Community radio music presenters and music directors often have an encyclopaedic knowledge of local music and an insatiable thirst to keep their ears ahead of the curve. So in this Tone Deaf series, the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) invites music directors to highlight new Aussie tunes that you might have missed.
In this edition, Music Director of Sydney’s 2SER, Steph Liong, contributes with a selection of tracks currently making their way to community radio through Amrap’s music distribution service ‘AirIt’.
Check out Steph’s selections below and if you’re a musician you can apply here to have your music distributed for free to community radio on Amrap’s AirIt.
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One Sydney band that I’ve enjoyed witnessing the growth of is four-piece Sunscreen. On their second EP Falling In An Elevator, there’s a newfound harmony and connectedness within the group and their songwriting.
‘Own Two Feet’ boasts a captivatingly haunted quality, and is an assured opening track to the rest of the EP that’s post-punk inflected, but still generous with a swooning chime throughout.
Check out ‘Own Two Feet’ by Sunscreen:
The balladry of June Jones could be heard across her time fronting self-described Melbourne emotion-punk band Two Steps On The Water, but on her debut solo album DIANA, we see this elevated to anthemic heights.
‘Meryl’ is a tune that stood out for me. There’s a mirage-like waltz throughout, with earnest vocals and motoric drum machines sitting comfortably next to roomy synths, and sinewy bass lines.
All these elements make for the type of track you dance-cry to, or mic drop on after giving a hearty karaoke rendition. In any scenario, there should be a slow rotating mirror ball on hand.
Check out ‘Meryl’ by June Jones:
Ainsley Farrell – ‘Dark Spell’
The opening bars of Ainsley Farrell’s ‘Dark Spell’ are modest on paper, lilting vocals that float atop a gently strummed electric guitar, though it doesn’t take long to feel deeply moved and utterly overcome by the song.
The Sydney-based, American-born singer-songwriter goes right for the (emotional) jugular here, evoking universal themes of heartbreak and loss, yet speaking directly and intimately to those listening. And it’s hard not to listen; with Farrell’s powerful vocals delivered in such a raw and beautiful manner.
Check out ‘Dark Spell’ by Ainsley Farrell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXDtb5eSQGc
Benny Walker – ‘All Ya Gotta Do Is Call’
Yorta Yorta singer-songwriter Benny Walker returns with the first taste of his upcoming third album with ‘All Ya Gotta Do Is Call’.
It’s another groove driven number that mines the rich sounds of blues and soul, and is nicely embellished with vintage tones and Walker’s stirringly gritty yet smooth vocal work.
Check out ‘All Ya Gotta Do Is Call’ by Benny Walker:
It was exciting to see Brisbane’s Thigh Master back with not only a new single, but an upcoming album in Now For Example.
Returning to their fine, fuzzed-out form on first single ‘Mould Lines’, the band brings a rollicking energy and gusto to their ragged and jangly guitar riffs.
Check out ‘Mould Lines’ by Thigh Master:
Coming off the second album from the Sydney collective led by producer and multi- instrumentalist Godriguez, is the hypnotic and twisted ‘Enumerating’.
This is invigorating, new-school jazz that’s built on hard hitting beats and a swagger you can’t learn. The power of this tune lies in its cosmic flourishes, and playful improv elements that keeps things lively.
Check out ‘Enumerating’ by Godtet:
