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Sydney-based band Beryl has taken Australia’s art-folk scene to new heights, and with 17 releases under their belt, they’ve firmly established themselves as some of Sydney’s most distinctive talents.
The duo brings earnest and raw lyricism to their chamber-folk arrangements, folding gentle guitar riffs and woodwind melodies over emotionally informed songwriting. Each song’s alluring storytelling draws you in, making it hardly a surprise that they’ve cultivated a cult following seeking catharsis with each new single.
The indie band has received notable recognition from Sydney’s music community. Their 2023 LP, Dry Peel Crack, was nominated for Album of the Year at the FBi Radio SMAC Awards, while their 2025 LP, Body Break, earned an Album of the Week feature from FBi Radio. They spent early 2026 touring this album across the country alongside sleepazoid, a fellow inductee of the Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ‘26, curated by Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
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To celebrate joining the eight-artist class, Beryl sat down with Rolling Stone AU/NZ to champion the art of consistency in songwriting and how Australia can foster a diverse music scene, focusing most intently on local talent.
Who are you and where are you from?
We’re Beryl, and we’re an indie band from Sydney.
Describe your ‘Fresh Sound’ in three words.
Our ‘Fresh Sound’ in three words is: cathartic, melancholic, and introspective.
Tell us about your latest release.
Our sophomore album Body Break is our latest release. It’s a collection of songs we recorded over three weeks here in Sydney with our good friend and producer Blain Cunneen alongside some of our favourite local musicians. The songs are a snapshot of the time in which they were recorded, and we tried to approach them with that in mind, with intimate performances and arrangements across all eleven songs.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
If we could collaborate with one artist, it would have to be Aldous Harding. Her songwriting is super interesting, and she has such unique and beautiful arrangements.
What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far on your musical journey?
Gabriela – The biggest lesson I’ve learnt so far has been consistency – always trying to write more, play more, and keep releasing new music.
Alex – The biggest lesson I’ve learnt so far has been letting go of any doubts and imperfections in the music and just putting things out there regardless – I definitely have a tendency to stew over things for a while and sit on them, so I’ve had to let go of this quite a bit so we can keep releasing and sharing our music as we improve along the way.
What’s your dream venue to play?
Our dream venue to play is the Utzon Room at the Opera House! It’s an iconic venue with an incredible view of the harbour, whilst still being quite an intimate space to perform in.
What’s coming up for you in 2026 and beyond?
Later in the year we’ll be releasing a single that will feature on a compilation release alongside Georgia Mulligan on brand new Sydney label Another Matchstick Recordings. We’ve also got our third album coming out in the new year, so stay tuned for more news about that!
What one thing do you think the Australian music industry needs right now and why?
One thing the music industry needs right now is support from the industry towards local, independent grassroots music. More people attending local shows, buying merch, and backing local artists so they can continue to grow.
What does it mean to you to be part of the Rolling Stone & Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26?
It means a lot to be a part of the Rolling Stone & Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26, as it’s great to be acknowledged by such a historic publication and included alongside so many incredible artists!
Why do you think it’s important to support emerging Australian artists?
It’s important to support emerging local artists because every artist was emerging at some point, and the more we can foster and support artists at the start of their careers, the more we’ll see a stronger and more musically varied music scene.
Follow their journey through the Fresh Sounds Class of ’26 and beyond here.
