Year: 2015

The Drones are an undeniably powerful band, (you just need to check out their live shows to see that), and their new single “Taman Shud” is no exception to this. Recorded at Tropical Fuckstorm Studios produced and engineered by Gareth Liddiard and Aaron Cupples, the new single has flawless production, even in its heaviest parts, and…

With Guitar Hero Live and Rock Band 4 hitting Australian store shelves within a week of each other, the music and rhythm genre that dominated lounge rooms everywhere only five years ago is officially back from hiatus. With Guitar Hero Live, developer FreeStyle Games is attempting to bring something new to the table. The question…

This week’s DVD releases all feature self-made men and women, who have something to prove to the world, whether it be through through fighting, vengeance, or…stripping.

In Frances Ha, co-writers (and real-life couple) Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig brought to the screen this generation’s twenty-something creative; simultaneously spoilt and burdened by choice. Their Frances, played adorably by Gerwig herself, was lively and resourceful, optimistic yet melancholic in her struggle to achieve some level of “success” and establishing a career post-college. Mistress America,…

In addition to his anticipated appearance at Sydney NYD tradition Field Day, irrepressible emcee Pusha T has announced that he will be headline some sideshows up and down the east coast with stops planned for Melbourne and Brisbane. last out here as a support act for Kanye West, Push has already shown Australian audiences just…

The lineup for the Melbourne Zoo Twilight Series has been announced! The program for 2016 once again offers a diverse range of music with the likes of The Waifs, José González, Josh Pyke, John Butler Trio and more set to take the stage. Melbourne Zoo Twilight Series Lineup: Far From Folsom Featuring Tex Perkins and The Tennessee Four with…

Today on the AU, we’re proud to premiere the new album from Future Love Hangover Traditional Late Night Drinking. Written from 30 years in the future, this album is an exploration of multi-dimensional, futuristic sound. “I didn’t approach the album with any preconceived notions of what I would write or how I would write it. Each time…

As the end of the year draws nearer, artists are getting their last shows in. This weekend is set to be a big one, with some of the biggest stars of the far past, recent past, and future set to play down under. Check out the gig picks for the coming days! Fleetwood Mac –…

Polished, concise and ambitiously experimental. LUCIANBLOMKAMP or better still, Lucian Blomkamp (for those on a need to know basis) makes considered electronic music, pushed to inventive limits of possibility. Following on from the release of his first studio album, Post-Nature, Blomkamp has diversified, progressing into unfamiliar territory with relative ease. With a newfound focus on…

Dallas Green is a man of great talents. Since the days of Alexisonfire, Green has been setting himself up by putting together music that is emotive, intricate and personal. There’s no denying that what he writes lyrically empowers many others too. With Green’s latest offering, If I Should Go Before You, we see him experiment…

It’s been a long time between drinks for Urthboy, releasing his first music in over three years today. The new track, “Long Loud Hours”, has less of a focus on beats than a lot of Urthboy‘s earlier work, and more on lyrics. The emotive track features vocals from Bertie Blackman in choruses, soaring over piano…

The 2015 EB Expo was a huge show boasting equally huge titles, and few titles are as huge as Call of Duty. With Black Ops III right around the corner, we caught up with Treyarch’s Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar to talk about his dev career, what we can expect from the new game and where we go…

Based on the award-winning stage show by Lawrence Leung, Sucker is a coming-of-age story that follows 18-year-old Lawrence as he embarks on a road trip with unusual characters and learns many life lessons along the way. Leung co-wrote the feature film adaptation with director Ben Chessell. The film stars YouTube sensation John Luc (who has more…

If you’re the kind of person who loves, without a doubt, the idea of work-life balance, this is not the film for you. If you’re easily upset at the sight of workplace bullying, or stress caused by an unstable manager and a professional environment that breeds unhealthy well being choices, this is not the film…

Dragon Ball Z’s place in pop culture in unquestionably prevalent. Its ability to crossover and interject itself into a range of mediums has been the reason for its longevity. It’s no surprise then then that its transition to video games is not only academic but highly welcome for a demographic that wants just that little…

