Music

The shortlist for this year’s Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition has been unveiled today, with submissions from all over the globe being considered for the ultimate prize – AUD $50,000 cash from APRA AMCOS, Alberts and BMG, not to mention an AUD $5,000 travel package from the Show Group. For this year’s competition, 3,296 songwriters entered…

Ahead of Record Store Day, where they’ll be popping up alongside some of Melbourne’s best at Northside Records, Remi and Sensible J have slid on through onto radars with a brand new single in “My People”. Featuring Thando on guest vocals, the single is a markedly new sound from Remi and J, who have been consistently positioning themselves within the…

WA producer and musician Ukiyo is fast positioning himself on a strong trajectory of success with the release of his latest single, “Go”. Like Flume before him, Ukiyo has employed a strong knack for production and stylistic charm on his beats, making the final result a track that is just so easy to immerse oneself in. Bringing…

The long awaited new album from Melbourne’s Slowly Slowly is getting closer and closer to landing with fans and already, we’ve been given some stellar insights into what’s to come. You’ve got “Alchemy”, lively and surging with frenetic energy. Then there’s “Aliens”, of course – a different facet of the band’s songwriting on show, honest and…

This year’s Music Cities Convention Melbourne is kicking off tomorrow and what better way to show visitors to the city why Melbourne is the live music capital of the world, than with a stomper line up of music being shown off at the Melbourne Museum? A special one off edition of Nocturnal will see Ecca Vandal and Birdz perform live,…

After wowing at her single launch in Melbourne last week, BATTS is continuing to revel in the good vibes surrounding her recently released single “Shame” – a strong release from the songwriter who is gearing up to bring the track to venues down the east coast and then abroad! The vocals on the track exude confidence…

When you’ve got someone like Mark Ronson in your corner, chances are your debut splashes in the international music market are going to land impressively. King Princess is the perfect example of grafting and continuing to work on one’s craft meeting excellent results. Her breakthrough single – “1950” – was quick to land King Princess on many blogs’…

The 2018 AIR Awards returns to Adelaide this July for its second year in South Australia, coming to the Queen’s Theatre on July 26th. Along with the AIR Awards, the two-day Indie-Con Australia Conference also comes back to Adelaide, hosted by The Hindley on July 26th and 27th, welcoming industry folk from around the country to come…

One showcase at SXSW clearly wasn’t enough to spread the word about Brooklyn R&B artist Adrian Daniel. The relative newcomer, fresh off releasing his excellent sophomore album Flawd, flew under the radar at last month’s quintessential showcase event but there’s little doubt the music world will be hearing more from him as people start picking…

Brisbane songwriter Mardi Wilson comes through as a breath of fresh air with her latest single, “Landslide”. The sound is a lovely fusion of acoustic guitar and programmed keys and beats, while Wilson’s lyricism stands out as the strong point – a talented new artist to enter our radar, “Landslide” is a step in a positive…

With their new EP I’m Not Making Good Decisions out on Friday, this week is looking to be quite the exciting one for Melbourne based New Zealanders, Bakers Eddy. Through 2017, the band has been steadily making a name for themselves on stages alongside the likes of Gang of Youths, The Rubens and Highly Suspect and next…

Out of the NSW Central Coast, Savilian has emerged over the last few years or so in particular with some talent to burn. With new single “Like That”, Savilian further proves himself as an artist to watch; 2016 EP The Poltergeist was strong debut effort and now, Savilian’s looking to have a hot 2018 if this single…

Asia’s biggest music, sports, gaming and entertainment industry conference –All That Matters – and its live component Music Matters Live – is back again this year in September, and it’s sending out a callout for bands to register for this massive event. And of course this includes Australian artists. The 3-day, 4-night conference will be back…

Melbourne’s Horse Bazaar is turning five next month, and for venue owners Takako and Fumi Tamura, such an anniversary isn’t about to just pass by quietly. Throwing open the doors for an unmissable celebration of Tokyo x Melbourne music, food and more, Horse Bazaar host sets from the likes of Budamunk and Aaron Choulai on May 19th. Joining Budamunk…

With Arctic Monkeys announcing their new album details and now Florence + The Machine making their return with new single “Sky Full of Song”, it’s been a great couple of weeks for fans of that era of British music. For Florence + The Machine, “Sky Full of Song” marks a great return to form from the group…

