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.
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.
The days might be getting colder, but it’s always a good time for a little surf rock from Sunset Avenue. Their sophomore single “Do You Feel The Same?” is a fitting follow-up to 2023’s “Change It Up”, a feel-good, high-energy number that brings all the positive vibes with its lyrics about falling in love and enjoying a few bevvies.
“We wrote this song as we thought it’ll relate to many people of all ages and genders as we do or have all once felt love in our lives, right?” explained the band’s lead guitarist Conor Phelan. “Sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes you’re unsure hoping the person feels the same about you as you do them.”
Sunset Avenue will play a big headlining show at the Caringbah Hotel in Dharawal Country/Caringbah on April 5. If you’re not down that way, don’t sweat it. I hear they’re looking forward to playing plenty of shows in the near future. Give them a follow on Instagram to learn all about those dates as soon as they drop.
Teen wunderkind Kaiyah Mercedes is back with a gorgeous new single “If We Never Speak Again.” Now 17, Kaiyah shows she’s going from strength to strength since releasing her first album last year.
“‘If We Never Speak Again’ was written as a voicemail to express all my unsaid feelings about another person,” she explained. “I wrote the lyrics about my experiences but couldn’t think of anything for the bridge except a voicemail. This evolved into the chaotic soundscape you hear in the track’s bridge today and symbolises that feeling of helplessness and not knowing if that person will respond or even hear the message at all.”
Kaiyah says that the queer community has “Been a huge part of my self-discovery and as an LGBTQIA+ artist, my songwriting is a pure expression of the growth and confidence in myself to be who I truly am. Although I write sad songs, my aim is to connect with others through my deep and emotional lyrics, with an intent to support others through life’s struggles. I often write about grief, mental health, heartbreak and longing, all very relatable experiences.”
You can see Kaiyah making music at Bonbeach Farmers Market at Bonbeach Primary School, Bunurong Country/Bonbeach, on April 14.
Shotgun Mistress may well be the last of a dying breed, a bunch of (mostly) long-haired rockers with big chords, big sing-along choruses, and big attitude. Their latest single “Shot Down” is a total throwback, but I for one thing this kind of music needs resurrecting.
Shotgun Mistress are red hot right now. They just played Glam Fest alongside absolute rock legends like Slaughter and Vixen frontwoman Janet Gardner and even appeared on The Project. Up next they’ll support Dirty Honey, Audio Reign, and The Poor, headline Wrestlerock, and release their album Kings of the Revolution on June 2. They’ll also head to Japan for a 10-date tour. Don’t worry local fans, they’ll be back before you know it to headline gigs all around the country. Until then, here are all the shows they’ve got locked in:
