Naarm/Melbourne soul songstress Nardia has just dropped a gorgeous new single “Is It You,” and it’s exactly what you need to listen to right now. Stop what you’re doing and press play, because this is absolute fire. Nardia’s vocals and the soaring instrumentation are just beautiful.
“’Is it You’ captures that moment of intrigue when you meet someone and feel an undeniable pull toward them,” Nardia explained. “The song explores the tension between attraction and curiosity, the desire to uncover someone’s true essence, and the mystery that makes love both exciting and uncertain, leaving you feeling uncomfortably excited.”
“Is It You” gives us a taste of the music we’ll hear when Nardia releases her album Own Every Scar. She’s actually travelling to Nashville today to finalise that release and get it to you this July. Based on this single alone, I can’t wait to hear it.
After delighting fans across the ditch with a summer tour, Kiwi band PARK RD are keeping the party going with some Australian shows. I must admit these guys weren’t on my radar, but after hitting them up on Spotify I’m an instant fan of their brand of indie rock.
You may have seen PARK RD supporting The Rions here last June, but this will be their first time headlining Aussie shows. They’re promising to treat music lovers to some new music and the tracks fans know and love from their debut album The Novel. Tickets are on sale now for PARK RD’s East Coast shows:
Do you ever hear songs that make you want to know more about their artist? “Keep My Fire Lit” from Kabi Kabi Country/Sunshine Coast artist Billy Howler is one of those songs for me. It’s the only song Billy has on Spotify, but surely it can’t be a debut single. His voice has too much story and soul in it for that. The press release gives me no clues. All I know is that this is really good.
Billy said “It is a blending of all the healing elements of music that have aided me on my journey: primal drums, soulful guitar, and storytelling. It encompasses everything musically that has supported me in my journey, bridging the gap between contemporary music and primal rhythm.”
The Stamps have delivered another taste of their upcoming debut album with the release of their gorgeous new single “Jamie’s Song.” It’s a gentle, intimate folk-pop song which perfectly showcases the trio’s sublime harmonies. I’m in heaven.
The Stamps wrote “Jamie’s Song” after watching fellow travellers fall in love during a trip to Vietnam, despite knowing the relationship was unlikely to last in the “real world.” One third of the trio, Scarlett Graham, said the song “helped me process the fact that it’s okay not to have everything quite figured out and assured me that sometimes you will lose a bit of yourself when you’re experiencing things completely foreign to you. It’s my ultimate ‘what on earth is going on right now? I have no clue, but I guess for tonight I’ll just enjoy it’ song.”
“Jamie’s Song” comes from The Stamps debut album In All the Ways I Am, which drops on August 8. Fans can see them play it live At Merri Creek Tavern in Naarm/Melbourne this month. They’ll be there tomorrow night, April 14, with Nick Keough, and again on April 28 with support from Mia June.
Fans are in for a serious treat as Alexander plays songs from this album and some old favourites at cozy venues in Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne. He’s also enlisted some choice support acts who will make sure this intimate run of shows is truly special. Tickets for all shows are on sale now.
Kasey Chambers calls Naarm/Melbourne-based six-piece Sweet Talk her “new favourite band” while Whitlams’ frontman Tim Freedman said “Sweet Talk was an absolute stand out at the two festivals in the last year where I caught them, Tamworth and Bluesfest.” While industry movers and shakers are just discovering them, we’ve been on the Sweet Talk train since they released “Warm Love” in 2023. If you’re yet to get on board, there’s no better time. Take a listen to their latest single “Stoned in Texas, Queensland” and I know you’ll be just as impressed as their long-term fans.
“Stoned in Texas, Queensland” is the second single lifted from Sweet Talk’s highly anticipated debut album Switch On, which drops on May 23. While you can stream it anywhere, fans will want in on the limited-edition, numbered orange and yellow vinyl editions available for preorder now.
Just before the album drops, Sweet Talk will kick off a tour supporting Americana superstars Red Clay Strays. They’ll also play Bluesfest and some headlining shows, so there are plenty of opportunities to catch them doing what they do best in the coming months.
A Swift Farewell have teamed up with Amariah Cook from Future Static for their epic new single “The Haunting.” This is a bit heavier than the music A Swift Farewell usually release, but it’s so good that I think most fans will be along for the ride. I know I’m cranking this one up today!
“Working with Amariah has been an incredible experience,” said A Swift Farewell’s frontman, Ryo Andi. “Every time I hear her voice, I’m in awe of her talent. She is such a gifted vocalist, and having her on this project has truly taken the song to the next level.”
Ryo also directed and edited the music video, which was shot at Valhalla by Viking Lounge.
“This shoot has been an absolute blast to direct and edit,” he said. “The idea revolves around switching between day and night, drawing inspiration from the horror genre. During the daytime, the room is ‘brighter’ to highlight life and energy, while at night, the furniture is draped with bedclothes to create a haunted, abandoned house atmosphere.”
A Swift Farewell will celebrate today’s release of “The Haunting” with a string of shows along the East Coast.
After more than four decades touring the world, Cyndi Lauper’s made the decision to step away from the stage. Thankfully not before bidding fans around the world a fond farewell. It’s been 14 years since I saw this icon live. I resisted a few double bills and had a few clashes, so I was thrilled that the stars aligned for me to see her one last time.
