Queen Bey - Bow Down / I Been On

The alway fierce, Beyonce, yesterday released a brand spankin' new track on her website, which is going viral pretty damn quickly.

This year Beyonce has been in the spot light frequently, performing at the Inauguration and Superbowl,  attending various award ceremonies and having her HBO Documentary screened. However, there has been no new tunes...until now.

The-Dream, the producer who Beyonce is currently working with on her follow up to her 2011 release 4, gave a bit of a scoop to "RapFix Live", saying, 

"There's no particular sound that I think we're shooting for, we're just trying to make music that feels good,"

"If you've seen the HBO thing, which was great, we had been talking about doing something that showcases who she is and what she wants because we see those figures that are so out of the stratosphere."

What do you think of the new track?

Rachel x

Splendour 2013.

 

Splendour in the Grass 2013 is well under way in the planning department.
This year Splendour will finally be at it's long planned permanent home of North Byron Parklands. Twenty minutes North of Byron Bay, this beautiful location is 660 acres featuring native forest and dams.
“It has been a long journey to get to this point. Seven years after we first found this idyllic piece of land, we’re so excited to finally move Splendour to its permanent home at North Byron Parklands.” said co-producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco.
Splendour will be on: Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of July.
Stay tuned for the line-up!

Rachel x

David Bowie

David Bowie's latest album, The Next Day, is currently number one in forty countries. 

So I thought it would be a great idea to compile some facts about this incredibly interesting human. 

• Many people believe that Bowie has two different coloured eyes. However, in actual fact, he has a dilated pupil in one eye from a school yard fight with George Underwood, Underwood later went on to do album artwork for Bowie.
• David Bowie was born David Robert Jones.
• Like many other artists Bowie was unsuccessful prior to his huge success constantly being booed off stage with his band The Hype.
• Bowie change his name so he wouldn't get confused with Davey Jones from The Monkees. 

• In 1973 Bowie had no less than six albums in the charts.
• Bowie's first lead acting role was as an alien in1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth.
• The baby noises in Labyrinth's song Magic Dance are made by Bowie.
• He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. 

• Bowie shared a flat in Berlin with Iggy Pop for three years.
• In 2007 Bowie made a guest appearance as Lord Royal Highness in an episode of Spongebob Square Pants.
• At the height of his cocaine, addiction during his 1974 Diamond Dogs tour, he weighed a tiny 43kg - supposedly living on peppers and milk.

• Bowie declined a knighthood in 2003, saying, "I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don't know what it's for, it's not what I spent my whole life working for."
• Bowie refused to star in the London Olympics Closing Ceremony. 

I hope you learnt something new and interesting about the man who is David Bowie.

Rachel xx 

Tuesday Tune - Pink Floyd

With this week marking 40 years since the release of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, how could I not make Tuesday's Tune, Time? 

Pink Floyd's 8th studio album is known as their most successful.
Staying in the charts for an incredible  741 weeks from 1973-1988, with an estimated 50 million copies sold. Making the band millions of dollars. 

The album, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, has since gone on to be remastered and re-released twice.   

Cover of The Dark Side of the Moon

The album included two singles, Time and Money. 

It also went on to be the centre of rumours about the album being the original soundtrack of film The Wizard of Oz. Being dubbed "The Dark Side of the Rainbow" or "The Dark Side of Oz".
The band completely denied these rumours.
The Dark Side of the Moon continues to be recognised for it's prowess, being voted 8th in NME's 2006 Best Album of All Time poll.

Enjoy,

Rachel xx

"Don't make people pay for music, let them."

If you are unfamiliar with who Amanda Palmer is, she is an amazing musician/performer. 

She performs solo, was one half of The Dresden Dolls and most recently is part of The Grand Theft Orchestra. 

A few days ago she was a stand out talker at the extremely popular TED talks. 

Her talk on The Art of Asking is incredible. When there is such a lack of trust in society, Amanda talks of the generosity she has been shown by strangers, all from asking for help.

With her career currently being in music, music was expected to play a role in the talk.

The future of music I have discussed with friends many times before. Illegal downloading has many issues surrounding it. It has resulted in job loss lost in the music industry, it has also means greater and easier exposure for up and coming musicians.

I know of people who feel no guilt illegally downloading as they do not want to support the "middle man" in the industry, they want to support the artist themselves.

Amanda Palmer's TED talk is inspiring, emotive and thought provoking. 

Her message, don't make people pay for music, let them."

