Music

Since the release of his debut album The Fox and the Monk in 2006, British folk musician John Smith has built a reputation as one of the UK’s finest songwriters and guitar players. With five albums to his name, and with another set for release tomorrow, he is an artist that is not only well…

The ARIA Awards have announced the nominees for this year’s Artisan, Fine Arts and Best Comedy categories. With titles such as Best Classical Album, Best Jazz Album, Best World Music Album, along with Producer Of The Year, Engineer Of The Year, Best Cover Art and Best Comedy up for grabs. Topping the list are Amy Shark, Gurrumul…

This week, Melbourne’s The Cat Empire have released their fourth brand new song of 2018, “Killa”, as they steadily build toward the release of their next studio album. The song’s author Felix Riebl explains, “Kila is one of those songs you write and know that an album will be built around it.” All the while, the band…

Dave Jenkins Jr’s new indie rock project, Not A Boys Name, is off to a flying start with the release of an impressive new single “Hazard Perception Test”, and a video to match. A song about resilience and learning how to navigate negativity, “Hazard Perception Test” is punchy and melodic. The video, directed by Matt…

The second and final day of the Yours & Owls Festival in Wollongong promised another day of beautiful weather and even better music; with (in my opinion), an even stronger lineup than the preceding day. ‪E^ST‬ opened things up on the main stage, and then rising star Didirri – who has had an amazing 2018…

Tommy and the Commies are a punk band from Ontario, Canada, and have just delivered their debut project Here Come. Even as most punk releases go, this project is quite short, weighing in at just 16 minutes. But it  makes up for its brevity with some excellent pacing, writing, and instrumental work. The project starts…

C’est La Vie may be American musician Phospherescent’s seventh studio album, but it is probably his first blatantly optimistic ode to love, life, and everything in it. The first release, “New Birth in New England,” was released a few months ago, and indeed hinted at a friendly, easy return after a five-year hiatus. A time during…

Yesterday Sharon Van Etten announced the forthcoming release of her new record Remind Me Tomorrow, her first since Are We There was released four years ago, dropping a new single, and taste of what’s to come, “Comeback Kid” in the process. Van Etten has been busy in those intervening years, with the New Yorker heading back…

Brisbane pop-rock artist Shanon Watkins is back with a new music video for his latest single “We Lived“, and ahead of its official release this Friday, we’re excited to premiere it exclusively on the AU today. “We Lived” deviates slightly from Shanon’s usual optimistic tone, embracing a more sombre feeling, allowing the listener a chance…

The Corner Hotel was fortunate enough to welcome some young talent into its band room at the end of last week; the ceiling suspending multiple fluorescent light tubes giving the atmosphere quite a futuristic twist to the traditional spotlights and strobes. It was all in place for Ruel, the 15-year-old Sydney based singer-songwriter who has…

The NYE festival NYE In The Park have announced the festival’s return to Sydney’s Victoria Park on New Years Eve 2018. Following up on the success of last year’s party, this year the crew will bring an even bigger line up on stage to ring in the new year. Headlined by Aussie electronic dance duo The…

The audience surrounded the square stage set-up in the middle of The Tivoli. It’s part of Brisbane Festival’s Tivoli In The Round programme, where fans experienced intimate performances from Australia’s best musicians. However, Gareth Liddiard found it unusual to have eyes on him from all directions, quipping to the crowd, “You’ve got to remind me…

Father, the ringleader of cutting-edge Atlanta multimedia label Awful Records, has returned with a new album in collaboration with Adult Swim – a DIY label and a DIY network coming together to craft something truly unique. Father’s style is one that many try to replicate and often struggle to do so – his odd delivery,…

If you haven’t heard any of Kira Puru‘s music, exactly how big is that rock you’re hiding under? Her single “Molotov” has had a lot of airplay on Triple J, and her undeniably cool ‘Like A Version’ performance of Katy Perry‘s “Last Friday Night” is what dreams are made of. Her debut self-titled EP contains the…

Tonight in Sydney, the third annual National Live Music Awards announced the nominees across 55 categories, and revealed the addition of the award’s “Hall of Fame” equivalent, detailing their plans to induct a legendary Australian band as the award’s first “Live Legends”. The band in question will be announced closer to the 6th December event, and will…

