Sounds of Oz

Posted on 10/03/202610/03/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Clancy Pye Celebrates Regional Roots With “My Hometown”

After spending a couple of wonderful weeks in the United States, I think I needed to hear “My Hometown,” the latest single by country starlet Clancy Pye. While my hometown isn’t as small as Clancy’s hometown of Wiradjuri, Gundungurra, and Dharug Country/Oberon, the sentiment about appreciating the simple things and people around you resonates.

“My Hometown is a song that was largely inspired by where I grew up – it’s a town of less than 3,000 people,” Clancy explained. “There are no traffic lights or chain stores. There’s one main road into town, and one main road out. Without a big population, I think it’s so easy for people from bigger towns and cities to overlook rural towns for all that we might be missing. But what we don’t have is made up in spades by the people inside those tight-knit communities who are the lifeblood of every country town.”

“My Hometown” comes from Clancy’s forthcoming debut album Feels Like Home, which she’ll release later this year. Before that, she’ll play a string of shows around the Central West.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on 09/03/202609/03/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble Wow Me With “Double Talk”

Queensland-based Jen Mize shares the lessons he learned from her “loose unit” father in her latest single with her band The Rough N’ Tumble, “Double Talk.” While it’s relatively new, this song’s Americana sound makes it feel like a classic from the first listen.

“My dad, Dan, was a bit of a known entity in Las Vegas in the early eighties,” Jen recalled. “Dad was the kind of guy who would walk up to the toughest fella in the bar, and with no provocation ask him if wanted to step outside just to see who was tougher. He admittedly got his ass handed to him more than once, but that was just who he was. A cowboy (with a way with the ladies) who might have had a few screws loose. How he ended up with my saint of a mom no one has ever understood, but by the time I came along he was turning out to be a pretty great dad. Dad wanted to prepare me for the potholes of the world. So, he warned me off guys like him.

“They say ‘write what you know’, and ‘you don’t have to have a good memory if you never tell a lie’… I really feel like when I’m doing that, lyrics and melodies pour out of me at a furious speed that I can barely keep up with. After writing the verse and chorus of this one, I felt it was time to open it up to the fellas in the band for a possible cowrite so, into the Dropbox folder it went in hopes that someone would bite.”

Someone did bite, her bandmate Jeremy Edwards, who brings the male perspective to life in the second verse.

“Maybe it was the Stones of it all,” Jeremy said. “Maybe it was the killer chorus melody. Maybe I wanted a chance, now as the father of a teenage lad, to lay a few things out clear and straight for my son.”

“Double Talk” comes from Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble’s sophomore album, which they’ll release later this year.

Image used with permission from Bec Gracie Publicity

Posted on 09/03/202609/03/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Honey Blue Releases Stunning New Single, “Ready”

Shake off those Monday blues and make space for a little me time listening to “Ready,” the gorgeous new single from Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Honey Blue. Combining elements of R&B, jazz, and neo-soul, this is the kind of track that wraps around you and helps every cell in your body feel calmer. It’s easy to get swept away by the sound of the lush production and Honey Blue’s sublime vocals, but make sure you listen to those relatable lyrics too.

“’Ready’ came from a place where staying the same felt heavier than changing,” Honey Blue said. “It’s about choosing growth over comfort, shedding old versions of yourself, letting go of what holds you back, and trusting what comes next.”

Amen to all of that! This is Honey Blue’s first release since she dropped “That Far” in mid-2023, and it sends a clear message to fans that she’s back and ready to start the next chapter. I’ll be listening.

Image used with permission from Ally Kneale

Posted on 09/03/202609/03/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Enjoy the Summer Sounds of Randy Thrill$’ New Single “CHANGING ON ME”

Meeanjin/Brisbane-based Randy Thrill$ has set himself the ambitious goal of releasing a song every month this year. While I was overseas, he dropped his February song, “CHANGING ON ME,” and I’m vibing with it so much that I had to bring it to you now. Its cool fusion of R&B and Afroswing sounds is taking me right back to the Caribbean waters I’ve just left! If you’re determined to enjoy those summer vibes a little longer, I know you’ll love this tune.

“In the song you can tell my love life is kind of all over the place, but I don’t really care. One of these days I’ll find the right girl,” Randy insisted. “I wrote this song with the intention of being a bit vulnerable, but I still just wanted people to dance.”

Follow Randy on Instagram to learn all about every new song he releases this year first.

Image used with permission from Randy Thrill$

Posted on 07/03/202622/02/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Sara Storer, Shane Howard, and Shane Nicholson Team Up For May Tour

If you respect incredible songwriting as much as I do, you’ll appreciate the opportunity to see three of Australia’s finest songwriters – Sara Storer, Shane Howard, and Shane Nicholson – for some very special shows later this year. Dubbed the For the Sake of the Song tour, these intimate events will celebrate the craft, power, and legacy of Australian songwriting.

