We are already on the second-half of the year, and today we have added ten new tracks to our Discovery Playlist, including one track we premiered earlier in this week. We are celebrating the start of NAIDOC week, and our track of the week goes to the multi award-winning First Nations collective 3% (Nooky, Dallas Woods and Angus Field), with their uplifting new single, “Our Greats”.
The song is a celebration of those First Nations role models who have proven to be so inspirational. Speaking of role models, the video features no less than the great Cathy Freeman and Patty Mills. It’s a feel-good heart-warmer, with a chorus of kids, many of whom are from the We Are Warriors (WAW) programs, as well as Nooky’s own children. The WAW program is a social organisation run by Nooky that works to empower and uplift Indigenous youth.
“‘Our Greats’ is a tribute to the giants who walked before us – the ones who dared to believe, who fought through adversity, and who laid the foundation so we could stand tall today. Their legacy is carved into our spirit, their impact is beyond measure – and they all deserve statues in bronze. This one’s for them.” – Dallas Woods
Icelandic indie folk group Of Monsters and Men mark their return this week with “Television Love” – their first since 2022. Written and recorded in their studio in Iceland, the track is devised as an ongoing conversation between two people, picked up and left off over time. The track is a continuation of the band’s evolving sound; though the hallmarks that helped propel them to their breakout success remain, those interplaying and emotive vocals from Nanna and Raggi, in particular. Hopefully “Television Love” is just the start and there’s plenty more new music to come.
We have long been big fans of Annie Hamilton‘s music. Our lead reviewer, Dylan Marshall, described her 2024 album, Stop and Smell the Lightning, as one of the finest albums of the year.
Annie has reworked one of the tracks from the album, “Seven Storeys Up”, back to its original version, with different lyrics and melody. On her Substack, she writes: “It’s too different to just be an ‘alternate version’ of the same song, but too similar to be a completely different song.”. The reworked song, “the prologue (seven storeys up)” is beautiful and definitely worth releasing.
Naam indie-pop artist Tilly Fenton has released the charming “Valentine”. It’s only her second single, and shows a maturity and ability to pen lyrics that resonate. Confessional and personal, upbeat yet vulnerable, Tillly skilfully draws us into her world.
Ahead of their visit to Australia in October we want to introduce you all to Irish-American duo DUG – made up of Californian Jonny Pickett and Irish folk artist Lorkin O’Reilly. “Livelong Day” is the latest single to be released from their forthcoming album and comes fresh off the back of the a sold out Irish tour, multiple UK & US tour supports, and an appearance at The Great Escape back in May. Their sound is one firmly rooted in folk, but with a twist, “Livelong Day” in particular drifts into heavier, moodier, bluesier territory. With a natural chemistry and remarkable musicianship DUG are ones to watch – don’t miss them on their Australian debut in October.
Harrison Storm has released the moving “Someone Else”, featuring vocals from Swedish singer-songwriter Winona Oak. Harrison is proving himself to be master of collaboration and wrote this one with his friend Brittony May, who was going through a breakup at the time. The harmonies are devastatingly beautiful. It has a lush and ethereal soundscape.
“Old Expressions” is the new collaborative single from Boorloo singer-songwriters Whiskey Jack and Kiera Jas. With both artists known from their lyricism, “Old Expressions” is a cozy, comforting and compelling slice of Australiana that’s full of warmth, harmonies and homespun instrumentation. The interplay between the two distinct vocals is pitched perfectly, and complemented by some beautiful cello work from Amy Skelleren. We’re hoping this won’t just be a one off collaboration.
Also added to the playlist this week is “when pluto was a planet and everything was cool”, the latest single from Brighton jazz quintet Ebi Soda; and “Loki Horror Picture Show”, the latest single from Gold Coast-based six piece Selve and their forthcoming history making album Breaking Into Heaven (Out Sept 12th) – the first full-length album to be recorded at Abbey Road by an Aboriginal artist.
Finally, we have added “Got My Love”, from Mister Co. & Ambraya, which we premiered 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:
3% “Our Greats”
Of Monsters and Men “Television Love”
annie hamilton “the prologue (seven storeys up)”
Tilly Fenton “Valentine”
DUG “Livelong Day”
Harrison Storm “Someone Else (ft. Winona Oak)“
Whiskey Jack & Kiera Jas “Old Expressions”
Ebi Soda “when pluto was a planet and everything was cool”
Selve “Loki Horror Picture Show”
Mister Co. & Ambraya “Got My Love” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
Header image credit: Mclean Stephenson for RUSSH
