Each week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ dives into our favourite Australian music released from the past seven days. Today, explore fresh tracks from Boy Soda, Ninajirachi, Make Them Suffer, CXLOE, Asha Jefferies, Kitschen Boy, RedHook, and Elsie Lange.
Boy Soda – “Merlot”
“Merlot” isn’t just a song — it’s a whole mood. With its smooth vibe and laid-back groove, Boy Soda channels the soulful feel of artists like Smino or JID, delivering a track as intoxicating as the wine it’s named after. As Boy Soda puts it, “It’s a soundtrack for wine and smoke, a song to curate decompression and relaxation.”
CXLOE – “Shapeshifter”
Dedicated to her fellow introverts, the alt pop star nails it with the empowering dark-pop anthem “Shapeshifter”. The final single from CXLOE‘s debut album, Shiny New Thing, releasing this Friday, follows her successful stint supporting Griff in Europe and the UK.
“’Shapeshifter’ embodies the essence of fluidity in identity and my refusal to be pinned down! I wanted to write something empowering that makes people feel untouchable when listening/dancing to it,” CXLOE explains.
Ninajirachi – “Hand on My Heart”
The latest dance track from the in-demand producer combines a powerful beat with ethereal tones and delicate keys.“Hand on My Heart” is the second single from Ninajirachi’s upcoming EP girl EDM, coming out on May 14th. Expect a mix of her glitchy style with the retro club sounds, exploring hard dance, electro house, and trance with a fresh twist.
Make Them Suffer – “Epitaph”
The Perth metalcore band are currently on a sold-out Australian tour with Sheffield rock icons Bring Me the Horizon. And now, they’ve unleashed this monstrous new single to amp up their setlist.
Kitschen Boy – “The Perfect Excuse”
An uptempo guitar banger from the Melbourne indie outfit about procrastination, accompanied by the good news of an upcoming Australia and New Zealand co-headline tour with fellow up-and-comers, There’s a Tuesday.
“This song comes from a place of self criticism, facetiously mocking myself for using depression and anxiety as an excuse to delay making an effort to change my circumstances and improve my life for the better,” says frontman Dylan Baddeley.
RedHook – “Breaking Up With”
The fiery three-piece delivers another blistering dose of party rock with “Breaking Up With”. Described as the antithesis of RedHook‘s popular single “Bad Decisions”, the song tackles letting go of self-hate and destructive thoughts.
Vocalist Emmy Mack explains, “Rather than revelling in being a total piece of shit, this one is about breaking that cycle of self-hate, forgiving your past mistakes, and just deciding to be bloody kinder to yourself.”
Elsie Lange – “Sally”
Inspired by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and his book How to Write One Song, Lange challenged herself to write one song per day, rediscovering her love for music. The result is “Sally”, a Sweeping folk pop song adorned with gentle acoustic strums and warm piano, marking a welcome return for the Melbourne singer-songwriter.
“This song is about someone you see needing love, who doesn’t know how to ask for it and is constantly let down. Sally is a few of my favourite characters, friends and foes rolled into one. I love her,” Lange says.
Asha Jefferies – “Ego Ride”
The debut album from this Brisbane artist delves into the aftermath of heartbreak, exploring the positive realisations that can emerge. And who doesn’t love a positive spin? With 10 tracks of lush indie pop, the tender title track stands out, capturing the album’s theme of progress.
