Created in partnership with Mentos
Classically trained but anything but conventional, Melbourne-based artist LÂLKA is carving out her own space in Australia’s electronic music scene.
Blending glitchy production, hard-hitting club beats, euphoric synths and experimental pop, the Chinese-Malaysian artist has built a reputation for pushing sonic boundaries. Since releasing her debut EP The Way Music Looks in 2021, she’s continued to evolve her sound across a string of releases, including Euphoria, Romance + Rebellion, and 2024’s Willfire.
Her genre-defying approach has earned praise from tastemakers around the world, while her unpredictable live performances have seen her share stages with the likes of Charli XCX, Ninajirachi, Genesis Owusu, and What So Not.
Now, with her latest EP, Super Niche, LÂLKA is doubling down on experimentation, delivering a collection of tracks that refuse to play by the rules.
The Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26, curated by Rolling Stone AU/NZ, has officially been unveiled — and now we’re turning the spotlight to even more artists making serious noise. As part of our Up-And-Coming Australian Artists series, we caught up with LÂLKA to talk musical influences, pushing boundaries, and what’s next.
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Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Where are you from?
I live in Melbourne now, but my heritage is Chinese-Malaysian.
Describe your ‘Fresh Sound’ in three words.
Visceral. Textural. Emotional.
Name three of your biggest musical influences.
Porter Robinson for melodic writing and crafting emotional architecture in music. His music truly changed my life. A.G. Cook blew my mind when I first stumbled upon their production. The weirder, the better. Danny L Harle always impresses me with clever musical ideas. We both grew up in the classical world, so I feel like I understand a lot of his musical humour and the way he employs classical techniques into his dance music.
Tell us about your latest release.
Super Niche is my EP of dance music beyond the algo-rhythm. I was getting bored of the environment built for instant hooks and quick skips. So, I made electronic music that unfolds, accumulates, and rewards attention. It has five tracks that refuse to be contained by the shorthand “experimental electronic” – there’s delightful turns of trap, hardstyle, dubstep, and more. On this EP I lean into the full palette of electronic sound to stretch human emotion as far as it can go.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
I think Danny L Harle and me would totally nerd out together.
What’s your dream venue to play?
I don’t think the venue matters as much as the crowd. I have played iconic venues around Australia but I find the best shows have always been the ones where the crowd is just ready to lose their shit to amazing music, and I have played some of the sweatiest, most fun house parties.
What one thing do you think the Australian music industry needs right now and why?
To be more daring and take a chance on artists like me, who are making music that doesn’t sit in the “safe” zone. I’m seeing the industry reach for nostalgia (e.g. the indie sleaze and 2010s electrohouse resurgence) because the past has already been validated. Personally, I’m more intrigued and excited by music that pushes sonic envelopes.
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What’s coming up for you in 2026 and beyond?
Following my EP release, I’m going on a national tour through to November. I’ll be playing a mix of live sets and DJ sets. My live sets always blow people away because I play multiple instruments and sing live. My DJ sets are hella fun because I like to switch things up and drop delightful surprises the audience never sees coming.
A Rolling Stone AU/NZ-backed music launchpad, the inaugural Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26 was created to support the next generation of talent. Head to the Mentos Fresh Sounds Hub to learn more about our official Class of ’26.
