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 Aussie tunes that you might have missed.
In this edition, Steph Liong from 2SER in Sydney, 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.
This week’s 8 best Australian artists
Phantastic Ferniture – ‘Bad Timing’
Sydney sweethearts Phantastic Ferniture have earned a soft spot in many locals’ hearts from their much loved and wild Christmas Extravaganza shows. Their music sounds like a house party where everyone’s invited, and by the end of the night you have made lifelong friends. A feel good and catchy tune, and one for your upcoming road trip.
Eilish Gilligan is fast becoming well known for her slick electro-pop stylings, but predating her solo work is the outfit Frida that she shares with members of The Cactus Channel. Ambling dream-pop with a psychedelic overlay that’s far-reaching and generous with atmosphere. Sun-drenched guitars, rich vocals and squelchy synths that lead you into an endless reverie.
Miles Devine used to shred guitar for Sydney’s Regular John, but these days he goes by Raindrop. His debut album Mild Meltdowns is a psyched out and trippy universe, with opening track ‘Another World’ as the perfect introduction to it. Brimming with lo-fi guitars, tinny percussion and pulsating, vintage electronic textures, it’s a technicoloured playground of sounds and with SPOD on production, it’s a dream team.
It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from Melbourne punks Harmony but their new album Double Negative is as brilliant as ever. Low swung, ragged rock that has that tough wall of sound exterior we’ve come to love and expect, but unpick the surface, to find a soulful, oozing centre and a saunter in the melodies that run deep. Tom Lyngcoln is a modern day crooner and even through some of those raw snarls, it’s a remains a magnetic listen throughout.
Nat Vazer – ‘You’re Winning Me Over’
If you don’t know newcomer Nat Vazer, brace yourself because her latest single will charm the pants off of you. Packed full of gorgeous, intricate guitar lines that soar to heady heights, and with a voice like that, it’s hard not to come back for repeat listens. Look out for her debut EP We Used To Have Real Conversations out on September 14th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL1D-kjRbAM
Cookin’ On 3 Burners – ‘Warning (feat. Kaiit)’
It’s a match made in soul music heaven between Cookin’ On 3 Burners and young gun, vocal powerhouse Kaiit. Their new single ‘Warning’ is a funky and joyous affair with grooves galore to get you up and dancing. There’s so much deserved self-confidence on this and it’s great to see both the band and Kaiit shine throughout.
Richard In Your Mind – ‘All I Can Do’
A welcome return for Richard In Your Mind who are back with the first bit of new music since 2014’s excellent Ponderosa. This is loveable and robust psych-pop loaded with warped synths, driving guitars and lush vocals.
