Music

It’s midnight, I’m sitting in a budget hotel, and I have to be up in four hours to catch my flight back home to Melbourne to work. I’ve also just been at the Sydney Opera House to see Kasabian’s second show of their two-nights-only Australian visit. There is so much adrenaline ripping through my system…

What do you ask an artist who is not only so prolific and influential, but an incredibly assertive, humble, and passionate talent? How do you discover, or even uncover something new about an artist whose career spans over 30 years? These were just a few of the thoughts bumping into the edges of my mind…

Last night at The Toff in Town in Melbourne, A.B. Original were crowned the winners of the 12th Australian Music Prize. Along with the $30,000 cash prize, their win with their debut album Reclaim Australia marked a significant moment in the Prize’s history: for the first time, the accolade had been taken by an Indigenous group. Briggs and Trials (Yorta…

Clowns are back, everyone! Coming through with the catchy new tune in “Pickle”, the Melbourne punks have given us another preview of their third album, Lucid Again. Due out this May via Poison City Records, the record – if “Pickle” is anything to go by – is gonna be a ballbuster. Traversing the genres of punk,…

It’s SXSW time again and as Austin gears up for the influx of thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world ready to call the Texan city home until March 19th, we’ve got our sights firmly planted on the global music program that has once again, pulled together hundreds of artists primed for…

Some our favourite Victorian lads, APES, have dropped the visuals for their single “Filter” – all about that #OnlineContent. The footage, shot entirely on an iPhone over the course of a band practice, the resulting video clip is very tongue in cheek while the song itself worms its way into your head. As Ben Dowd sings, “I don’t…

Blond Ambition is the delightful new pop project born by Brian Harding, who is one half of the Brooklyn alt-rock band, Ex Cops, and also part of a new wave of musicians opting to ditch the “E” in “blonde”. Blond Ambition’s  forthcoming debut album, Slow All Over, is a groove-oriented release that sees Harding use cues from the early…

The musical mecca that is SXSW is fast nearing, with an amazing suite of showcases announced for the Mazda Studio at Empire, presented by SPIN, Stereogum and VIBE. Sharing the stage with some massive acts, including Danny Brown, Mastodon, The New Pornographers, Beach Slang and Chastity Belt, is Australia’s own Tkay Maidza, a mammoth accomplishment for the South Australian artist….

The 9th annual The Hills Are Alive Festival has just announced its playing times, for what is shaping up to be an unmissable year. The idyllic music and comedy festival, set amongst rolling hills in South Gippsland, is a three-day celebration that is truly other worldly, with free camping, BYO, field games, street food, chill out…

Kiko Smokes have come through with their second single in “Who’s Your New Best Friend?”, a fitting follow up effort from their impressive debut, “Headline”. From the vocals to the noticeable lift in production and the fusion of guitars and melody, “Who’s Your New Best Friend?” is a stamp of presence from the band, who…

Saskwatch have returned triumphantly with their new single, “December Nights”! We’ve been waiting for this one to come through a little while now and in terms of their new direction, it hasn’t sounded clearer. Jam-packed with swag and their unique style – “December Nights” is a positive nod forward for the Melbourne band and the…

We’re back for another week! Five new albums from five very different artists – check out why our crew think the likes of NAO, Fenech-Soler and NGAIIRE should be on your list of must-listens this week! FENECH-SOLER – Zilla (2017) By Michael Prebeg After disappearing for a while, Fenech-Soler are back with one of their most exciting records yet. They teased us…

Recently, the finalists running for the annual 2017 Queensland Music Awards (QMA) were officially announced. With the aim to recognise the achievements of some of the best emerging and established Queensland musicians, the QMA consist of 14 different categories including; jazz, world, video, schools, regional, and indigenous. Chosen by a panel of over 60 music industry professionals, the…

Melbourne’s SAATSUMA have dropped their new music video for “Isolate” and again, we’re hooked. Exploring themes of destruction and particularly, the destructive nature of complacency, the clip has been shot by Tom Chapman – a brilliant realisation of the original concept by Memphis Kelly, Maddy Kelly and Bryce Padovan. Ahead of SAATSUMA’s tour dates this month, “Isolate” is the perfect…

Ty Segall‘s latest, self-titled album – the ninth in his discography – starts with the dirty, riff-driven track “Break a Guitar”. It’s the perfect opener for an album full of more dirty, riff-driven tracks and sets the scene. Segall’s voice stays within an easy range and complements the rest of the instruments, with its familiar…

