Russ Davies is a London based composer and producer who has released a multitude of music under various aliases including Abakus. In his work, he has composed and scored soundtracks for films and this experience has allowed him to imbue his music with both the ambience and the grandeur of cinema.
Read moreFarmer and The Owl
Far too often, the label of indie is used to denote a particular kind of music. A couple of guitars, some vocals, and perhaps a not overly synthesised keyboard are delivered in an approachable package and passed off as defining what it is to be indie. But, Farmer and the Owl festival in Wollongong showed that this is not what indie can be – far from it.
Read moreRelease of the Week 4/3: Jofi ‘Fly Baby Fly/Before The Morning’
For her debut body of work, Jofi, aka Josie Mann, a 21-year-old from Sydney, has employed her classical composition training. Combining her love for pop, indie and soul music, Jofi has released two debut singles that highlight her ability as a composer.
Read moreSecret Garden 2019
If the reputation of Secret Garden was anything to go by, the final edition of this weekend festival would be weird, wonderful and colourful. Secret Garden 2019 delivered that, and so much more.
Read moreRelease of the Week 27/2: WAAX ‘FU’
From Brisbane’s ever efflorescent rock scene, WAAX is modernising the ruthless aggression of punk rock. After hitting the airwaves with ‘Labrador’, the band are looking to make 2019 their biggest year so far.
Read moreBack & Forth With Luen
One of our favourite selectors Luen has been relentlessly building up the Australian electronic scene with her fierce dedication and energetic sets. Between multiple pursuits Luen answered a few of our questions and shared some of the tracks she’s had on high rotation lately.
Read moreMix of the Week 25/2: Duke Dumont @ Exchange - Los Angeles
At the beginning of February, Duke Dumont returned to Los Angeles and played an unforgettable set at the world renowned Exchange nightclub. Finally, the set is available for download via Soundcloud, giving listeners a small glimpse into one of the most rounded and consistent electronic artists of this generation.
Read moreDon’t kill live music rally - It’s a bigger problem than you think
Last night over 20,000 Sydneysiders turned up in the rain to protest new NSW live music regulations. Local artists such as Ocean Alley and The Rubens performed at the rally, and festival organisers Michael Chugg and Adelle Robinson delivered speeches demonstrating how the new scheme will have a ripple effect on everyone.
Read moreAn Intimate Evening with Brahms: biblical music unsuitable for the church
The work which made Brahms’ name, A German Requiem was initially designed to be played with four hands on one instrument; as a piano duet. Assembled by Brahms from Martin Luther’s German translation of the bible, A German Requiem focuses on the biblical passages which reflected Brahms’ personal views on death and spirituality.
Read moreMix of the Week 20/2: Dunni – 10 Songs and a Bottle of Red Ep.1
Australian Soundcloud DJ Dunni has just begun his new series, “10 Songs and a Bottle of Red”. The series takes a completely different approach to the standard mix formula that is heard on Soundcloud. Gone is the DJ sets or electronic compilation sets and in its place is a much more personal mix. Dunni’s new series is exactly what it sounds like, ten songs that are best accompanied by a bottle of red wine and some calm vibes.
Read moreRelease of the Week 18/2: Little May ‘Apples’
Australian indie-rock duo Little May have undergone a significant change since their 2015 album For The Company. With the departure of the then trio’s bassist Annie Hamilton, their sound has transformed from slow and powerfully emotive rock, influenced by The National, to a new sound of fizzy production, shimmery guitars and thumping drums.
Read morePhax Machine Are Bringing Their Diverse Electronic Music to Sydney’s Sound Systems
Photography by Idiux
The effect of having a city with restricted opportunities to play music live, and club-focused, electronic music in particular does not just result in the headline grabbing club closure announcements but the slow deterioration of creative opportunities for the sector as a whole.
Read moreClairo @ Oxford Art Factory, 6/2
Image courtesy of Tim da-Rin
In a gloriously sweaty Oxford Art Factory last Wednesday night, YouTube-born eclectic pop sensation Clairo floated onto the stage with her air of unwaveringly cool energy and rebellious self-confidence.
Read moreMix of the Week 13/2: Simon Murphy @ Rainbow Serpent Festival 2019
Simon Murphy has carved out a place for himself within Melbourne’s electronic scene and earnt back to back spots in the Rainbow Serpent Festival in both 2018 and 2019. This year he played right after his long-time collaborator and good friend J-Slyde, slowing things down as he took control of the Chill Stage
Read moreRelease of the Week 11/2 - Empire of the Sun ‘Chrysalis’
Sydneysiders Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore are two mainstays of Australian music, through Steel’s work in alternative rock band The Sleepy Jackson and Littlemore’s contribution to EDM group Pnau. As Empire of the Sun, however, together they have gone down as one of the city’s most successful electronic duos. In celebration of 10 years since their debut album Walking on a Dream reshaped the Australian music scene, they have released ‘Chrysalis’
Read moreLaneway 2019
Spilling down the rolling lawns of Callan Park, out the front of the Sydney College of the Arts, Laneawy festival brought its diverse line-up of international and local acts to Sydney last Sunday, February 3. Taking place in that interim period where any temperature under twenty degrees seems like a distant memory, and with a hot February stretching on ahead, Laneway is emblematic of the summer festival experience.
Read moreSet Mo: Freedom Through Independence
Sydney duo of Nick Drabble and Stu Turner, better known as Set Mo, have kick started their 2019 with the release of their debut album, Surrender. After more than five years together, they have reached the point where they can release an independent body of work.
Read moreGeorge Ezra @ Hordern Pavilion 31/1
British-born artist George Ezra has secured an impressive spot in the music scene, with his dulcet deep bass tones and humble lyrical persona scoring him No. 1 positions in international charts. The every-man’s musician, Ezra has appealed to wide audiences of fans who adore the artist’s ability to evoke feeling through soft and untainted lyrics.
Read moreMix of The Week 6/2: Clemency
Launched in mid 2018 as a club night for womxn, non binary and lgbtqia+ artists in London, New Scenery has tapped Manchester DJ Clemency to explore dark club sounds for a heavy thirty eight minutes.
Read moreGolden Robot Records: How Rock and Roll Should Make You Feel
As a token of his thanks, in 2014, Mark Alexander-Erber gave each member of the band Moon a small golden robot. Having been unable to find wider support for his ten-year-old son Jagger’s remarkable talent as a drummer, Alexander-Erber brought together two friends to give his son the experience of recording in a studio, and together they put together an album. Today,
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