Slowly Slowly frontman Ben Stewart has lent his vocals to “Kept Me Alive,” the latest track from Philadelphia-based alt-rock act Grayscale. This song is such a banger. Crank up the volume and enjoy it!
“We are all huge fans of Grayscale at Slowly HQ,” Ben said. “When they hit me up with the concept of a feature, I was immediately drawn to ‘Kept Me Alive’. It’s a timeless sentiment that has plenty of parallels to our new record. Everything came together really easy and the song rips.”
Slowly Slowly and Grayscale recently tore up stages around the country, but hopefully it won’t be too long before we welcome them back Down Under.
While many of us are dealing with chocolate hangovers, I figured it was the perfect time to introduce you to Teenage Joan’s tasty new single “Sweet and Slow.” If you love angsty female-fronted acts, this ultra-catchy pop-punk gem will be right up your alley.
“The video concept stemmed from the “Slow dancing on your rigged game show/this live audience won’t leave me alone” lyric,” explained Cahli and Tahlia. “We had this idea to do an almost SNL gone wrong type video, where we are guests on a talk show, ruining every segment with our mischief. We really wanted to lean into the 60s/70s/80s TV show aesthetic, especially reflected through the set designs and our costumes which we usually create and source with our manager, who is also super crafty.”
Kiwi-born and Australia-based, country singer Kaylee Bell won’t even let the arrival of a new baby slow her down. She recently teamed up with Australia’s own Tom Seaforth and New York hitmakers Zach Zadek and Michael Heyeka to write her latest single, “Ring On It.” This playful country-pop anthem is one for all those people waiting around for their partner to get down on one knee.
“I wanted this song to feel like a total moment—big energy, big hooks, and just pure fun,” she enthused. “Tom and I had a blast writing it, and it’s that perfect mix of playful and powerful.”
Kaylee has some massive international gigs coming up. She’ll play Country Jam USA in Wisconsin this July before heading to the United Kingdom in August for the Country Calling Festival.
Tom Petty is one of my all-time favourite artists, so when I heard Kingswood had covered his 1994 hit “You Wreck Me,” I knew I had to get my ears around it. While I often appreciate people reinventing songs, I kind of love that Kingswood have stayed so true to the original. They’ve brought their own voice to it, but they also seem to understand that this one of those classics that doesn’t need to be messed with.
“It’s love, chaos, and obsession colliding at full speed,” the band said about this song. “The feeling of being completely wrecked by someone, it’s something we’ve all lived through. Surrendering to a force greater than you’re able to control. The reckless pursuit of something you can’t quite hold onto. When we play it, we’re tapping into that raw, untamed emotion—like going into a boxing ring.”
Kingswood always seem to be on the road, so it’s probably not surprising that this new release also comes with a tour announcement. And it’s a doozy. They’re playing in so many places that there’s bound to be a Midnight Mavericks show near you.
Following the viral success of their last collab “Focus on Me,”Paulina and Tom Thum have released a brand-new song today called “Jaded.” While their last track was pretty chill, this one ramps up the energy. It’s exactly what you need to get moving midweek!
Paulina says “Jaded” is “about finding your strength and exposing the truth in the most fun, unapologetic way possible.”
“We wanted to create something that felt like a throwback to a sweaty Miami nightclub in the 80s but with a twist,” Tom added. “It’s nostalgic yet forward-thinking, organic but polished.”
It sounds like a classic dancefloor banger, so you may miss that its creation was a bit left of center. The pair sampled random objects, including beer cans and lighters, to create the sounds they were looking for. Too cool!
Belle Haven are back with their first new music for 2025. “it’s not that deep” is an angsty emo anthem that explores the frustrations associated with being misrepresented and pressured to conform to the expectations of those around you.
“You don’t have to carry the weight of someone else’s version of you,” explained Belle Haven frontman David De La Hoz. “People will paint you however they need to fit their story, but sometimes that’s all it is. It’s not that deep.”
Belle Haven are having a little downtime after touring the country with As December Falls in February. Hopefully we see them back on stages doing what they do best really soon.
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.
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.
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.