And that asking for help has the potential to result in an influential exchange between humans.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Do you ask for help when you need it?

Rachel x

NME Awards

Foals

The NME Awards are currently being hosted in London, acknowledging the best of the Brits in music.

Florence was the first winner of the night, taking out Best Solo Artist. Modestly accepting the awards, saying, “Well, thank you so much everyone. I really didn’t expect to get this again, especially because it’s debatable whether I’m a solo artist. Thanks to my band – it really is a collaborative thing”. 

Other award winners so far include:

Best British Band: Biffy Clyro

Best Album: The Maccabees, Given to the Wild

Best International Band: The Killers

Best Track: Foals, Inhaler

Best Re-Issue: Blur, 21

Best New Band: Palma Violets

Best Festival: Reading & Leeds

Best Music Film: Ronnie Wood, Crossfire Hurricane

Best Live Band: The Rolling Stones

Best Music Video: Arctic Monkeys, R U Mine

Biffy Clyro

Florence Welch

Ronnie Wood

Tuesday Tune - David Bowie

David Bowie's latest single, The Stars (Are out Tonight), now has an  accompanying video clip. And in true Bowie form it is super strange! It features Bowie and Tilda Swinton as a couple, plus Bowie look a-likes doing surreal things. 

David Bowie's album is out March 12th.

Check out the clip below and let me know what you think.

Rachel xx 

Slam Day.

Live music has been receiving plenty of attention the last month here in Australia. Live music venues have closed, come close to closing and some have opened. 

Iconic venues, such as The Annandale Hotel, are struggling to continue to keep their doors open to music lovers. Which is not great to see.

 But the good news is that today is SLAM day! (Save Live Australia's Music)

Slam has had no funding to date and is run purely by volunteers to raise awareness and bring attention to these issues. Today will see many small gigs occurring as part of SLAM day.

So be sure to head out to catch some live music and support not only Australian musicians but also the venues that provide them.

Check out the full list of SLAM day gigs here.

What does live music mean to you??

Are you attending any SLAM day events today?

Rachel x

The Soda Factory.

Polyester Lovers had the chance to check out Sydney’s newest late night watering hole this week. The Soda Factory is Surry Hills’ latest “hidden gem”, 12 months in the making and it’s been worth the wait! Intended as a sanctuary for our lovely city’s late night boozers or lovers of live music, The Soda Factory is definitely worth a look!

Grammys 2013.

Another year, another Grammys season. Polyester has everything covered from who won what, to red carpet fashion and even Taylor Swift's dig at Harry Styles from One Direction.

Aussie sensation Wally de Backer aka. Gotye has taken out an outstanding three awards at this years Grammys including:
+ Record of the Year - Somebody That I Used to Know

+ Best Pop Duo/Performance - Somebody That I Used to Know

+ Best Alternative Music Album - Making Mirrors 

Lola Bensky - Book Review

Lily Brett’s fictitious novel Lola Bensky is one of the most alluring and satisfying books I have read in a long time. From the very first page, where Lola is interviewing Jimi Hendrix, I was sucked into Brett’s 1960s world.

Brett draws on her own experiences working as a rock journalist (in the US and the UK) for the novel. It follows Lola as she finds herself in fantastic situations including interviewing the likes of: Mick Jagger, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Jim Morrison, The Mamas and the Papas and Sonny and Cher.

Tuesday Tune

Youth Lagoon has dropped his first single Dropla from his forthcoming LP Wondrous Bughouse which is set to be released March 15.

Dropla is the follow up to 2011s The Year of Hibernation.

Peats Ridge Arts and Music Festival

It's been a week since New Year's Eve and I have finally found the time (and energy) to sit down and write about my New Years.

This year I went to Peats Ridge Arts and Music Festival at Glenworth Valley. As a virgin to this festival I have to say it was pretty amazing.

I have never been to a festival that had so many different things going on at once, there was so much to see and do! Although I did spend a lot of time trying to stay out of the horrifically hot sun that does not get along with my red hair and fair skin too well.

With over 10 000 people converging for the event the start of the festival was greeted with a line up and car search, which is generally to be expected for camping festivals. After waiting for an hour we were through and more than eager to find the rest of our crew, set up camp and meet our neighbours for the next few days. The first day is generally when everyone had the most energy. We were fresh faced and ready to spend the day exploring the festival and what it had to offer. Highlights from the daytime definitely included Mat McHugh and the Seperatista Sound System who had everyone up dancing. Also David Knight, who at 19 years of age is definitely a true talent to keep an eye (or even an ear) out for!!

