Music

CJ Stranger, the alter-ego of singer-songwriter Cameron Henderson, has continued to tease his forthcoming album, Hey Stranger, with a new single. “Fool’s Gold” is the third single released from the album, and follows on from “Strange One” (2019) and “Outlaw” (2020). “Fool’s Gold” is a satisfying stripped back and slow burning slice of alt-country. It’s…

Josef Salvat’s sophomore album modern anxiety is one that rewards repeat listens. I write this as someone who initially didn’t really rate it highly. Sure, several of the singles really hit their mark, but on first listen the album as a whole didn’t work for me. Yet, further listens, and closer listens, reveal an album…

Jade MacRae has released her final single, “Midnight Air” from her forthcoming album, Handle Me With Care. This follows on from earlier releases “I Choose Love”, “Up Above Your Head” and “My Fathers House”. “Midnight Air” is a rich, warm, gospel tale. which is inspired by a New Orleans funeral march.  The song features a…

It’s been almost two years since The 1975’s most iconic album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, was released. Whilst writing, the band realised instantly that this project was bigger than they had initially predicted. We were promised a Part Two follow-up album to finish what they started. Life for everybody has changed dramatically since…

Sitting alongside one of the world’s best music festivals, Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Primavera Pro has spent the last decade growing into a leading industry conference that leveraged the large amount of industry that was finding its way through the city to attend the iconic festival – which was supposed to celebrate its 20th anniversary…

Cambodian-born singer from Brisbane, Ally Rendall, has unveiled her latest single “How This Ends”. The 16-year old artist has emerged with exceptional talent and her debut single,“ Who Will Love U” has soared with over 20k streams. “How This Ends” represents the downfalls and finality of a relationship with serene acoustics that cascade throughout the…

It’s been ten years since the legendary Ghostface Killah jumped on Twitter one day and started letting loose a stream of personal hygiene tips for his followers, one of the first public statements that Wu-Tang Clan is deadly serious when it comes to not just protecting your neck, but your wellbeing. Now, the hip hop…

Earlier this month Northern Territory singer-songwriter Serina Pech released her latest EP Politics. Her first full length release, Politics has been four years in the making, and comes from a place of reflection and experience. The piano ballad, “Please Go Lightly”, is the EP’s sublime emotional centrepiece. A beautiful cry for help and understanding in…

It’s been a couple of weeks since Brisbane’s Marco dropped latest single “Only Want You“, a dreamy slice of low-fi indie pop, perfect for fans of Shawn Mendes and Frank Ocean. Stripped back production gives Marco’s gorgeous vocals a real opportunity to shine, and though he’s never been one to reveal the true inspo behind…

You may know (Noah) Harris, the Melbourne singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, as the lead vocalist of rock outfit Fan Girl. You might even know him as the keyboardist for indie supergroup primetime. Now he’s releasing a new solo single, “Sheena Is A Bush Doofer”, replete with accompanying DIY video clip.  Produced by Sam Swain, and featuring…

Dharawal singer-songwriter Aodhan released his latest single earlier this month. “Drive”, written in collaboration with his musical hero Josh Pyke, follows a hugely promising debut year for the award-winning fifteen year old.  Produced by JP Fung, Aodhan began writing “Drive” in 2018. Back then he envisioned it as an indie rock/pop song, but the song…

Radiohead frontman and all-round brilliant person Thom Yorke now has his very own radio station as one of the first programs as part of new streaming service Sonos Radio. Over 60,000 radio stations will feature on the platform, as well as dedicated artist stations, which is where Yorke comes in, curating songs along the simple…

Taken from EP Petrichor, “Broken” is the latest from Alice Springs singer-songwriter Colin Lillie. We’re excited to be bringing you an exclusive look at the track’s video here on The AU Review! Since the release of acclaimed debut album Glass Homes, Lillie has had a great run, including taking home the first ever NT Live…

There have been some incredible Isolation gigs of late, mostly broadcast from home in the bedroom or living room with a desk lamp and an iPhone. For artists with new material, in particular, you can sense their frustration at not being able to showcase the new songs in the best of light. One artist who…

Megan Washington has clearly been creative during Isolation. She is back with a new track, “Dark Parts” and an animated video which she has created herself. It’s a hell of a party track, even if it does ask us to open up and share the parts of us we keep hidden. This song is playful…