The songs from these three artists will be front and centre, but they’ll also be joined by an all-star band who will help bring their music to life. Expect unforgettable nights of storytelling, musicianship, and authentic songs that speak to the heart of the Australian experience in some of the best and most intimate venues in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Victoria. Tickets are on sale now for these shows:

12 May 2026 – The Street Theatre, Ngambri/Canberra
13 May 2026 – The Concourse Lounge, Cammeraygal Country/Chatswood
14 May 2026 – Memo Music Hall, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda
15 May 2026 – Theatre Royal, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Castlemaine
16 May 2026 – Queenscliff Town Hall, Wadawurrung and Eastern Maar Country/Queenscliff
17 May 2026 – Archies Creek Hall, Bunurong Country/Archies Creek

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on 04/03/202618/02/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Flea Releases Jazzy Frank Ocean Cover

When an artist goes solo, I appreciate a left turn. Don’t give me more of the kind of music you make with your band. I want to hear something new, out of the box. And you don’t get much more out of the box than the music that Naarm/Melbourne-born creative Flea, best known for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, has recorded for his solo album. His forthcoming album Honora features Flea on trumpet and bass making fantastic jazz music. I’m totally digging his version of “Thinkin Bout You,” originally recorded by Frank Ocean.

“Channel Orange! When that record came out, it really blew me away,” Flea enthused. “I listened to it ten million times. It was something I just couldn’t stop listening to. I loved it so much and still do. Just one of those real watershed moment records for me. ‘Thinkin Bout You’ is one of the many great songs on that record, and I thought it would be fun to play on trumpet. Then I went to Nate Wolcott, who plays keyboards on Honora on several tunes. He did that string arrangement for me. He stepped up to the plate and really did something beautiful. I just wanted to get the honest beauty of the melody because it’s a great song.”

Flea will release Honora on March 27 before embarking on a solo tour in May.

7 May 2026 – Thalia Hall, Chicago
9 May 2026 – The Opera House, Toronto
10 May 2026 – Théâtre Beanfield, Montreal
12 May 2026 – Webster Hall, New York
13 May 2026 – Black Cat, Washington, DC
16 May 2026 – The Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles
21 May 2026 – Heimathafen, Berlin
22 May 2026 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
26 May 2026 – Koko, London
28 May 2026 – Alhambra, Paris
Photo credit: Gus Van Sant

Posted on 02/03/202613/02/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Chloe Gill Bares Her Soul With “Pushing Punishment”

Mulubinba/Newcastle-based country artist Chloe Gill has wowed me with her latest single “Pushing Punishment.” Her voice is so compelling, I could listen to her sing the phone book. But this empowering and deeply personal track is so much better than that.

“This song feels like me becoming me,” Chloe said. “Growing into my adult self, growing into my personality, being kind to myself and others, listening to my own heart and my own needs, accepting my neurodivergence and my personality and learning about how to pave my own life for how I want to live it and achieve my dreams. Learning to ‘fill my cup’ first or to ‘put my own oxygen mask on first.’ I can’t show up for anyone else until I’ve shown up for me first.”

“Pushing Punishment” comes from Chloe’s debut album I Have a Habit of Dreaming, which she’ll release on March 12. She’ll give us a little time to sit with her songs before touring the album from April. Tickets are on sale now from the links below.

17 April 2026 – Stag & Hunter, Mulubinba/Mayfield
21 May 2026 – The Wesley Anne, Naarm/Melbourne
22 May 2026 – The Taproom @ Shedshaker Brewing, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Castlemaine (FREE)
23 May 2026 – Peninsula Hot Springs, Bunurong Country/Mornington Peninsula (FREE with bathing)
24 May 2026 – Shiraz Republic, Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, and Yorta Yorta Country/Cornella
30 May 2026 – Knappstein, Ngadjuri Country/Clare Valley
31 May 2026 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Tarntanya/Adelaide
27 June 2026 – The Factory Fusebox, Bulanaming/Marrickville

Photo credit: Jade Steg & Jess Macc

Posted on 27/02/202622/02/2026 by Lauren Katulka

“what if it ends?” – Sidney

I’ve championed Sidney’s music for years, so I made sure to write a review of her brand new EP what if it ends? before I left for my overseas trip. New on all your favourite streaming platforms today, it’s a poignant exploration of love and loss with the title question at its core.

The single “sliding doors” opens the EP with its jubilant chorus and upbeat indie-pop feel. While it was inspired by the fictional romance movie, as you move from this track to the songs that follow, you realise Sidney’s drawing from her own experiences in this collection. They’re so real, so raw, that anyone who’s ever loved and lost hard will relate. “Long haul” is another fantastic single, but it hits a little bit harder with its lyrics exploring the reluctance to let an established relationship slip through the fingers.

