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. ‘Rules on Envy’ – Ride for Rain
Sydney’s Ride for Rain have revealed their new light-hearted tune, ‘Rules On Envy’.
As part of their upcoming EP Never Magenta set to release in 2020, the tune does an excellent job in revealing the tone of future releases.
Sounds of early 2000’s rock can be heard within the song, particularly through the application of playful lyricism, boppy guitars, and consistent percussion.
The band effortlessly sway between hooky, melodic pop and a nostalgic sense of punk rock. It’s evident every member shares the same strong passion for music.
Ride for Rain unleashed their first (considerably explicit) full-length record Life's A Beach in 2017 and haven’t looked back, touring the east coast numerous times.
Excitingly, the lads have recently supported icons Strung Out and The Flatliners and toured their first international shows in Japan. The band say the single will be paired with a music video in the coming weeks.
2. ‘Moving Slowly’ - Maz Green
One of Melbourne’s top vintage-pop artists has released a stunning new sophomore single, ‘Moving Slowly’.
Maz Green’s sweet-sounding vocals cover a crucial topic: climate change.
Thanks to an overseas trip earlier in the year, the musician’s values were completely shifted.
"I used to care more about getting a good cup of coffee than caring for how much landfill I’ve contributed to over the years. Climate change, racism, sexism and equality are just some problems that I wanted to highlight as they are so real,” she explains.
Though, she doesn’t want the topic to dominate her music.
“I’m not saying the world is f****d and we’re all doomed for eternity, I just wanted to shine a light on some issues that we need to give a shit about."
In light of controversial 2019 events, the track’s accompanying video includes footage from Sydney's climate change and Caulfield Cup protest.
“It was incredible to meet so many inspiring and passionate people at the different rallies and protests," Green says.
The fresh musical offering produced by Jon Reichardt and mixed by Chris Collins will delight Lily Allen fans. Best of all, this is only just the beginning for the promising artist.
3. Better View – Hunter Hero
Introducing Hunter Hero, the new heavy band set to rock your world.
The four like-minded mates create music to help navigate life and they hope in turn, it does the same for listeners.
Their debut track ‘Better View’ can only be described as three minutes of ripping riffs intertwined with soaring hooky vocals.
The song was created by Zane Rosanoski and Pete Williamson of the band Mammal, Rob Farnham of the band Rival Fire, and Darryl 'Daz’ Coppins. The band are all about positive energy, hoping the new track lifts people up even when things seem like they are at their darkest place.
The group brings refreshing riffs and melodies to the forefront of their sound, with an eye firmly on what the future holds.
Hunter Hero are here to stay… give them a stream today.
4. ‘Half Alive’ - Lupa J
Lupa J AKA Imogen Jones has given us a delicious platter of pop and dance on ‘Half Alive’.
The wonderful combination of entrancing vocals and electronic synths do an exceptional job in tying the song together.
The popular artist says she wrote the song during a period where a relationship was deteriorating, hoping to avoid dealing with the unhealthy dynamic.
"We were spending less and less time together sober… it’s as dark as the title sounds," she says.
Lupa J has transformed into one of Australia's most unique left-field pop voices in 2019, selling out her album launch show at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory and touring alongside Grimes, Alice Glass, Banoffee, Sarah Blasko, Tegan and Sara. She’ll be performing at Gaytimes Festival in February.
5. ‘Cut’ - Meres
Indie-rock queen Mary Shannon AKA Meres is back with an unadulterated brand of glittering, fuzzed out punk.
The likable musician known for her impressive style of “sludge rock” features her signature bold, crunchy guitar riffs and punch-pop melodies in the new single ‘Cut’.
In a lyrical sense, ‘Cut’ tackles feeling helpless, particularly when it comes to fractured friendships.
“I wrote this song around the time a friend's father passed away. It was written from a strange place of guilt, grown from the expanding distance between us - I wasn't sure how to be their friend like I used to be, almost like I didn’t know them at all anymore.”
“It’s about wanting to feel that intense connection with someone again, trying to fight for it, but not knowing where to start,” explains Meres.
The self-proclaimed “giant weirdo from Tassie that loves making music” plans to release her debut EP in 2020, and we could not be more psyched.