Naarm/Melbourne rock act Psychic Social Club have released a handful of singles since 2019, but “We Don’t Talk” might just be the one to put them on the map. It’s an epic track with an anthemic chorus, nostalgic fuzzy guitars, and relatable lyrics exploring the rise and fall of relationships.
“’We Don’t Talk’ is a reflection on past relationships that faded when I moved interstate as a 17-year-old,” explained the band’s frontman, Jared Roscioli. “It seems like a lifetime ago, but I still reminisce on those lost connections and consider how things might be different in an alternative life if I stayed where I was or just tried harder to hold on to them.”
Psychic Social Club will officially launch “We Don’t Talk” for hometown fans at Cherry Bar on July 7.
Josh Setterfield may be one of the most consistent artists in the country scene right now. He has an uncanny knack for releasing banger after banger, and his nostalgic new track “Life Ain’t So Bad” is no exception.
“This song has been a turning point for a lot of things in music for me so far,” Josh said. “Sure, it’s about going through the dark and finding the light, and writing this song has led to some of my proudest moments with other tracks.”
Not content with conquering the Australian country scene, Josh is set for world domination. He’s just played his first shows in the United Kingdom and in September he heads to Canada for the Live Laugh Love Festival in Barrie, Ontario. Before that, he’ll play the Gympie Muster on August 26.
If you caught Peach PRC’s recent shows, you probably already know how fabulous Heleina Zara is. For everyone else, let me get you up to speed. This Aussie-Filipina artist is pure pop perfection. Her new single “Alphabet Soup” is so catchy, I can’t stop listening.
“I wrote ‘Alphabet Soup’ during a time when I felt out of place and when I was at a loss truly believing that my generation was incapable of actual emotional intimacy and nurturing relationships,” she admitted. “It’s brutally honest – which makes it a bit jarring to think about now but it’s also the reason I love it so much. It marks a point in my life where I was confused and rolling with the punches with an unapologetic mindset.”
She might seem like an overnight sensation, but Heleina has been writing music since she was 14 years old. That commitment to her craft and her knack for creating crowd-pleasing pop should see her go far.
Image used with permission from Island Records; credit: Allegra Messina
Becoming a mother can be a wonderful time for many women, but it’s not always butterflies and rainbows. Anna O reveals her truth in her powerful new single “Set It On Fire.”
“It’s no surprise that lyrically it was still about this season of life that I was in the thick of … post-natal depression, stay at home mum, no understanding or diagnosis yet for me or my boys. Still unmedicated because I was too scared,” she admitted. “One morning at some inhumane hour I lay awake staring into the dark after feeding my baby boy back to sleep. I was agitated and frustrated, but then this sense came over me that I was about to write a song, which is how songwriting tends to work for me.”
I can’t stop listening to this one. The lyrics are incredible, but I’m also really digging those layered vocals and unique electro soundscape Anna O’s created. Coming hot on the heels of “We’ve Got Time,” Anna O is delivering some of the best music of her career.
Boorloo/Perth alt-pop act Joan & The Giants have just dropped their fabulous new single “Cool Kid,” and I know you’ll want to listen. The fabulous nostalgic ‘90s sound grabbed me from the get-go, but it’s the powerful lyrics exploring frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s feelings about coming out that have really stayed with me.
“Coming out as bisexual was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done as I grew up with a lot of shame surrounding my sexuality. I was raised in a loving home, but my parents also had intense Christian beliefs, and I was taught that being gay or queer is a sin and could lead to serious consequences. Thankfully I met some queer friends who encouraged me to open up to who I am and be proud of my sexuality,” she explained.
“I think my entire life I have always been a bit of an outsider and gravitated towards people that feel the same. I grew up on an organic and bio-dynamic farm, my parents are Christian hippies and weren’t very accepted in the town I grew up in. My life was unconventional and other kids just didn’t really understand me. I was rejected, left out and bullied and definitely never a ‘Cool Kid’.”
Joan & The Giants are touring all over the country next month to support the release of “Cool Kid.” Check them out at a venue near you:
5 July 2023 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle (FREE)
6 July 2023 – Royal Hotel, Gadigal Country/Bondi (FREE)
7 July 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
8 July 2023 – Bucketty’s Brewery, Garigal Country/Brookvale (FREE)
9 July 2023 – Yulli’s Brews, Gadigal Country/Alexandria (FREE)
12th July 2023 – The Retreat, Bulleke-bek/Brunswick (FREE)
14th July 2023 – The Espy Basement, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda
15th July 2023 – Gods Bandroom, Boon Wurrung Country/Mornington
16th July 2023 – Post Office Hotel, Arrarrkbi Country/Coburg (FREE)
21 July 2023 – Froth Brewery, Noongar Country/Bunbury
22 July 2023 – Hally’s Bar, Undalup/Busselton (FREE)
23 July 2023 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Quedjinup/Dunsborough (FREE)
5 August 2023 – The Bird, Boorloo/Perth
Salt Tree’s latest single “Coming Home to You” sounds like summer, but I don’t mind that one bit. If you’re longing for days by the beach in the sunshine, I think you’ll appreciate this heart-warming slice of indie-folk music too.
“We both grew up close to the ocean and around nature, which has always been a huge part of our lives,” Salt Tree members Tom Boerema and Nathan Parsons said of the song’s inspiration. “As a kid, Nath would take any chance he got to surf, even if it meant skipping school. Tom spent a lot of time sailing, with his whole family living on a boat for months at a time.”
After touring all over New Zealand and Australia, Salt Tree should be in fine form when they play Clancy’s Fish Pub in Whadjuk/Fremantle on June 24.
Image used with permission from beehive; credit: @holiiandash
Add a little funk to your Friday with “Albert St,” the latest single from Yorta Yorta Wagaratta-based artist MOZË. With a groove that just won’t quit, it shows off a fun new side of MOZË’s soulful voice. The song recalls an epic party in the suburbs of Naarm/Melbourne.
“In 2022, my friends hosted the iconic ‘Albert St. Affair’ house party in Brunswick. They asked some friends to perform, and even built a stage. Hours before the event, I felt inspired to create a song called ‘Albert St.’,” MOZË said. “Its lyrics capture the essence of that unforgettable night, celebrating friendship and a montage of moments. The great thing about that time in Melbourne was how positive it was, people were so grateful to be out of lockdown, and we weren’t bitter about the years lost. At the end of the song is a very special live sample from the actual party, it was the first time Albert St. had been played and you can even hear everyone singing along.”
MOZË recreated that night, with the help of Sam Higham, for the single’s music video.
“Drawing inspiration from Betty Boop and the early aesthetic of Kimbra, the concept behind the video was to encapsulate a vibrant display of friendship, quirkiness, and celebration,” explained MOZË, who directed and edited the video. “In addition to capturing the essence of north-side Melbourne, the support and involvement of my friends were invaluable in bringing forth another version of an Albert St. Affair.”
With good vibes a-plenty, “Albert St” should give you the lift you need to make it to the weekend. Add it to your party soundtrack stat!
Originally a solo project for frontwoman Jamila Grace, GRXCE has evolved into one of the most exciting up-and-coming rock acts on the scene. Now a four-piece, they’ve just dropped their new single “Wasted On You.” This track builds to an epic crescendo, so it’s perfect for releasing any frustration you’re feeling this Friday.
“‘Wasted on You’ is about unconsciously waiting for someone to come back for you and how isolating that feeling is,” Jamila explained. “I was seeing someone who kept swearing the timing wasn’t right and I told myself that I wouldn’t wait for him and I would move on, but then I was kinda paralysed. Without even trying I was turning down advances from other people, isolating myself, staying in his peripheral in case he changed his mind. It put me in this weird stalemate where I didn’t really know who I was if I didn’t want him.”
GRXCE will support Eagle Eye Jones on the Central Coast tonight before heading to Queensland and back to New South Wales. Catch them wherever you can.
16 June 2023 – Wamberal Ocean View, Darkinjung Country/Wamberal (supporting Eagle Eye Jones)
6 July 2023 – Tom Cat, Meeanjin/Brisbane
7 July 2023 – Burleigh Town Hotel, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
16 July 2023 – North Wollongong Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE – supporting Squid the Kid)
Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Sammy Lee
Another day, another pop-punk banger. Am I sorry? Not even a little bit. Because “have u got a light?,” the latest single from Eora/Sydney act BESTIES featuring Somber Hills is just that good.
“For me, it’s easier to make light of a situation. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to take myself too seriously, for better or for worse — but I think music, and in particular this song, is a fun way to say that although I might not always fit in, I just gotta keep being me,” explained BESTIES frontman Max Pasalic.
The follow-up to BESTIES’ debut EP flare guns in the living room, “have u got a light?” shows this duo is going from strength to strength. More like this please!
Image used with permission from Capital Artist Group
After capturing hearts with singles released through triple J’s Unearthed High, Mulumbinba/Newcastle artist Grace Aberhart continues her rise with the release of “Letterbox.” This song reminds me so much of the angry girl rock I listened to in the ‘90s, with its vulnerable lyrics and grungy instrumentation. Music this good never goes out of style.
“‘Letterbox’ is a decision and a realisation that letting go and moving on is what you need and knowing that you’ll be fine,” Grace explained. “It’s about going through the motions of heartbreak and how those feelings will fluctuate from day to day, wrestling with yourself to be stronger than you feel.”
I grew up in Mulumbinba/Newcastle, so the music video shot in Grace’s hometown is also giving me nostalgic vibes. I can’t wait to hear more from Grace when she releases her debut EP later this year.
Image used with permission from Fright Night Music; credit: Nikola Jokanovic
