Interviews

Whether you consider yourself a former emo kid, or just appreciate undeniably good music, then there’s no doubt that you’re familiar with pop-punk legends Yellowcard. Formed in 1997, the band broke into the mainstream in 2003 with their massive hit “Ocean Avenue”, a track that helped define a generation of early-2000s emo and alternative rock….

Born in Saint Elizabeth, to singers Lorna Bennett (Breakfast in Bed) and calypso singer Mike Ollivierre, Protoje blends hip hop, soul and jazz into the sounds of his native reggae and dancehall. Over the past twenty years he has released mixtapes, seven studio albums and a host of collaborations with artists such as Jorja Smith,…

Capturing Australia’s attention on The Voice in 2022, eighteen-year-old country singer Lane Pittman has had a huge few years, with no plans to slow down any time soon. January saw him win a Golden Guitar for ‘New Talent of the Year’ following the release of his self-titled debut EP, and he’s just wrapped up his…

Ahead of his visit to Australia for a series of shows including WOMADelaide, we chatted to Goran Bregović about his joyful approach to music making. Starting life as a rock star in the Balkans, before becoming involved in music scores, he has recently assembled a band called Goran Bregović and His Wedding and Funeral Band. I…

Hailing from Melbourne, Aussie rockers Slowly Slowly have been making waves in the music scene for almost ten years. They’ve played a multitude of festivals, supported titans like Red Hot Chilli Peppers and have charted twice on Triple J’s Hottest 100, with their 2019 single “Jellyfish” coming in at #57. Today, they release their fifth…

On the cusp of their upcoming Australian tour, I caught up with Wayne Coyne, the frontman of The Flaming Lips. We discussed the enduring popularity of their album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, which has been celebrated for over 20 years. Coyne reflects on the song “Do You Realize?” and its transformation into a symbol…

Singer/songwriter Meena De Silva has been selected for this year’s Northern Sound System Academy program. Her debut album “Paid My Dues,” released in 2021, and her recent single “Love You Right with You,” are influenced by artists such as Rihanna and Beyonce. She shares her plans for future projects, including an EP and a piano…

Making their debut in 2013, Dear Seattle quickly gained traction within the Aussie indie rock scene, opening for and playing beside a multitude of massive acts. Their 2017 single “The Meadows” racked up almost 6-million streams on Spotify, and 2019 saw them release their highly-anticipated debut album Don’t Let Go. Fast-forward to now, and they’re…

A week ago, The Ferguson Rogers Process unveiled their debut album, Style And Or Substance. The project is the brainchild of two of Australia’s most treasured musicians, Lance Ferguson* of The Bamboos and Tim Rogers, best known for being the frontman of You Am I, although limiting them to mentions of just those two bands is doing…

Frank Turner is one of the most prolific touring musicians on the planet and happily he’s landed in Australia for a whistle-stop appearance with The Sleeping Souls at Good Things Festival this weekend. We caught up with him ahead of their show at Sydney’s Crowbar. Welcome back! Melbourne last night, Sydney today. You must be…

Ahead of his show tonight in Newcastle, a free show in Sydney this Saturday as part of Seymour Nights – and a load more dates through the Summer – we caught up with Hong Kong via Canada artist Tennyson King. Across a brief interview he talks through his experiences in Australia, collaborating with Australia’s Kim…

We sat down with Adelaide singer / songwriter Naomi Keyte to discuss her sophomore album Milk Paper Gold, out now.She highlighted her collaborative process with songwriting mentor Ben Talbot-Dunn and co-producer Nick Huggins. She also emphasizes themes of connection, live performances, and overcoming challenges posed by climate change and COVID-19. Milk Paper Gold is an…

In the age of the internet, where over-consumption reigns supreme, finding authenticity can feel like trying to find a unicorn. Where Temu offers knock-off Matisse art for $2.99, mainstream music offers algorithmic, surface-level tunes designed not to inspire but to sell. According to IDLES mouthpiece Joe Talbot, “art and music are the only way anyone…

Melbourne artist Eugene Fox has just released his debut single; a stirring folk track titled “Miss The Goalie”. The track oozes with the charm of clever songwriting and sweet, plucky guitar melodies, and was written and recorded in his home studio in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne. We reached out to Eugene to discuss the…

Formed in Ballarat in 1987, The Mavis’s carved a solid following in the Aussie rock scene. Led by Becky Thomas (a.k.a. Beki Thomas, Beki Colada) on vocals and keyboards and her brother Matt Thomas on guitar and vocals, they originally called it quits back in 2001, after launching hits including “Cry” and “Naughty Boy”. They’ve…

