The Convo With George Sargent

Mike Waters "Keep On Dancing" 🕺

Mike didn’t start writing songs until he was 26. It wasn’t until he hit the vibrant pub scene in inner-Melbourne that the suburban boy from Adelaide decided, “I can do that.” Two years later Mike found himself in Los Angeles with a publishing deal and working with some of the biggest names in pop music. But his path to pop wasn’t straightforward. During his time in Los Angeles, Mike penned songs with the likes of Demi Lovato and Louis Tomlinson. Eventually the back and forth to the States was wearing Mike down and he decided it was time to focus on the music scene in Australia. Mike explains, “In LA is everyone writes about falling in and out of love. I’m married happily and I can’t relate to that in the way other people can. I have other things I want to talk about that are a bit deeper. I want to talk about mental health and the human experience, growing up and stuff that means things to people outside of just a love song or a hate song.” As an additional talking point to the music, Mike is a full time web developer and coder 9am – 5pm and runs a team of 15 as the head of engineering at the fastest growing tech site globally. Living his life as real life Hannah Montana of music and tech.

Lucie Tiger "Nashville is GREAT for a musician" 👩‍🎤

Like many artists, the year just gone has been an opportunity for slowing the pace of life and reflection. For a wandering songstress like Lucie Tiger, the time to stop and take stock of her music and life experiences to date has been a positive spin on an otherwise unsettling time. With a magnetic quality in both her music and personal charm, Lucie is the embodiment of a Southern infused, Country Rock singer, coloured with a hefty dose of good old Americana charm. Lucie’s most current release ‘Found My Home’, offers up a melting pot of Southern Rock, Blues and Country with influences by The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Miranda Lambert and Raelynn. Written by Lucie, the song features the talents of Bob Wray (Ray Charles), Will McFarlane (Bonnie Raitt), Brad Kuhn (Meg Williams) and Justin Holder (Jason Isbell, Shoalsfest) and was produced by John Gifford III and Don Srygley (GRAMMY nominees for Gregg Allman’s final album ‘Southern Blood’. It is a musing on time spent on the road and reflects with a longing sense of nostalgia on the places most enjoyed during Lucie’s time in Nashville, Florence (Alabama), Memphis, and the Mississippi Delta.

Piper Rodrigues "He was one stitched up unit" 🔮

Fresh from the release of her debut EP Lost or Found? in 2019, Central Coast NSW based singer songwriter Piper Rodrigues is kicking off with a fresh new single ‘King of Cups’. Music student and avid dog lover Rodrigues based the song on a moment while practicing the mystic art of Tarot. ‘King of Cups’ was co-written with Golden Guitar winning Melody Moko, with a view to uplift the self- esteem of listeners. The song was recorded at Hillbilly Hut Studios and was produced by Golden Guitar winning Catherine Britt and Michael Muchow. The video for ‘King of Cups’ was produced by Duncan Toombs of The Filmery and was filmed on an elaborate set at Lizotte’s in Newcastle, NSW. Rodrigues has a deep musical heritage that informs her work. Her grandfather, John Manners, was the bassist in pioneering Australian 60s pop band Ray Brown and the Whispers, and her father was a club DJ in the 80s. She entered her first talent show at age seven, graduated from the CMAA Academy of Country Music in 2020 and she is now studying a Bachelor of Music at Newcastle University. Her vocal style is heavily rooted in her influences, which include Dolly Parton, Florence Welch, Stevie Nicks, Reba McIntyre and Taylor Swift. Rodrigues has already gathered some major touring opportunities. She has played at the legendary Bluebird Café in Nashville, and at the Tamworth Country Music festival in 2020. She has toured with Catherine Britt on the “Bush Pubs Tour” in 2020, and has also worked with Melody Moko and Lyn Bowtell. Rodrigues’s talent as a songwriter comes from her ability to tell a story that weaves itself from personal accounts into highly elaborate tales.

Sarah Leete "I say it how it is" 👏🏽

Sarah Leete has unveiled her new single ‘Nothin’ Special’, which is her first new music since the release of her self titled debut EP in 2017. Originally from the Central Coast, and now calling the small country town of Baan Baa in the Narrabri Shire home, Sarah wrote ‘Nothin’ Special’ as a result of some deeply reflective times during the pandemic of 2020. Produced by Michael Muchow, the song is a reflection of where Sarah is at in her life, where one realises there’s no ‘happily ever after’ and real love and most things in life require consistent effort. The video for ‘Nothin’ Special’ was produced by Richard Harmey and filmed in Tasmania when Sarah was there on holidays. Featuring some of the most beautiful Tasmanian landscapes around Kempton, some scenes were also shot at the historic Castle Hotel in Bothwell. A Cole Clark Guitar endorsed musician who graduated from CMAA on full scholarship, Sarah has supported many artists including ARIA and Golden Guitar winning Fanny Lumsden, Bill Chambers and the Viper Creek Band. She’s also a regular on the festival circuit and has performed at Gympie Music Muster and the Tamworth Country Music Festival. In conjunction with Hayley Marsten, Sarah put together a ‘Write Like a Girl’ showcase at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which received record crowds. Sarah Leete is an exciting new country music artist with an infectious personality, a gorgeous voice, great songwriting skills and a quirky sense of humour, which sets her apart from the rest.

Brett Blake "Undies are so important" 🩲

Brett Blake is and exciting and energetic stand up comedian who has preformed extensively across Australia and the UK. You may have seen him on Channel 10’s Common Sense or heard him on the Little Dum Dum Club. Recently BONDS launched its first sitcom series titled ‘Dusty ‘n' Rusty’. The series stars AFL champion, Dustin ‘Dusty’ Martin, and Australian comedian Brett Blake, who plays Martin’s long lost twin brother, Rustin ‘Rusty’ Martin. Set in Dusty’s “home”, the episodes follow the ups and downs of the two as they are forced to live under the same roof dressed only in their Bonds trunks due to a broken thermostat. The series, made up of six micro-episodes launches on Bonds channels and YouTube with the first episode, with the rest to be released across the footy season.