Two best selling albums. The highest billed female DJ in Coachella history. The twenty-tens has been a decade of excitement, growth and success for multiple ARIA-nominated, platinum selling electronic dance producer Alison Wonderland. From touring with the Parklife Music Festival to working with some of the biggest names in EDM and pop, her meteoric rise to prominence has seen a surge in interest for Australian electronic outfits.
As the decade draws to a close, here are five indie-electronic artists who we think are destined for bigger and better things in the 2020s.
Polythought
A duo from Marrickville, Sydney, Polythought are all about atmosphere. Pulling inspiration from the likes of The 1975 and m83, the outfit have had a breakout 2019, with their first two tracks receiving play on the likes of triple j unearthed. These guys provide bass-heavy, nocturnal soundscapes filled with tones and creepy ambiance, but still give you a groovy beat you can shuffle your feet to. With only two singles dropped so far, get on the bandwagon for this band: they are going places.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘In C’, ‘Alone’
Click here for their Spotify playlist.
Groove City
A slice of delicious retro disco, Groove City build their EDM style on the glorious old school, synth heavy sounds of electro-disco, funk, and indie pop. A duo from the Sydney club scene now based in Melbourne, the outfit have taken this style with their retro look, and while it embraces the cheese of those eras, it’s hard to deny songs this catchy and fun, making you feel like you are at a night out in Studio 54 with your friends and Nile Rodgers is about to step out to perform his trademark strumming patterns. Get these guys in your ears!
Good Starting Tracks: ‘Let’s Not (Do This Again), ‘Heat of the Moment’, ‘Shape Up’, ‘Gold Chevrolet’
Click here for their Spotify playlist.
Billy Fox
Taking inspiration from the likes of James Blake and Childish Gambino, Sydney indie-electronic producer Billy Fox has performed alongside the likes of Glass Animals, Jakubi and THUMPERS. Bringing a soul-infused vocal style to his funk-laden EDM, Fox’s tracks ooze with a lustful, but longing atmosphere. With two EPs under his belt and a rotating style of remixes, this is an exciting, intimate music mind that will be turning more heads over the next few years.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘Echo’, ‘Let’s Be Honest’, ‘Be Like This for A While’, ‘East Coast’
Click here for his Spotify playlist.
Hot Coffee
These guys are pure fun. A four piece from the Gold Coast, Hot Coffee approach their music with a hip-hop, soul, dance, funk edge. There’s a real camaraderie to every track they put out. These guys all came from very different backgrounds but the blend they’ve come up with is something gorgeous; clearly showing a love for quality dance music, electronica and house, but also blending it tastefully with live instrumentation, similar to the likes of Jungle. An absolute recommendation, and with bigger things planned in 2020, expect to hear a lot more from these guys.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘Golden,’ ‘Magic’, ‘Elephant in the Room’
Click here for their Spotify playlist.
MARLOE.
Probably the most ‘traditional’ EDM artist on this list, don’t let that fool you when you listen to MARLOE. Coming out of the Brisbane music scene, her music is filled with luscious soundscapes, the likes of fans like Vera Blue, Maggie Rogers and Lorde would swoon over. Having teamed up with producers Evan Klar and Konstantin Kersting for her first batch of releases, MARLOE. is an absolute must for EDM music fans. Add in a killer EP that she dropped last year, and it’s clear she’s got an awesome future ahead of her.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘The Day I Knew I Needed You’, ‘Ruminate’, ‘The Future is Now’, ‘Remember Me’
Click here for her Spotify playlist.
