I’m currently blissing out to “Tunnel Road,” the latest single from Eora/Sydney artist ANT ENOCH. Featuring Moreton, this dreamy piece of romantic pop is perfect for your long weekend.
“To be completely honest, probably the most terrifying part of my whole life was when this song was being written. This feeling of being in love but also terrified because you’re so open, so vulnerable,” ANT admitted.
“The danger of when you are so connected to someone is that you feel their feelings and it no longer feels like it’s just you,” Moreton added. “Love’s a risky business and it’s not always comfortable to be in big highs and really big lows.”
“Tunnel Road” is the latest single lifted from ANT’s upcoming debut EP Big Talk Big Party, which drops on May 17.
Jersey-born, Eora/Sydney based indie pop act Phoebe Over has blown me away with her latest single “Impact.” With a simple melody and lyrics that cut to the heart, Phoebe explores a relationship that could have been, if only the object of her affection’s heart wasn’t elsewhere.
“My song aims to forge a personal and emotional connection, finding resonance in the somber yet resonant melodies that mirror the unique pathways we navigate,” Phoebe explained.
Jersey’s loss is our gain Australia. Phoebe Over is the real deal.
Eskimo Joe haven’t released a single since 2021, but listening to their latest track “The First Time,” it’s like they never left. This song feels so familiar yet fresh. It’s got me all nostalgic about their music, but also excited about everything that’s still to come.
“We really look up to bands like the Rolling Stones and U2 – those guys who keep touring and creating music over and over again,” explained the band’s bass player and vocalist Kav Temperley. “It makes us proud of our musical journey and the people who have taken our songs into their lives. Eskimo Joe is still the three core members. It just wouldn’t be the Eskies without the three of us in a studio or on stage making music together – our friendship is as much a part of the band as the music itself. After an amazing 2023 of playing some huge festivals, there’s this indescribable energy when a massive crowd is singing your songs back at you. We wanted to capture that energy and infuse it into our recording. So, in the first week of January this year, over five days we wrote and recorded ‘The First Time’ at my studio in Fremantle.”
“We wanted to write something that set out to encapsulate the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, that looks back through rose coloured glasses conveniently forgetting the heartache and sleepless nights that came with a certain place and time in our lives. It’s easy in the loneliest moments to look back and take comfort in those memories secretly holding onto that feeling like an addict. The song is also a realisation that holding onto the past might also be holding you back from the present. The subject is nostalgic but so is the sound of this song, it sounds like it could have sat perfectly on the Black Fingernails album.”
“You put so much energy into each song, you build it up, tear it down, build it back up again until it matches the band’s vision. I love the energy in this song and the sentiment, and I’m stoked that we get to release it out into the world,” added lead guitarist Stu MacLeod.
Drummer and guitarist Joel Quartermain is equally enthusiastic, noting, “Once it’s out in the world, a song truly exists. Hopefully people connect with it.”
Eskimo Joe will play Lookout Festival, alongside choice international acts Live and Incubus, before headlining an acoustic theatre tour. Expect to hear all your old favourites and choice new cuts like “The First Time” at the following shows.
Boorloo/Perth emo artist RinRin has really impressed me with her latest single “Miss Miserable.” An ode to her younger self, the track effortlessly combines pop-punk and metal influences.
We do not have enough artists like RinRin on the local scene. Her music is so fierce and powerful. She’s playing in such a male-dominated space, but if this song’s any indication it doesn’t phase her one bit.
RinRin has toured with the likes of Caskets, Windwaker, The Plot In You, and our own RedHook, as well as headlining her own shows earlier this year. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see her ripping up stages again.
After releasing seven albums and bagging a stack of awards in his native Canada, indie-folk artist Donovan Woods is finally making his way to Australia. He’ll play seven shows in intimate venues around the country in the middle of the year.
The tour announcement encouraged me to take a deep dive into Donovan’s music. I’ve had “Truck Full of Money” on my Spotify list of favourites for some time, but for some reason I hadn’t really explored his music before now. On one hand, I am so glad that I did. It’s incredible. And it just keeps getting better; his new track “Rosemary” is exquisite. On the other, now I’m sweating on my husband finding a new job before tickets sell out!
Donovan has partnered with Support Act and pledges to donate a dollar from every ticket sold to supporting music industry professionals in this country with crisis relief, mental health, and wellbeing assistance. He’s also got another album on the way in July, so expect to hear new tracks and plenty of your old favourites at these long-awaited shows:
Alt-rockers Peace Ritual have really impressed me with their latest single “Seconds.” It builds on the sound they showcases on their 2022 self-titled debut and takes their music to new heights. I’m a fan.
“’Seconds’ evolved into a love song about timing and dealing with the unknown, and reminds us to slow down and breathe through the noise,” they explained. “We teamed up with James [Goodson, aka producer Dazy] to add a fresh twist to the song. We recorded it remotely, bringing in the idea of ‘time zones’ from the lyrics right into the making of the song. Self-recording played a crucial role, giving us the freedom to take our time and experiment with instrumentation, textures and sound design–and push through our own boundaries. We are also really excited to be cooking away on a larger body of work with James behind the scenes.”
I’m really excited to hear what else has come from Peace Ritual’s work with Dazy. Until then, I’m going to put “Seconds” on regular rotation.
