Sudanese pop star Gordon Koang and Australian producer Ginoli drop one of the funkiest tracks of 2020 so far – “Mal Mi Goa.”

Photo by Duncan Wright

“All my songs [are] talking about love, unity and peace… From today it’s very important to love one another.” – The Guardian
 
Watch the Video for “Mal Mi Goa (Ginoli Remix)”
https://youtu.be/wNz6D9vV1Jk
 

Legendary South Sudanese pop star and 2019’s BIGSOUND Levi’s Prize winner Gordon Koang releases a new track/ video, “Mal Mi Goa (Ginoli Remix).” As remixed by Ginoli (moniker of James Ireland, Perth-based producer and drummer of Pond), is an eclectic mix of Koang’s joyful voice, thom (an East African stringed instrument that Gordon has modified to suit his unique style of playing), and danceable, swelling synth. It marks the first release from Music In Exile REMIXED EP, out June 5th, part of a series of collaborations between producers from Australia’s burgeoning electronic scene and artists from a refugee and migrant background.
 
Gordon Koang was born blind and began playing music from an early age, busking on the streets of Juba and producing his own self-released CD-R’s and cassettes. He became a crowd favourite and began recording a series of singles and music videos celebrating South Sudan’s cultural wealth. His music went viral, spreading throughout the country, and his reputation quickly grew as the poet and homegrown hero of the Nuer people, sometimes called the “Michael Jackson of South Sudan.”
 
In 2013, while Koang was performing to expatriate Nuer communities in Australia, renewed conflict broke out at home. He made a difficult and heartbreaking decision to not return to Sudan, applying to the Australian government for humanitarian protection. After six long years of waiting, living in a foreign country far away from his family, he now proudly calls himself an “Australian,” and eagerly awaits the day he will rejoin his wife and children in safety.
 
With “Mal Mia Goa (Ginoli Remix),” Gordon hopes to reach as many new listeners as he can in his adopted country, and around the world.  He wants everyone, and he means everyone, to hear his message of peace and unity, regardless of religion or cultural differences. After a painfully first-hand experience of what these rifts between people can create, Gordon has devoted his life, and his music, to a simple message of peace, love and unity.

 
Download / Pre-order “Mal Mi Goa (Ginoli Remix)” –
https://orcd.co/ginoli

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Brid at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Alex Lahey is a “Sucker for Punishment” with her rocking new single.

Photo by James Hornsby

“Lahey may be stuck in the thick of it now, but her ability to see as though she’s already beyond, to address life’s essential contradictions with thoughtfulness and humor, makes her an insightful storyteller.” — Pitchfork
 
“There’s an immediacy to Alex Lahey’s music so urgent that it’ll hook you before you even notice it’s happening.” — GQ
 
“Alex Lahey is quickly becoming the queen of big, catchy pop-rock hooks” — MTV News
 

Today, Melbourne-based songwriter Alex Lahey releases a new track, “Sucker For Punishment.” “Sucker For Punishment” follows her sophomore album, The Best of Luck Club, “a witty and confessional pop-punk gem” (Uproxx), out now on Dead Oceans. The song, about self-delusion, is written from the perspective of the deluded. Throughout, Lahey’s exasperated vocals are backed by buzzing guitar and a jaunty bass line.
 
We’re living in an era we’re the micro has become the macro,” says Lahey. “I don’t think there has ever been a time where our actions and attitudes as individuals have had such an impact on broader humanity and the planet. Whether it’s a ‘think about it later’ attitude towards climate change, the undemocratic consequences of sharing personal data to big business online, a lethargicness in the face of political engagement or the need to be validated as a worthwhile individual through obtaining arbitrary units of engagement on social media –  we need to catch ourselves out before we suffer greater consequences.”

 
Listen to Alex Lahey’s “Sucker For Punishment” –
https://youtu.be/etVj6qrHwCM
 

In conjunction with the new single, Lahey is pleased to announce she’ll return stateside for a for a slew of tour dates along the west coast, kicking off the run in San Diego on Sat. May 30 at Casbah. All new dates go on-sale Fri. Feb. 14 at 10am local time. A full list of tour dates are below.

 
Alex Lahey Tour Dates (new dates in bold):
Fri. March 13 – Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms ^
Mon. March 16 – Glasgow, UK @ The Garage ^
Tue. March 17 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla ^
Wed. March 18 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy2 Birmingham ^
Thu. March 19 – London, UK @ Electric Ballroom ^
Sat. March 21 – Amsterdam, NE @ Paradiso Noord ^
Sun. March 22 – Antwerp, BE @ Kavka ^
Mon. March 23 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow ^
Tue. March 24 – Düsseldorf, DE @ Zaak ^
Thu. March 26 – Mainz, DE @ Kulturklub schon schön ^
Fri. March 27 – Paris, FR @ Nouveau Casino ^
Wed. April 15 – Adelaide, AU @ Thebarton Theatre *
Fri. April 17 – Fremantle, AU @ Fremantle Arts Center *
Mon. April 20 – Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theatre *
Wed. April 22 – Brisbane, AU @ The Fortitude Music Hall *
Fri. April 24 – Melbourne, AU @ Forum Theatre *
Sat. April 25 – Melbourne, AU @ Forum Theatre *
Tue. April 28 – Hobart, AU @ Odeon Theatre *
Sat. May 30 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Sun. May 31 – Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer
Mon. June 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
Tue. June 3 – San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
Fri. June 5 – Oakland, CA @ Starline Social Club Crystal Cavern
Sat. June 6 – Sacramento, CA @ The Starlet Room at Harlow’s
Mon. June 8 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Tue. June 9 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
 
* = w/ City & Colour
^ = w/ The Regrettes
 
Purchase The Best of Luck Club 
https://alexlahey.ffm.to/bestofluckclub
 
Watch/Listen/Share:
“Am I Doing It Right?” stream – https://youtu.be/BAfpMBepOpo
“Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself” video – https://youtu.be/Uu1qtIk5eoY
“Unspoken History” stream – https://youtu.be/dFkRK2FgXhI
“Unspoken History” live acoustic video – https://youtu.be/SDHZoDVUs3o
 

Keep your mind open.

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