If you’re feeling that Humpday slump as much as I am wrap your ears around “How I Know It’s Right,” the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne outfit Max Aurora & The Southern Lights. This energetic, anthemic banger blends elements of indie rock with pop-punk for a sound that’s guaranteed to make you sit up and take notice.
Led by intersex/non-binary songwriter Max Aurora, this band has been turning heads ever since their debut single “How I Missed Home” helped them take out their hometown’s Women in Music mentorship.
“’Written in a single night, ‘How I Know It’s Right’ explores the quiet relief of leaving a fractured relationship and the curiosity of what a wholesome love could feel like,” Max explained. “It explores the urgent, wide-eyed wonder of what a truly wholesome connection feels like, and the restless patience in searching for it.”
Max Aurora & The Southern Lights are promising a stack of new music for 2026, so strap in music lovers!
Emerging Eora/Sydney act Toy Saints are taking me right back to the ‘90s with their latest single “You Would Know.” It’s a grungy rock effort which manages to feel nostalgic, yet totally fresh. I love its youthful energy and lack of artifice. You can imagine it’d sound just the same live as it does on the record.
On an Instagram post announcing the release of “You Would Know,” Toy Saints declared that “This is just the beginning.” Give them a follow to learn all about what comes next from this exciting indie-rock act.
Image used with permission from Golden Robot Records
After winning a pair of Golden Guitars, Australian country sensation Wade Forster has set his sights on winning over America. He’s currently playing shows in regional Texas to celebrate the release of his new single “Strange.”
“Strange” epitomises the sound of modern country. The vocals are honest and emotional and the blend of country and rock is totally infectious. The music video features Wade entertaining an audience at Mulubinba/Newcastle hotspot, the Stag and Hunter Hotel.
Wade sold out shows across Texas’ major cities last year, so now he’s turned his attention to regional areas. Given his reception in 2025, Texan music lovers should jump on the remaining tickets if they want to see Wade while he’s Stateside. He’ll return home in May to play Yaegle Country/Yamba as part of Great Southern Nights.
After a super-long gestation, Tarntanya/Adelaide-based rock act Brave Mistakes have just dropped their latest single “Accident Prone.” You know what they say about good things coming to those who wait though, right?
While this brooding rock track is Brave Mistakes’ most recent release, it’s actually the first song they recorded as a band, way back in October 2024. The following October, Don Bartley mastered “Accident Prone” at Benchmark Mastering. Now in 2026, fans can finally access this live favourite on all streaming platforms. It comes complete with a music video filmed at popular hometown venue, The Mill.
It’s interesting to hear “Accident Prone” now, after appreciating Brave Mistakes’ EPs Heavy Idle and Some Good Songs … Done Badly. It laid the foundation for those releases, with its dark sound and intensity. Whether you’re new to Brave Mistakes’ music or you simply want to get to know this band better, give “Accident Prone” a listen.
Meeanjin/Brisbane rockers Bad Neighbour have me feeling nostalgic with their fantastic new coming-of-age track “Rush Apart.” With his angsty emo sound and lyrics exploring young love, this third single from Bad Neighbour’s new album is taking me right back to my teenage years.
“‘Rush Apart’ was one of the first songs we wrote for the record. I had the ‘Rush Apart’ line saved in my lyric folder for so long, and I wanted the general theme of the song to be about young, dumb love – we are often so quick to hurt each other when we have no idea what we’re doing,” admitted vocalist Cooper Riley.
“Rush Apart” comes from Bad Neighbour’s sophomore album Burns From the X-rays, which drops on June 5. You can pre-order the album and Bad Neighbour’s brand new hoodies and tees, including some fantastic bundles, right now from Imprint Merch.
After releasing music for seven years, it’s a little wild that Budjerah hasn’t yet released an album. However, all that is about to change on July 24 when his long-awaited record Gentleman drops. He’s giving us an early taste with the release of this killer title track.
“Gentleman is my debut album and it’s inspired by who I wanted to be when I was growing up,” Budjerah explained. “This album was almost a four-year process for me. Between my life at home and life on the road, I experienced so much change and growth. Chasing my dreams, I faced new challenges which helped me understand who I wanted to be. Every song on this album holds a piece of me. I hope little Budjerah is proud.”
Listening to this song, I’m kind of glad Budjerah didn’t rush things. This track is so slick, smooth, and confident. I’m not sure teenage Budjerah could have delivered all that swagger!
We’ll hear more for Budjerah when his debut album Gentleman drops on July 24. Warner Music are taking pre-orders now for digital download, CD, and vinyl copies with signed cards, so get onto that if you’re a fan!
