Adam Kelly is an artist manager for Melbourne favourites Jakubi, in addition to his work as a promoter, music industry consultant, and project manager at A Thousand Hills, a media project encompassing music, documentaries, and photography.
In his own words, “Every week I get a dozen new artists emailing me asking about my thoughts on their music and whether I’d consider managing them. I get dozens more from friends around the world working in the industry wanting to share something new they are excited about.”
“I have a general rule when listening to new music. The rule is that I will listen to two tracks, but if they don’t grab me in the first 30 seconds, I move on to the next one.” Naturally, Adam gets plenty of music that doesn’t make it past that point.
“But I get plenty again who I think make some incredible music and deserve the opportunity to have it heard by a wider audience.” Tone Deaf have decided to help Adam give those bands and artists that opportunity.
“Every month I’m going to list the five or six best new tracks I’ve heard and what it is I like about them. Hopefully you find something you like in there too.” So, without further ado, here’s the best of what’s come into Adam’s inbox this month.
Swim Season
Found these guys literally three days ago when going through a bunch of emails from people suggesting new music.
It definitely continues the tradition that has been established recently of Australian musicians creating some really cool and original pop music. The song writing is really well developed for a young band and the vocals (oh my gosh the vocals) are spectacularly beautiful.
The video clip is awesome too – fits the track perfectly. These guys are definitely doing a lot right and it’s not too hard to imagine them being another solid export the rest of the world salivates over.
The Shaolin Afronauts
I am so late to the party here it’s not even funny, this track, ‘Journey Through Time’, came out almost half a decade ago… The Shaolin Afronauts are a 10 piece hailing from Adelaide.
These guys are easily one of the best jam bands I’ve come across in a VERY long time. The brass is absolutely on point. Let’s be honest though; when isn’t a solid brass ensemble amazing?! Heck, I’d probably listen to 5SOS if they had a brass section… #yeahnah…
Like all good jam bands these guys give a bunch of instruments the chance to take the lead during the track. Whatever your taste in music it should probably be a criminal offence not to appreciate what these guys do.
Item added to bucketlist: see these guys live.
Awaken I Am
Wanted to throw this in to mix things up a little, I’ll refrain from putting these guys into a specific genre; I’ve met some scene kids along the way who take their sub-genre’s very seriously haha. So let’s just call it alternative.
I’m hearing signature double kick, solid breakdowns and clean vocals. Also, typical of what I expect from this genre; the lyrics have a lot of meaning.
It’s so much deeper than the catchy pop tracks so so many of their peers churn out. For me, songs like this are anthemic in nature – you want to throw your fist up while you holler the lyrics back at these guys ob stage. If moshing is your thing, then absolutely, check these guys out.
ESESE
I met the producer for this track a while back in a studio session, the guy is super talented (FYI he also sings the hook on this song). Hancoq I met out and about at different shows, mutual friends/ mutual taste in music etc.
These guys are yet another example that Australian produced hip hop doesn’t need to fit specific parameters any more. Like Remi, Tkay and Citizen Kay before them these guys are coming out with a sound that represents them. I feel like this kind of hip hop is still under appreciated here, which is a shame because it’s rad!
Grace Pitts
First off, forget the fact that this girl was yet another unsuspecting young musician who got sucked into the horribly unfortunate vortex that is television talent shows.
I actually heard her stuff last year, looooooong before The Voice, and reached out to let her know I thought she was rad, and she is.
Her single, Run, is a great example that she, in fact, never needed The Voice to begin with. It starts with sweet vocals over gentle guitar and builds into a powerfully emotive expression of the inner workings of this talented young girl’s heart.
Check out Adam’s previous columns here.
