We’ve reached the midpoint in June, and we’ve added ten more tracks to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including one track that we premiered earlier in the week. Yes indeed, Friday the 13th can be lucky for some. Our track of the week goes to Meanjin’s Full Flower Moon Band, with their new track “Scene”, which features vocals from New York’s Gustaf.
We can’t get enough of Full Flower Moon Band, and this latest track puffs its chest out. It’s full to the brim with swagger and attitude. It’s a tongue-in-cheek take on fame, ego and touring. About the track, Kate ‘Babyshakes’ Dillon, lead singer and songwriter for FFMB, writes, “I wanted to write a song that’s completely about ego. At first, I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, in case people thought I was being sincere.”. They’ve roped in New York’s Gustaf to add her vocals to the mix: “I knew I wanted Gustaf on this track, and I’m so glad it happened. Lydia is one of the most intimidating and effortlessly cool voices I can think of right now,”. We’ve raved about them before – but if you get the chance to see them live, run, don’t walk and grab yourself a ticket.
“Hurts To Be Lonely” is the new single from British alt-rockers Deaf Havana, the second single to be released from their forthcoming seventh album We’re Never Getting Out. The single is an exploration of feelings of being completely alone, or making your partner feel completely alone in a relationship. As vocalist James Veck-Gilodi explains, “A lot of the lyrical content is about lying about being sober but secretly drinking and taking drugs and ending up completely isolating yourself from everyone else around you.” In spite of the somewhat heavy subject matter, there’s a wonderful airy and sparkling quality to the instrumentation, not to mention a singalong ready chorus.
“Still Here” from Melbourne’s Tracey Miller is a solid reminder of her brilliant voice and incredible feel for gospel, soul, and rhythm & blues. She has been on the scene for nearly forty years, which we should be celebrating wildly. Her new track is a declaration of defiance, a testament to the power of creativity despite the judgment and gatekeeping that often defines the music industry. Tracey has a new album coming out in August, Queen of the Creek, so keep an eye out for that.
AU favourites Howlite have unveiled “Sensitive”, the final track from the Melbourne trio’s new EP Everything Will Happen. As we’ve come to expect, “Sensitive” is an exquisitely crafted slice of alternative pop, that walks a delicate line between being anthemic, euphoric, and full of emotion. Alison Thom’s vocals, as ever, are a major drawcard; but the track is also very much a sum of its parts, with each member of the band complementing the other. “Sensitive” is assured in its delivery, empowering in its message, and just ready and waiting for you to sing along.
One of the great guitar bands to emerge recently has to be Cardinals from Cork in Ireland. “Big Empty Heart” is their first release for 2025. It features menacing, furious guitars and some post-punk, atmospheric emo vibes with a Celtic twist. About the track, frontman Euan Manning writes: “‘Big Empty Heart’ is a love song written from beyond the grave. It is a waltz as waltzes are the most romantic kinds of songs.“. There is plenty going on for the lads. They are supporting Fontaines D.C. at Finsbury Park, then they head off to the US, then a tour of the UK beckons before shows in Melbourne and Sydney in mid-October. Head HERE to get tickets
“Safe For Another Day” is the new single from South Coast sister duo Surely Shirley. The single is the first from their forthcoming sophomore EP and showcases the evolution in their sound, marrying an introspective quality with their nostalgia tinged sound. There’s something quite haunting about it all, with those beautiful layered harmonies and the almost timeless instrumentation.
Also added to the playlist this week is “Walking Through That Door”, the new single from Naarm psych rocker Winter McQuinn, featuring Feign Jima and Dylan Young. The single accompanying the announcement that McQueen’s third album Where Are We Now? is set for release in September. Joining them on the playlist is Norwegian artist Sturle Dagsland, who made returned this week with new music for the first time since 2021. We were big fans of this debut album, and new single “Galdring” is in a similar vein. Chaotic, primal, but utterly compelling. One for fans of Heilung, Wardruna and similar.
“In Bloom” is the lead single from Yoshika Colwell’s debut album On The Wing, which will be released on the 25th of July. It’s a beautiful slice of contemporary folk-rock. It’s described by Yoshika as “the most hopeful song on the album”. She explains: “In Bloom is a song exploring the concept of sunny nihilism, which I read about once somewhere. It’s about acknowledging that everything ends, but trying to find the beauty and freedom in that. It’s a song about inevitable death and trying to enjoy your life & the people you love whilst it’s all happening, disguised in a bouncy, upbeat kind of country song”
We’ve also added “Pretending Season” from Jacqui Lumsden, for which we premiered the video earlier in the week.
Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
Full Flower Moon Band “Scene (feat. Gustaf)”
Deaf Havana “Hurts To Be Lonely”
Tracey Miller “Still Here”
Howlite “Sensitive”
Cardinals “Big Empty Heart”
Surely Shirley “Safe For Another Day”
Winter McQuinn “Walking Through That Door (feat. Feign Jima & Dylan Young)”
Yoshika Colwell “In Bloom”
Sturle Dagsland “Galdring”
Jacqui Lumsden “Pretending Season” [Exclusive Video Premiere]
Images supplied by the artist
