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. ‘Kill Me With Your Love’ - Jaguar Jonze
Jaguar Jonze AKA Deena Lynch laments the downsides to love in her new track, ‘Kill Me With Your Love’.
The multi-talented Brisbane creative applies rock sensibilities with soaring vocals and dance rhythms to the song, but there lies a deeper meaning.
Deena says ‘Kill Me With Your Love’ is about a toxic relationship addiction, particularly the way we sometimes tell ourselves that a relationship will be perfect and everything we’ve ever dreamed of.
“It’s the process of trying to find a fix to the addiction but continuing to stay around for the emotional payoffs… You balance your odds and make bets you can’t afford to lose, but consistently lose anyway as the relationship continues to fall deeper into toxicity.
“For a long time, toxic love was where I felt most safe, because it was all I ever knew,” she adds.
But wait… there’s more! Jaguar Jonze has announced she’ll be supporting The Vanns, Ali Barter and Lime Cordiale before the close of 2019. Get amongst it!
2. ‘Sunny Day’ – Homestate
Pop-punk five-piece Homestate are back with another catchy banger, ‘Sunny Day’.
The band aim to give listeners a voice where they feel they might not have one.
The punk vibes heard within the single have been pulled straight from the early 2000’s and are inspired by long nights spent awake overthinking your every move.
Specifically, it’s about taking time to be the right person for the sake of someone else.
Lead singer Chad Fraser explains: "After a bad run of relationships, coming into something that’s finally good for you can be hard to adjust to.
“Life is hard, love is even harder, but without both, nothing would be worthwhile".
Since forming in 2017, the Perth group have drawn influence from the likes of The Wonder Years, State Champs and The Story So Far
While their 2018 album A World of Second Chances demonstrated the aspects of a quality punk band, ‘Sunny Day’ will take their status even further.
3. ‘Bruises’ – Split Feed
Punk rock quartet Split Feed urge listeners to deflect negativity in their new EP Second Skin.
In particular, ‘Bruises’ has a focus on being strong in times of weakness.
Frontman Joe Willis says their new music addresses overcoming hardships and building resilience to set your best foot forward.
“I’ve always seen myself as quite a weak person, and I’ve always found it difficult to speak my mind in times where I have needed to…it’s something I’ve been trying to get together for a long time,” he says.
Influences like PUP, The Story So Far and Tiny Moving Parts come through in Split Feed’s sound, particularly in their energetic live performances.
Split Feed have an ability to combine hard-hitting, infectious melodies with poignant lyricism, which is indisputably used in the new EP.
After selling out every show of their headline single tour in 2018, Split Feed have spent the majority of 2019 writing and releasing new music.
4. Villain’ – Bad Pony
Sydney’s Bad Pony are back, louder than ever.
Their new single ‘Villain’ is strong, vibrant, and the perfect way for the band to jump back into the live scene.
The fresh tuna is a snapshot of Bad Pony’s undeniable passion on stage, featuring punchy guitars and strong melodies. It was inspired by the struggles and darkness in Melbourne observed by songwriter Jarred Young.
Young says: “‘Villain’ is an existentialist walk down Grey St. in St.Kilda. It’s a street renowned for night walkers, homelessness and drugs. I used to go through there at 5:30am in the morning every day to get to work and encountered people with some pretty serious drug and mental health problems. The song is about those people who are too often wrongly villainised.”
Bad Pony’s adrenaline-fuelled, chaotic style of music has won fans over across the nation and they’re showing no signs of slowing down as we head into 2020. They’ve also announced new tour dates for January and February, and we could not be keener.
5. ‘Under My Skin’ – Liv Li
After spending some time in East Timor with Forces Entertainment performing for troops, Canberra’s Liv Li has returned with a new single, ‘Under My Skin’.
Liv Li has released a few solo tracks over the course of her career, but this dreamy pop gem exploring the emotions that shadow the breakdown of a relationship is one to remember.
The seasoned musician explains: "Under my Skin is a reminder of the fragility and excitement of a new relationship and how intoxicating it can be."
‘Under My Skin’ includes solitary piano melodies, powerful percussion, and a devastating vocal that will stop you in your tracks.
Liv Li’s debut EP Oh My Lullaby was met with extreme positivity, landing herself as a finalist in both the Australian Music OZ Independent Awards and a winner Best EP for the world wide independent music awards.
If you need uplifting, this is the song for you. If you don’t need uplifting, this is still the song for you. Listen now.