In 1996, Dr Octagon was insane. During a time when gangsta rap reigned supreme, a concept album about a time-travelling gynaecologist from Jupiter was something from another galaxy. But the trio of rapper Kool Keith, producer Dan The Automator, and DJ Qbert created a hip-hop masterpiece with their debut album, Dr Octagonecolygyst (the group doesn’t…

Following on from their successful album launch in Melbourne this month, Wild Meadows now look to Sydney to bring their short east coast jaunt to an end. With excellent rhythmic quality and a strengthened sense of instrumentation as a result of a strengthened band dynamic, Wild Meadows is a snapshot of a band in a thriving creative…

Montreal’s indie-rock rising star Brigitte Nagga, better known as Common Holly, set tongues wagging at SXSW as she showed off her latest album Playing House – just as Aussie band Gang of Youths were doing the same. Since the Austin event, they’ve been touring America together, and to learn a little more about the artist…

I preface this entire review by saying Confidence Man are a live band; they’re not a physical release band. There are plenty of acts that fail to live up to the hype when it comes to a live set. Then there are bands that absolutely crush the live performance. And that is exactly what Confidence…

We first came across Allen Stone during one of his trips out to Australia for Bluesfest, we’re gonna say around 2013. Instantly drawn in by his on stage demeanour and powerful vocals, the US songwriter has been a consistent favourite of the AU’s (and many more Australian fans) since. This week, we caught wind of there…

As part of VIVID Sydney this year, the CLIPPED Festival also returns, putting the spotlight on Australian music videos and the creative minds behind them. Coming to Carriageworks on June 2nd, CLIPPED celebrates the medium through interactive exhibitions, premieres, keynote lecture sessions and more – a great insight into how forward thinking and progressive the…

Parramatta’s CBD will be livened with the sound of music this weekend, as the City Of Parramatta hosts its now annual “Live and Local” event. For the second time, over 70 artists of Sydney’s West will perform throughout the CBD, taking place this Saturday, April 14. The mini-festival will last for five hours, spanning across…

As the timer continues to countdown towards Howlite‘s trip to Toronto for Canadian Music Week 2018, the Melbourne group share the official music video for their stunning new single, “Orchestra”. The song itself is bathed in layers of instrumentation that hook you in from the beginning; just like “Gothic Romance” and “Savior” before it, “Orchestra” is a…

This weekend, The Hard Aches embark on what is quite the highly anticipated album tour – the first presentation of their sophomore record Mess. As has become an intergral part of his songwriting, Ben David delves into personal territory and tread an emotional terrain that, particularly in the Australian rock scene, has long been considered murky and off-brand….

Before they join The Killers on their Australian tour and of course, launch their brand new album Blue Poles, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders unleash Single #3 from the new record in “Feel Brand New”. Appropriately titled, the song marks a sonic departure from their previously released single “White Flag”, as Ladder explores love and its all…

If you’re fast approaching hump day lamenting the fact your pay cheque hasn’t come in, but your addiction to smashed avo and feta on wholemeal is too much each morning…chances are you’re like me. However if your lamentations extend to those yuppy types who take too long ordering their too-specific coffees in front of you especially,…

The Grand Ballroom of Sydney’s International Convention Centre was packed out with songwriters, publishers, publicists, media, managers, loved ones and more as the 2018 APRA Music Awards took place for another year – acknowledging the contributions and achievements of Australian songwriters both at home and abroad over the last 12 months. Hosted by Julia Zemiro, the…

One of Australia’s premiere festivals – the one and only Splendour in the Grass – announced its line up for 2018 and man, is it stomper. There is a slew of international and local talent locked into perform at the North Byron Parklands this July including Kung Fu Kenny himself, Kendrick Lamar. Lamar joins the likes of Lorde, Miguel, CHVRCHES and Girl…

If you’re looking for a raw emotion-filled but simple music video to accompany those days when you’re feeling low, Skout‘s got you covered with their latest video These Bones. A simple video utilising raw instruments and lights, the pure emotion of the video and song are allowed to filter through to create a truly breath-taking piece…

Every young rapper has to be the “next something”. The next Jay Z; the next Ice Cube; the next MC Lyte; the next Nas. Reference points are handy for upcoming artists, although they may be frustrating in the long term. It’d be no surprise if Deezie Brown has run into a far few of those…