Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Lots of Naughty Folksy Fun. Bruinsma radiates charm as she poses the question "why would you want a penis when you can be a Venus?" - The Age (Melbourne, Australia Newspaper)
Well what a night. These mainland girls sure know how to get the crowd going. Deborah opened the night with material of the dark and evocative variety, underscored by Raelene's haunting flute playing. Raelene took the stage with some superb story-telling, drawing the distracted crowd back after a short break between sets. Her opening acapella number was spine-tingling, her humour candid. The two solo performances set the stage for the finale of soaring harmonies and some intense musical magic. It's clear that these two singer/songwriter/guitarist performers have something special when they step on stage together.
This seemed to be the perfect venue for a show bringing together intelligent lyrics and raw emotion, but with enough light-hearted humour to keep everyone happy.
I noticed several punters queuing up for CDs only to find the girls have yet to take their transcendent vocal blend into the studio. Let's hope they're back before long.
- Hobart Mercury
Deborah Hocking Band are pilgrims to the powerful folk explosion which always strikes a cord in any hardened listener’s audio repertoire. Left To Spare is impeccable in its addictive capacity by revealing ingenius acoustic formulations accompanied by double bass twists and intricate vocals. Don’t Want a Hero boldly switches to electric guitars but maintains a dominant equity in Magnetic North. Fall exhibits additional acoustic perfection and continues to an upbeat yet cheeky Temptation. - The Buzz
Discography
Raelene Bruinsma -
Home For Now (solo LP, 2001)
Dancing Stars & Moonlit Mountains (solo LP with guest musicians, due for release 2004)
Various songs from Home For Now have recieved community radio airplay.
Summermoonlight & Trouble With Timing have recieved pre-release airplay on ABC radio.
Deborah Hocking -
D-Day (solo live in the studio acoustic LP, 2001)
Stage (5-tk produced EP, 2001)
Left To Spare (5-tk band EP, Deborah Hocking Band, 2003)
Various tracks from all of the above CDs have received airplay on community radio and select commercial and ABC radio.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Deborah Hocking is a disarmingly honest and gutsy performer whose fervent lyrics and live solo performances have drawn comparisons with two of Australia’s leading diva’s, Sally Dastey and Deborah Conway. Her music has been described as “gothic folk rock”, a sort of “PJ Harvey meets Tiddas.” Reviewers, however, insist that in time it is others who will define their style by Deborah’s. www.deborahhockingband.com
Raelene Bruinsma may well move you from tears to foot-stomping, belly-aching laughter while entrancing you with her soaring versatile voice. Whether belting the blues, crooning a ballad, or singing up a storm, her passion for her craft is captivating. In her music, Joni Mitchell meets Penelope Swales, with just a dash of Janis Joplin, creating “blues and jazz tinged folk.” www.raeleneb.com
Over a number of years the two women have developed an intimate knowledge of each other’s material and style, having founded a Melbourne-based songwriting group. This long standing unofficial colloboration developed into a growing musical admiration, culminating in a desire to feature in each other’s music.
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