February 18, 2020 | 0 Comments

JONATHAN BREE ft. PRINCESS CHELSEA – “KISS MY LIPS” single is at Top 200 Radio Now!!

It’s time for a new Jonathan Bree single!! Yes!! If you need a reminder since last fall regarding who this guy is: if you have any knowledge of New Zealand pop music (a subject in which I’m proud to have a small amount of professional expertise), you might recognize him as former bandleader of cute twee popsters The Brunettes, or label head of influential NZ label Lil Chief Records. He also has been known to play in the band of Princess Chelsea. I would say his present-day music is best described as Magnetic Fields meets Casket Girls. My personal history with this guy goes way back and is quite special to me, which you can read a bit more about on my post about the last single if ya like. His current stage show is really something to see too: it involves solid white spandex masks and pioneer-woman-styled backup dancers with complex choreography. He’s still on that tip with this newest track, just also with a lady vocalist. It’s spooky, creepy, and also romantic and sweet. You have to check it out, it’s really something special. I love it so much.

To decode that title, which is formatted in NACC’s preferred style: it’s just one song this time (you may remember that my last Jonathan Bree single was two tracks), and this one has a guest vocalist: Bree’s longtime collaborator, fellow kiwi Princess Chelsea. I have a bit of a history with that act as well: Princess Chelsea played my very first ever “Band Mom Presents” live show in 2011, which even had the poster designed by a pal who was a music director at the time! Anyway, there’s also a great video for this new song, featuring Princess Chelsea in an American Bandstand-type scenario, that was shot around the same time of Jonathan Bree’s viral hit video for “You’re So Cool“. You’re gonna want to get on this ASAP. Make sure to grab the download (hit me up if you’re a radio station rep who didn’t get the email) so you can add it for your station; no hard copies exist of this one; it is download only. There are both mp3 and wav files included in my download link, so you get to make up your own mind about what works best for you. And just FYI, while there is a full album slated to come out in April which this track is planned to be a part of, this isn’t a brief tease: this is a full-on single campaign, not a trick to segue into the album campaign, I am fully working here to get you to focus on playing the crap out of this one song! Please check it out!!

JONATHAN BREE

“KISS MY LIPS” feat. Princess Chelsea

Lil Chief Records

“Kiss my Lips” is the third single from Jonathan Bree’s forthcoming album, After The Curtains Close.

This is the first time Bree has featured a guest vocalist: long-time collaborator Princess Chelsea on lead vocals.

“Kiss My Lips” is a ‘60s-style pop song that’s darker around the edges than it seems. Its music video was shot during the famed “You’re So Cool” shoot (for his breakthrough viral hit, which currently has over 15 million views on YouTube) and has been hidden away in a time capsule since 2017.

Jonathan Bree is a musician from New Zealand, known for melodic compositions where he croons about modern life and love, over string parts that slide precariously between notes and dulcitone chimes. The end result is a musical palette one could describe as dark Disney.

His live shows have also gained him a cult following as he tours extensively across the world. Masked band members in pioneering clothing are set against a backdrop of cinematic projections created specifically for each song. Unusual for an indie act, he also has two dancers who perform other-worldly choreographed routines along with the music.

After “You’re So Cool” went viral, many likely assumed Jonathan Bree was a new artist. He began writing his own songs at age 9 and performed live as a drummer in his cousin’s band until age 13. This was interrupted after being sent to live in Australia with his father, who was an aspiring cult leader. Bree subsequently left home and independently navigated his teenage years.

When Bree returned to New Zealand, he formed The Brunettes, who in their active years toured the world and released music through Sub Pop Records and Bree’s own label, Lil Chief Records. The frustrations of trying to take this traditional route to success saw him take a long break from releasing his own music. In the interim, he happened to produce the song “The Cigarette Duet” for Princess Chelsea (in 2011) and directed its video which has since surpassed 47 million views.

He began releasing music as a solo artist in 2013. After The Curtains Close will be Jonathan Bree’s fourth full-length solo effort, due out via Lil’ Chief Records later this year.

RIYL: Princess Chelsea, The Brunettes, Ruby Suns, Lawrence Arabia,
Anthonie Tonnon, Lee Hazlewood, Serge Gainsbourg, Scott Walker,
The Magnetic Fields, Casket Girls

Start With: 1 (it’s only one track)

FCC CLEAN