Community radio 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, Caitlin Nienaber, Australian Music Prize judge and Breakfast host for Perth’s RTRFM, contributes with a selection of tracks currently making their way to community radio through Amrap’s music distribution service ‘AirIt’.
Check out Caitlin’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.
This week’s 8 best Australian artists
Feels – ‘They Need Us (feat. Stella Donnelly)’
Elise and Rosie’s percussion and production comes together so perfectly with Stella’s voice – what a team! With lyrics drawing on comments made to them by men in the music industry, this track is a little victory over all the dinosaurs who haven’t yet arrived in 2018.
Rabbit Island – Deep In The Big
A poetic, dreamlike, layered stream of consciousness from Albany-raised, Fremantle-based artist Amber Fresh. I love the intimate domesticity of this song – it feels like a day spent pottering around the house daydreaming and drinking cups of tea.
Perth boy Ben is a total genius who apparently made a blues album when he was 13 (like, a good one) and is continually innovating and experimenting with his sound. This song rules, and I recommend digging up his last couple of albums online for countless golden nuggets.
OBSESSED with this song right now. Melbourne artist Kaiit uses her voice with precision and doesn’t waste a word in telling her stories with humour and a seemingly effortless style that’s all her own. I LOVE her.
Branching out from Perth band Last Lions, Ella has captured so much angst and emotion in her debut solo single about coming out to her mum. It’s a simple song with powerful authenticity that makes you hang on every note and believe every word Ella belts out.
Grievous Bodily Calm – ‘Footwork’
Sounds like when you’ve done the laundry, your fave outfit is clean and you’re strolling down the street with the sun on your face and the world at your feet. A bunch of brilliant Perth musicians with excellent chemistry really hitting their stride.
Ashley Ramsey expels the lyrics in this ode to womanhood like she’s waking up from a suburban nightmare. Cold Meat are putting out some of the rawest, realest most fun and fierce punk rock in Australia right now and this track is one of my faves.
A bittersweet but upbeat anthem for cutting the bullshit and getting on with living your best life. Another perfect package of jangly guitars, sunny harmonies and heartwarming feels from this Melbourne crew. Listen to this when in need of motivation!
