In this Tone Deaf series, a different music director or presenter at some of the finest community stations from around the country get their opportunity to share the best community music discoveries from Amrap.
This week, SYN Media’s Grace Dudley and Louis Parkinson contribute with a list of local music from community radio you should be listening to right now.
Each week, SYN Media’s trio of Music Leads curate SYN’s weekly high-rotation playlist, the Sweet Sixteen. This playlist consists of eight international and eight Australian tracks, as well as an international album and an Australian album.
All of the Music Leads pride themselves on being involved and invested in the Australian music community, and love the opportunity to be surrounded by the sounds of local talent. Check out their fine selections below.
Louis
Bad//Dreems continue their fantastic run of putting out some of the best politically charged rock music in Australia with ‘Jack’, their second single for 2022.
Released off the back of a tour of regional Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, the Adelaide five-piece express their frustration over the ignorance, cover ups and lack of progress in Australian in regards to the treatment of Aboriginal people, culture and history.
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Also keeping up a run of unforgettably punchy choruses, lead singer Ben Marwe cathartically bites at the listener after verses of shameful history lessons to reflect, “Whatcha think about that, Jack?”.
The song culminates in an energetic ensemble of guitars and a final statement: “Sixty thousand years gotta give it back!”. It’s a poignant rally cry. While it’s beyond a crying shame that Baddies are still having to hash out the same ground Midnight Oil did 40 years ago, at least you can sing it with the same power and passion.
In her first new music since 2019, King IV comes through with a saucy, late night club pop killer. It’s got everything you want from horny dance music: bass that makes you want to move and lyrics that give you a direction for them.
The track features a great catchy hook to sing along to, but King IV also keeps it fresh with a slick and seductive verse (something too often missing from deep house/dance pop), along with a solid spattering of synths to get lost in.
King IV hasn’t reinvented the wheel, with international acts like COBRAH and Shygirl holding the genre down, but she has made a bloody fun and sexy wheel with ‘See You Later’, and importantly it’s Australian. It’s a beckoning to get sweaty at the club (and steamy later).
‘Food’ is a great song, but throw a dart at any of the songs on ‘So Familiar’, the debut album by Dylan Young as Way Dynamic, and whatever it lands on will be fantastic. It’s dripping in a nostalgic tone, being recorded by fellow Melbourne musicians and tape lovers Liam Parsons and Sefan Blair (Good Morning), and playing with genres like jangle pop, folk, jazz, alt rock, and good ol’ dad rock.
‘Food’ feels like a great encapsulation of the whole record; it’s groovy, it’s comfy, it incorporates a range of genres, it’s lyrics are relatable and clever, and it’s super tight (especially in the chorus), but it has its moments of letting go (like the perfectly janky piano solo).
While ‘Food’ always feels so familiar because of its nostalgic tone, there’s still a refreshing urgency and presence because of the unexpected and interesting directions the song takes. It’s brilliant songwriting delivered on a (thrifted) silver platter.
Gracie
Being a prominent member of the local ballroom community, talented musician and consistent, engaging performer JULAI has established themselves as an artist to keep a close eye on. ‘BADDIE BTTMS’ encapsulates the strength of claiming your identity and encouraging others to do the same.
This debut single will have you catwalk strutting down the street embodying total main character energy, as the confidence and power it holds will rub off on anyone who has the pleasure of listening to it.
The wordplay, entendres, references to queer media, creativity, and variety of flow over this hard-yet-flirtatious trap beat create an iconic harmony like no other.
JULAI can be found performing sets at local clubs, hyping the crowd, owning the stage and bringing energy and flair to every show. Their performance on the main stage of MIDSUMMA earlier this year, inclusive of choreography and strong back-up dancers, platformed them to greater and well-deserved heights.
Combined with regularly feeding their audience with live performances, JULAI’s ever-growing, loyal fanbase patiently awaits the next drop with bated breath. This is only the beginning of Julai’s reign.
Following the release of hit single ‘Without You’, 2017’s triple j Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative winner Becca Hatch again works with Tentendo to craft another R&B dance pop track.
‘Blessed’ is a smooth progression from the heartbreak and yearning felt in ‘Without You’, to finding peace in acceptance, and creating a regenerative, lighthearted and bouncy track to dance the blues away.
The playful beat creates a canvas for Becca to paint on layers of her dreamy vocals, with words of affirmation that allow her audiences to relate to and connect with. Having spoken about how she’s always loved dance and electronic music in her interview with ‘Life Without Andy’, it’s thrilling to see how Becca further delves into these genres.
Only 21-years-old and having toured all across so-called Australia, performing her own headline shows and supporting some of the biggest names in Australian music, Becca shows no indication of slowing down anytime soon. With a sound so fresh and universal, reaching audiences far and wide, her future’s so bright, I gotta reach for my shades.
Recently nominated for Music Victoria Awards’ 2022 Best Solo Act, IJALE is a rapper, mix and mastering engineer and creative director who produced the lion’s share of his 2021 album OTTN (On to the Next).
When listening to IJALE’s music, it becomes clear that this artist is not only talented, but also skilled, dedicated and determined to produce cohesive, well-executed music.
‘TOSS IT UP’ is written, performed, and produced by IJALE, with his flow wrapping around the beat like climbing ivy, frequently switching it up throughout the track and incorporating production elements that create a diverse soundscape. He’s got great pen game, rich storytelling, and utilises interesting timing.
From his poetic lyricism to his musicality to his technical capabilities, IJALE is a multi-talented artist who leaves his listeners in anticipation of his next moves. Having had the pleasure of seeing him perform live, it can confidently be recommended that you tune into his ‘TOSS IT UP’ performance on Phoenix Central Park’s Youtube channel, and keep an eye out to catch any future shows he may be playing near you.
