Community radio music directors often have an encyclopedic 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 Australian bands that you might have missed.
In this edition, Luke Penman from Radio Adelaide contributes with a selection of Australian bands currently making their way to community radio through Amrap’s music distribution service ‘AirIt’.
Check out Luke’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.
Dean Forever – ‘Could This Be OK?’
Two members of math rock band It’s A Hoax form a side project that’s a lot more dreamy and a lot more pop-focused and just as exciting. Dean Forever’s debut album is due before the end of the year, with a new single just around the corner.
Stork – ‘Congrats’
Recently name-dropped by Violent Soho as an example of killer Adelaide rock bands, Stork only have a handful of singles under their belt but they show a damn fine knack for killer hooks.
Zen Panda – ‘Ego’
There’s not many Adelaide bands who’ve sold out the 300-capacity Jive venue for their debut album launch, but Zen Panda did it and absolutely owned the room. If there was an award for Best Front-Person in Australia, Sam Lavers would have it in the bag this year.
Tim Whitt – ‘Sleep At Night’ feat. Sim Jones & Matiah
Arguably the best party-starter DJ in town, Tim Whitt’s true passion is finding and twisting sounds to make something new. His live show Heartache & Drum Breaks has featured in Fringe and Futuresounds festivals but it’s only now, finally, that he’s releasing truly his own music. There’s stacks of collaborations on his debut album, flowing through pop, prog, hip hop and jazz sounds. This is just the first taste, and it’s delicious.
Corey Theatre – ‘Music’
Flexing his folk-reggae sound and mixing English with his traditional Gunditjmara language, Corey Theatre’s latest single could be the sleeper hit of the summer. We can’t wait to see what else his debut album has in store for us when it’s released later this month.
Faint One – ‘Lost’ feat. Billie McCarthy
One that I keep going back to and love more with each listen. A brilliantly-crafted love song. Faint One’s recently moved to the USA but hopefully he’ll be back in Adelaide again to crank this one live for us one more time.
