Another week, another ten new tracks added to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including one track we premiered earlier in the week. Naarm cinematic soul ensemble Surprise Chef take out our Track of the Week with their latest “Bully Ball”.
“Bully Ball” comes with a side order of a new album announcement. Superb is due out May 16th, and represents something of a change in creative approach for the band. Meticulously planned writing and recording techniques have given way for a looser and more laissez-faire approach.
There’s been no compromise on the musicianship on show, however, with the ensemble’s skills very much front and centre on “Bully Ball” and the previously released “Fare Evader”. Though admittedly “Bully Ball” is more cagey in its delivery, with a looping gritty atmosphere, and a groove that just sits nicely in that sweet spot. It’s all very finely balanced – funky, but not too funky.
Australian audiences can catch the band next week in Cobourg, Victoria. After that the band will be heading off to Japan and the US for a run of shows, with the promise of more to come. For more information and tickets head HERE.
WA’s Banjo Lucia is back with “Cartwheel”, her first release since her 2022 debut EP Peccadilloes which we loved so much. Banjo always sings from the heart, and “Cartwheel” is vulnerable and totally engaging. About the new track she says “Cartwheel is a song about falling in love and the cyclical nature of growth. It’s about how you can learn so much about yourself and try to do everything right, but you can still ultimately be taken out at the knees by life and what it throws you. And that’s the joy of it.”
Banjo is upping sticks and moving to Naarm – so if that’s your hometown, keep an eye out for her playing shows in your neighbourhood.
Ruby Gill has dropped “Touch Me There”, a stunningly sensual song that smoulders and hits all the right notes. It’s a song that says so much about intimacy, desire and fulfilment. She sings “I haven’t been kissing the people I want to”. Ruby’s backing choir is next level – including Annie-Rose Maloney (see more about below) , Hannah McKittrick, Angie McMahon, Hannah Cameron, Jess Ellwood and Olivia Hally (Oh Pep!). Do check out the video as well – it was filmed at Naarm’s iconic queer workout and community space Pony Club Gym.
Her new record, Some Kind of Control will be released on the 28th March. There will be an album launch at the Northcote Social Club on the 17th April. Tics HERE
“Pet Alsation” from Loose Content is described by the band as “a satirical exploration of our ever-worsening climate crisis.”. It’s going to be a cathartic song to hear live, with the repeating refrain of “We’re all going to die, and maybe that’s just fine” sure to become a crowd favourite. Their long-awaited debut EP, Costumes, will be out on the 28th of March.
“A Bit of Love” is the new single from Naarm-based alt-folk/country(-ish) singer-songwriter and guitarist Annie-Rose Maloney. Stripped back and intimate, “A Bit Of Love” is the opener to Maloney’s forthcoming debut album Circle Walking (Out Feb 28th). The track is inspired by Maloney’s day job as a high school teacher and touches on the importance of supporting young people through the different ways they express themselves. Maloney also finds herself in good company with the track featuring piano by Ruby Gill and backing vocals from the a starstudded choir of Angie McMahon, Gill, and Olivia Hally. It’s a beautiful, idiosyncratic, and quietly devastating slice of alt-folk that really hits you in the feels.
You’ll be able to catch Maloney across March for a run of album release shows in Naarm/Melbourne, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Castlemaine, and at the Meadow Festival in Victoria.
Lasca Dry’s “Sunset Baby” is a sunny upbeat bop. It’s vintage-inspired pop/punk as Lasca explores “the blurry line between love and obsession—the kind of passion that’s beautiful, intense, and just a little dangerous.”. These are some golden grooves from the talented Tasmanian singer/songwriter. Check out the super cool video for the track as well HERE.
“Hon هون” is the new single from Lebanese singer-songwriter Yasmine Hamdan. Co-written with poet Anas Alaili, the track is utterly beautiful, yet haunting reflection of “tiny land with a gaping wound”. It’s atmospheric and emotive; Hamdan’s vocal in particular pulls you in from the outset. It’s quite clearly a deeply personal work, but one which also offers up to listeners an almost universal perspective. “Hon هون” delivers its message with a quiet power. If you’re like us, it’s also a striking introduction to a remarkable talent.
With new albums on the way in the next few months we’ve also got new tracks from acclaimed indie group Lucius (“Gold Rush”) and Austrian indie sensations Cari Cari (“One More Trip Around The Sun”). We’ve also added “Stasis” from Kaya Byrne, which we premiered the video for 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:
Surprise Chef “Bully Ball”
Banjo Lucia “Cartwheel”
Cari Cari “One More Trip Around The Sun”
Ruby Gill “Touch Me There”
Lucius “Gold Rush”
Loose Content “Pet Alsation”
Annie-Rose Maloney “A Bit of Love”
Lasca Dry “Sunset Baby”
Yasmine Hamdan “Hon هون”
Kaya Byrne “Stasis” [Exclusive Video Premiere]
Header Photo: Nick McKinlay
