I remember the first time I played Mortal Kombat, or at least I vaguely recall its influence and how ahead of its time it seemed to be. I remember how real it looked and sounded. I remember having the fatality codes tucked in its Mega Drive case in a time before the internet. But most…
The older I get, the more I realise it really doesn’t matter what people think about you and what your hobbies, style or tastes in the things are. Now in my late 20’s, I’ve come very comfortable listening to (and reviewing for that matter) albums and artists younger me wouldn’t have given the time of…
Bree Rusev is only seventeen years old and is making her mark on the folk-rock scene, with her assured and instantly accessible songs. We are thrilled to be premiering her third single to hit the airwaves, “Fade Away”. This follows on from her debut and sophomore releases, “Coastline” and “Drift”. There is a maturity to…
Max Leone has been making waves since his bold decision to drop out of Berklee College of Music and pursue his artistry in Los Angeles. The Portland-native draws from a vast pool of influences: from Jack Johnson inspiring his love of guitar, Tom Misch’s experimentation, Frank Ocean who he drew his pseudonym from, to his…
Since the release of Daisy Jones and the Six back in 2019, narratives about fictional bands, singers and songwriters have undergone something of a renaissance. Dawnie Walton’s debut The Final Revival of Opal & Nev builds on the oral history format of Daisy Jones, and takes the next step. Walton succeeds in telling a story…
West-Australian trio, Pretty Uglys, have just released their sophomore EP, Party Friends. It’s a five-track collection of surf and punk-rock tunes, which have been a staple of their live set for some time now. The band were pretty pumped to get it out into the ether, saying “Feels epic to get this release into the world…
Sister tells the story of An Ran (Zhang Zifeng), a nurse who is on a strong career path to become a doctor and move out her home and go to Beijing as a full-time student. She is estranged from her family due to the ongoing fact that her parents always preferred a son over her….
Kevin Mitchell, aka Bob Evans, has marked his genuine graduation from Suburban Kid to ‘middle age’ with his sixth studio album Tomorrowland, evolving musically with a level of grit combined with his treasured pop hooks. When I spoke to Mitchell ahead of the album launch, he said: “I’m in a period of my life/career where…
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood is trying to solve to an impossible problem the game has grappled with for most of its life. Unable to fully emulate the trappings of its beloved parent series, and willing to fully embrace being its own thing, TESO has instead tried to do both. For the longest time, it has…
“We Got Gods to Blame” is the latest single from electro-folk singer-songwriter Hayden Calnin. Infused with hymn-like harmonies that will leave you feeling positively devout, it’s a gorgeous track from the Aussie artist, and a shoo-in for this week’s Track of the Week. When he’s not crafting his own tracks, and sharing the stage with…
Meat pies are an absolute Australian classic. They come in different shapes and sizes. Not to mention several flavor combinations, like chicken and mushroom, lamb and mash, beef cheek and stout — the list is endless. Of course, location matters largely when it comes to estimating the perfect food experience. And there’s no better place…
Skybelly is the musical project for Melbourne-based singer/songwriter and producer Sara Nelson. We are thrilled to have the premiere today of her latest offering, “State of Disaster”, before its release on Friday. “State of Disaster” was inspired by the “what if we kissed?” meme during last years ‘state of disaster’ resulting in Victoria’s lockdown. The meme…
The road from video game to cinema screen has often been an arduous trek – to say the least. Often made with the best of intentions, but seldom able to satisfy the expansive fanbase, video game adaptations are usually starting at a disadvantage. Sure, there’s a certain campy pleasure to watching Jean Claude Van Damme…
Daughter of cruel King Minos and sister to the Minotaur, Ariadne lives a life governed by the fear her monstrous brother instils into the enemies of Crete. Athens, in particular, suffers, forced to send regular sacrifices for the Minotaur, exchanging some of its young people for peace with the island nation. But one year, a…
We’re big fans of EJ Worland here at the AU. His debut EP No One Left To Blame, which dropped earlier this month, was our Album of the Week. His single “Over The Pond” came in at 27 on our 40 Best Australian Tracks of 2020 too. His is a sound firmly rooted in the…
Next week, Wednesday April 28th, will see the best and brightest of Australian literature descend on Sydney’s Carriageworks for the premier event in the Australian book industry calendar; and we’re giving five of you the chance to join them. We have five General Admissions double passes to give away to the 2021 ABIAs Awards Gala….
