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getsorted listen watch Please Like Me tune in Blackchords When four Melbourne-based musicians bring their various backgrounds together, the combination results in an indie rock sound with high energy and a dark, introspective soul. Since Blackchord's first album, released in 2009, the band has taken a different route on its journey to create captivating and emotional music. The group's newest album, A Thin Line, explodes with energy from synthesised instruments and a mix of each band member's creative style. "The first record was grounded and rootsy," says lead singer and guitarist Nick Milwright. "But this one reflects the band writing together, pulling and pushing each other in different directions." Jason Owen A Thin Line came largely from an experiential phase, Nick adds, and its message focuses on dealing with everyday distractions that pull people away from their bigger purpose. Just three months before recording, the group went off to the bush and wrote most of its songs while rediscovering a powerful connection to music. "We had to wake up and realise that our music wasn't reflecting us," Nick says. At that point, the band members began to focus on their own emotions and experiences. Once they made the creative process a personal journey, it all began to flow. A Thin Line reflects the battle against distraction and the importance of focusing on your passion. www.blackchords.com Life is a Highway (Sony Music) Jason Owen released his first album, Life is a Highway, in late April, opening up a whole new world for the 19-year-old from Albert, NSW. After signing with Sony Music following his debut on The X-Factor Australia, Jason has created an album that comes packed with soulful covers, renditions of John Denver classics, and many of the songs with which he impressed audiences on The X-Factor. With musical influences ranging from Celine Dion to Elton John, Jason gives his audience a vocal treat through this career-launching album. www.jasonowenofficial.com In a hilarious cross between a comedy and a drama, Josh Thomas' Please Like Me series follows a 21-year-old who has his life turned upside down in a single day. His girlfriend dumps him, his mother overdoses on painkillers, and he moves back in with Mum while his father attempts to hide a new girlfriend from his suicidal ex-wife. The six-part series, which details Josh's efforts to deal with his chaotic life, is a witty and intelligent treatment of the journey to adulthood. TV time Life of Pi The Academy Award-winning film tells the 3-D story of a thrills young man who takes on an epic adventure unlike any other. After surviving a shipwreck that kills his family, Pi (played by Suraj Sharma) finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger, eventually making an incredible connection with the fearsome animal. The film's cinematic perfection attracted a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the 3-D experience leaves the audience breathless throughout this journey of learning and discovery. 3