Good Friday: The feature series that shines a light on our favourite new releases from around Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. All good things must sadly come to an end, and 2019 has been a beauty when it comes to the emergence of new artists. However, we’ve saved some of the slickest new tunes for last, so be sure to check out these exciting acts releasing music this silly season!
1. ‘I’ll Believe It’ - Georgia Marley
We start with one of the smoothest tracks to come out of indie pop this year, from a blossoming Western Sydney Indie-pop artist named Georgia Marley.
With appearances at The Plot Festival and working with the likes of Antonia Gauci (Kesha), Marley has already been turning some heads before she started to release music this year.
Her debut single, ‘I Hope This Feeling Doesn’t Last’, which received acclaim from fans on triple j unearthed, however Georgia has struck gold with this gorgeous follow up. Looping guitars over one another, Georgia creates a smooth, silky atmosphere, and when the drums introduce themselves with backing vocals and subtle synths, the track becomes a sickly sweet affair, as Marley repeats the mantra ‘I’ll believe it when it see it.’
A must for any indie pop fan, here is someone you want to pay attention to.
2. ‘Surf’s Up on the Galactic Tide’ - Slugpünch
Pulled straight from the old-school mindset of The Hives and AC/DC, this rock metal group from Sydney’s inner west is a new discovery for any rock metal fan.
Their debut single, ‘Surf’s Up on the Galactic Tide’ sums everything up about this band: they rock hard, strong, and are utterly batshit insane. However, you cannot deny the awesomeness of what they’re reaching for.
Opening with a dirty riff and vocal samples, the band explodes into a roaring chorus with glorious harmonies and a hell of swagger. This is a stonking rock track that is completely out of its mind, in all the right ways. Karnivool fans, you’ll want to get on this!
2020 is the band’s self-proclaimed ‘Year of the Slug’, and they’ll go far if this track is the first indication.
3. ‘Slow Crawl’ - Doolie
A slick, indie electronic R&B artist from the Sunshine Coast, DOOLIE has been having a breakout 2019. Since teaming up with in-demand producer GXNXVS (Lastlings, Banoffee, OKBADLANDS), this collaboration has yielded several highly addictive singles.
However, this final effort of the year may just been DOOLIE’s best of her career so far. Collaborating with Cam Nacson, the track starks with simple kickdrums, but then DOOLIE hits a whole new level of slick on the chorus, with punchy synths and vocoder backing vocals making this track crackle with a nervous energy.
Slow Crawl’ is “a very empowering song,” expresses DOOLIE. “It’s about one person breaking free from a relationship while their partner slowly realises how they’ve hurt them.”
“I feel like a lot of us allow ourselves to be treated like trash to make another person more comfortable, so this is a song for all of us.”
It’s a more low-key track, but one that has a great sense of soundscape. Those who love the sounds of artists like Running Touch will enjoy this latest offering.
4. ‘Time Won’t Wait’ - In Eyes
A new punk rock prodigy from Queensland, three-piece In Eyes has been having a breakout couple of years with their fresh take on the punk formula.
They are finishing the decade in some style with this emotional cut. Within all the pulsing, angsty drums and guitars of the track, the message delivered tells a story of lead singer Rosie Jacobson’s experience with trying to fight for her passion while faced with mental illness.
This latest effort from In Eyes is a glorious display on punk rock goodness, and a perfect gift for indie-punk rock fans this holiday season.
With more music scheduled in 2020, expect big things from this outfit!
5. ‘Hungry for Love’ - Chasing Giants
Finally, genre-jumping indie artists Chasing Giants are back with their first single of 2019, bouncing back after multiple lineup changes and their fun debut EP, ‘Dangerous.’
The four-piece have long been turning heads for their many unique approaches to music and their collaborations with multiple vocalists and artists, however their latest alternative effort sees them at their most angsty and unsettled.
You feel the desire on ‘Hungry for Love’, with some gloriously performed vocals, filled with personality. A smooth, groovy alternative track, it really gets going in it’s chorus with cheesy, fun harmonies, finger snaps, and subtle electric guitar and synths.
Chasing Giants are pulling from the cheesiness of the Eighties, but what they deliver is so much fun! This is a track filled with personality, attitude, and you can tell the band had a great time making it. A song and band very much worth your time, especially if you love alternative rock.
Tickets are selling fast for their single launch this weekend at Sydney’s The Vanguard, so be sure to get on it!
