Another Friday, another fresh batch for the ears. This week we’ve loaded up our Discovery Playlist with ten new tracks across Spotify and Apple Music, spanning everything from the quietly devastating to the downright euphoric, and our Track of the Week is Dan Sultan‘s “Forgiveness”.
We’re all in on the 90s Manchester influences here, that loose, swaggering jangle lifted skyward by gospel overtones, and as always with Dan, it rings true. “Forgiveness” strikes at the core of what matters: the ache of apologies that never quite make it out, the wish to simply be there when the hurt lifts. It’s less about running from regret than making peace with it, and the refrain circles back like a held breath finally released. Emotive, open-hearted and quietly euphoric, it’s Sultan at his most affecting. The track lands ahead of his sixth album Little Miracles, out 23rd of October via Mushroom Music.
Joining him on the playlist this week is singer-songwriter Wren Arkose and their new single “I Choose My Name”. Released as part of the Singing Our Futures and Bad Apples initiative, the single tells the story of choosing to build a new life by stepping outside of cycles of addiction and rumination. Produced and co-written with Bailey Judd, “I Choose My Name” is this gorgeous slice of indie folk, initially stripped back, before building towards the second half, Arkose’s vocal and emotive lyricism really take centre stage throughout. The track is one of four that Singing Our Futures and Bad Apples will be releasing over the next six weeks highlighting the talent and creativity of emerging First Nations artists.
Carla Geneve makes the case for the double single, and honestly, we couldn’t pick between them either. “I Still Think About You” is the quieter half, the strange calm after pain has loosened its grip, where an old hurt softens into something closer to a daydream about a nightmare. It’s gorgeous stuff, emotive country leanings carrying that raw, unflinching honesty Geneve does so well, and it lands alongside its equally devastating twin “Finally Broke Me”. She takes the pair on the road this month, with the Finally Broke Me tour hitting Fremantle, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Head HERE for tickets – get along and support live music.
“Send Me Down” is the new single from John O’Groats four-piece Neon Waltz, their first new music in three years, and comes ahead of the 10 year anniversary of their debut album. Neon Waltz have been described – probably quite accurately lets be honest – as the UK’s most northernly band, and the challenges that came with that status are part of the inspiration behind new single “Send Me Down” – an anthem to steadfastness and staying power, about “not giving up just because it’s been a rough journey”. The result is an optimistic, frenetic slice of indie rock laden with hooks and no shortage of jangle.
The WA duo Old Mervs are back with “She Said”, the third single from second album Carparks, and it’s the sound of two mates deep in an Oasis phase and loving every minute. Built around a shuffle beat Henry Carrington-Jones taught himself and a nod to his MJ Lenderman obsession, it swaggers along with an effortless Britpop-adjacent charm the pair swear they never fully planned. Carparks lands 2 October via Dew Process / Universal Music, with more US and Canadian tour dates just announced.
“My Time” is the latest single from Melbourne alt-folk rock outfit Munroe. The single is the latest to be released from their freshly announced forthcoming EP, Said And Done – out September 10th. There’s a lovely dreamlike quality to “My Time” that’s full of texture, jangle and sun-drenched hooks. But, there’s also this wonderful undercurrent of vulnerability and relatability that comes through the band’s lyrics.
Also added to the playlist this week are the latest releases from Fremantle quartet lefty (“Blue Sky”) and American Western Gothic Rocker Liam St John (“Send For Me”). Finally, we’ve added two premieres from earlier in the week: “Over Everything” from The Hunter Express and “unforgettable” from Lizzie Hosking.
Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
Dan Sultan “Forgiveness”
Wren Akrose “I Choose My Name”
Carla Geneve “I Still Think About You”
Neon Waltz “Send Me Down”
Old Mervs “She Said”
lefty “blue sky”
Munroe “My Time”
Liam St John “Send For Me”
Lizzie Hosking “unforgettable” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
The Hunter Express “Over Everything” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
Header image credit: Daniel Kelaart
