Good Friday: The feature series that shines a light on our favourite new releases from around Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Make sure you check out all the artists that featured this week up the top of our weekly playlist, which also includes some other jams we've been getting down to during the week.
1. ‘Together’ - Waxflower
Brisbane’s spiciest pop-punk luminaries Waxflower are back with their latest track, ‘Together’.
The deeply personal third music instalment explores mental health and the controlling grip of one’s inner monologue.
Waxflower frontman Tristan says ‘Together’ is an important snapshot of a difficult period in my life.
“I needed that internal acknowledgment of what was happening to me… It's a kind of rally call to getting better by putting things into perspective,” he explains.
The hard-hitting band have spent most of 2019 touring with the likes of Sly Withers, Between You & Me, and The Dead Love, as well as local and interstate supports with The Maine and Stand Atlantic. They’re ending 2019 with a bang, announcing they’ll be supporting iconic US giants Simple Plan.
Produced and engineered by Stevie Knight (Stand Atlantic, Yours Truly, Between You & Me), mixed by James Paul Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, New Found Glory, Underoath), and mastered by Alan Douches (My Chemical Romance, A Day To Remember, State Champs), the painstakingly candid effort is one to remember.
Waxflower have brought a genuine perspective on alternative rock within ‘Together’, give it a listen today.
2. ‘Tied You Up’ - MAYAH
MAYAH has dropped her second release 'Tied You Up', and it’s a special one.
Opening with a gloomy beat, the musician’s hypnotising vocals build the track to a head-banging chorus which can only be described as strikingly powerful.
The Cairns-born artist says the new track is about tying loose ends, be it relationships, friendships or situations.
“It comes from a place of self-assuredness and personal growth,” she says.
Through growing up with Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson, TLC, Moby and Massive Attack, it’s no surprise MAYAH fuses R&B, hip hop and electronic sounds.
After taking a quick detour from music to study medicine, MAYAH has re-emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Her catchy debut single ‘Pray’ received an extremely positive response, and there’s no reason why it won’t be the same for ‘Tied You Up’. Bring on more songs and shows!
3. ‘Insubordinate’ - alt.
Adelaide-based rock outfit alt. have unleashed their banging debut track ‘Insubordinate’.
Formerly known as After Change, the revamped band explore a completely different sound in the tune which is part of their forthcoming seven-track EP.
Vocalist Daniel Richards takes aim at the government in the track, voicing his stance on their inability to action a positive change towards a better future. He says the song tries to put encouragement out there to those who actually do care.
"For years our government has made decisions that negatively impact our country and planet and it's all based on their own greed, power and self-entitlement.
“Keep fighting it, keep standing up for what we believe in and protect our future,” Richards says.
alt. members Daniel Richards, Daniel Wells-Smith, Simon Aistrope, and Declan Fry know exactly how to create an addictive listen. The huge, flaunting riffs are bound to be stuck in your head before you know it.
After playing huge shows alongside Mayday Parade, Circa Survive, Hands Like Houses, We The Kings and The Getaway Plan, alt. plan on building their reputation in 2020 to leave their mark on Australia's alternative music community.
4. ‘21 Orbits’ - Taka Perry
The 20-year-old music producer and multi-instrumentalist Taka Perry has released a diverse new tune, ’21 Orbits’.
The track started as a simple idea in the studio which evolved into an all-rounded musical banger. It captures what it is to be young and how it feels to be developing your own identity… without caring about others.
“I’d taken the idea as far as I could but felt it needed some strong vocals to take it where it needed to go,” says Perry.
After previously working with Yaw., Perry knew exactly who’d be the right fit. Though, he still felt the track needed more.
“I decided to link up with yergurl to write a hook together as I was a big fan of everything she had been putting out so far.”
Ghanaian born Yaw. brings coherent flare and style to ’21 Orbits’, while Victorian teen queen and Unearthed High finalist yergurl gives the track a raw, dreamy spin. Taka Perry’s past collaborations with Ruel, Mallrat, Woodes, and KLP have clearly had a big impact on the artist, as his new style sounds more refined than ever.
Taka Perry, Yaw. and yergurl perfectly encapsulate all that is fresh and exciting in Australia’s music scene right now, and we cannot wait for what’s next.
5. ‘Manipulator’ - Lune
Australia's newest heavy phenoms Lune are back with second hit of pure musical brutality.
The refreshing combination of soaring melodies and exceptionally heavy grooves give a raw, urgent feel right from the start.
The high-intensity band is comprised of members from Melbourne’s I, Valiance and Newcastle’s Blind Oracle.
Manipulator is about recovering from experiencing domestic violence and escaping a damaging environment in order to heal.
“This escape comes with the realisation that family are sometimes the ones that hurt you the most and must be left behind in order to protect yourself… Manipulator is dedicated to anyone who has ever experienced or is recovering from any form of domestic violence," the band explain.
While they only have one song to date under their belt, their impact has been explosive.
Tickets are selling fast for their single launch on Saturday December 21st at Melbourne's Stay Gold, so get streaming folks!
