“Juke Kartel is one of the best rock bands to come out in a long time. They… Read Full Bio ↴“Juke Kartel is one of the best rock bands to come out in a long time. They
definitely are on their way to being a commercial arena rock band, with a ‘90s,
grunge-like quality that gives them an edge.”

~ Producer Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Nickelback)

Honed amidst the underground club scene of Melbourne, Juke Kartel has arrived on U.S. soil ready to rock. In little more than four years, the five-member band has gone from local larrikins to fast-rising stars – opening for Nickelback and sharing the stage with Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie and Ronnie Wood. This summer they open the Australian leg of Slash’s world tour and, later this fall, will introduce their own brand of hard-driving rock to stages across America.

Levolution (Carved Records) represents Juke Kartel’s debut album in the U.S., to be released on September 28, prefaced by its first U.S. single, “If Only.” Produced by Brian Virtue (Jane’s Addiction, Velvet Revolver, 30 Seconds to Mars, Chevelle) and Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, 3 Doors Down, Nickelback), the album features a half-dozen freshly penned tracks and six from the band’s 2009 Australian CD, Nowhere Left to Hide, remixed by Dan Korneff (My Chemical Romance, Cavo). With its overarching theme of personal growth and “the journey we’re all on,” says vocalist/lyricist Toby Rand, Levolution finds musical parity in its strong hooks, multi-textured instrumentals and passionate vocals.

The album opens with the new track “Anybody Out There,” which serves as a call for common humanity as much as a barometer of the band’s impending reception outside its native shores. “My Baby,” a cautionary tale of a rock relationship punctuated by staccato verse, is followed by the equally forceful “Bullet Wearing Trademark Clothes,” Rand’s vocals soaring to warn that, no matter what disguise they wear, a woman can easily shoot down a man’s ego. “If Only,” its acoustic intro sliding into a mid-tempo rocker, shares a carpe diem philosophy with “The Sign,” a guitar-fueled journey toward self-awareness and empowerment.

Turning darker with such psychological rockers as “Save Me” and “Road of Glass,” whilst showcasing the guitar powerhouse and syncopated beats of Juke Kartel, the album explores the consequences of mind games and car crashes. The acoustic brilliance of “Soulshaper” offers gentle guitar interplay, and showcases the bands true acoustic talent, before the anthemic “December” segues into a full-throated warning of the perils of excess in “Throw It Away.” The album’s thematic arc comes full-circle in “On Fire,” with its plea for focused passion, and the newly written “Find Out,” a musically layered journey that concludes Levolution with true rock'n'roll grit and lingering hope for optimism.

Juke Kartel made its Australian breakthrough with the 2009 debut album, Nowhere Left To Hide, recorded at Seattle’s London Bridge Studios. The CD, which kicked off the band’s relationship with legendary producer Rick Parashar, yielded three radio singles – “Save Me,” “December” and “If Only” – and generated critical kudos. Rock website TuneLab Music implored listeners to “Feast your ears on Nowhere Left to Hide and enjoy the slab of rock ‘n roll conviction Juke Kartel dishes out.”

That conviction derives, in part, from a long brotherhood. As young teenagers in Melbourne, vocalist Toby Rand, guitarists Todd Burman and Dale Winters, and bassist Tommy Kende paid their dues playing clubs and pubs for nearly seven years, recently importing South African-born drummer Jason Pinfold into the band. After growing a loyal fan base in its hometown, Juke Kartel stepped up in April 2006 when Nickelback asked the lads to open two stadium gigs in Melbourne, followed by an arena tour of North America, a backup spot on the Seether tour and, finally, the band’s own ascension as headliners Down Under.

Verifying their grassroots appeal as the first unsigned artist to perform at the Australian MTV Video Awards (with an energetic rendition of “Throw it Away”), Juke Kartel would go on to earn such accolades as a 2009 Australian People’s Choice Award and Best Unsigned Artist at the 2009 Music Oz Awards. In Summer 2006, vocalist Toby Rand also gave worldwide audiences a taste of his vocal power and charisma as a top contender on the CBS reality show “Rock Star: Supernova,” with Juke Kartel going on to join the Supernova tour in 2007, performing alongside Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee and former Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro.