France-born and Naarm/Melbourne based, 20-year-old ISHAN may just be your next acoustic-pop obsession. Footage of him playing his new track “My Mouth (la la la)” while busking went viral earlier online earlier this year. Now the song has an official release, you can expect to hear a lot more about him. It’s got a cool acoustic vibe that reminds me a lot of Vance Joy or Noah Kahan.
ISHAN wrote the song during a period of self-reflection, noting “I was meeting lots of new people but my self-confidence was low and I found myself trying to fit a social stereotype by portraying an image that was different to the real me.”
ISHAN just wrapped up a seven-date tour with Jack Botts and signed a co-management deal with Jaddan Commerford (Vance Joy, Tash Sultana) and Nick Lynagh (Gang Of Youths, Middle Kids, Brad Cox), so we can expect to see a lot more from him in the future. After going down the Spotify rabbit hole and hearing more of his music, I think that’s a very good thing.
Eora/Sydney-based R&B-pop act Christian Adjeisa has just released a brand new earworm, “RUNNING.” This song is such a bop. While it’ll get you up and dancing, its lyrics also pack a powerful emotional punch.
“‘RUNNING’ is my journey of grappling with heartbreak and search for truth, trying to outrun the haunting memories and painful truths of a failed relationship,” Christian said.
I also love the film clip, directed by Frederick McHenry, which sees Christian working up a sweat in the outback of New South Wales alongside Indigenous locals in Ngemba Country/Brewarrina. The rugged setting is a powerful representation of the emotional barrenness and isolation felt after a break-up. It’s all great stuff which makes me pretty excited to hear more.
Summer might be behind us, but you can certainly imagine the season’s still here listening to the tunes from Eora/Sydney four-piece Jet City Sports Club. On Thursday they’ll drop their sophomore EP Every Single Dream, featuring the current single “Sunny Morning.” Ahead of the EP release, Jet City Sports Club shared their perfect summer playlist with us here at Sounds of Oz. How many of these songs do you have on repeat?
“Skin” – Spacey Jane
This is a song we listened to heaps during the 21/22 summer when we were a bit earlier on in the band’s career. It feels really free and reflects the fun vibes of summer, paired with some really hitting lyrics – it’s the perfect blend.
“I’m Not Sure” – The Grogans
A band we’ve been lucky to play a handful of shows with across NSW, some of the nicest people you’ll meet. This one’s mad for summer as it’s two minutes of in your face rock, which is always welcome on a summer road trip, Grogs just do that sound so well.
“Midnight Sun” – RVG
Can’t overstate how much we love this album as a whole, and this song is just so powerful. We are lucky enough to be playing the Gum Ball festival in April, which RVG are on too. Come on down everyone!
“Kiss Me Aphrodite” – Oscar the Wild
This song makes you nostalgic for a summer romance you may never have even had. A beautifully heartfelt track with some great tempo and rhythm changes throughout that keeps you constantly engaged and wanting more.
“Dose” – STUMPS
While lyrically one of the sadder songs on this list, it just has this bright upbeat feeling with some beautiful instrumentation that makes you want to dance and sing along when that chorus hits.
“Your Side, Forever” – Middle Kids
This song is so perfect for driving in the summertime. The anthemic bridge is transporting. Taking you away from everything stressful.
“Foam” – Royel Otis
Royel Otis’ entire new album is perfect for getting lost in during the warmer months and Foam is the earworm that’ll get you right into it.
“Cassandra” – Cool Sounds
Get yourself a picnic blanket, and listen to this absolute summery loveliness while cloud watching. Nostalgic guitars and washed out dreamy vocals, make for a perfect, summery dream that we return to frequently.
Jet City Sports Club will bring back all the summer vibes when they release their Every Single Dream EP on March 28. Make sure you take a listen and check them out at one of their upcoming shows:
Massive congratulations to Dylan Wright, the nation’s newest Australian Idol. I must admit, I got pretty excited when I saw Dylan walk into the first night of auditions. It might have been the country’s first introduction to Dylan’s music, but long-time readers will be no stranger to Dylan’s talent.
I took the photo above way back in 2018, when he supported Nathan Cavaleri at the Rhythm Hut in Darkinjung Country/Gosford. I was so impressed that I bought his EP, The Long Way Home. Then in 2020, I covered his single “Passing Through” here on Sounds of Oz. It’s been so exciting to see Australia discover what we already knew at Sounds of Oz, that Dylan is the real deal. It’s so thrilling to know the nation has chosen an Idol with a wealth of original material who can really use this platform and launch a successful career.
I’ve also been really excited to see Idol return to it’s former glory this year. The talent has been stellar. I would have been thrilled for most of the top 12 to take the crown. But I’ve also appreciated the format tweaks that have allowed us to see more of the artists than in previous years. Even those eliminated early sang for us more than those who won in previous years, because we heard them through the audition process, group numbers, and eliminations. I’ve always said for artists to have successful careers after any of these reality contests, we need to see them enough times to understand who they are and fall in love with them.
I remember when Idol returned and people said the nation didn’t need another singing contest. Honestly though, I do think we need a singing contest like this, especially when there are so few opportunities for artists to show what they can do on live TV. That goes for both the new talents and more established artists. Unless you’re reading a blog like mine, you probably wouldn’t know Jess Mauboy and Delta Goodrem had new releases. When it’s done right, Australian Idol is good for the country’s music industry. I’m so glad to see it back to its best, and with such a worthy winner. Way to go Dylan!