Melbourne’s Josh Cashman is another talented Aussie artist set for his SXSW debut in Austin this month; ahead of all the chaos, we check in to see how the new few weeks are lined up for him! Have you played SXSW before? How are you anticipating heading to Austin? This is my first time! Excited, nervous, a whole…

A hip hop pioneer, an Australian country music legend and more have been added to the 2017 Bluesfest line up, while the full playing schedule has now also been made available! Joining on for the Easter Weekend festival is Nas, who will be joining up with New Orleans brass band The Soul Rebels for an exclusive Australian…

Coming together for Kings Of Cough Syrup came easy for old friends Hamish and Nick. Since their early teens in suburban Melbourne, the duo had been fumbling with chords and experimenting with each of their own musical strengths. That being, Nick’s ear for arrangement and song writing, and Hamish’s unmistakably dulcet vocals (which you might…

Responsible for some raucous and hectic Monday nights out at The Evelyn in Melbourne, Jazz Party are taking their sounds and momentum out on the road this month and in April with their new single, “Talking In Your Sleep”. With Loretta Miller at the helm on vocals, the track oozes that old school quality that hooks you…

Melbourne artist Nussy has come back kicking with her new music video for her tune, “Hard As Diamonds”. Taking cues from the trippy and haunting Stranger Things, the piece is glitchy, distorted and edgy; as we’ve heard from Nussy before, she has the capability of harnessing her own energy within the indie electronic sphere. “Hard As Diamonds” pushes…

Elle Graham, aka Woodes, is headed to Austin for her first SXSW, despite being well-seasoned traveller to the US, this month. Already an exciting name on the Australian scene, Woodes’ music is bound to go down a treat with the Americans as part of the strong alternative and electronic contingent of Australians set to be on…

The Oh Yeah Wow team have been behind some intriguing and entertaining pieces of film for the likes of Gotye and The Paper Kites in the past, but most recently, their attention has been turned to the story of a woman and her love for a parasite. The brains behind Millington‘s music video for “Being”, in competition at SXSW…

Harley Streten, known to the rest of the world as Flume, dropped his freshest music on the market titled Skin Companion EP II, alongside his 2016 LP Skin. The companion EP came to fans as a surprise, offering his audience a chance to hear Flume’s work with artists such as Glass Animals, Pusha T and Moses Sumney. 2017 can only calls success for…

Somewhere in Fitzroy, Fergus Linacre and Alex Laska sit opposite me, eyeing off two bagels. Given that at this particular point in time, Kingswood were a little over a week off the release of their sophomore album, things are surprisingly chilled out. Catching the twosome ahead of what’s standing to be a hectic promo cycle for After Hours, Close…

For Melbourne group The Elliotts, SXSW presents itself as more than just a quick overseas jaunt. Their debut in Austin is a step up and out from the open mic nights they’ve previously played in Los Angeles and no doubt, SXSW is going to be way more intense than some nights out in Cali. Still, heading over…

Armed with their new single “Get Around”, Sydney’s Brother Brad are primed for an exciting few months ahead. Recorded out of their home studio in Newtown, the band has continued to refine their reggae/soul brand of music into this tune that is catchy as hell. Vocal harmonies and the melody work on this tune will ensure that…

During their recent time spent in New York, Gang of Youths dropped by the City Winery for a special cellar session for One on One. Joji and David perform “The Deepest Sighs, The Frankest Shadows”, The Positions album cut “Kansas” before closing the session with a cover of U2‘s “With or Without You”. For any fan, you know you want in on this. Now based…

I almost didn’t want to write this review. Something about the idea of trying to sum this performance up with words repulsed me. It seemed pretentious, inauthentic and completely at odds with what I experienced on Friday night at an unassuming little bar named Jive in Adelaide. Wanderers, formerly known as the Wasted Wanderers, are…

Russian band Tesla Boy premiered their single for “Circles” last year to much acclaim, and now its music video is being featured amongst a special selection of clips from around the world at the 2017 SXSW Film & Music Festival in Austin, Texas, for their annual Music Video Competition. In advance of the festival screenings,…

The Griswolds are coming home. At least, momentarily. Back in the country a few months ago for a sporadic few shows in the lead up to the release of their sophomore album High Times for Low Lives, the now predominantly US-based Sydneysiders have dropped a national Aussie tour for fans who’ve been dutifully hanging out for…