There are few who seem to understand the concept of the coffee table book as well as photographer Simon Griffiths, who today releases Boat – a “celebration of the humble vessel that symbolises escape, trade and travel” – as the press release aptly puts it. The beautifully designed book is one you can judge by…

The Australian World Music Expo has announced its industry speakers and conference delegates for this year’s event, set to take over Arts Centre Melbourne from November 12th-14th. The event is recognised for bringing music industry professionals together to nurture and foster networks, check out some brilliant musicians perform and learn from a wide variety of  experiences…

We don’t often hear Killer Mike without El-P nowadays with Run the Jewels being such a hugely in-demand project. Killa Kill from the ‘ville has briefly left his super producer buddy behind for this one though, jumping on a track from producer-designer Frank the Butcher’s Puma collection “Eat What You Kill”, for a track of…

He swapped the cold for the beaches of Byron Bay a few years ago, so it’s only fair we begin claiming Canadian-bred songwriter Garrett Kato as our own. Currently on tour around the country with Pete Murray, Kato recently took some time out to tell the AU about how touring has treated him so far, his new…

Following the incredible success of her sophomore record 21, UK pop star Adele became an artist heard but not seen. Though her music was unavoidable for years, the artist stopped touring and – as far as we know – stopped working on new music. And though it did little to stall her popularity, becoming one…

The lineup for the 2016 Twilight at Taronga Summer Concert Series has been announced! Having launched in 1996 and held at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, 2015 marks the event’s 20th anniversary. With an eclectic and solid lineup each year – alongside that killer view – Twilight has become an understandably anticipated event for many in Sydney…

Good news all ye set to drive on up to the Falls Festival in Byron Bay this December! Car passes have now been made available to all ticket holders meaning that you can now camp with your cars, saving a dreaded lug of camp gear from car to campsite. Once you’re parked in however, you’ll…

Sydney based electro duo Left. have dropped their new single “Jungle”, and fans of slick production and powerful vocals are in for a treat. Sarah‘s voice jumps from a smooth crooning to huge heights at the drop of a hat, all over infectiously catchy beats. The duo even managed to score the chance to play with Tuka at Field…

The Hunter Valley bushland area of ‘Dashville’ will be hosting the return of the Gum Ball Festival next year! Following the festival’s break this year, the festival organisers have revealed that Gum Ball will indeed be returning in April. 2014 saw the Hoodoo Gurus headline a list of 30+ bands over the weekend to a full…

The Sydney Festival celebrates 40 years in 2016 and as today’s program announcement reveals, there is going to be plenty to be celebrating this year. From the Flaming Lips performing in The Domain, to Dirty Three and Joanna Newsom each bringing some stellar live shows to Sydney’s State Theatre and the Opera House respectively, this year’s Music line up has got…

In This Issue: This week we say farewell to surf pop legends Loon Lake while also welcome a bunch of debuts and new releases by artists from our own backyard to Canada, check it out! Loon Lake Loon Lake have their last ever album Low Res released independently today. Fans can pay what they want for…

Ahead of his AU Sessions performance, we sat down with Tom Stephens to discuss his favourite records and greatest influences. Tom will be performing at the Hive Bar in Erskineville on October 27th. How old were you when you started writing your own music? I began spending a lot of time writing in the transition…

US singer/songwriter John Grant will be bringing his mesmerising live shows to The Forum and the Metro Theatre next March, today announcing some unmissable headline dates to accompany his Australian trip for Golden Plains and WOMADelaide. With his third album Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, Grant has been producing the goods including the brilliant single “Disappointing”, which has already…

UK electropop outfit CHVRCHES, Canadian pop duo Purity Ring, and American R&B group The Internet, along with Canada’s Majical Cloudz and Tobias Jesso Jr. and America’s Shamir have announced Laneway Festival sideshows in February next year. Pre-sale for the sideshow tickets begins October 22nd, 9am local time for all acts except for Shamir, whose tickets go on sale October 22nd, and Majical Cloudz, whose…