It’s been a full year since The AU Review caught up with KIAN, when the then 16-year-old dropped his debut EP BLISS. Since its release, KIAN has ticked off phenomenal milestones musicians decades his senior are waiting to achieve: he played Splendour in the Grass and Spin Off Festival, toured the UK and Europe with Conan Gray, travelled…

Seattle-based artist, Scarlet Parke returns with her latest single “Pretend”, produced by Jake Crocker. After releasing her debut LP, Flight Risk, the artist is known for channeling raw emotions and experiences into her music. The track evokes nostalgic feelings towards an ex-lover with an eclectic side of smooth r&b-pop-trap beats. The recurring lyrics throughout the…

Steve Smyth is arguably one of Australia’s most talented singer-songwriters. These days Steve calls Barcelona home, and with Spain being one of the worst affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,  his lock-down conditions have been more stringent than most. I caught up with Steve a couple of weeks ago, as he was releasing “Yours Sincerely”, a…

A follow-up to his first release in five years (“I Don’t Know”), “Doubting Thomas” is the new one from the reliable Josh Pyke and another strong offering from the veteran Aussie singer-songwriter. Pyke, in a statement, says the break allowed him to shed some “self-imposed rules” when it comes to songwriting, and that “Doubting Thomas”…

Inspired by and recorded in the city of the same name, Seattle is the upcoming EP from Sydney garage-pop-punkers Bloods. Fronted by Marihuzka Cornelius/MC, and with Dirk Jonker on drums, and Mike Morgan providing guitar, bass and backing vocals, the trio’s latest is a love letter to 90s rock and iconic turn of the century…

Melbourne band Howlite make their return this week, with new single “Infancy”. Offering insight into their forthcoming EP Not Here, the single sees the trio venturing into the territory of “dark” other-worldly pop. We’re excited to bring you this exclusive first listen ahead of tomorrow’s official release date.  Alison Thom’s beguiling vocal is what immediately…

It’s been a hot minute between drinks for French artist Woodkid, whose acclaimed cinematic pop sees him sit somewhere in between M83 and Hans Zimmer. Tracks like “Run Boy Run” have notably popped up in shows like Umbrella Academy, and he also scored the 2015 Jonás Cuarón film Desierto. There’s an industrial feel to his…

Sydney based artist SMALLS is just a couple of days out from releasing his debut single, but for those of you who can’t wait that long, never fear! We’ve got the exclusive premiere of “Tail Lights” right here on The AU Review! Originally hailing from country NSW, SMALLS is the performing name of Will Robinson….

Six piece outfit Papaya Tree never linger in one genre for too long. Drawing on their blended backgrounds as jazz students, indie contemporary producers, and morticians, their sound is as unorthodox as their histories, and latest single “Out In The Wash” is no exception. With 80s inspired synths and a wistful chorus, its a mellower…

Copenhagen duo ARES (Louise Andersen and Line Mortensen) have tapped into their inner supervillains with new track “Burn“. It’s a deliciously dark slice of electro-pop, with a catchy chorus inspired by Heath Ledger’s Joker. Of the track, ARES said: “We were playing with the image of setting everything you own on fire and just starting…

Alex the Astronaut has just dropped the first single, “Lost”, off her forthcoming debut album, The Theory of Absolutely Nothing. Her two previous EP’s To Whom It May Concern and See You Soon demonstrated her innate ability of this gifted songwriter to capture the zeitgeist of our times. With her songs, you always feel like…

  Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Riley Pearce returned with his new single “Ceramic Real Estate” this week. The track serves as an introduction to his forthcoming EP Maybe I Can Sleep It Off, which is out in September.  Recorded at Debaser Studios with Andy Lawson and with additional recording by fellow alt-folk artist Hayden Calnin, “Ceramic Real…

Introducing “Melancholy” , Chris Lanzon’s debut EP and the name of our track of the day. Following success from standout track “Still”, the Sydney-based artist transcends the indie genre and brings forward a raw and beautiful track. As the intro song of the EP, “Melancholy” lures our attention with stunning, somber piano chords played immaculately….

Every year in March, myself and a close band of music colleagues and friends from all over the world make a pilgrimage to the iconic new music and discovery festival South By Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. This year was set to be no different, and I was buzzing and more prepared than ever, having…

Established in 2002, The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is the world’s largest international songwriting competition, and in 2019 it received over 18,000 entries from 140 countries. And this year, the ISC has bestowed its highest honor to Australian artist and songwriter Tones And I for the song “Dance Monkey.” The Grand Prize consists of $25,000…