Yours and Owls, the first major music festival held in NSW since the start of the global pandemic, went ahead in Dalton Park, Wollongong, this April 17 and 18, 2021. How was it? Well, let’s get into that. THE SETUP How do you run a festival when there’s a major pandemic going on? By developing…
New York outfit HOKO have just released their first fully realised collection of material, HEATHEN. As they look to their home city re-opening following the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the trio share their favourite spots for eats, beats and treats in New York City that will serve as a guide for locals and visitors…
Chasing the McCubbin, the debut novel by Melbourne academic and writer Sandi Scaunich, delves into what may be unfamiliar territory for most readers – a world of second hand dealers with nicknames like Blue Merc, Fritz the German and The Builder and His Missus. Beginning in the early ’90s during a financial recession, it is the story…
Waywards in Sydney’s Newtown was treated to a night of the best up-and-coming bands, helmed by The Million for their single launch of “Last Call”. The crowd packed in for one of the first standing gigs back, with The Million frontman Jacob Thomas warning me that their crowd do mosh, despite their music being on the…
Manly Pavilion holds a special place in the Northern Beaches. There are of course many time-tested institutions in the area, but few can boast the same sparkling, impressively serene location of this venue. Perched on the water’s edge, in a restored heritage building, it’s rightfully a top choice for long-lunches, evening cocktails, and more relaxed…
The best performances within the biopic genre are those that aren’t just simply imitations or impressions of the subject at hand, but an honest appraisal of the person, one where the performer vanishes on screen. And so often with such grand performances, it can lead to the rest of the film surrounding them to feel…
Bob Evans, aka Kevin Mitchell, releases his sixth studio album, Tomorrowland, today but it’s also his first since parting with EMI Music. Mitchell calls it his “entry into middle age”, with shades of Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and The Cure. Tomorrowland is a vision long held by Mitchell and with the “silver lining” that COVID-19…
Sydney indie-pop artist Taylor B-W has just released the video for her latest single, “Nunchucks”. She is an artist with a bullet against her trajectory. In “Nunchucks”, she is rocking a 90’s RnB vibe with soaring vocals. It’s a seriously infectious tune; fun, upbeat and packed with a killer groove. Talking about the song, Taylor…
Turns Out, I’m Fine sees comedian Judith Lucy making peace with different things in her life. The former star of The Late Show toured her comedy show, Judith Lucy versus Men across Australia in 2019. A number of the jokes and stories she told there form the basis of her latest book. Fans of her debut biography,…
I vividly remember the first time I saw London Grammar live. It was at Falls Festival Byron Bay in 2013/14 just as the band had exploded on the back of “Strong” and debut album If You Wait. With the sun having just set and vision from the stage obviously limited, frontwoman Hannah Reid politely asked…
Hailing from Sydney, but now a resident of London, Ed Wells has teamed up with fellow Londoner Manüka on their electro-pop single, “Tougher”. This is a track about the resilience we all have when faced with formidable challenges. We are thrilled to have the premiere of this tune before its official release on Friday. Last…
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, the Fast & Furious series has defied all expectation and grown to exponential heights as Vin Diesel and his motley crew have graduated from street racing to international espionage. The latest trailer for Fast & Furious 9 only adds to the franchise’s penchant for athletic lunacy as Diesel’s Dominic…
The back cover of Barry Divola‘s debut novel Driving Stevie Fracasso makes some lofty claims. It promises High Fidelity meets The Big Lebowski meets The Darjeeling Limited; it promises Nick Hornby, David Nicholls and Jonathan Tropper vibes. Picking it up, I thought to myself that this one novel could not possibly live up to all that. But here’s the thing,…
Our track of the week is “Chasing Heaven” and comes from Sydney-siders Highline. We might be heading into winter, but this bouncy song will take you back to the heights of summer. “Chasing Heaven” will be on their upcoming EP, Off Track, which is due to be released on 13th May this year. “Chasing Heaven”…
