Author: Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.

Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts announces new details of $60.5 million HOTA gallery

Gold Coast’s impactful Home of the Arts (HOTA) has now confirmed the 20 Australian artists that will make up the inaugural exhibition program for the venue’s new $60.5 million HOTA Gallery in April 2021. Although it feels like forever away right now, the energetic cultural precinct is looking forward to next year [as we all…

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Sydney’s best restaurants come together in support of the hospitality industry

Some of Sydney’s top restaurants have come together under the “Plates For Good” initiative, established to help industry staff who have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Eight of the city’s favourite eateries have committed to donating the purchase price of every Westholme Wagyu dish ordered to that venue’s staff who have lost income…

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Carriageworks to reopen with major installation by Giselle Stanborough

After the great news that Carriageworks had been saved with the support of a group of donors, the Sydney art institution has officially announced Friday 7th August as a reopening date. And with the space once again being open to the public, comes new commissions that’ll take over the space as part of the ongoing…

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Pulse 4: JBL is bringing the powerful LED speaker to Australia this November

This November, Australian fans of JBL’s vibrant Pulse speakers will be able to get their hands on the fourth-generation of the beloved LED music box. Promising a step up from its predecessor in every way, the Pulse 4 will literally shine with a battery life of 12 hours, a sturdy IPX7 waterproof design, and an…

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Samsung brings its award-winning A30 Smart Lock to Australia

Unless you somehow magically lose your fingerprint, you’ll never have to worry about misplacing the front door keys again. That is, if you pick up Samsung’s newly launched A30 Smart Lock, which is the latest in the ever-growing smart home security sector. Already racking up a nod at the International Design Excellence Awards, the A30…

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Track of the Day: Something For Kate “Waste Our Breath” (2020)

Though Melbourne’s Palais Theatre may be begging for some life right now, a new music video from Aussie music royalty Something For Kate fills out the empty venue as the three-piece perform on stage to no one. A rush of energy courses through “Waste Our Breath”, the second single lifted from SFK’s first album in…

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Microsoft Surface Book 3 15-inch Review: Finding the right balance

Occupying the conceptual space between a tablet and a laptop has always been Microsoft’s goal with the Surface Book series. And it’s been a success thus far, striking a swift balance that pulls some of the best parts from each world and welds it together with a premium build. The experience switching between the two…

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Gelatissimo brings brown sugar bubble tea gelato to Australia

Boba fans should be heading to their nearest Gelatissimo store this week to indulge in the chain’s latest limited edition flavour, “Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea”. Popping the flavour of natural brown sugar pearls into milk tea gelato, the new flavour gives a heady nod to the global bubble tea phenomenon. The profile is made…

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Gelato Messina’s ‘Fairy Bread Cookie Pie’ is available from today

Comfort food has never been more important during waves on (necessary) lockdown this year. And the gelato gods at Messina have been up to task over these past few months, with eye watering mash ups like Nutella Cookie Pie. Now, the cult ice creamery has doubled-down on the love of franken-food with a new ‘Fairy…

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Cocktail recipes from the best bars in Memphis, Tennessee

The historic music city of Memphis isn’t just a beacon for artist’s the world over. The home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll also boasts a soulful food and drink scene that’s as much about lip-smacking comfort food as it is fresh seafood with a worldly outlook. Bluff City does boast…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Sammm. “Four Eyes” (2020)

Brisbane’s Sammm. has doubled-down on dreamy indie-rock with his latest single “Four Eyes”, a poignant track which unpacks a sense of bruised optimism. As elegant as it is angsty, the single channels the style of bands like The War On Drugs and Real Estate with ease. Sammm., otherwise known as Samuel Geddes, puts on one…

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Best female rappers

100 of the greatest songs by women in hip hop

It opens with Erykah Badu rhyming over a beatbox from Rahzel, and closes with Missy Elliot threatening to slap you right across your melon. We’ve put together a 100-deep playlist for this month’s Hip Hop and R&B Retrospective, celebrating women in rap by spotlighting some of our favourites from the 80’s (Roxanne Shante, Queen Latifah,…

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Some of the absolute best staycations New South Wales has to offer (Part One)

That New South Wales has some of the best accommodation in the world has never been a secret. What, with the kind of landscapes that people save for their entire lives to come and see? You’d expect no less: seriously bucket list resorts sketching indulgence onto rugged scenery, relentlessly charming boutique hotels you’d dream of…

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Five UK bands you should be listening to in 2020, according to Bloxx

Fronted by the enigmatic Fee, West London indie rockers Bloxx have been on quite the roll leading up to their debut album Lie Out Loud. That continues with the release of third single “Off My Mind”, a stadium-sized earworm perfectly highlighting those strong pop sensibilities fast making them one of the most exciting UK bands…

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Sonos Move Review: It may lumber, but this portable beast packs a punch

While Sonos is prolific in the audio space, the brand doesn’t have a product cycle as speedy and frequent as some competitors. It often feels like a long time between drinks when it comes to Sonos, but usually when that drink finally comes around, it’s a velvety classic – a meticulously built Old Fashioned or…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Mardi Wilson “Part Time Lover” (2020)

Raw and brutally honest, “Part Time Lover” is the new single from Brisbane singer-songwriter Mardi Wilson. Tt’s a bit of a departure from previous songs like “Runaway” and “Don’t Stop”, lifted from a forthcoming debut album while further highlight Wilson’s undeniable talent at spinning her own feelings and experiences into compelling songs. Based on something…

