Fritz is not suffering fools on her new single

The 18-year-old has busily spent the summer writing and recording and hopes to drop the first single Biggest Fool In The World in February. 

“It’s headed in a more surf-pop vibe compared to my first album,” Murphy said. “I’ve kind of shifted away from that shoegaze sound. This and the rest of the album have a similar sound, which is more upbeat and poppier.”

Fritz’s self-titled debut album attracted the attention of triple j and FBi last year and was characterised by its lo-fi indie rock sound as it was recorded entirely by Murphy in her bedroom using the music production app GarageBand.

This time around Murphy recruited her bandmate and Vacations leader Campbell Burns to produce the songs at Sawtooth Studios.

Murphy also promises the new batch of songs will be brutally honest. Despite her musical breakthrough and successful HSC result, Murphy endured some dark moments in 2017, which she attempted to internalise.

“My first album was quite dark and I’ve recovered from that so the new songs are definitely more upbeat and happier, but they’re still talking about issues that I still have with people and life, but in a brighter way,” she said.

“I’ve started to realise I want to tell the truth in my songs and not have a sad sound and sugarcoat the lyrics. I want to be honest in my songwriting.”

INFLUENTIAL Melbourne rockers The Smith Street Band announced their biggest ever national tour on Monday, but most of the interest surrounding the news involved their press picture.

The photograph showed the band with new female full-time members Lucy Wilson of The Sugarcanes and Central Coast-raised Jess Locke, plus new drummer Matt Bodiam from the defunct A Death In The Family.

However, missing from the photo was founding drummer Chris Cowburn.

The Smith Street Band played at last year’s Groovin The Moo in Maitland, but bypassed Newcastle on their initial tour to support their fourth album More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me.

The Smithies haven’t forgotten Newcastle this time and will perform at the Bar On The Hill on March 21, alongside Bec Sandridge and Press Club.

DASHVILLE favourite Paddy McHugh will tune up the band on Thursday at Maitland’s Grand Junction Hotel as he prepares for his Down To Sydney single tour.

The Tamworth-raised, Brisbane-based folk-rocker wrote the track Down To Sydney to draw focus on the high rate of suicide among males from rural areas.

“Down to Sydney is a story that has no doubt played out many times in every small town across the country,” McHugh said. “In the song, however, the protagonist finds another way out.... I guess I want people to realise that there are alternatives and there is hope even in the most unlikely places.”

NEWCASTLE you demanded more Thundamentals and your wish has been granted. Following the sell-out of the hip-hop posse’s Cambridge Hotel show on April 13, a second gig on April 12 has been announced.

Meanwhile, Adelaide rapper Allday will also perform at the Newcastle West venue on March 24. Tickets go on sale Thursday.

THERE will be a strong Hunter flavour at the second installment of the rebooted Narara Music Festival on the Central Coast.

Bellbird’s William Crighton is on the bill for the May 5, alongside Newcastle acts Arcades and Lions, Nicholas Connors and The Steve Edmonds Band, who will perform their Jimi Hendrix show.

Roots artists Ash Grunwald, Dallas Frasca and Shaun Kirk will also perform at Narara, which is held at Kariong’s Mt Penang Gardens.

US punk band Turnstile have joined their countrymen Turnover for their upcoming Australian tour that stops at the Small Ballroom on March 7.

Turnstile released the single Moon on Tuesday, the third track off their album Time & Space.

If Moon is any indication, Turnstile’s Australian tour will be full of high energy and crunching guitars.

NEWCASTLE musician Spencer Scott almost missed a chance to perform alongside Camp Cope frontwoman Georgia Maq on Sunday night in Melbourne due to the Tomago bushfire.

The Paper Thin frontman supported Maq on Saturday at the Hamilton Station Hotel, before the tour moved to Victoria.

Maq had already organised to drive back to Sydney for her Melbourne flight, but Scott was travelling out of Williamtown Airport.

Scott caught the last plane out of Newcastle on Sunday before the bushfire caused the closure of the airport while he was mid-flight.