New Music Discoveries 5th February: Royal Ratbags, Mitski, Buck Meek, and more

Our Discovery playlist gets a fresh shake-up this week, with ten new tracks added across Spotify and Apple Music, including two songs we had the pleasure of premiering earlier this week. Leading the charge as our Track of the Week is Royal Ratbags with “Hesitation” — a brash, self-aware burst of new-wave punk that captures the jittery space between confidence and confusion. Hot on the heels of debut single “Supermarket Woman”, the Northern Rivers all-female outfit continue their early momentum with a track that’s messy, funny and fearless in equal measure, setting the tone for the playlist update perfectly.

Born from an awkward wedding dance-floor moment, “Hesitation” leans into pulsing rhythms, sharp guitar interplay, and an irresistible wall-of-sound energy, nodding to the raw spirit of Bikini Kill and the Sex Pistols without ever feeling like a pastiche. It’s playful and unpolished in all the right ways. The single also arrives alongside the announcement of Royal Ratbags’ debut EP Supermarket Woman, due out March 27, shaping up as a punchy, joyful snapshot of anxiety, confidence and everyday delight.

“Ring Of Fire” is the latest single from American musician Buck Meek, of Big Thief fame. The single is the second to be released from his upcoming album The Mirror, which is out at the end of the month. It’s a real delight too, full of guitar driven warmth and heart, and some captivating vocal performances from Meek, along with backing vocals from bandmate Adrianne Lenker. Between this and first single “Gasoline”, The Mirror is shaping up to be something special.

Next up, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever return with “Sunburned in London”, their first new music since Endless Rooms landed back in 2022 — and it’s a quietly thrilling comeback. Stretching beyond six minutes, the track unfolds as a patient slow-burner, with layered guitars gently stacking, group vocals drifting in and out of focus, and a steady, propulsive rhythm section carrying it all forward.

It’s been a busy week for singer-songwriter Mitski with the announcement of a series of live residencies at select venues across the globe – including four nights at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid Live – between March and July. Accompanying that announcement though was “I’ll Change For You”, the second single from her forthcoming album Nothing’s About to Happen to Me – out February 27th. As we’ve come to expect from the singer, it’s emotive, and absolutely gorgeous. You’ve got that stunning vocal front and centre all accompanied with rich, lush instrumentation (including strings and woodwind). Beautiful! Tickets details for Mitski’s Sydney shows can be found HERE.

Also added this week is “Sandman” from Elke Louie, a beautifully assured release that feels remarkably polished for just her second single. Following on from debut track “Killing Time”, Louie leans into warm, uplifting indie-folk territory here, with gorgeous, sun-dappled guitar lines carrying a song about forgotten dreams and that unsettled feeling when something meaningful slips away. Co-written with Jen Mize and recorded at Mantle Records, “Sandman” showcases a young artist already writing with confidence and emotional clarity.