Interviews

From humbling beginnings in Brandon’s bedroom in Perth to playing the main-stage marquee at Music Matters 2018 in Singapore, Almond Soy have come a long way in just two short years. Following the release of their debut EP Social Misfit early this year, Almond Soy have been busy making a name for themselves touring Australia with…

While we were in Singapore last week, we sat down with up-and-coming Brisbane artist Jaguar Jonze, who was fresh in the city from BIGSOUND with her three piece band to play the annual Music Matters Live festival. The shows were amongst the first the group had ever played together, with their BIGSOUND set the prior…

It’s the final day of BIGSOUND 2018 and a Bloody Mary has arrived for Carla Geneve. “Oh my god, I need this,” she laughs. The Perth-based singer-songwriter played a spirited set the night before with her band at Brisbane’s Hey Ya! Bar. That room was crammed with people, so much so it was difficult to…

Gold Coast artist Emily Hamilton, aka San Mei, has learned a lot about herself recently, including her stage name. “It’s my Chinese name,” she explains. “I grew up with my parents telling me it means beautiful flower. But recently I asked my aunty, who is Chinese, and she said San means three and Mei means…

Melbourne’s Essie Holt is riding high, fresh of the launch of her newest single Better For You. We sat down to chat about Better for You and touring as a young performer.  First off, congratulations on the success of your most recent single Better For You! What can you tell us about the process of bringing…

At 19 years old, Asha Jefferies is considered a new artist, but the years of experience under the Brisbane singer-songwriter’s belt would qualify her as a veteran. She began writing and performing at the tender age of 11. At 14, she won the Byron Bay Busking Challenge, leading to her performing on that year’s Bluesfest…

It’s been a busy year for the Tasmanian country-rock band, The Wolfe Brothers – with the release of their highly-anticipated fourth studio album Country Heart in March, its two chart-topping singles ‘Ain’t Seen It Yet’ and ‘No Sad Song’, as well as an accompanying national tour. The album debuted on the ARIA Country Chart at…

Ahead of her national tour, which kicks off in WA next week, we caught up with Darwin’s Caiti Baker to find out a little more about her new single “Gimme”, what to expect from the upcoming tour, and how music has helped her through some tough times. Congratulations on the release of your new track! You mentioned…

Back in February, Marlon Williams released his second album Make Way For Love. A deeply personal record, Make Way For Love explored the breakup of his relationship with fellow songwriter Aldous Harding. Since its release, Williams’ has spent a bulk of time on the road, with a hugely successful tour of Australia back in May, and a run…

Morgan Evans has been dubbed as an artist to watch. His debut US single ‘Kiss Somebody’ recently topped the US country charts, making him only the fourth Australian to reach such momentous feat. The Newcastle born singer-songwriter now lives in Nashville with his pop-country superstar wife, Kelsea Ballerini, and is currently back in Australia on…

Last month saw Sydney-based singer-songwriter Odette embark on her first headline national tour supporting her debut album To A Stranger. The tour proved to be a massive success, with the twenty-one year old playing to sold out crowds at each stop! This week she’ll be heading out on the road again, this time supporting The Cat Empire as…

Ahead of her Melbourne Recital Centre show this Thursday, we caught up with Australian composer and pianist Sophie Hutchings to chat about her new EP Candela, the composing process behind her serene recordings, and find out how her Sydney show went last week! What are your earliest memories of the piano? Were you experimenting or enchanted from a young age…

On July 13th, 1998, Adam Brand released his debut album. Fast forward to 2018, and he’s done what a lot of artists have failed to do before him – and that’s last 20 years in the competitive music industry. Celebrating his two-CD release Milestones…20 years, after a nation-wide call out for unique venues, he’s taking…

A long standing muso on the Sydney Music scene, we’ve long been friends and fans of Zane Banks here on the AU, from his Swing/Rockabilly project Cruisin’ Dueces, to his various solo and collaborative projects, he’s been one of the city’s most active guitarists for years noa. And this weekend, you’ll see him as part…

Fulfilling a dream of recording in the US, Adam Harvey’s tenth studio album The Nashville Tapes is inspired by country music of the 1970s and its icons. Off the back of last year’s tour of The Great Country Songbook Volume II alongside Beccy Cole, the eight-time Golden Guitar winner is again on the road, this…