The first night brought with it so much fun! Headlining the main stage was The Herd who, as always, were fabulous. As a group they are fantastic performers but I have to say that Jane Tyrrell definitely adds that extra something to the group. I heard quiet a few people giving her the praise she definitely deserves.

Over at the Chai Temple Valley of Kings had their whole audience captivated.They definitely fit the relaxed vibe of the festival.

The last act I saw for the first night was Krafty Kuts vs A-Skillz. They had a few technical issues to begin with that were sorted out in enough time to keep the audience from straying. 

The second day brought with it a hot sun and many more fantastic acts. Day two is definitely a rest day after partying hard the first night. 65daysofstatic and The Black Seeds were my personal favourites. I didn't see anyone without a huge grin on their face during 65daysofstatic. 

New Zealand's The Black Seeds had everyone dancing around as they sung about "Something Beautiful".

The second night saw friends made and another late night.

Day Three - New Years Eve! What can I say, this day was even hotter. And the hangover's were certainly starting to kick in. John Butler Trio were amazing to bring in the New Years, they suited Peats Ridge Festival perfectly. Even telling everyone to, "pick up three bits off rubbish" at the end of their set. 

I treated myself to some Wood Fired Pizza after John Butler and is was absolutely delicious to say the least. 

I was so glad that acts continued well after midnight. I have been to other festivals where not much happens after the countdown, leaving everyone looking for something to entertain themselves. 

Friendly Fires DJ Set with Jack Savidge was perfectly timed to continue dancing. Finishing up his set with "Love is in the Air" was great!

The stage that had a DJ with naked dancers drew in a very naked crowd and awkward looking onlookers. 

To finish the night off I went to the Future Bubble, which was essentially a bubble that popped up out of no where at some point during the night that featured DJs. 

It is also apparently a known fact that the last night of the festival is dress up time. 

People were dressed up the whole festival, however NYE saw people get extremely creative and some obviously put huge effort into their costumes. 

A mention has to go to The Night Odditorium which was an installation that just had to be experienced.

Also a shout out to my amazing photographer Chris, without him this post would have been extremely dull.

Peats Ridge Festival was such a relaxed festival which I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend to anyone willing to listen.

What did you do for New Years?

Rachel

xx

Winter People

A couple of weeks ago I spoke to Dylan from the fantastic Winter People. We chatted about touring the U.S., Dylan's knack for letter writing, all things films and of course Peats Ridge Festival!

Here's what went down:

Gatsby!

Baz Luhrmann has to have one of the most anticipated films for 2013. Although it was once said that Baz's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby would be out Christmas 2012, instead we have been delivered a fantastic second trailer. By the looks of things the film is going to have Luhrmann's trademark spin - theatrical costumes, superb acting and a killer soundtrack to accompany. If you haven't read the book yet you still have a few months to still do so before the film comes out. When I read it a few years ago I completed it in a day. It is definitely a novel worth reading and is set to be a film worth watching. 

Rachel

xx

Glass Towers

I spoke to Ben from Sydney band Glass Towers this week. We discussed festivals, what's in store for 2013 and pubs and clubs.

You are supporting Maximo Park in January. Would you be able to tell me a bit more about that? How did that come about?

There's no real story, I think they just chose us because they like our music.

The Herd

As part of Polyester's cover of The Peats Ridge Festival we recently caught up with the fantastic Shannon Kennedy aka Ozi Batla from The Herd.

We spoke all things festivals. 

Be sure to check out Shannon's essential items for festivals including, "all the pieces for your tent!" We've all been there!

Aria Awards.

Miss the Aria awards last night? Luckily Polyester has the fashion and awards here for you in a nutshell.

Gossling

Polyester had a chat to the lovely Helen Croome (aka Gossling) recently. We asked her about everything from festivals and collaborating to probing her about her fashion and beauty secrets.

Chance Waters

Sydney hip-hop artist Chance Waters is set to make a decent stir in the Aussie hip-hop scene. After being crowned Triple J’s Unearthed Feature Artist under the alias Phatchance, he’s toured with local hip-hop royalty 360, Illy, Bliss N Eso, Drapht and Pez.

Now he’s ditched the name and getting ready to release new album, Infinity. You may already recognise first track, Maybe Tomorrow, which has been getting a significant amount of airplay over at Triple J.