. . . Bryan Estepa, Melita . . . . . Photo – Dominic Meler . . . . CLICK THE PIC TO VIEW THE NEWS
“AMNPLIFY PREMIERE”
Sydney songwriter
BRYAN ESTEPA
kicks off 2024 with a
brand new single
featuring guest vocalist
MELITAPre Save HERE
PRESS
“Bryan’s a great writer and collaborator. He’s got a classic pop sensibility but is really open to feedback and experimentation which made my job as producer really fun and free.” Josh Pyke
“Estepa’s super power is his ability to etch out the most sky-scraping melodies, delivered with a yearning, aching mantle of powered pop. With detectable traces of George Harrison and The Traveling Wilburys, the slide guitars that haunt the edges of the track give a country flavour, while the lyrics, despite the air of melancholy, are eye wateringly romantic.” Backseat Mafia on ‘That Was The Day’
“Both the track and its video are a testament to Estepa’s status as a widely-unsung hero of the Australian music scene, and gives listeners an idea of what is still to come from this beloved and critically-acclaimed artist.” Rolling Stone Australia (‘Admit Now, Pay Later’)
“‘Trick of the Light’ is infused with a deep melancholia and is beautifully melodic with heartfelt lyrics.” Backseat Mafia
“The result is the best work he’s ever done: concentrated in its writing, playing, sound and intent, and not just satisfying, but lasting.” Bernard Zuel (Sometimes I Just Don’t Know)
“… he has a knack for crafting melodic mini-masterpieces… instantly familiar and forthcoming, with hooks that will have you humming all day.” Rhythms Magazine
“AMNPLIFY PREMIERE”
A couple of years ago Bryan Estepa partnered with multi ARIA and APRA award-winning Australian songwriter Josh Pyke for an exciting new batch of songs. With Pyke producing and playing on Estepa’s songs the pair recorded the critically acclaimed singles ‘Admit Now, Pay Later’, ‘Trick Of The Light’ and the title track of the 2021 EP they all appeared under – Back To The Middle.
After focusing on playing live, both solo and with his current band, releasing early material from his early 2000s band Adeline, and forming Delta Green, a band that thrillingly and authentically pays homage to English blues rock, late last year Estepa returned to the melodic indie and power pop on which he’s forged his musical career on, via the cover single ‘That Was The Day’.
Estepa admits that he went through a dry patch after the release of ‘Back To The Middle’, a period in which he felt a real burst of creativity. “The well kinda went dry after that. I’d normally be a little worried but I threw myself into learning a tonne of new concepts on guitar and got obsessed over my instrument like I did in my teens. I kinda forgot about my songwriting for a while. But ‘Is There Anybody There?’ came out of nowhere during that period and it formed pretty quickly,” remembers Estepa. “One of those truly inspired moments that as a songwriter that you dare not question.”
Pre Save HERE
.The new single ‘Is There Anybody There?’ is Estepa diving deep into his love and appreciation for soul, pop and yacht rock. This is full immersion into the smooth and irresistible, soulful pop that was perfected by some of the biggest artists of the 70s and 80s and which Estepa delivers with heartfelt authenticity. It’s a sound built on dreamy keyboards, softly strummed acoustic guitar and a rhythm section imbued with jazz funk sophistication. Pure melodic bliss.
“I think it was also very much influenced by my Yacht Rock band and all the music of that genre I’ve been digesting with much gusto – Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates etc. It’s the kind of soulful, AM radio pop that I love so much. Still do!”
The song features solo Sydney artist Melita on sublime guest vocals and her brother Alex Ertler on drums, bass, keys and guitar. “As soon as I finished the demo, I knew pretty much that I wanted to work with the great soul/ funk artist Melita on this track. She is my Yacht Rock bandmate and is one of the most gifted artists I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the past few years. We ended up working on this song with her brother Alex Ertler, who’s also a prodigious talent, and the co-producer of the song.”
As Estepa explains, “It’s a song about loneliness and how we as individuals are just a miniscule number in the sea of humanity. In those moments of realisation we might wonder if anyone is there or listening to us.”
‘Is There Anybody There?’ is available on 22nd March on Lilystars Records and via Bandcamp, streaming services and Amrap for our community radio friends across Australia.
About BRYAN ESTEPA
Born in Cubao, Quezon City in the Philippines, Estepa and his family moved to Sydney, Australia in 1987. It was there, at the age of 15, that he began to pursue the craft of songwriting before starting his adult musical journey fronting indie pop band Swivel in the late-90s pub scene. He recorded his inaugural CD with the band, which paved the way for his solo career.
A year of travelling across the USA and performing at open mic nights inspired songs for his debut EP, Start Again in 2003 and since then Estepa has gone on to release six critically acclaimed solo albums – All The Bells And Whistles, Sunday Best, Vessels, Heart Vs Mind, Every Little Thing and Sometimes I Just Don’t Know.
Estepa has written a piece for SBS detailing his formative musical years as a Filipino growing up in Western Sydney and early in 2021 he appeared as a guest-host on ABC Radio’s Weekend Evenings, broadcast live across Australia, discussing his career in music.
“AMNPLIFY PREMIERE”
Follow BRYAN ESTEPA
Website – Bandcamp – Facebook
Instagram – Spotify – YouTube
.AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
