especially with The Weeknd’s new single ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ moving up on a hurry; from No.6 to No.3. Rachel Platten’s ‘Fight Song’ edges from No.10 to No.8. And, with any luck, The Weeknd might have two top ten hits on his hand next week if ‘The Hills’ continues on its current trajectory.
• It was a relatively quiet week on the release front last week and as such, the Billboard 200 albums chart No.1 remains with Meek Mill for a second successive week. On a chart that’s used to seeing regular debuts in the top ten, not one single debut was to be found in the entire top 100.
• So that’s the charts in the UK and US taken care of. Now it’s onto Australia. The ARIA charts go live at 6pm AEST and, rather fortuitously, so does our Chart Watch! It’s your weekly wrap of the Aussie top 100s. We’ll catch you later!
TICKETS PLEASE
THURSDAY JULY 23 : Black Star (Brisbane)
THURSDAY JULY 23 : Mary J Blige/Jill Scott (Brisbane)
THURSDAY JULY 23 : Lauryn Hill/Eric Benet (Brisbane)
THURSDAY JULY 23 : Taylor Swift (Melbourne)
FRIDAY JULY 24 : Baio (Sydney, Melbourne)
Australia's first stop for pop!