After making an impact with their pop-punk-influenced track “discontent” in January, Victorian rockers All Regards have delivered their follow-up, “resist.” This one is a bit grittier, with a heavier sound that’ll appeal to the emo fans out there. Like its predecessor, “resist” explores feelings of anxiety and angst against the backdrop of the modern world.
“I wrote the lyrics for ‘resist’ as a direct response to the lyrics Stefan [Sepulveda, co-vocalist] wrote for ‘discontent’ in which he wrote about the state of the world from his perspective,” explained Jeremy Allen, who shares the band’s frontman duties. “It inspired me to do the same which is why both singles are so intrinsically linked together. ‘resist’ for the most part is an honest take on how frustrated one can become with external and internal factors within the world, and that it may not be the picture-perfect life planned out for one’s self. It’s also a call to arms that if there is something you want to change to better yourself and you have the power to do it, quit complaining and fight the good fight to turn things around.”
All Regards will celebrate the release of both “resist” and “discontent” tonight with a big double-single launch at the Workers Club in Naarm/Melbourne tonight. You’re not forgotten either Eora/Sydney. All Regards will play Last Words Emo Night at Bootleggers on April 2.
When I saw Karise Eden and Greg Gould performing together last September, I hoped I’d hear them making music together. While they were outstanding as individuals, my favourite moments came when their two powerhouse voices combined. So I’m thrilled to get my ears around their epic new duet, “All That Glitters.”
Karise co-wrote this song with Andrew Lowdon, drawing on the challenges she faced dealing with sudden fame as a teenager after winning The Voice Australia. Greg found the song resonated strongly with him as he faced his own hardships navigating the industry as a gay artist after he was also thrust into the spotlight after a stint on reality TV. As their voices come together, “All That Glitters” makes a powerful statement about autonomy, resilience, and refusing to be defined by other people and their fears.
“After albums, touring, and building my independence, I went through a period where life caught up with me and writing felt out of reach. ‘All That Glitters’ became the song that brought me back,” Karise shared. “When Greg came into the picture, the story opened up, bringing two perspectives together, two artists, two stories carrying different experiences, but finding common ground in resilience and honesty.”
While they’re not performing together right now, Karise and Greg have both got plenty of gigs on the horizon. Here are all the dates you need music lovers!
Ella Hooper is really leaning into Americana sounds with her latest single, “I Got Eyes (On You).” This foot-stomping anthem of empowerment combines classic country vibes with a little Zydeco and Cajun flair.
“I Got Eyes (On You) is the next step in sharing this new era. I’m pushing the boundaries of what Americana means to me … including more of the diverse flavours I love like the Cajun and Zydeco elements here,” Ella explained. “From the crazy playing on it, to the production, to the cheeky lyrics – I’m really proud of it”
There’s some serious star power behind this one. Ella co-wrote the song with East Nashville lyricist Melody Walker, who has songwriting credits on many songs Ella loves including “Dollar Bill Bar” and “American Dreaming.” The studio band features Nashville greats like Sheryl Crow’s drummer Fred Eltringham, guitarist Tom “Uncle Larry” Bukovac, Willie Nelson’s bassist Rachel Loy, Dan Dugmore who played pedal steel guitar for James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. And that Zydeco squeezebox you hear? That comes from Australia’s own Flora Smith, Slim Dusty’s granddaughter-in-law.
“I’ve wanted to record in Nashville since I was a kid reading my parents’ record liner notes, seeing the city’s name pop up again and again,” Ella gushed. “Seems like every great singer-songwriter from Dylan to CMAT has their Nashville record, and I felt ready for mine. Being there so much these last few years, I feel plugged into a community — especially in East Nashville — that feels like a perfect chrysalis for my musical evolution.”
While Ella enjoyed her time in the States, she’s making the most of being home with plenty of headlining shows, festival appearances, and dates supporting The Waterboys in the coming months. Tickets are on sale via the links below:
One of Australia’s most prolific artists, Katie Noonan is preparing to release her 30th studio album, Alone but all one, later this year. Her latest single “This Isn’t What I Signed Up For” gives us an early taste of the new music. This is such a beautiful song. Katie always sounds incredible, but the subtle piano and string arrangement really showcase her sumptuous vocals and bittersweet lyrics.
“This album is for anyone who’s gone through a life shift – not just separation, but grief, uncertainty, or quiet reinvention,” Katie explained. “It’s music for sitting with things. For remembering we’re not alone, even in solitude. It’s personal, but I hope it will resonate in a way that becomes collective.”
Katie will release Alone but all one on June 26. She’ll give us a little time to sit with the songs before embarking on an album tour around some of the country’s best theatres. Mark Wilkinson will join her at all shows except for the Eora/Sydney and Wooditup/Margaret River dates. Tickets are on sale now.
