Every week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ keeps you in the loop with the freshest sounds from Australia.
Catch up on what you might’ve missed last week, including coverage of Dope Lemon and Haters.
Here’s what’s you may have missed:
Geoffrey O’Connor, “Let’s Make Love Feel Good Again”
Geoffrey O’Connor just wants to keep it fun forever on “Let’s Make Love Feel Good Again”, his latest track from the upcoming album. Set to a rhythm “perfect for tipsy 57-year-old divorcees to dance to,” the song is a playful stroll through romance.
sleepazoid, “RATS”
After debut shows in Sydney and Melbourne, Naarm-based post-punk newcomers sleepazoid are back with their second single “RATS” from their upcoming debut EP. They describe it as “an ode to the age-old muse: the self-subscribed rat race.”
Mashd N Kutcher, “Don’t Hold Back”
Mashd N Kutcher’s “Don’t Hold Back” is bringing the heat. With soul and French house influences, this one’s bound to have you bumping and grooving, even if you’re just at your desk. No holding back, indeed.
Thornhill, “nerv”
Brace yourself because Thornhill is back, and they’re bringing the noise with “nerv.” This track rips right into matters of the heart, exploring a toxic relationship with heavy distortion and raw emotion. As the band puts it, “It’s about the struggle between longing and the need for self-preservation, highlighting how intimacy can be both alluring and risky. This tension shows the complexity of love, illustrating how beauty and peril intertwine in an emotionally intense dance.”
Ziggy Alberts, “Singing For Country”
Ziggy Alberts has been on a roll lately, and “Singing For Country” is his most heartfelt tune yet. The piano ballad is a love letter to Australia, celebrating the land and its people. It’s a track that will resonate with anyone who loves the natural beauty of their own homeland.
Haiku Hands, Pleasure Beast (Deluxe)
Haiku Hands’ Pleasure Beast was one of last year’s highlights, and now they’re dropping a deluxe edition with five new tracks. Get ready for headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane this December—if you’ve seen them live before, you know these gigs will be a blast.
Redhook, Mutation
RedHook’s second album Mutation lives up to its name. This heavy alt-rock powerhouse has cranked everything up a notch, blending alt-pop, metal, punk, and everything in between. “With this record, we wanted to crystallise all the most unique parts of RedHook’s DNA and then put that on steroids,” the band says.
Ocean Grove, ODDWORLD
Picking up where The Rhapsody Tapes left off, ODDWORLD sees Ocean Grove redefine their self-made genre of nu-metal with elements of arena rock and hardcore. Expect pure ferocity, delivered with all the intensity you’ve come to expect from these guys.
Local the Neighbour, EP VALLEY pt.2
Local the Neighbour drops his sophomore EP VALLEY pt.2, a raw, intimate collection straight from the heart of Naarm’s David Quested. With influences from Alex G to Paramore, this fuzzed-up DIY project is all Quested—written, recorded, and produced by him. It’s a charmingly personal listen.
Alice Ivy, Do What Makes You Happy
Alice Ivy’s Do What Makes You Happy has arrived, capturing some of the most challenging and rewarding moments of Annika Schmarsel’s creative journey. “I feel like I’ve come full circle on what genuinely excites me about making music,” says Ivy. “Everything feels so raw and warm, that’s how I like to sonically describe.”
Miami Horror, “LOST SEASONS”
Aussie-born, LA-based producer Benjamin Plant drops “LOST SEASONS” from his upcoming album WE ALWAYS HAD TOMORROW. The track channels nostalgia and hope, capturing childhood’s bittersweet moments and the promise of a brighter future. “We wanted to transport the listener back to that period of life,” says Plant, “filtered through a modern, electronic lens.”
Floodlights, “Cloud Away”
Melbourne’s Floodlights tease their upcoming third album with this sweet, optimistic tune. As lead vocalist Louis Parsons puts it, “Like a cloud, feelings come and go, life changes, and so do people. But even in the lowest times, we can still find a way to lift ourselves from the present.”
Siobhan Cotchin, “Ghost Of Us”
Ghosting, be damned. Siobhan Cotchin takes on modern dating with “Ghost Of Us”, a rock banger that’s a perfect follow-up to “Too Good To Be True.”