We’re getting deeper, in preparation for “golden boy.” This beautiful, bittersweet ballad kills me. I rarely recount lyrics, but the lines “Can we just make out until it’s over? Can we just keep on holding our breath? ‘cause that way we’re both distracted and we won’t see how this ends” have my heart. We stay in the quiet a little longer with “the difference.” Its dreamy, melancholy feel reminds me so much of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” If your heart wasn’t already split open, the deep yearning of “anything” might get you there. Sidney’s vocals, which seem to move effortlessly from breathy falsetto to powerhouse full voice, have never sounded better. Sidney brings the energy back up with the EP’s title track. Feeling a little like a bookend for “sliding doors,” it really is the perfect closer with a feel-good vibe that softens the blow of those sucker-punch lyrics.

Emotionally honest, beautifully real, and always compelling, what if it ends? is out now.

Image used with permission from Nettwerk Music Group

Posted on 27/02/202609/03/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Ohms Drops Genre-Bending New Track, “Geworfenheit”

I’m coming at you today with something that’s a little out of the box, in the best possible way. Lachlan P. Rother is an artist in the true sense of the word, someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up. He fronted local new-wave act U-Bahn between 2018 and 2020 before moving on to play guitar in post-punk outfit GLASNOST and drums in another post-punk act, High Control Group. But he really pushes the genre boundaries with his solo project Ohms. His latest single under this moniker, “Geworfenheit” drops today, and it’s an absolute trip. Its odd time signatures take a little bit to get used to. Just when you think you’ve settled into the groove, it shifts again. My advice? Just strap yourself in and enjoy the ride!

Lachlan explained that “’Geworfenheit’ draws upon the existentialist philosophy of Heidegger, which deals with the notion that individuals are thrown into their circumstance through birth, unaware, and in no control of their fate – thus, forced to exorcise free will over our choices.”

Ohms is one of those acts that keeps you guessing and does not disappoint. Follow Ohms on Instagram to learn all about this always original music as soon as it’s released.

Image used with permission from Lachlan P. Rother

Posted on 24/02/202618/02/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Marlon Williams Announces Touring Break Ahead of Aussie Shows

After 20 years in the business, Marlon Williams is stepping away from the stage. But before he begins his extended break from touring, he’ll perform a run of Aussie shows with his band The Yarra Benders next month. All shows excluding Walyalup/Fremantle will feature accompaniment by kapa haka group Ngā Mātai Pūrua.

Marlon explained to fans, “I’m gonna take some time away for a bit. Probably not ages in the scheme of things, but it’s time to take some time! I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in that my vocational life has always cleaved very closely to my personal aspirations; I’ve always been able to “live my calling”, as it were. For nearly 20 years I’ve explored both the physical and musical world in the company of incredible musicians, songwriters and friends and it’s been an absolute pleasure. The catch with it is that because it’s such a blessing to do what you love, it can be easy to overlook the toll it can take over time, on body and soul.

“The concept of rāhui is central to te Ao Māori and is indeed familiar to most New Zealanders. As Te Aka, the online Māori dictionary defines it, “to put in place a temporary ritual prohibition, closed season, ban, reserve”. Rāhui can be placed by mana whenua on a specific location out of respect of a tragic death in the area rendering it tapu, and they are also put in place in the pure interests of conservation; the idea that resources can be overtapped, and periods of restriction and recovery are essential to the continued wellbeing of those resources. It was this meaning that helped crystallise my thinking about my own personal case; I want to continue doing what I love for as long as possible, and this is the way to do it.”

Speaking of Marlon’s Kiwi roots, if you haven’t listened to his 2025 album Te Whare Tīwekaweka, which he recorded entirely in te reo Maori, get onto it. Te reo Maori is one of the most beautiful languages on the planet, and the music on this album showcases it so beautifully.

Given Marlon’s decision to take a touring hiatus, these shows are likely to have some extra emotion behind them. Get your tickets now, because who knows when you’ll next get the opportunity to see this extraordinary talent live.

5 March 2026 – Taronga Zoo, Eora/Sydney (with Kee’ahn)
6 March 2026 – Royal Botanic Gardens, Naarm/Melbourne (with Emma Donovan and Kee’ahn)
7 March 2026 – Golden Plains Festival, Wadawurrung Country/Meredith (SOLD OUT)
9 March 2026 – Womadelaide, Tarntanya/Adelaide
20 March 2026 – Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre, Walyalup/Fremantle (SOLD OUT – with Anna Schneider)
22 March 2026 – QPAC Presents On The Banks Series, Meeanjin/Brisbane (with Sarah Blasko)

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity