MUSIC FROM PLANET EARTH: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

New album 'Matter of Time' out now 🖤
https://found.ee/matteroftime

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“I wanted to just start again and do everything without compromise,” begins Meg Mac of the game-changing personal switch-up that led to ‘Matter of Time’: the Sydney-born singer’s incoming third album. 
 
Having recorded and primed a previous ‘third album’ for imminent release, Mac had what she now describes as “a bit of a meltdown”. She scrapped the body of work two weeks before launch and moved to a remote village in the NSW countryside. 'Matter of Time' came into being across 2020 and 2021 and is a document of an artistic redemption of sorts, fleshed out by her most fully-realised sonic and visual palette yet.
 
'Matter of Time' is “how I’ve always wanted to do an album” she affirms, “…knowing when it’s not right, and having the confidence to say so and to take it in a different direction”. “Now for the first time, I really feel in control.”

As one of Iceland’s most successful exports, singer-songwriter Ásgeir has always pushed the boundaries of his thoughtful brand of folk-pop. His debut album, ‘Dýrð í dauðaþögn’, became the best-selling debut in Icelandic history, leading to the English-language version ‘In The Silence’ in 2014. He continued to refine his sound with ‘Afterglow’ in 2017, ‘Bury The Moon’ in 2020, and ‘Time On My Hands’ in 2022’, earning praise from press and radio worldwide, including the likes of The Independent, MOJO, NME, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, BBC 6 Music and Radio X.
 
In recent years, Ásgeir has embraced solo performances, playing nearly 70 intimate shows across Europe, the Nordics, and Iceland, including a UK tour with Icelandic singer GDRN. He also performed with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and recorded a live session for Arte TV in Berlin. His passion for live music has taken him to unique venues, including small churches, deepening his connection with audiences. He wrote a song for a Kafkaesque play that was hosted at The Reykjavik City Theatre called Sýslumaður Dauðans.
 
Ásgeir is now back with his next album, focusing on songwriting with a fresh approach; prioritizing melody and personal storytelling, exploring themes of relationships, aging, hope, and nostalgia. His influences range from Leonard Cohen and Daniel Lanois to contemporary artists like Adrianne Lenker and Dina Ögon.
 
The album’s production was a hands-on process, with Ásgeir playing most of the instruments and collaborating with a select group of musicians, including Nashville cellist Nat Smith. Recorded both solo and with a band, the songs capture an organic, heartfelt energy. With this new chapter, Ásgeir continues to evolve, offering music that is as introspective and accomplished as ever as well as deeply resonant.

Contact: admin@lemontreemusic.com.au 

Tash Sultana is a young, dynamic Melbourne artist. At just twenty-one years of age, Tash is creating waves and generating massive street buzz by playing sold out shows all over the World. Tash has made a name for herself busking on the streets of Melbourne and having homemade videos go viral getting millions of views online.
 
Since having her hands wrapped around a guitar at the age of three, the self taught artist quickly developed her own unique style that has people lining up to see her perform. Her vocal shines with a magical quality, she has a natural gift for melody and her virtuosic guitar playing is from another planet.
  
The young, one-woman powerhouse has literally sold out every headline show booked across multiple countries and played dozens of high profile festivals including Laneway 2017. Both singles ‘Jungle’ and ‘Notion’ were quick to receive high rotation on Australian broadcaster triple j with ‘Jungle’ been added as mega hit of the week on Netherlands 3FM radio and is picking up rotation on stations across North America. Accolades include a #8 ARIA album chart, topping the iTunes chart with her “Notion EP”, ‘Jungle’ coming in at #3 on triple j’s hottest 100, an APRA Award nomination, winning a J award for “Unearthed Artist of the Year 2016” and over 25 million streams Worldwide.

From music to theatre, gaming to comedy, podcasting to design, Montaigne defies the limitations often placed on artists, embracing a life of creative exploration. Their work is not constrained by medium, instead finding freedom in crossing boundaries and merging art forms, a reflection of the solace they found in vibrant worlds and stories throughout their childhood.

Their career is a testament to this creative polymathy. Montaigne’s collaborations with icons like David Byrne, their representation of Australia in Eurovision, multiple ARIA awards, and a recent Grammy nomination for Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical showcase the breadth of their talent. These accolades merely scratch the surface of Montaigne’s expansive artistic world, a small peek at the depth of their creativity.

At the heart of Montaigne’s career is a dedication to complex, multi-faceted expression. They embody a DIY ethos, one that sees them unafraid to forge their own path in an industry often restrictive of individuality. This drive for independence extends beyond the music industry, deeply influencing their entire creative practice. Though highly collaborative, Montaigne has honed their production skills, unlocking a new medium to materialise the nuances of their ideas.

Montaigne’s creative work is both deeply personal and outwardly adventurous, rooted in their lived experience and their unique worldview. Their artistry is as much a reflection of their personal journey, grappling with estrangement, survival, and the nuances of human relationships, as it is an ode to the mediums that shaped them. It is this rich intersection of introspection and external storytelling that defines Montaigne’s career. Their music and art pop sensibility is playful yet profound, marked by colourful instrumentation, adventurous melodies, and a vocal range that is both theatrical and deeply emotional. Their work, in essence, is a journey. One that invites listeners into a world where the lines between reality and fantasy blur, and where every note is an exploration of identity, resilience, and the human condition.

Via platforms like Discord, YouTube, and Twitch, along with their newly launched 'Tank Time with Montaigne' podcast, featuring conversations with artists like Ninajirachi, Ben Lee, and Donatachi, and their innovative 'Beautiful Trial Show' where artists and comedians test new material with select fans, Montaigne’s deep dedication to their community creates a feedback loop that fuels their passion and sparks new creative projects.

Montaigne’s career is a testament to their unwavering commitment to creativity in all its forms, an artist who refuses to be boxed in, finding beauty in the unknown and embracing the complexity of every step along the way.

Kobi Morris is following