NEWCASTLE singer-songwriter Lachlan X. Morris has never been preoccupied with trends.
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When everyone else is dabbling in synths and programmed beats, he's delving into psychedelic '60s rock. When musicians are slowly releasing singles to maximise exposure in the streaming era, Morris is pumping out three independent albums in as many years.
But on his latest single, Shadow Lover, Morris has taken a modern approach. Kind of. The track is the most pop and radio-friendly tune the "dad rocker" has written, but he still takes inspiration from '70s bands like Wings and ELO.
"It was more about the music, than the lyrics initially, to see how much I could simplify everything and write a vintage-style pop song," Morris said.
Morris has finished recording his fourth album, on which Shadow Lover appears, but said he won't release the record until February next year. Instead he'll tour the single and maximise it's potential.
"I decided it would be fun to play the game a little bit and release this one song and play it out as much as I could and do a tour with it," he said. "It's definitely the more conventional way at the moment."
Morris has recruited a six-piece band for the Shadow Lover tour, which includes flutist Jennifer Hankin. The tour begins in Canberra on Thursday, before Morris plays the Stag and Hunter Hotel on Friday.
BRIGHT NEW PEAK
MUSIC has taken Newcastle's Alex Knight, aka Brightness, across the world to London where he lived and recorded his first album Teething.
It's also taken him to Spillway Sound studio in upstate New York last September where he recorded his second album Brightness.
Knight maintained his globe-trotting exploits for his latest single Bukhansan, the fourth track unveiled from album No.2, which is released on October 25. The video was shot in the South Korean capital of Seoul, which lies in the shadow of Bukhansan mountain.
Bukhansan is arguably the most upbeat track released by the dreamy psych-rock artist and follows the singles Dallas, Year Of The Goat and Feathers.
LOCALS REBEL
IF you were following the Extinction Rebellion protests across the country this week, calling for immediate government action to address climate change, you might have caught Hunter Valley singer-songwriters William Crighton and Ben Leece.
The pair were in Sydney for the protests on Tuesday and even performed a couple of songs.
Afterwards, Crighton wrote on social media: "We all drink the same water and live on the same earth. We're all in this together including NSW Police who I encourage to join the movement, not stand in its way."
DANCE SENSATION
IT'S been described as the "world's greatest Irish dance show", but Spirit Of The Dance offers plenty more.
On April 22 Spirit Of The Dance is bringing their 21st anniversary show to Newcastle's Civic Theatre. Expect to hear and see a fusion of heart-pounding Irish dance, combined with dance styles from around the world including Scottish, flamenco, Latin, salsa, street dance, hip-hop, techno can can and American tap.
FESTIVAL TIMES
YOU can get planning your day at Wickham Park on November 10 after the Scene & Heard Festival timetable was released. Even kick-off the music at 12.45pm, followed by Magic Dirt, Sneaky Sound System, Jebediah, Alex Lloyd, Eskimo Joe and The Dandy Warhols, before Wolfmother close an early night at 9pm.
TICKET GIVEAWAY
THE party will be kick-starting at the Shoal Bay Country Club on Saturday night when English DJ star Example drops into the Port Stephens mecca. Example, real name Elliott Gleave, is best known for his 2010 classic Kickstarts and bangers We'll Be Coming Back and Changed The Way You Kiss Me with Calvin Harris.
The Newcastle Herald has two tickets to giveaway to Saturday's show. To enter, email your name and mobile number to jleeson@newcastleherald.com.au before 12pm Friday.
