Welcome back to Rolling Stone AU/NZ‘s weekly roundup of the freshest sounds from Australian music.
Catch up on previous coverage featuring ONEFOUR, grentperez, Babe Rainbow, Spacey Jane, and Delivery.
Here’s what else you might’ve missed:
Mess Esque – “Take Me To Your Infinite Garden”
Australian duo Mess Esque – Helen Franzmann (McKisko) and Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Tren Brothers) – return with rattling, off-kilter energy with the intriguing “Take Me To Your Infinite Garden”, paving the way for their upcoming third album, Jay Marie, Comfort Me.
Mia Wray – “Not Enough”
A stunning track from Melbourne’s Mia Wray, “Not Enough” blends introspective pop with an assured, soaring feel, even as it grapples with coming to terms with herself.
Harvey Sutherland – “Nobody Like U”
Smooth and groovy, Harvey Sutherland’s “Nobody Like U” is a laidback tech-house track that’s perfect for setting the mood in 2025.
Jessica Fortuin – “The Devil”
Sydney-based Maori pop artist Jessica Fortuin shares a personal track about the lasting impact of sexual assault. “Not many people took into consideration how, after a trauma, you have to continue with a life that doesn’t feel right anymore,” she shares.
Hands Like Houses – “Fatally Fractured”
Canberra’s Hands Like Houses drop a drum-heavy tune with “Fatally Fractured”, hyping up their tour with The Butterfly Effect and shedding the weight of toxic relationships.
Ziggy Alberts – “I’m With You”
Ziggy Alberts kicks off 2025 with a feel-good track, “I’m With You”, celebrating life’s important moments ahead of his upcoming album.
Dead Mall – “GASOLINE”
Newcastle’s Dead Mall roar back with “GASOLINE”, a fiery return packed with raw, powerful energy.
Hassall – “Dinner Table”
Naarm’s Hassall makes her debut with “Dinner Table”, an upbeat indie-rock gem about confronting fears, and the first taste of her debut album, Means More To Me Than It Does To You.
Windwaker – “Arcane”
Melbourne’s metalcore outfit Windwaker share “Arcane”, a track that tackles uncertainly and change. Vocalist Liam Guinane explains: “Written early on in my journey joining as Windwaker’s vocalist, the song explores the push and pull of self-doubt and determination, resulting in an anthemic track embracing the weight of new beginnings and forging a path forward.”
ISHAN – “Characters I Drew”
ISHAN opens up about his struggle with isolation in “Characters I Drew”. “The teleportation in the video is an allegory for any real struggle involving mental health, isolation being a perfect example,” he says. “It’s only when we stop ignoring that which troubles us and begin to address it with compassion and patience that we can begin to grow… eventually leaving those troubles behind.”
Seb Szabo – “June”
Seb Szabo’s already got Valentine’s Day covered with “June.” He explains: “It’s about how a certain time of year will always remind me of loving someone, the simple joys we shared during our first meeting – like Bailey’s in coffee on a picnic rug – and the ways I felt like I let them, and us, down.”
The Terrys – “Stay Free”
The Terrys are back with big news: a self-titled album is on the way. The South Coast rockers have dropped the record’s second single, “Stay Free”—a blissful, feel-good track about soaking up the good times.
Winston Surfshirt – “Ice Cream”
Winston Surfshirt keeps the summer vibes rolling with “Ice Cream”, a funky, feel-good track that captures the laid-back mood of the season.
Paulina & Tom Thum – “Focus On Me”
Brisbane’s Paulina teams up with beatboxer Tom Thum for “Focus On Me”, a track that blends soulful vocals with “spontaneous magic in the studio,” says Paulina.
