It’s hard to watch this performance and not mention PJ Harvey so I’ll just get that out of the way now. Critically acclaimed artist Olympia has today released the highly anticipated album, Flamingo. Representing Olympia’s most personal record to date; full of risk, escalation, and the complex pop unspooling we’ve come to recognise in her work. A striking follow up to debut, Self Talk, an album that was nominated for an ARIA award, J Award for Best Video, shortlisted in the Australian Music Prize and selected as triple j feature album.

Olivia Bartley, creative force behind the project, co-produced the upcoming album with long-time collaborator Burke Reid (Courtney Barnett, Julia Jacklin, DMAs).

The album threads together references to the personal, philosophical and also contemporary ideas to create a bold and lucid world unlike any other. Bartley explains, “The record explores the idea of trying to hold hope and hopelessness together. I’ve tried to borrow from my own grief to create its inverse: something new; a territorial hope affair - a love letter from the living.Filmmaker Jacques Tati used to say that he wanted ‘the movie to begin when you leave the theatre’, and with this record, I’d set out to try and create an atmosphere from start to finish, so that it’s immersive like film.’

Olympia - Flamingo International Tour Dates

July 20 - Latitude Festival, UK

July 22 - Old Blue Last - London, UK

July 24 - Yes (Basement) - Manchester, UK

July 26 - Dublin Sound House – Dublin, IRE

Sept 11 - Patterns – Manchester, UK

With the summer of 2019 finally shining its way through the windows, the time is perfect for Gizmo Varillas to announce his return with the release of his new single 'Out Of The Darkness'.  A Peter Gabriel-esque meeting of addictive rhythms and sun-kissed harmonies, 'Out Of The Darkness' is the first track to be taken from his forthcoming third album.

Having swapped his home studio (where his first two albums were created) for the legendary RAK Studios in London, Gizmo explains that “'Out Of The Darkness' was one of the first songs I wrote for the album which set the tone and theme for the rest of songs that followed.  The writing process was cathartic to me, as this was a difficult year in many ways. The title track and album subtly deals with issues like depression, anxiety, stress and mental health. Each song on the album depicts different shades of darkness and finds light therein. Ultimately it’s an album of hope and making it to the other side. It’s about transformation, from dark into light.”

Having tested new material during recent appearances at Zermatt Unplugged in Switzerland, and with Seu Jorge at the Eventim Apollo and Zaz at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Gizmo Vanillas will play the Camden Assembly on November 26.