We spent some time getting to know South African guitar maestro Derek Gripper while he was in Sydney for the sydney Guitar Festival. What was the first guitar you bought? Spanish Guitar from a guy at school for 100 dollars – not counting a Clear Sound bass Guitar somebody gave me Do you still have…

Since her last release Boneshaker in 2015, Catherine Britt has gotten married, given birth to her first child, won a battle with breast cancer and released her seventh studio album, Catherine Britt and the Cold Cold Hearts, alongside Michael Muchow and Andy Toombs. Recorded in her own backyard studio with engineer Jeff McCormack, this release,…

Irish band The Coronas have been around for over 15 years which has included five different studio albums and many stops around the world. Their latest album, Trust the Wire, reached #1 on the Irish charts and the band has started to receive global acclaim and an ever growing fan base. On Sunday, the band…

There is a lot more than sticks out about Nashville singer/songwriter Morgxn than the x in his name. His soaring vocals, chill beats, and dynamic stage presence brings to mind comparisons to Jack Garrett, SOHN and Asgeir. With over 2 million YouTube views of his hit single “Home” Morgxn has quickly become one of the…

Clever worldplay and a banging beat is usually all you’d need to move a hit between the increasingly thinning lines that once divided hip hop and pop. “Writing Away”, the debut single from Queensland’s ZEKIEL has that in spades, but on top there’s also a genuine, earnest expression of lost love, plenty of character, and…

In our final interview from Splendour in the Grass 2018, we sit down with acclaimed Townsville artist Woodes, who is just about to hit the road on a tour in support of her latest single “Change My Mind”. We talk about the track, her experiences touring with City Calm Down and how her live show…

Few artists, be they Australian or otherwise, have ever had quite a whirlwind and eventful five months as Melbourne’s G Flip, who burst onto the scene with “About You”, just a few weeks before making her international live debut at the Twitter / Sounds Australia Party at SXSW. And now this weekend she played to…

When listening to the opening notes of “A Message to Myself”, the album opener of Roo Panes‘ third studio record, Quiet Man, the listener is stung with the evocative punch behind the English songwriter’s artistry almost immediately. It’s a craft Panes has developed beautifully over the course of the last few years, being embraced by audiences around…

Tim Campbell has dabbled in so many forms of entertainment that it’s becoming hard to classify him as a particular type of entertainer. It’s a general classification that he is content with regardless. Here he chats to Philippe Perez while he is on the road for his High School Disco tour. There seems to be…

Mallrat is a name fast gaining traction and renown amongst Australian music fans but for Texans and those visiting SXSW this year, this was a perfect introduction to the Aussie currently preparing to take more international sectors by storm. We caught up with Mallrat to find out more about her time in the US, and what’s…

It seems just yesterday that we were celebrating Gang of Youths as a recently discovered band destined for success – yet here we are at the release of their sophomore record, Go Farther in Lightness. I caught up with frontman Dave Le’aupepe and lead guitarist Joji Malani about how Go Farther in Lightness came together, racism in the Australian music…

On his recent tour in Sydney, we sat down with singer-songwriter Noah Kahan. Making waves on live stages during sold out shows with Milky Chance and Ben Folds, Noah is certainly one to watch. He tells us about his latest singles “Young Blood” and “Hold It Down”, currently topping Spotify Charts, song which express the passion…

Just under two weeks ago now, the classic Beatles album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – widely acknowledged as one of the best and most important albums of all time – celebrated its 50th Anniversary, with the release of a brand new remixed, repackaged and remastered special edition, produced by the son of the…

One of Australia’s best known and celebrated singer-songwriters, Sarah Blasko is touring around Australia, but this tour is special because she’s playing completely solo at all of her shows. We caught up with Sarah to find out why she’s decided to play solo now, and get the insider information about her new album. I saw…

Dean Lewis is one of those artists who has an effortless charm about him. At The Great Escape this year, I was able to watch him perform twice – a proper introduction to his onstage presence – and it was undeniable, the hold the songwriter had over his audience. He’s slightly awkward, almost coy, in his…