Way too many to mention, so I'll list the most important ones... I may not end up sounding anything like these people, but they inspire me...
David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Prince, Morrissey, Bruce Sprinsteen, Radiohead, Pulp, White Stripes, Elvis Costello, Love, Talking Heads, Steely Dan, Bill Evans, Nick Cave, Kurt Cobain, Bjork, Blur, The Zombies, Split Enz, Supergrass, Spoon
‘An uplifting album of classic pop along the same lines as Softlightes or even a scaled back Flaming Lips’ Simon Topper, RAVE Magazine
'Hearty, sunny piano pop from an actual piano man.' Simone, BEAT Magazine
‘Really catchy and rockin vocals keep it up’ Rosie Beaton, Triple J
Australian singer-songwriter Sarakula writes edgy piano-pop songs that you can’t get out of your head. He has been pursuing the dream of de-constructing the perfect pop song while backing himself confidently at the piano. On his current record 'City Heart' he has dragged his piano-pop kicking and screaming out of his classic vinyl collection and into 2009.
Sarakula has performed many times in the last few years in Europe and the USA. He's played in the great dive bars and piano bars of the world while stamping his name out as a songwriter. He sometimes jokingly refers to himself as a human jukebox of great pop songs. His songwriting has been shaped by these years of performing and the adventures that accompanied them. But the wry smile that he was able to produce while playing 'Piano Man' was wearing thin by the time he heard the 1000th request for that song. So Sarakula returned to Australia last year to complete an album that he had been writing and recording on and off the road.
In August 2008 he released SOUVENIRS (MGM/Green Media Distribution) as Joel Sarakula. It is a record of bittersweet ballads about travels to the ends of the world and lost loves. To promote the album he played shows with The Basics and Bob Evans among others and for all his hard work was selected as fBi radio's unsigned artist of the week for their breakfast show 'Up For It' in November 2008.
With the lessons he learned from recording SOUVENIRS he has put all of his energies into creating his new record, 'City Heart'. It is full of the hooks and chord changes that he hears in his dreams. ‘City Heart’ has received airplay on Australian national broadcaster Triple J as well as fBi radio, 4ZZZ, PBS and other community radio stations Australia-wide and internationally on fm4 in Austria. He has performed in-studio on national radio in Australia (ABC National) and the UK (Absolute Radio). He has showcased the songs at two of Sydney's biggest outdoor community festivals: Surry Hills Festival and Mardi Gras Fair and has also toured nationally with his band. He has just returned from a solo UK tour to showcase ‘City Heart’ and will be performing around Australia through the end of the year.
'Caught in the Middle' is available as a digital single from iTunes + other online retailers
'SOUVENIRS' is also available from the online retailer Waterfront Records. You can order the physical CD from them if you prefer paper and cardboard and liner notes and stuff.
Or get it from iTunes:
This is the film clip for the current single 'Matchstick Girl' from 'City Heart'. Directed by Lukasz Termer and starring Sydney!
This is the film clip for the single 'Feels Like The First Time' off the album SOUVENIRS. Directed by Ella Gibbins and made with lots of love and hard work...
Sarakula - On Tour Now's Friend Space (Randomized)
Hi man! How's things? I think we might be playing with you in December up here in Newcastle? Hope so! We've just put a new track up on our myspace and would love to hear
what you think! As a friend of ours we really value your opinion and
would really appreciate any comments/suggestions so feel free to leave
a comment on our page.
Cheers,
The Havelocks
P.S - don't forget to keep us up to date with any upcoming projects of yours so we can check it out!
Thanks for the text at the weekend. Yep - we really enjoyed it last week. Great stuff - and hopefully see you back in NW England before too long! Best, Rich/Canvas.
hey joel.....so after 3 solid weeks of listening to your c.d in car, im tipping it as my oz album of the year.......every song kicks the butt....... sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo fucking good.... cant wait til you come back to brisbane....
Liking the music on the new C|) mate! Hope to catch you when you're touring. If I |)o...we're going to have a |)rink together an|) reminisce, lol! Great times are ahea|) of us.