The Veronicas didn’t just warm up the stage; they made it red hot. They delivered a smart set made up of their many bangers and some choice covers. “Edge of Seventeen” was an electric opening number that played perfectly to the crowd of ‘80s music fans. “Love is a Battlefield” and an incredible cover of “Simply the Best” also made their way into the set. These songs sat easily amongst the Veronicas originals. I’m not sure I realised how many chart toppers they’d released, but I knew and loved everything they performed. Some of those songs are heavily produced on the record, so it’s easy to forget just how good their voices are. Whether singing independently or harmonising in the way only siblings can, they sounded sublime. They also had such energy; I couldn’t look away. Note to self: make a point to see more Veronicas shows.
This was a very different Cyndi show than the last one I attended; I feel so blessed that I got to see both. Last time she was promoting her Memphis Blues album, and with a crack team of blues musicians around her focusing on that album felt right. The biggest hits came out near the end, giving fans an opportunity to sing along before the end of the night. This time around the hits came out early after a rainbow explosion of confetti. Talk about starting the night with a bang! I sang along heartily with tracks like “She Bop,” “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough,” and her iconic cover of Prince’s “When You Were Mine.” I marvelled at the sight of this ‘80s icon with her bold outfits and colourful wigs bopping around the stage.
This show wasn’t just about the hits and Cyndi’s bubbly persona though. Without a new album to promote, Cyndi could use her time playing songs that moved her in the moment. I was thrilled to hear many of the softer, more personal songs that didn’t make the set list last time like “Sally’s Pigeons” and “Who Let in the Rain.” One of my very favourite moments was watching Cyndi standing in place, without a trademark wig in place, wearing all black, delivering the most incredible version of Frankie Laine’s “I’m Gonna Be Strong.”
This show wasn’t just about the songs either. Cyndi told us several times she didn’t just want to sing at us. She shared stories freely, about her working-class upbringing, her career, and her beliefs. I hung on her every word. She’s such an incredible storyteller and I loved getting to know her heart a little more.
For the encore, Cyndi moved to a smaller stage in the centre of the floor. Watching the fans circling her, gazing on adoringly as she performed the powerful “Shine,” I thought this is probably as close as I come to church. It was that powerful. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Cyndi delivered “True Colours.” I’ve heard this song so many times, but I’ve never been as moved as I was last night watching Cyndi deliver it as she waved a beautiful rainbow scarf. It was such a powerful symbol of allyship delivered at a time when the political war against the LGBTQIA+ community is raging. I don’t mind admitting that I was moved to tears. As I wiped them away, Cyndi lifted us up one more time with her girl power anthem, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” She told us she wanted us to sing loudly and joyfully, and we all did. I experienced pure, unfettered happiness. How special is that?
It must be a difficult decision for artists to step away from the stage. Cut it too short and you miss that connection with fans that Cyndi clearly enjoys. But overstay your welcome and you might tarnish your legacy. It’s very rare that you see an artist time it as beautifully as Cyndi. While she wasn’t quite as energetic as the last time I saw her, she still had plenty in the tank and she gave me everything that mattered. Her vocals were incredible. Her artistic vision was still so fresh. And she still had a few moves up her sleeve. Saying goodbye is so bittersweet, but if we had to do it, I’m so glad we did it this way.
Cyndi has just a few shows left on the Australian leg of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour. If you are on the fence, trust me, buy the tickets. You will not regret it.
The free gigs keep coming in Eora/Sydney thanks to the Metro Artists in Residence (A.i.R) program at the Metro Social. Here are some of the exciting shows Metro Social will host in the coming months:
April – 2SER Presents • 9 April 2025 – Dream State with Beryl, Sarah Levins, and Georgia Mulligan • 16 April 2025 – Mighty Reel 10th Birthday Party with Alexander Flood (live band), ‘Artificial Rhythm’ album launch and DJs Sharif Galal, Reenie, and Hober Mallow • 23 April 2025 – Heavy Demo with Tee Vee Repairman, G2G, and Station Model Violence.
April/May – Porcelain Alice’s Pet Palace (A neo-burlesque variety show) • 30 April 2025 • 7 May 2025 • 14 May 2025 • 21 May 2025
May/June – Vivid Sydney presents • 28 May 2025 – Sidney Phillips • 4 June 2025 – Solsa • 11 June 2025 – Divide and Dissolve
So head along to Metro Social every Wednesday night from 7 pm for your free music fix! Just make sure you register online so the team knows you’re coming.
I think most of us need a little pick-me-up on Mondays. Enter Abbey Lane with her beautiful new single “Baby Steps.” This gorgeous folky-pop number celebrates the small wins and small joys. I know it can be challenging to see them, but this song reminds us that they’re always there.
“It can be hard to motivate yourself to do things to better yourself, so this track is all about making small changes to feeling better and acknowledging that you’re making progress one small step at a time,” Abbey explained.
The only thing that might make you feel better than listening to this song is seeing Abbey live. Fans in New South Wales will get the opportunity when she plays the following shows in the coming weeks:
25 April 2025 – The Vicar, Dooral Dooral/Dural 4 May 2025 – Pepe’s on the Beach, Woolyungah/Wollongong
