PerthZine

Tag: ullah

  • EP Review – Ullah: For Then

    EP Review – Ullah: For Then

    Wear It

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    The debut EP from Ullah is here, bringing together a mix of previously released singles and a couple of live favourites. The Perth/Boorloo songwriter, now based in Melbourne/Naarm (yep, another one), makes a strong opening statement.

    Opening track I Want It All has been a radio darling since its release, showcasing Ullah’s knack for catchy, singalong songwriting. It’s a declaration of dreams and desire, balanced by the uncertainty that often comes with them. There’s a playful edge to the vocal delivery—especially in lines like “how did you know where to go?”—before the track swells into a climactic, emotionally charged finish. It’s pretty special indie-pop.

    If I Were A Fish leans into Ullah’s alternative-rock side. Full of interesting rhythms and weighty guitar riffs, it digs into self-reflection with lines like “tell me who you think I’ll be, even if it means dishonesty”. It’s a short track that erupts at the end, like a release of pent-up energy.

    Previously released single Shoulder to Shoulder is a gorgeous stripped-back alt-folk song, exploring the subconscious voice that wears away confidence. “I wear it” suggests an acceptance of that inner dialogue—learning to carry it, rather than silence it. It’s a quiet standout.

    How To Dance parts one and two offer a clear indication of what the band are capable of. Pt. 1 is a quiet, introspective exploration of the inhibitions that grow with us as we age, building into a short, anthemic release. Pt. 2 flips this—and is the most energetic and danceable track on the EP. The singalong moment “I’m looking through my own eyes” is punchy and memorable, with soaring guitar work driving it forward.

    It’s clear that Ullah uses music as a vehicle for self-exploration and healing, and the songwriting is raw and honest because of it. The ability to turn these feels into both compelling alt-rock noise and indie-pop hooks suggests there is something genuinely special developing here.

  • Gig Review – Stella Donnelly with Ullah and Anna Schneider

    Gig Review – Stella Donnelly with Ullah and Anna Schneider

    The Rechabite, Friday, March 6, 2026

    The Rechabite was heaving with good vibes all round as Stella Donnelly returned to her hometown for the last show touring her latest and greatest album Love and Fortune. Stella captivated the packed room with many singalong moments throughout her now well-stocked catalogue of songs.

    Opening the night was Anna Schneider and her band playing some beautiful ambient, dreamy pop. The four-piece warmed up the crowd nicely with a soundscape centred around Anna’s acoustic guitar and vocals, backed by a tight rhythm section and excellent synth work. The crowd were onboard and won over by the time the set finished.

    Time for Ullah and the packed room to really get going. With an ever-growing list of quality tunes coming from the Perth songwriter and band, you could really get a sense that big things are coming. Mixing the very catchy, radio friendly pop songs like What Nightmares Are Made Of (the softer acoustic breakdown in the middle of the song is a gorgeous masterclass in songwriting, and another level live) and I Want It All (with a brilliant, crowd-ready singalong chorus, and the crowd obliged) with the more introspective songs like latest single Shoulder To Shoulder. The performance showed confidence and a bit of cheek, and the crown-wearing singer showed she can handle the big stage.

    With the room buzzing and everyone feeling the love, Stella Donnelly arrived on stage and didn’t stop smiling. From the early cuts like Standing Ovation, Stella set a standard that kept up through the night. Synthy sounds to set the mood, then kicking into the guitar driven indie pop she is so good at. The maturity on the album came through in the live show, with Donnelly beaming and looking like she and the band were really enjoying being up there. This was absolutely reciprocated by the crowd, with plenty of singalong moments coming from songs new and old.

    Other set highlights included the wonderful album title-track Love and Fortune, Mosquito and Baths. Stella kept it interesting by moving between the full band, just her and guitar, and a tight keyboard group; a great way to keep the crowd interested and guessing how she will present the songs. Boys Will Be Boys was particularly stark and emotional, one of the moments where the room took on a more sombre tone. Good art is about taking any subject matter, be it difficult or easy, and turning it into something people can absorb, think about, enjoy, hate, whatever emotions come out. The other side is being able to present it amongst a variety of other topics and moving from serious to lighter themes without losing the room. In Donnelly’s case, she has mastered the art perfectly, and the whole set blended because of this.

    A great evening of music all up, and it is wonderful to see these extremely talented songwriters continuing to release high quality music and back it up with engrossing live performances.

  • Single Review – Ullah: Shoulder To Shoulder (2025)

    Single Review – Ullah: Shoulder To Shoulder (2025)

    With Ullah’s debut EP arriving later this month, we thought we’d take a look at her last single. Released a last year, Shoulder To Shoulder is Ullah at her most stripped back and really shows off the depth of her songwriting.

    “I’m honest”, Ullah sings in the opening line, before revealing “yet I tell myself white lies, porky pies”. It summarises the song as an introspective look at how the inner voice speaks within, and the way a lack of self-confidence can eat at that voice. The “I wear it” line that echoes throughout the tune gives us hope, it seems to say – yes this is inside me, this is how I feel, and it is part of my internal dialogue, but I’m not going to fight it, I’m going to “wear it” like a badge of honour and get on with it.

    Musically the song starts stripped back with a very nice, Something in The Way-esque sounding acoustic guitar accompanying the vocals, perfect for the intimate nature of the song. The music then builds to match the lyrics, starting with some simple vocal harmonies and lifting to a subdued crescendo. It’s a build-up but the song maintains that initial intimacy, a nice effort on the production front.

    Very much looking forward to what comes next from Ullah.