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mushu

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | INDIE

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | INDIE
Band Alternative Pop

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"MUSHU"

Balancing elements of folk, pop and alt-country is no easy feat, according to Simone Macarounas, vocalist with Sydney three-piece Mushu, talking about the band’s new single, Bandit. Tony McMahon listens in.
“It was a bit of an accident how Bandit came about. When we first wrote it, the track was a jangly, typical country song. Then, after our pre-production demos we weren’t entirely happy with it so we started to change it around a little and suddenly the song transformed into this moody dark track.”
Bandit was co-produced and mixed by Dean Bert, who has also worked with Art vs. Science, and Macarounas says that it was really more like having an extra band member.
“We’ve been working with Luke for the last two EPs. We’ve known him personally for a while and he is a pleasure to work with. It’s pretty much a creative musical collaboration when we get into the studio. We have a fairly good idea about the different sounds we want on the tracks, but it’s refreshing to have an outsider’s opinion in the final production of the songs. It’s also interesting to work with someone whose primary genre is different to yours. Gives the songs final sound a bit of an edge.”
Rumours persist of the band having taken a recent ‘not so quiet hiatus’, and Time Off’s finely honed olfactory senses suspect a story. Macarounas says it’s not what we’re thinking.
“We finished the EP here in Sydney and had a killer launch at the Wharf Theater. We received such a good response from the EP and the music video for Neap Tide that we decided to take Mushu on the road and do some shows in NY and Canada. We’d always wanted to go over and check out the scene so we finally had a good product to take over there to test the waters. We did it as a duo with the intention of going back there as a band when we finish our album (early/mid 2012). We met some awesome people and the music scene over there is unbelievable.”
WHO: Mushu
WHAT: Bandit (Green/MGM)
WHERE & WHEN: Beetle Bar Saturday June 2 - Time Off


"EP 'NEVERLAND' REVIEW"

mushu ep 'neverland'
Simply beautiful acoustic pop with inbuilt cello alternatively adding ambience and that oh so necessary swoon factor, this Sydney 5-piece know just how to caress the ears without ever slipping into insipidness or gooey sentimentality. Their arrangements display a taut sincerity to match the languorous vocals and limpid lyricism, with just enough dynamic and drama to pull you up just as you gently slip into some conformable dream state, images and ideas perceivable just the other side of a lazy blink. The commitment to excellence, even at this early stage of their career, is obvious.
- Drum Media


"MUSHU BACK WITH BANDIT"

Mushu wowed me last year with their self-titled EP, so I’m thrilled to hear they’re back in the spotlight with a brand new single “Bandit.” Just like a thief in the night, this alt-country love song will steal your heart with its rich harmonies and buzzing synths.

The song, which drops digitally on June 10, shows us how much the band has developed their folky, poppy, alt-country sound since that EP. No doubt that maturity has come about through the band’s relentless touring schedule, which saw them take in America and Canada in between recording sessions.

We’ll get the chance to see Mushu on home stages when they launch “Bandit” next month with an east coast tour. Here are the dates!

11 June 2011 – Phoenix Bar, Canberra
23 June 2011 – The Lansdowne, Sydney
2 July 2011 – Beetle Bar, Brisbane
9 July 2011 – Bondi Music Festival, Sydney
22 July 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney - Sounds of OZ


"MUSHU - SELF TITLED EP"