Andr is a musician from Taiwan that we caught up with recently at SXSW Sydney for the Taiwanese Beats Showcase. She shares her excitement about performing at Sydney and the enthusiastic crowd. She discusses her musical journey, starting with learning guitar in junior high and writing songs at 15. Her upcoming album, “Under Your Bed,”…

Today Sarah Blasko has released her sixth studio album, the beautiful I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain. It’s a deeply personal and cathartic album, as Sarah reflects on goodbyes and new beginnings. I had a chat with Sarah about the genesis of the album and it’s influences, her upcoming tour and much more. Links for…

Singer Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab sat down with the AU review to discuss Machine Gun Fellatio’s reunion and recent performances, including a secret gig in Newcastle. The band members, who hadn’t played together in 20 years, felt a sense of nostalgia and rejuvenation, with standout moments like rehearsing with Marshall stacks and the entire…

Hot off the heels of their brand new album Memory of a Day (read my review HERE), we caught up with Sarah and Jon of New York’s Phantogram. We talked about the cinematic new record, the influences behind it – as well as their recent tour in North America with Kings of Leon. Firstly, congratulations…

Tasmanian singer-songwriter Marcus Wynwood is not one to be put in a box. Formerly a member of punk act Captives, his latest EP Never Stood Out and Never Fit In – independently released 17 October – is a mixed bag of backyard wisdom and playful experimentation. The seven-track project is a self-produced collection of densely…

David Thompson, lead singer of Adelaide folk band Bromham, chats about their live performances, emphasizing community and collaboration. Their upcoming EP, Adulthood, is inspired by personal challenges, including infertility and property issues. The song “Friends” reflects the support from diverse friends, while another track honours Hannah’s sister. The EP features local Adelaide artist Max Ballard’s…

Hayley Mary, of The Jezabels fame, has been releasing music under her own name since her stellar debut EP, The Piss, The Perfume, in 2020. Since then, she has released two more EPs, and today, she has released her grand and ambitious debut LP, Roman XS. The album was produced by Hayley and The Jezabels producer, Lachlan Mitchell, with…

Five-time Grammy award-winning vocalist, bass player and composer esperanza spalding kicks off her highly anticipated return tour to Australia at QPAC in Brisbane for a very special one-night-only performance. One of the most unique talents in music today, esperanza has created a jazz oeuvre that seamlessly fuses soul, funk, pop and rock into an intoxicating…

Meanjin/Brisbane metalcore outfit Wildheart are one of the most prolific and vital local heavy acts right now. The band’s socially conscious lyrics and tireless work ethic has earned them the respect of their peers as well as industry recognition. Their debut album Global Crisis was named the 2022 Gold Coast Music Award’s Release of the…

Naarm-based singer-songwriter, activist, and mother Claire Tonti is breaking down barriers, using her music to normalise the complexities of motherhood. Her debut album, Matrescence, released in 2023, is nothing short of powerful. Tonti dives deep, sharing her experiences of motherhood, loss, and yearning with raw emotion. It’s a beautiful body of work that captures immense…

Australian rock band Ceres are back with their first new music in five years. Their fourth studio album, Magic Mountain (1996-2022) is out on October 4th and it’s some of their most formative work yet. Laying pretty low over the last five years, it was assumed that the group was on hiatus, and when they…

Brisbane prog metal quintet Citadel are a hidden gem among the local heavy scene. Since emerging with “Sundered Souls” in 2022 and releasing their debut album DECOMPOSE later that year, the lads have played a number of shows and shared follow-up single “Nightmare Frontier” in 2023. Today, Citadel have returned with the new single “Old…

English rock band Boston Manor have been making quite an impact within the scene since the release of their debut album in 2016. Now, over eight years later, the group are getting ready to release their fifth studio album, Sundiver, which is serves as a contrasting second part to their 2022 album Datura. Recently supporting…

After releasing second album Make It Feel Like the Garden in July of this year, Queensland’s Eliza & the Delusionals are gearing up for a tour through North America with The Frontbottoms. We were lucky enough to catch up with lead singer, and the band’s namesake, Eliza Klatt to chat about hand injuries on the eve…

Sydney-based emo punk quintet Clay J Gladstone have been making quite the name for themselves these past few years. Today, the band have finally announced their debut album Is This How I Die?, out 1 November via Def Wolf Records, accompanied by new single “Why Does Everybody Hate Me?”. These details come as they prepare…