Music

It’s amazing to think that !!! are still going and not just still going but producing some of their most consistently strong musical output of their long career. They create music which is nearly physically impossible not to dance to, and it was with great pleasure that we got the chance to catch up with…

After some 80s inspired electronica for your ears? We’ve got you covered. Ahead of the release of their upcoming debut self titled record, Night Drive have given us a delicious first taste. https://soundcloud.com/nightdrivemusic/trapeze-artist-regrets “Trapeze Artist Regrets” will have you strutting your stuff like you’re ripe and ready for a hot fire night on the town. A steady beat, flashes…

Playing their third sold out night in a row at the Corner Hotel in Richmond, Methyl Ethel treated Melbourne punters to a delightful night of eargasms. Having just toured Europe and a string shows at Groovin The Moo around Australia, the band are no strangers to playing to big crowds. The packed out venue was…

The Great Escape wound up for another year overnight, with the beating heart of Brighton’s cultural district and city surrounds hosting one final night of eclectic and diverse live music. Over Friday and Saturday’s program, we were exposed to music from some intriguing artists out of Europe who left a remarkable impression upon us – Iceland…

Sydney’s Dear Seattle started turning heads after uploading some pretty amazing tracks to triple j unearthed, particularly with release of breakthrough single ‘Meadows’. The group deliver their gritty indie-rock and heartfelt, raw vocals in ‘Afterthought’, the video continuing from the video for ‘Meadows’. It’s an exploration of the morning after a big one, dealing with the…

We first met Circa Waves in 2014 – it was a sweaty Sydney afternoon when the Liverpudlian rockers stopped by our offices for a chat around their debut Australian appearances for Splendour in the Grass. Already, the band had generated the type of hype and momentum that helped launch bands like Catfish and The Bottlemen to popular…

For Perth’s Voyager, the release of their sixth studio album in The Ghost Mile marked a significant moment for the group. Coming off the back of a fruitful period spent writing in studio – a more collaborative effort than previous albums had seen – as well being created while weddings and general life continued to swirl around the…

Muse dropped their brand new single, “Dig Down”, overnight and the reaction has been varied. Sounding a lot like “Madness” from The 2nd Law it has a slow, pulsating bassline – possibly from Chris Wolstenholme‘s Kitara, an assumption based purely on the similarity to “Madness” – and Matt Bellamy delivers the vocals in breathy crooner…

Melbourne’s Juñor has this time found himself mixing things up with LA’s Mann – known for his work with the likes of Kendrick and Frank Ocean – on new single “Top Flight”. An impressive new release from Juñor, “Top Flight” brings both groove and punchy lyrics to fruition in a combination that demonstrates the solid dynamic that has clearly resulted from this…

The coolest kids on the block and possibly the sweetest kids of the bunch – Western Australian band San Cisco are back with The Water, a serenade of rich insistent pop tunes. Lets dive in. The band began their string of melodic love dedications back in 2010, with their first EP Golden Revolver. Led by storyteller Jordi Davieson on vocals, Scarlett Stevens, Josh Biondillo and Nick Gardner were…

Blues on Broadbeach is one of the largest free music events in Australia. Held on May 18 to 21st, the festival is celebrating its 16th year, having started in 2002. Cold Chisel guitarist and successful solo artist, Ian Moss is one of almost 70 acts to perform over the four day festival including: Bonnie Tyler,…

The Great Escape festival returns to Brighton and Hove this year, bringing with it over 450 new and up and coming bands. Here at the AU, we love Australian music, and couldn’t be prouder of the Aussie acts that have been selected to perform, in the midst of such a sheer volume of talent. Honourable mentions to…

One word for this single: wow. This stellar debut single is from Brisbane’s Hatchie, aka Harriette Pilbeam, an artist who’s made music with a lot of groups, including indie pop darlings Babaganouj. Striding out on her own for “Try”, she delivers shoegaze soaked dream pop that’s so effortless, she really doesn’t seem to by trying. The shimmery pop…

I’ll be damned if this isn’t the cutest music video I’ve seen in a long while. Hachiku, aka Anika Ostendorf, crafts avant-garde tinged dream pop from whatever bedroom she’s writing from. The Melbourne-via London-via Germany 22-year old will be releasing her debut EP through Milk! Records on June 2nd, having already supported Courtney Barnett on her 2015 European…

