With the soothing vulnerability of indie-folk and the intoxicating finesse of blues-rock, Brisbane’s Jordan Merrick is known for bringing a unique flavour to his sound, adroitly combining influential styles to deliver deeply ruminative music containing transformative abilities.

Dishing out a dynamic collection of blues-infused folk tunes this year with the release of ‘This Rainy Day’ and ‘Lonelier Than You’, Jordan Merrick is moving deeper into the seductive world of blues-rock with lovelorn new single ‘The Waiting Blues’ (out October 1), ahead of his upcoming album 'Waiting Blues', set to be released on November 5.

But first, moody and demanding ‘The Waiting Blues’ opens with a fingerpicked ukelele as trembling keys, a seductive bassline and quintessential blues-rock electric guitar riffs unveil a chorus of voices beginning a slow, summoning call, commanded by Merrick’s deep tones. Walking a lonely path through nostalgic towns, the song builds slightly with bursts of additional percussion as each chorus brings a changing desire, haunting in every yearning delivery. Filled with lust and longing, ‘The Waiting Blues’ transports us to a world with a jazz club on every corner, where the liquor is improvised and unregulated, while still offering glimpses of the modern world through Jordan’s eyes.

Using his knack for storytelling, Jordan Merrick wrote ‘The Waiting Blues’ as a tale of love lost, and the path taken to find it again, journeying through physical and spiritual obstacles. Merrick states:

“‘The Waiting Blues’ is a blues ballad about losing your love, retracing your steps and hoping to stumble upon it once again.”

Merrick's previous releases have seen support from Spotify 'Gentle Acoustic' playlist, Apple Music New Music Daily playlists, Triple J, Double J, ABC Radio, RAGE, MTV Australia, theMusic, Pile Rats, AU Review, Rhythms Mag and community radio where he has landed in the AMRAP charts a number of times.

The time for waiting is almost over as Jordan Merrick’s new single ‘The Waiting Blues’ is out on October 1, providing another insight into what can be expected from his upcoming album, to be released on November 5. 

Jordan Merrick, with his beating folk-roots heart and gallant command of lyrical storytelling, has answered the irrefutable call of the blues, revealing his highly-anticipated sophomore album ‘Waiting Blues’ (out November 5).

Since his debut in 2017, the Brisbane singer-songwriter has collected an impressive catalogue of releases, venturing fluently through folk, blues, country and rock influences to produce well-received debut album ‘Night Music’ in 2019, bookended by multiple EP and singles.

Now, Merrick is fully embracing his blues-laden tendencies in ‘Waiting Blues’, an 8-track unconventionally poignant pandemic album, journeying through the stages of isolation, fear, loneliness and longing that arise during times of shared pandemonium. Merrick states:

“‘Waiting Blues’ is asking the question of listeners – do you want to wait for change, pray to God and reminisce on times gone, or do you want to fight for the life you want and make your own change?”

Easing in with the cosy acoustic-folk strum of ‘This Rainy Day’, Merrick reflects on a particular moment on tour before the world changes completely with disconcerting blues ballad ‘The Waiting Blues’, walking an isolated path of demanding bass and deep vocals to detail a story of love lost and the lonely journey to find it again.

Deep into lockdown, previously released ‘Lonelier Than You’ hits with an electric swagger and crooning vocal, taking dark-humoured aim at the conspiracies of the pandemic as a building crescendo and desperate plea moves into the haunting, apocalyptic hopelessness of vulnerable folk track ‘Gods Song’, asking confronting questions around faith with raw lyrical prowess.

With a menacing growl of cavernous bass, ‘Toowong’ emerges as if from the depths of hell, as arid guitar layers move with the dangerous stillness of the desert, Merrick’s warning vocal tone bringing man’s tendency for propaganda and fear-mongering to trial.

Momentum shifts with the swanky guitar riff opening ‘Midnight Hymn Blues’, a seductive track using thunderous electric guitar, walking bass, wailing organs and intimidating drums to mock false prophets, making it through the worst of the pandemic with a building crescendo.

Chased by ‘The Mob Song’, a Western-inspired guitar twang, inescapable drums and a commanding vocal paints a grim picture as an outlaw flees from an angry mob, eventually meeting his fate in a flurry of rolling guitar layers that fade to black.

Closing the album is the contemplative ‘Those Are The Days’, Merrick bringing it back to his acoustic folk roots in an eloquent song about life passing by during the wait for the pandemic's end, leaving us with the delicate strum of the guitar and a stream of unanswered questions.

Merrick's previous releases, including multiple singles from the album, have seen support from Spotify 'Gentle Acoustic' playlist, Apple Music New Music Daily playlists, Triple J, Double J, ABC Radio, RAGE, MTV Australia, theMusic, Pile Rats, AU Review, Rhythms Mag and community radio where he has landed in the AMRAP charts a number of times. 

The wait is officially over as Jordan Merrick’s sophomore album ‘Waiting Blues’ is out everywhere on November 5.

With her eloquent neo-soul finesse woven through powerful alt-R&B influences, Brisbane songstress Hannah Sands is returning with her fifth single of the year ‘La La Land’ (out November 11).

Since debuting in 2020, Hannah Sands has experienced a whirlwind couple of years, sharing her transcending sound and story-driven songwriting through numerous beloved releases, including latest single ‘where do we go?’, released in September of this year.

Now, continuing on her soulful sonic exploration, Hannah Sands unveils the dream-chasing ‘La La Land’, drifting untethered through limitless lo-fi grooves and romantic jazz-inspired freedoms. In a romantic mist of feathery vocals, nostalgic crackling production and a seductive bassline, the song floats outside of reality, drifting with an infectious optimism as Sands’ silky tones carry us effortlessly into a starry-eyed world of hopes, dreams and boundless possibilities.

Flexing her lyrical storytelling prowess once again, Hannah Sands paints a vivid picture within this track, written about chasing dreams and sharing your hopes with the people you love, as she explains:

“'La La Land' is a song about an artist's journey pursuing their dreams. Often it's not only about the artist, but the team behind them. The partner, the families, the support network. The track is about an artist telling her partner of all the amazing places they are headed for in the future, where hard work pays off and dreams come true.”

Hannah Sands’ previous releases have seen support from Triple J, Spotify (‘Happy Girl’ landing 5 Spotify editorials), Triple J Unearthed, Apple Music's New Music Daily, Purple Sneakers, Music Feeds and more.

Let Hannah Sands sweep you into her smooth, neo-soul world with ‘La La Land’, out on November 11.