Every week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ rounds up our favourite releases in Australian music from the past seven days.
Catch up on previous coverage on The Kid LAROI, Ocean Alley, Emmanuel Kelly, Hamish Anderson, and check out fresh highlights from Gut Health, Young Franco, Safety first, Tetsuians, and more below.
Gut Health – Stiletto
Melbourne’s dance-punk outfit Gut Health return in fine form on their new album, Stiletto, boasting standout tracks like the sprawling, nearly eight-minute title epic, “Cool Moderator,” and “Separate States.” With a core theme rooted in the “healing qualities of consensual rage,” they lean into catharsis with every beat. Don’t miss them on their east coast album tour this October (tickets here).
Young Franco – “Stunt Like This”
Young Franco teams up with Grammy-nominated Kah-Lo for “Stunt Like This,” a funky, dance-ready track packed with sharp beats and smooth vocals. This summer banger is built for both the club and confident street strides.
Safety First – “Mushrooms”
“Just like a mushroom in the forest…the one that’s not very poisonous…don’t want to make a mistake and die,” goes the jangly chorus of Safety First’s bittersweet new single “Mushrooms.” While they joke about edible fungi, the upbeat guitar tune digs deeper, exploring themes of homecoming, friendships, and the changes that come with leaving the past behind.
DZ Deathrays – “First Night Fever”
DZ Deathrays have dropped another massive single, “First Night Fever,” and the theme couldn’t be more fitting. It’s all about “peaking too early” on a big night out, which comes just ahead of their UK/EU leg of the Black Rat LP 10th anniversary tour, where the Australian rock outfit will be firing on all cylinders.
“It’s that special kind of feeling you get when you really wanna just lean into the weekend with your friends as soon as you catch up,” explains drummer Simon Ridley. “A song for those who come in red hot on the first night.”
Tetsuians – “Pull the Trigger & Hold”
Melbourne’s Tetsuians keep their eyes straight ahead with their driving new single, “Pull the Trigger & Hold.” The band has much to anticipate, set to release their fourth album early next year alongside a US tour, featuring a fresh lineup that includes former collaborator Saskia Clapton of Great Emu War Casualties.
They elaborate: “‘Pull the Trigger & Hold’ is about the daily commute in the Western Ring Road. Ready for ignition. We start up the machine, listen to terrible FM radio, and (like every other driver), try to arrive in one piece.”
Have a Good Day – “Floating”
Perth pop duo Have a Good Day is on the rise, fresh off supporting Ladyhawke and ready to embark on their first national tour. Their new single “Floating,” featuring Drea’s euphoric vocals, showcases why they’ve been named one of Live Nation’s 2024 Ones to Watch.