APES are an enigmatic Melbourne band. They’re well-known across the Australian music community, however in their long career, they haven’t released a full-length album – only small tasters in an EP and single launches. But, finally, the day has come, and they are bringing their debut album, Stranger Than Strangers into the world. It reveals…

The SOUNDS AUSTRALIA crew have always maintained an impressive presence internationally, The Great Escape proving to be no exception to the rule for another year. Kicking off their time in Brighton with the annual Sound Gallery at Komedia, a great array of Australian artists took to the stage in the underground venue and upstairs in the studio…

The Great Escape brought its A-game to the first official day of proceedings out in Brighton this Thursday. The rain did not deter the delegates and punters from embracing the sheer wealth of live music to be absorbed across the wide variety of music venues within the city. While the SOUNDS AUSTRALIA Sound Gallery showcase…

Aldous Harding remains an enigma to me. As of the time this piece is published, I’m preparing to see her perform at The Great Escape, a few days before her highly anticipated album Party sees release. Already, the New Zealander has had a hectic few months of shows; appearances at SXSW positioned Harding as a buzz artist…

Brisbane’s Osaka Punch have spent the last nine years making a name for themselves as one of Australia’s best live acts, bringing together rock, prog, funk and everything in between to make a sound truly their own. Last year they released a seven track EP Death Monster Super Squad to critical acclaim and today we’re…

And the Social Media campaign award of the year goes to: Martin Brown. The man formerly known as Smiles Again (one half of the now defunct Mind Over Matter), and now known as Smizzy, has been flying a bit under the radar for these past few years. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been hard…

“Particle” is the first single off American group Hundred Waters‘ EP Currency. The track starts off with some beautiful piano and then builds into the electronic sound that saw them signed to Skrillex’s label. Add in Nicole Miglis’ dreamy vocals and you have a song you can easily find yourself lost in. It is a stand out dance…

UK band Karl Phillips & The Rejects video for their newest single “Plastic Gangsta” shows off a day in the hood, but in their typical tongue-in-cheek way. What it really showcases though is what makes this 7 piece rock band from the Midlands so unique. That is the creative blend of ska, punk and hip-hop….

While I never thought I could fully accept the transition for Chet Faker to Nick Murphy, I think I have finally been converted. His newest track “Your Time”, which is from his Missing Link EP, show’s him flexing his creative muscles and exploring his sound – and let me tell you, we like what he is…

This morning, we learned that The Getaway Plan are to embark on a special Australian tour in September to celebrate the acclaimed Other Voices, Other Rooms album. Released in 2008, the band’s debut record soon landed a spot in the hearts of many alt-rock/post-hardcore fans and still proves a popular hit. Thinking back on the album, it’s…

This week, we showcases impressive and memorable releases from the likes of Marlon Williams, Nothing But Thieves, Laura Marling, Acceptance and Boy & Bear. A diverse bunch of albums primed and ready to revisit – hit play! LAURA MARLING – I Speak Because I Can (2010) By Jack Cain This album is the bible of being a woman, which is something I…

I’ll put my hand up in admitting that I was never a One Direction loyalist. I remember seeing the band perform on their first Australian tour as a member of the keen-eyed media but had never thrown myself freely into the manic euphoria that surrounded the X Factor assembled group. As it stands in 2017, times are getting increasingly…

Melbourne five-piece Clowns have come a long way from their beginnings as Melbourne house-party punks, even inciting an international terror scare last year. Oh wait. Those were just clowns, not these guys. But having a chat to vocalist Stevie Williams ahead of the release for the band’s third LP, Lucid Again, it turns out that…

There are a few times where you hear a song and something just clicks. You just get it, and somehow, and in some strange way, it seems to gets you too. This is exactly what happened to me when I first heard Marika Hackman’s track “Boyfriend,” something that has been all over our airwaves as…

Some cool new nostalgia dipped visuals from  Illy? Yes please. Riding the wave of success from his album Two Degrees, Aussie hip hop entrepreneur Illy, has just dropped the official video for “Oh My”. The track features some really great vocals from Tonight Alive‘s Jenna McDougall and it’s just really, really solid. The clip is colourful and lighthearted, but with a purposeful…

Alt-Electronic outfit CIITY, have dropped yet another track from their forthcoming EP Parallels. This time paying homage to the (bitter) process of moving on, set to a backdrop of swirly ambiance and a down right delightful beat. “DNVR” definitely has the whole “I’m post break up but I’m going to get whiskey drunk and dance around my room to celebrate anyway” vibes…