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Penguin Biscuits, UK’s version of Tim Tam, finally launching in Australia

Penguin Biscuits have long been considered the United Kingdom’s competitor to Australia’s fiercely beloved Arnott’s Tim Tam. Whether or not they are better is the topic of hot debate amongst expats, but Penguins do at least have the claim of predating the dynamic Aussie treat by more than three decades. Now more Aussie locals will…

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McDonalds now has a KitKat McFlurry on its Australian menu

Fast food fans are going to have a field day today as McDonalds had added a genuine KitKat McFlurry to the dessert menu. And it’s really as simple as it sounds, taking crunched-up flecks of KitKat and imbibing it into the classic Maccas ice cream dessert, then capping it with a wave of hot chocolate…

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Track of the Day: Joesef Feat. Loyle Carner “I Wonder Why” (2020)

Joesef may be tight-lipped on his debut album, but the increasingly popular artist isn’t hiding his extraordinary talent on new single “I Wonder Why”. A static R&B jam, the new single sees Joesef hook up with fellow Brit Loyle Carner for what is easily one of the most lush, aesthetically beautiful songs out right now….

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Merivale At Home to launch in Melbourne with Totti’s, Mr. Wong and more

When Merivale launched its at-home dining business “Merivale At Home” earlier this year, it gave locked-down Sydneysiders the opportunity to experience some of the city’s best venues without leaving their house. Now it seems the delivery platform has given the juggernaut hospitality group a somewhat modular in design, allowing Justin Hemmes to expand his empire…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Sarah Goodwin “Look Forward” (2020)

Aussie pop artist Sarah Goodwin has already built a solid reputation for genuinely uplifting, summer-soaked singles like “Waste My Time” and “Darker Shades”, a steady collection of blissful bops that now welcomes a new addition. Premiering today on the AU review, “Look Forward” is the new single from the Brisbane based singer-songwriter, simply diving into…

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Jimmys Falafel Bar Sydney

Three new Middle Eastern restaurants open in Sydney

Sydney has never wanted for good, full-throated Middle Eastern food. Efendy, Stanbuli, Barzaari, Nour, Anason, Kepos Street Kitchen, Tayim, Thievery, Cubby’s Kitchen, Shenkin, Emma’s Snack Bar, El Jannah – need I go on? It’s one of the most reliable and diverse cuisines sutured into the very belly of the city’s multicultural fabric. Evidently, the promise…

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Koko Black channels unique Australian flavours with new artisan chocolates

You might not be able to take an actual bite out of Australia’s grizzly landscapes and boundless plains, but you can at least have a taste. Swallowing Australia is even more tempting now that popular artisan chocolatier Koko Black has traversed the many native flavours of Australia for its new collection. The “Australian Native Collection”…

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Withings Steel HR Review: Outstanding looks, but very few hooks

A delicate balancing act is evidently difficult to achieve for the hybrid smartwatch. The category is always moving forward, especially with quality offerings from Fitbit, Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Withings, but it seems 2-in-1 wearables which aim to be a fitness track and a smartwatch fall too heavily on just one side. We saw…

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Click Frenzy announces “Julove” sale: $14 iPhone 11s, $3 Bose headphones and more

It seems the folk behind Click Frenzy couldn’t wait to open the flood gates on another ridiculous online flash sale. “Julove” is the website’s new online shopping event, following on from Click Frenzy Mayhem, which only happened in May of this year. The headliner here is that some products will be up to 99% off…

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Samsung seek domestic dominance with slick dry-cleaning AirDresser

Samsung has officially brought its intriguing AirDresser to Australia. It’s a fancy (and expensive) clothing-care device which arrives with considerable acclaim behind it, having clocked the Gold Award for Product Design at the International Forum Design Awards, and is basically a small and slim wardrobe that keeps your clothes in top shape between washes. Stylish…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: The Marlenes “Breaking Out of Touch” (2020)

Get ready for a lot of deep, lingering looks and hazy 60’s style vocals as Melbourne band The Marlenes croon their way through “Breaking out of Touch.” Lifted from their recently released Advertise on the Moon project, the woozy soft-sway of surf rock rolls over a heady hit of psychedelia as lead Michael Proctor’s relaxed…

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Guzman Y Gomez is doing $9.90 burritos and bowls with free delivery for Victorians

It’s tough to be in VIC right now, with COVID-19 cases soaring and Melbourne returning to tight lockdown measures. Some of Australia’s biggest casual restaurants are doing their best to help out. We’ve already seen Grill’d offer Victorians 2-for-1 burgers to ease them back into the order-in state of mind. Now it seems Mexican favourite…

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Track of the Day: IJALE Feat. Rara Zulu “Hotlines” (2020)

Melbourne-based Australian-Nigerian emcee IJALE has served up the first taste of his upcoming debut EP Wildly Disparate Sounds with the conceptually powerful, aesthetically smooth “Hotline”. More than just a song, the hip hop artist has expanded upon the idea of having a safe space for the Black community and other people of colour to vent…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Resin Moon “The Middle” (2020)

Alice Springs based producer Resin Moon has found his voice in a town so rich in culture, camaraderie and artistic experimentation. As he recalls, the artist found his home in remote Central Australia follows a few years of travelling and trying to find hone his craft, a path to self-discovery which has led to his…

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