Gritty Melbourne rocker, George Kalpa has announced the release of his new single, Leave That Street Alone and debut album, MODE alongside a show at Revolver (Melbourne) on October 11.

With Kalpa’s smooth, deep vocal, a seductive saxophone that drawls through the song’s entirety and expertly looped backing vocals, lead single, Leave That Street Alone commands attention and wows with its undeniable sense of cool. “For me the song is about a young man having a bad time. He deals with his situation in the only way that he can. He overshoots a realization and just goes for it,” explains Kalpa. “But it can mean anything to anyone, it’s all about connecting with art in your own way.”

A distinguished filmmaker with awards under his belt for a number of internationally acclaimed short films, there’s no wonder Kalpa has taken to the task of creating the video. The clip for Leave That Street alone is a true masterpiece with an intensely creative and poignant storyline and striking camera work that melds sophistication, beauty and cool. “The idea for the video came to me when I was driving late one night and noticed a Launderette that had been there forever. The moment I looked at it and really paid attention to it, I felt a sense of endlessness fill me and just went with that,” Kalpa explains. “Something about getting used to an unbreakable routine over a period of time that starts to scare the shit out of you. You start thinking, will this go on forever?”

Kalpa has an obsession with transferring sounds and images that are stuck in his head to the mediums of music and film and it is this unconventional approach to writing and recording music that has resulted in his debut solo album, MODE. Following themes of regret and heartbreak, the release has a generous mix of dark, brooding melodies and minimalist percussion creating an atmosphere that embodies Kalpa’s unique mindset and psyche. Recorded with analogue Soviet synths and vintage tape machines, the album sees Kalpa collaborate with local underground talent such as vocalist May Johnston and saxophonist Ben Harrison. Taking a modern approach to the DIY ethic that many of his underground influences adhere to, the album was recorded, mixed and Mastered at Kalpa’s Studio 11.

Pumped to launch his new record with a gig at Revolver on October 11, Kalpa says it feels “fucking fantastic” to be setting his new material on the world!