With a solid rock foundation, Juke Kartel’s evolving musical style is informed by the diverse influences of its members. A recurring blues aspect, for example, may be heard in Toby Rand’s melodies as well as the complex guitar work of Dale Winters, who grew up listening to B.B. King and Robert Johnson. Their stage presence, rife with cheeky banter and a mischievous streak that can be attributed to their Aussie heritage, is bolstered by mutual admiration and respect, having worked together for the better part of a decade. “We’re more than just band mates. We’re a family that chose each other,” explains Rand, who says that, musically and personally, Juke Kartel has never been tighter as a unit. “We’ve all gone through our individual challenges, and now is the perfect time for all this to be happening.”

For more information, please visit the band on its website (www.jukekartel.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jukekartel) or MySpace (www.myspace.com/jukekartel).

Long Way
Juke Kartel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's been easy so far, And I've waited so long to know
If I miss you like rain, Will you remember my name tomorrow?
So I can feel, And I will lose your heart.
Take my eyes look inside, My mind.

Now the tables have turned, And it me that you yearn to hold.
So it would feel, that you can choose the war of life, So take my hand, walk side by side till the end.

Yeah, it's a long way from here, To me you're the only one.

Your light might never disappear, Its alright its alright.
Yeah, it's a long way I can't go unless I do it my way, Yeah, it's a long way.

So I can feel, and I can feel, And I can feel, and I can feel.
It's you I feel, it's you I feel, It's you I feel.

Yeah, it's a long way from here, To me you're the only one.
Your light might never disappear, Its alright its alright.
Yeah, it's a long way from here, To me you're the only one.

Your light might never disappear, Its alright its alright.
Yeah, it's a long way I can't go unless I do it my way, Yeah, it's a long way.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Juke Kartel's song "Long Way" seem to revolve around a love story, someone who has been waiting for a long time to know if they miss the person they are singing about. The lyrics suggest that they have been waiting for so long to feel something, and they finally do. However, the tables have turned, and it is now the other person that yearns to be with them. The singer is willing to take a chance and go their own way, despite it being a long way from here. They are confident that their love for this person will guide them through life.

The lyrics also touch on the theme of self-discovery and doing things their way. The singer seems to suggest that they must stay true to themselves and take their own path in order to reach their destination. The line "It's a long way I can't go unless I do it my way" suggests that the singer is determined to follow their own heart, even if it may be a difficult journey.

Overall, the lyrics of "Long Way" are very poetic and convey a deep sense of emotion. They explore the complexities of love and self-discovery, leaving the listener to interpret their own meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

It's been easy so far, And I've waited so long to know
Everything has been going smoothly, and I have patiently waited for this moment to arrive.

If I miss you like rain, Will you remember my name tomorrow?
If my love for you is as intense as a rainstorm, will you still hold me in your memory?

So I can feel, And I will lose your heart. Take my eyes look inside, My mind.
I want to feel a deep connection with you, but in doing so, I risk losing your heart. Please look into my eyes and understand my thoughts.

Now the tables have turned, And it me that you yearn to hold.
The situation has changed, and now it's me that you want to hold and keep close.

So it would feel, that you can choose the war of life, So take my hand, walk side by side till the end.
Together, we can face the struggles of life as a team. Take my hand, let's walk through life side by side until the very end.

Yeah, it's a long way from here, To me you're the only one.
Although the road ahead may be uncertain and distant, you are the only one I want by my side.

Your light might never disappear, Its alright its alright.
Your presence in my life is a guiding light that I hope never fades. And if it does, everything will still be okay.

Yeah, it's a long way I can't go unless I do it my way, Yeah, it's a long way.
I know the journey ahead may be challenging, but I must follow my heart and do things my own way.

So I can feel, and I can feel, And I can feel, and I can feel. It's you I feel, it's you I feel, It's you I feel.
I want to experience a range of emotions, and it's because of you that I am able to feel so deeply.

Yeah, it's a long way from here, To me you're the only one.
Once again, although the path ahead may be hard, you are the only one I want by my side.

Your light might never disappear, Its alright its alright.
I trust that our love will continue to shine brightly, even in the face of adversity.

Yeah, it's a long way from here, To me you're the only one.
Despite the obstacles that may arise, you are the person that I want to share this lifelong journey with.

Your light might never disappear, Its alright its alright.
Our love will always be a source of strength and guidance, and I have faith that it will never dim or fade.

Yeah, it's a long way I can't go unless I do it my way, Yeah, it's a long way.
Even though the future may be uncertain, I must remain true to myself and forge my own path.

Contributed by Matthew A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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