I saw Mushu live about two years ago at The Taylor Square Hotel during the brief tenure the venue attempted to introduce live music. The bill included a horribly under-rehearsed punk band, a satirical funk-rock band and the indie pop stylings of Mushu in stripped back acoustic form. Although I did spend most of the night wondering why three such mismatched bands were playing together on the same night, something about these guys definitely stood out.
With a brand new EP under their belts and a tour of US and Canada on the horizon, hopefully Mushu’s days of playing second rate venues are behind them. The quintet’s selftitled 6 track EP shows a lot of potential. With just their second indie release, the band demonstrate an impressive level professionalism in their arrangements, production and musicianship.
Mushu describe themselves as “alternative indie pop” and that’s exactly what you can expect. “Neap Tide” starts things off in a somewhat cliché manner with a sample of a radio switching stations. Luckily it then proceeds to build up beautifully with an atmospheric acoustic verse, before kicking into upbeat indie rock mode evocative of PJ Harvey’s more polished work. The first three tracks on the EP are definitely the strongest. The airy synth and Neil Young influenced lead guitar in “War Song” work well to compliment the somber self-reflective lyrics- “The sun rose and it set/ no blood was drawn but I can’t promise anything/ for tomorrow I’ll declare a war on myself”. “Don’t Forget Me” on the other hand is a glistening indie-pop gem with a cleverly crafted structure and a powerful hook.
While Mushu is not overly technically flashy, they are all accomplished musicians. Singer Simone Macarounas pushes all the right buttons and has an endearing girl next door quality to her voice. Guitarist, Marco Velasco, and keyboardist, Hanna Oblikov, are both very versatile players and interact superbly with each other.
It’s unfortunate that the second half of the EP does not quite live up to the same standard as the first. “Paper Aeroplane” is has a bit too much pop and not enough alternative for my liking. The remaining two tracks lack hooks strong enough to make them memorable and are just a bit too soft and downbeat. Mushu sound their best when they up the tempo and energy a little.
Consensus: While Mushu’s selftitled EP shows a band still trying to find their feet, it also shows a lot of potential, especially considering this is only their second independent release. With the right manager or producer backing them, there is no reason why they couldn’t become one of Australia’s top female fronted alternative indie pop acts. - The AU Review


"MUSHU RELEASE VIDEO FOR NEAP TIDE"

ou might remember me gushing about Mushu when I reviewed their self-titled EP a couple of months ago. If you wanted to see what all the fuss was about, feast your eyes on this gorgeous music video for their track “Neap Tide.” It’s suitably atmospheric and chilled, and has me craving summer. Great stuff! - Sounds of OZ


"MUSHU"

The self-titled EP from Sydney band Mushu crossed my desk earlier this week, and it’s taken up permanent residence in my stereo. In just six tracks this exciting act has made a big impression on me.

It all starts with the attention grabbing “Neap Tide,” a powerful track which juxtaposes gorgeous sweet harmonies with wailing guitars. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, but one that manages to work.

Mushu are no strangers to this kind of unlikely pairing. Lead singer Simone’s vocals are warm and lush, with a gentle emotional rasp. Her voice struck a real personal chord with me; it’s got a quiet feminine strength about it. It gets even stronger when paired with Mushu’s big sounds, those insistent guitars on “Neap Tide,” the pounding piano and driving strings of “Don’t Forget Me.”

The first half of the EP shocks your senses, while the second settles into a gentler groove. The music is more subtle here, although you’d never accuse it of fading into the background. “Paper Aeroplane” was a standout for me, with its gorgeous lyrics and compelling raw emotion. I was also shocked by the stunning crescendo the band builds in “Carousel Heart.”

In this EP Mushu have proven to be a band that’s impossible to ignore. In a sea of beige musical acts, that is a very good thing.

Mushu’s self-titled EP is available through iTunes. - Sounds of OZ


Discography

Ep - Neverland (Released 2008 through GREEN/MGM)
Ep - Self titled (Released 2010 through GREEN/MGM)
Single - Bandit (Released 2011 digitally through GREEN/MGM)
Single - Traps (Released 2011 digitally through GREEN/MGM)
Album - Will be released early 2012

Photos

Bio

mushu are a 4 piece alternative/folk rock band out of Sydney, Australia.

Started back in 2008 with their debut ep 'Neverland', Triple J was soon to spin 'Stars' which was not only an industry favorite but a killer live track. This ep got mushu onto the radar, which also received an amazing review in Drum Media. The rest of ep shows a real commitment to arrangements and melody with a deep story telling nature. Swooping vocals, electrifying guitars and gentle cello all combine to bring you a real sense of emotion and honesty.

In 2010, stepping away from their rootsy beginnings, mushu's maturity came out in their next release. Their self titled ep is a warm record where distortion is used sparingly, reverb is generous, synths come out to play, rich harmonies are affluent and hints of discordance bite you to keep you on your feet. Produced by Luke Bert (Art vs Science, Dappled Cities) and mushu and mixed by Wayne Connolly (Josh Pyke, You am I) the ep has received a lot of attention.

In late 2010, mushu spread their wings and took to the US and Canada to showcase their work with a series of shows. The reception was amazing. Playing to new crowds and diving into the New York music scene, mushu were right at home.

Now being 2011 a handful of singles will be released throughout the year as teasers leading up to the release of their debut album which is due to drop 2012.

With an explosive and energetic live show, they can take you up on an absolute high then gently bring you back down again to tell you tales of life and love.