Every week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ dives into our favourite Australian music released over the past seven days.
Take a look back at our coverage of Hachiku, Dom Dolla, Lime Cordiale, and KUČKA, and explore fresh tracks from Blusher, Maggie Tra, Bella Mackenzie, Alter Boy, Bud Rokesky, Will Baker, June Jones, LÂLKA, GRAACE, 1tbsp, and In Hearts Wake, below.
Blusher – “24 Hours in Paris”
Blusher’s “24 Hours in Paris” reveals a softer side to their dancefloor prowess. The wistful new track revisits bittersweet memories for the Melbourne-based pop trio.
“We started writing it after a D&M about the times that we’d done the ‘run away from your sadness’ overseas trip – where you find yourself in a beautiful place, expecting it’ll heal you instantly, but really, you just end up eating a croissant in a gutter and overthinking,” they share.
Maggie Tra – “She’s a Street Fighter”
Sydney DJ Maggie Tra highlights her Vietnamese roots on “She’s a Street Fighter”. By blending field recordings from Vietnam with stomping beats and snappy synths, it’s an infectious dance-floor track that speaks to themes of strength, hope, and migration.
Bella Mackenzie – “COWBOY”
The Aussie country artist has begun a new chapter with her empowering new song, “COWBOY”. “‘COWBOY’ was written to make the listener feel strong, proud and empowered,” Mackenzie explains. “I knew I wanted to write a song that would not only pump up a festival crowd but also pump up that person sitting in their car listening.”
Alter Boy – “Don’t Hurt Me (I Used to Be a Baby)”
Perth’s Alter Boy introduce dark pop with heavy electronic beats and industrial sounds on their debut single from an upcoming album.
“The song seeks nothing but to sit for a moment in profound despair with the recognition of what it means to be alive in the present era,” explains lead vocalist Molly Priest. “It deals with themes of fear and helplessness, shame and guilt, and I imagine the outro is being played by a string quartet on a sinking ship.”
Bud Rokesky – “Oil Onto the Fire”
Bud Rokesky is on a roll this year, dropping new tracks like clockwork every month. June sees him doubling down with the A-side “Oil Onto the Fire” and the B-side “Mary Valley”.
“At the heart of ‘Oil on the Fire’ is the story of young love and what the world can do to it over time. It takes a lot of work not to end the way many once beautiful love stories have,” Rokesky says of the A-side.
Will Baker – “Eddie”
The Sydney up-and-comer’s second single for 2024 hits close to home as it’s about a friend going down the wrong path. “’Eddie’ is about watching people you grow up with turn into people that they said they would never be,” Baker says.
June Jones – Proximity
Romance, love, heartbreak, desire, sex, and relationships — nothing’s off the table on the Sydney singer-songwriter’s new EP, wrapped in a dark and glamorous sound. Mixing fact and fiction in the lyrics, Proximity pays tribute to favourite pop songs and artists. “Three decades after the release of Haddaway’s debut single, I am still occupied with this question: What is love? Baby don’t hurt me,” June ponders.
LÂLKA – “Romance & Rebellion feat. Hatsune Miku”
Known for her use of digital avatars and XR technology, electronic musician LÂLKA marks the one-year anniversary of her mixtape Romance + Rebellion with a new remix of the title track featuring viral voice synthesiser Hatsune Miku.
“I am thrilled to have embarked on this cohesive and immersive journey alongside Hatsune Miku to develop a special edition of the title song of my anniversary album and hopefully craft an auditory experience like no other,” LÂLKA explains.
GRAACE – “Her”
Sydney alt-pop artist GRAACE is back with “Her”, a relatable take on post-breakup jealousy.
1tbsp – “The City Never Felt so Good”
1tbsp, aka Australian producer Maxwell Byrne, has shared another taste of his upcoming second album with the light, bouncy, and distinctly nostalgic dance track, “The City Never Felt so Good”.
In Hearts Wake – “Orphan (lᴉʌǝp ǝɥʇ)”
In Hearts Wake have dropped another taste of Incarnation with the furious and fearful track, “Orphan (lᴉʌǝp ǝɥʇ)”. It’s a clear sign of the breakneck speed and shadowy themes to come in their upcoming sixth studio album.
