Music
Press
Formerly with the band Freetown, Sutherland Shire muso Paul Appelkamp (above) is now focusing on his solo work and launching his new EP in February.
He has just completed an East Coast tour of NSW and will appear at his old stomping ground, the Brass Monkey, Cronulla, this Sunday, December 14.
Originally described as a raw roots musician, Appelkamp is now exploring many musical ideas and often finding himself in uncharted territory.
Well-articulated lyrics, idealism, and provocative sounds are the cornerstone of his art. - The St George Sutherland Shire Leader
***** 5/5 Stars
It is incredibly rare for me to take an EP and chuck it on my iTunes immediately. This release is one of those “where the hell did you find this” type of artists...
totally awesome! Paul gives John Mayer a run for his money, in fact he surpasses Mr Mayer. The production is solid, vocals hauntingly spot on and the lyrical and melodic content of the songs just genius. Purity and freshness makes you instantly fall in love with the tunes. It’s a musical aphrodisiac!For an EP, each track is as strong as the last and shows a unique angle to Paul’s performance skills. It really is hard to pick a favourite - they are all totally radio friendly (are you reading this JJJ and FBI? You guys will wet yourself!)For the rest of us - this is definitely one EP that worth hunting down... if you like John Mayer, Keith Urban, Seal and Jack Johnson - you will totally die over Paul Applekamp.Bring on the full length album! - Pop Republic.tv
JJJ Unearthed nominee Paul Appelkamp's 3rd and self titled EP displays a lyrical and musical maturity within its' grooves. And with Paul playing everything from guitars, bass, harmonica, percussion, melody horn and stomp box you get the idea that this is one talent to watch. - Trevor (musical director)-ABC Coast FM
With the sounds of Jason Mraz so popular at the moment you can only hope that a few of those fans will give Paul Appelkamp’s self-titled EP a listen… because they will fall in love with it instantly.
‘Live And Learn’ has a terrific blue grass country feel that seems to suit Appelkamp’s voice to a T, while the slow moody acoustic sound of ‘City Lights’ shows there is a more than adequate musician at hand here.
The Jason Mraz/Jack Johnson sounds start on ‘As It Comes’ and continue with the heavily reggae inspired ‘We Aim For More’. Appelkamp also supplies his reggae vocals to ‘Red Paint’ which is largely a heavy bass driven instrumental track. He then finishes off the EP with ‘Lift Your Head Up’, a great groovy rock song that wants to make you hear more.
A good little EP that shows Appelkamp is a good enough musician to warrant his own full-length album. - Cross Culture-Daves Review
"This EP was produced by the wonderful Genevieve Maynard, but it's Paul's musicianship and songwriting that wins the day. I hate to even mention them in the same sentence, but Jack Johnson ain't got nothin' on this guy. Stand out track, "Red Paint"...
but they're all really good". - Foghorn Records
Discography
* Self-engineered and produced demo-EP "Sub-Conscious". Mastered by Reece turnbridge @ Benchmark Mastering Sydney. Recorded during 2006, independently released in 2007.
* March 2009, self-titled EP recorded in Dec 2008-Jan 2009 at revolution Studios Sydney. Produced, engineered and mixed by Genevieve Maynard. Mastered by William Bowden. Distributed in digital format globally in April '09 (Foghorn media/MGM).
* March 2010, distribution of the "Machines" single globally in digital format (Foghorn/MGM). Produced, engineered and mixed by Paul Appelkamp. Mastered by William Bowden.
Radio: Self-Titled EP (2009) played on Triple J, NOVA-Adelaide, ABC Coast FM, ABC Darwin, Bay FM Byron bay, The Edge Tasmania, PBS Melbourne. Also played on 35 Australian community stations.
Machines single played on Triple J, ABC coast fm, ABC Darwin, The Edge Tasmania, Bay fm Byron Bay plus 14 other Australian community radio stations.
Photos
Bio
From a hard-rocking kid on electric guitar to a diverse solo artist with three releases under his belt, Paul Appelkamp’s musical journey has been colourful.
He had a travelled upbringing and while living in New Zealand at age 11 curiously dragged a four-decade old guitar out of a dark, dusty cupboard. It became his adapted limb.
While widdling-out complex tunes with spirit, Appelkamp was also listening to Bob Dylan on an old record player from a young age, helping him develop a poet-like songwriting style. But it’s the Adelaide-born lad’s deep search for genuine artistic originality that has always allured people most.
The highly experimental ‘Paul Appelkamp’ EP (2009) was distributed through MGM/Foghorn Media and received airplay on many radio stations, including NOVA (Adelaide), Triple J, ABC Coast FM and ABC Darwin.
Australia-wide publication Pop Republic TV said, “the lyrical and melodic content of the songs [is] just genius... 5/5 stars”. Appelkamp knocked-off forty shows in four months to support the EP’s release. ‘Live and Learn’ (a track from the EP) was shortlisted for Musicoz’s Best Blues and Roots Song of 2009.
In 2010 the explorative Appelkamp used guitar, stomp-box, egg shaker and bamboo flute to contrive the sound of machines taking over the world on his ‘Machines’ single. In the same year he won a national competition to play at Adelaide Fuse Festival.
After three years touring in a trusty old van Appelkamp calls “Gerty”, he moved from Sydney to the peaceful Byron Bay hinterland. He solemnly refined an album’s worth of soul-infused songs there and will record them with a full band for his much-anticipated debut album, due out in early 2012.
Festivals Performed-
Bluesfest (Byron Bay) '11
Adelaide Fuse Festival '10 (SA)
Sydney Royal Easter Show '10 (NSW)
Peats Ridge Festival '08 (NSW)
Feelgood Festival '07 (NSW)
Ironfest '10 (NSW)
Relay for Life (Sutherland Shire) '09 (NSW)
Art of Living Festival '09 (NSW)
Kurnell Festival '09 and '10 (NSW)
www.paulappelkamp.com
www.facebook.com/paulappelkamp
Links