The second day of Yours & Owls brought more incredible talent to the Wollongong foreshore including Cub Sport, Methyl Ethel, Pist Idiots, Alex The Astronaut, Sarah Blasko, Hockey Dad, Alison Wonderland and many, many more. Danny Hanssen brings us back these photos from the festivities:

Ahead of the release of their debut album next month, Melbourne’s The Putbacks have dropped the record’s first single, a twisted, eclectic and wonderful odd collaboration with Bilal called “The Ways”. Since their formation in the early 2000’s The Putbacks have established themselves as one of Australia’s premiere funk ensembles; they’ve served as the house…

The first day of Yours & Owls brought a slew of incredible talent to the Wollongong foreshore including Maddy Jane, CLEWS, Alice Ivy, Mallrat, Tiny Little Houses, Middle Kids, Hellions, The Jungle Giants, Peking Duk and many, many more. Danny Hanssen brings us back these photos from the festivities:

Retrowave and synthwave are still rather under-the-radar sub-genres of electronica. They often involve a strong link to pop culture and 80’s-inspired musical themes. Last week, I got the chance to speak with ALEX, a U.K based producer and thought leader in the retrowave and synthwave genres. ALEX’s most recent album, Simulations, is a 10-track stream-of-consciousness…

Upon the coloured light bulbs and mood lighting, the room filled up with an agenda of groovy beats and neo-soul. Allen Stone was in town, playing at the Croxton Bandroom in Melbourne’s sacred north. It would be his only Australian show before hitting the Byron Bay Blues Festival in early 2019. Not being familiar with…

While it may just be her on stage alias, the brains, vocals and stories behind Jack River is so much more. An entrepreneur, promoter and musician, Holly Rankin brought to life her musical talents and journey as the Sydney leg of her Sugar Mountain album tour made its way to a sold out Metro Theatre….

The next stop on Hideous Sun Demon‘s Fame Erotic Dream tour was Mojo’s Bar in Fremantle, where they delivered a full on psych-punk experience. Joining them in the fun were Kaitlin Keegan, Cosy and Post Depression Makeout Session. Our photographer Stuart Sevastos brings us the highlights of the night.

Sydney-sider garage quartet Straight Arrows have released their long awaited third album this week. From the 26th of September on we can listen to another fuzzed out psychedelic punk compilation of eleven noisy tracks on ON TOP! The band’s first two albums, It’s Happening and Rising, have already cemented their name into the Aussie garage…

Thursday night saw fans of the TV series Nashville descend on Perth’s Astor Theatre for the opening night of Clare Bowen’s Australian tour. Bowen of course, best known for her role as singer-songwriter Scarlett O’Connor on the show. Earlier this year, the show wrapped up after six seasons, leaving Bowen free to complete and release…

On Thursday, US rap collective Brockhampton dropped an impromptu video in Sydney for their single “New Orleans”, the opening track taken from their new album Iridescence. It was shot after the exclusive screening of their documentary The Longest Summer in America at the George Street Event Cinemas in the city, ahead of their performance today at Listen Out. The…

Earlier this year, Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement reunited Flight of the Conchords for a tour across England. And now, the beloved New Zealand comedians and folk musicians will return to HBO after having concluded their TV show nine years ago, for a special recorded in London on July 1st. The show will see the…

While most of Sydney’s partygoers were heading to Listen Out, I jumped on the train to Wollongong to check out the sold out Yours & Owls two day festival; an annual event which has become among the most anticipated and celebrated in the region. Often being overseas at the same time, it was my first…

Chatting about his current tours, Michael Shuman (better known as Mikey Shoes) had a talk with us about his bands Queens of the Stone Age and Mini Mansions, the lack of vacationing in his life and a brand new EP, Works Every Time, which is released today. Mikey had a lot to say about his…

Today we’re thrilled to premiere the brilliant, brand new single “Pantone Home” from Sydney-based soul songstress Wallace. Opening with an isolated piano, it’s not long before the beat steps in and we get a spectacular mix of soul, jazz, hip-hop and electronica. The beautiful track – her second of 2018 – may just be Wallace’s…

Following the release of their debut EP Centrelink last year, Margaret River’s Bald Beagle are back with their new single “U-Turn”. Bald Beagle were born out of somewhat humble beginnings; originally it was just three friends coming together to play another friend’s twenty first. Since then, they’ve released an EP, added a further two members to the band,…