• The stable of Sony’s local stars is kicking the year off with a bang, it would appear. Not only has Cyrus just gone out with his new single ‘Keep Talking’, but next week Bonnie Anderson will return to the public sphere with her new track ‘The Ones I Love’, which she co-penned with Michael DeLorenzis and Michael Paynter from MSquared Productions. It’s out next Friday.
• The following Friday it’s Samantha Jade’s turn, with her single ‘Always’ finally being readied for a single release. The summery pop number was due to be released prior to Christmas, but was pushed back to allow ‘Shake That’ another five minutes in the sun. ‘Always’ is out on Friday February 26.
• Tina Arena’s new ‘Reset Live’ DVD is available exclusively via her website for the time being. The new release won’t make it to retail stores until April this year, but fans will be able to get their hands on it both via her site and at her forthcoming live appearances, which kick off today in Victoria’s Yarra Valley.
• Perth producer ShockOne’s new EP ‘In This Light’ will drop at digital retailers across the country on Friday May 06. It features four track, including the latest single ‘City Lock’, which features UK outfit Ragga Twins (Skrillex, Plan B). ShockOne will hit the road throughout April in the lead-up to the EP’s release, playing shows in all five main capitals, along with Newcastle, Darwin, Fremantle and Bunbury.
• Norwegian outfit Highasakite have confirmed the release date for their second album ‘Camp Echo’. Named after one of the camps in Guantanamo Bay, lead singer Ingrid Håvik says of the album, “It’s not a political album in the sense that I want people to side with specific party or mindset, but it has been central in my life. There are not many love songs on the album, because I haven’t been in that state of mind for a long time. Global warming and war have been my main concern.” It’s out on Friday May 20.
• Aussie favourites Something For Kate will play a special one-off show at Sydney’s Spectrum Now Festival on Saturday March 12. They’ll roll out songs from their catalogue of classic hits from their 20 plus years for the gig, which will take place in the Big Top in the heart of The Domain.
• Sydney rapper Tuka will release his new EP ‘Alive Death Time Eternal’ on March 18. He’s celebrating the release by heading out on the road. The run of shows kick off on Friday April 01 in Melbourne and will also make stops in Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and, finally, Adelaide’s Fat Controller on Saturday April 23. Tickets are on sale now.
• Organisers of Earthcore have confirmed that, given the 2015 event was a massive success, they’ll be back in November this year, once again filling the country Victorian town of Pyalong with music, arts, lifestyle, culture and more. The line-up is due to be announced later this month, with earlybird tickets hitting the sales desk from March 01.
• Due to better than expected ticket sales, London outfit Daughter’s forthcoming show in Sydney has been upgraded. Originally due to take over the Metro Theatre on April 10, the show has now shifted to the larger Enmore Theatre. The band’s Melbourne show, the following night at 170 Russell, has sold out.
• Zayn may have grasped the No.1 spot in England with both hands last week with his debut solo single ‘Pillowtalk’, but he’s already been bumped, by Danish band Lukas Graham. Last week the outfit jumped from No.24 to No.6 with ‘7 Years’ and this week they’ve improved again to claim No.1. Zayn’s down to No.2, while the new Little Mix single (with Jason Derulo) ‘Secret Love Song’ improves from No.11 to No.7. Coldplay’s ‘Adventure Of A Lifetime’ surges thanks to the band’s Superbowl performance and Jason Derulo’s ‘Get Ugly’ also improves.
• Coldplay’s star turn at the Superbowl is also seemingly responsible for their album ‘A Head Full Of Dreams’ rushing to the No.1 position on this week’s UK albums chart, replacing David Bowie’s ‘Best Of Bowie’. Adele is back in favour; ’25’ edging back to No.2. And Elton John claims another top ten with his new album ‘Wonderful Crazy Night’, which premieres at No.6. Foxes’ album ‘All I Need’ is new at No.12, the same place Bloc Party debuted in last week. Sadly this week, they’re a staggering 84 places lower.
• It would seem that Zayn Malik’s doing just fine for himself without his former bandmates in town, following up his debut at No.1 on last week’s UK and Australian singles charts with a No.1 Stateside with his breakout solo hit ‘Pillowtalk’. The track premieres in the No.1 spot, displacing Justin Bieber’s ‘Love Yourself’ after just one week. Drake did quite alright for himself with ‘Summer Sixteen’, which debuted at No.6, while Rihanna’s ‘Work’ improved to No.7. Lukas Graham’s ‘7 Years’ bullets from No.57 to No.43.
• Rihanna scores her second No.1 album in succession on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week; ‘Anti’ bulleting into the No.1 position after debuting at No.27 last week. Kevin Gates’ ‘Islah’ is new at No.2 and Adele’s ’25’ is still hanging around the upper reaches, but down from No.1 to No.3. Homegrown superstar Sia premieres at No.4 with ‘This Is Acting’ and Charlie Puth’s album ‘Nine Track Mind’ is new at No.6. Coldplay’s ‘A Head Full Of Dreams’ bullets from No.37 to No.16 after their superbowl performance.
• Now the UK and US are out of the way, will Zayn hold at No.1 on the Aussie singles chart? Will Sia hold at No.1 on the Aussie albums chart? Find out everything you need to know about this week’s ARIA charts and more with Chart Watch, live on the website from 6pm AEDT.
TICKETS PLEASE
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19 : Gang Of Four (Nationally)
Australia's first stop for pop!