Native Tongue has announced a new deal with Melbourne-based electronic producer and musician Alice Ivy. This worldwide publishing deal, effective immediately, is a joint venture with Native Tongue and Concord Music Publishing.

Annika Schmarsel, pka Alice Ivy, is fast becoming recognized as one of Australia’s most versatile and exhilarating artists and producers. Since the release of her first album, I’m Dreaming, in February 2018, she has performed more than 250 shows worldwide including national tours with Flight Facilities, Vera Blue & The Jungle Giants. She has also performed at SXSW, Falls Festival, Listen Out & Splendour In The Grass.

Ivy is fresh off the heels of her second album, Don’t Sleep, released July 17, 2020 via Dew Process (ANZ) and Last Gang Records (ROW). The album features collaborations with Thelma Plum, Ecca Vandal, Odette & Montaigne.

“Publishing is something I’ve taken my time with,” said Alice Ivy. “I wanted to hold off until I’d matured as a songwriter and a producer and wait for the right partners to come along. Between the team at Native Tongue, who’ve always looked out for me, and my new family at Concord, it feels like the best possible set-up for me at this exciting stage in my career. When it came down to it, they asked what I was looking for and I said, ‘I want to be jumping on planes and writing music every day’ and they said, ‘we can do that!'”

Alice Ivy’s eclectic signature sound spans sample-influenced soul, hip-hop and electronic pop that she brings to life live as a multi-instrumentalist. She has recently had four consecutive singles on high rotation at the taste-making Australian radio station, triple j, including the title track ‘Don’t Sleep’ which was the No.1 most played song on the station this April.

“Alice Ivy is the full package of songwriter, producer and artist, and we, at Concord, are thrilled to work with her,” says Kim Frankiewicz, EVP of Worldwide A&R at Concord Music Publishing. “With a talent like Alice Ivy, this is the perfect time to collaborate and sign an artist together with Jaime and the team at Native Tongue.”

“We are delighted to welcome Annika to the extended Native Tongue family,” said Jaime Gough, Managing Director at Native Tongue Music Publishing. “An inspiring artist, accomplished producer and talented songwriter, Annika presents a world of avenues for us to explore. Kim and I have long talked about signing talent together, and I’m glad it has finally happened with such an exciting writer. We are very happy to be extending our long-term relationship with Concord in this manner, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Don’t Sleep is out now, stream on Spotify here.

Native Tongue is proud to announce the signing of Melbourne heavy-hitters Thornhill.

The five-piece have dominated on all fronts since the release of their debut album The Dark Pool in 2019. They’ve reached monumental streaming heights, sold out a national headline tour, completed a European run with Wage War, and bagged the coveted Feature Album slot on triple j.

Adding to the success of the album, it was announced this month that The Dark Pool has been nominated for Best Independent Heavy Album at this year’s AIR Awards.

Commenting on the signing Thornhill said: “We are glad to be working with Jaime, Matt and the rest of the team at Native Tongue. We’re looking forward to having them on board during the writing process for our next album and helping us make the most of our downtime while shows are off the table.”

Native Tongue’s Head of Creative Services Matt Tanner added: “Thornhill’s debut album The Dark Pool felt like a game changer for heavy music in Australia. We were struck by Ethan and Jacob’s genuine desire to push the boundaries of their sound. We’re excited to be working with Thornhill as they dive deep into their follow up.”

The Dark Pool is out now via UNFD and is available on Spotify.

The top 20 songs in contention for the 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Award have been announced.

We are proud to announce that six Native Tongue writers are among those nominated. Congratulations to Shannon Fowler, Annabel Alpers, Matthew Barus, Lauren Barus, Tamara Neilson and Joshua Neilson.

Below are the works these Native Tongue writers were involved with:

• ‘Hands’ performed by Belladonna- written by Bella Cook and Shannon Fowler (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing)
• ‘Remote’ performed by Hamerkop – written by Annabel Alpers (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing)
• ‘Ruffle’ performed by Terrible Sons – written by Matthew Barus and Lauren Barus (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing)
• ‘You Were Mine’ performed by Tami Neilson – written by Tamara Neilson and Joshua Neilson (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing)

We would also like to congratulate Pulse Publishing writer, Leroy Clampitt, on his nomination with his song ‘Superfan’.

• ‘Superfan’ performed by Chelsea Jade – written by Chelsea Jade Metcalf and Leroy Clampitt (Published by EMI Music Publishing Australia / Stellar Songs / Avant-Garde LOL / These Are Songs of Pulse / Native Tongue Music Publishing)

Voting is open now to APRA members. Cast your votes here.

The APRA Silver Scroll Award will be presented at Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday October 14th.

After the release of their 2019 album Songs From The Aftermath, Wagons kept busy in the studio, chipping away at new music.

The result is an EP that covers wide musical ground. Need A Ride? delves into the dark and spooky, gets warm and intimate and tells some interesting stories. Repeat listens of this release will bear fruit, with hidden gems in every musical fold.

The EP also features Wagons much loved isolation cover of Bob Dylan obscurity ‘To Be Alone With You’.

Stream on Need  A Ride? on Spotify here.