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!
Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Ruby Jones has blown me away with her latest single “Nightwalker.” She’s got one of those voices that stops you in your tracks. It sits somewhere between Florence Welch and Angie McMahon, commanding, compelling. And then she backs it up with this exquisitely crafted song which has rock edge juxtaposed with folk sweetness. It’s really incredible.
“I wrote Nightwalker during Melbourne’s lockdown, when everything felt chaotic and slightly haunted,” Ruby recalled. “I was rewatching Buffy, and the idea of a town built over a hellmouth really stayed with me. It felt like my own community was sitting on something volatile, too. The song uses horror imagery as a metaphor for collective grief and isolation, but at its core, it’s about calling your friends back into the light. I hope it feels freeing and cathartic. It’s about darkness, but it’s not meant to sit in it; it’s meant to move through it. I want people to dance, shake it out, and let loose, and by the end feel like they’ve released something and walked away lighter.”
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!
On paper, country star Brad Cox and rock act The VANNS don’t seem like natural bedfellows, but they’ve just released a fantastic new song and announced they’re touring together. Listening to the single “Gas Craic” reminded me that both acts have superior storytelling skills. Its lyrics are some of the best I’ve heard. And I love how the voices of Brad and Jimmy Vann sound in harmony. The track’s a surprise packet, but it’s pretty brilliant.
“Gas Craic was one of the first songs to come together in the writing process of our third record,” The VANNS said. “It was written relatively quickly after our tour in the UK and the song encapsulates some memorable moments from that tour.”
The VANNS will join Brad Cox on his next Aussie tour, which kicks off in Boorloo/Perth this July. The Mastercard presale kicks off at 2 pm today, ahead of the Live Nation presale from 2 pm tomorrow and the general sale from 3 pm on March 27.
Meeanjin/Brisbane-based soul-pop act CHIRAI is making a real splash with her debut single “Blueberry Skies.” It’s doing massive streaming numbers around the world, buoyed by Apple Music playlisting and some serious momentum on Spotify and TikTok. It also hit number one on the Spotify Viral Chart South Africa and number 23 on Apple Music South Africa.
Take a listen and you’ll soon understand the hype. CHIRAI’s voice is like chocolate, so smooth and silky. And the song is fantastic, with gospel elements and a cool “Chapel of Love” sample elevating its cool neo-soul sound.
“Music is the only way I really understand myself and the world around me,” CHIRAI said. “I hope when you listen, you feel seen, a little less alone, and maybe even grateful to be here too.”
After listening to “Blueberry Skies,” I’m pretty excited to hear more from CHIRAI this year.
Image used with permission from Teamwrk Music Group
If you’ve ever felt like you were in a love triangle with your partner and the spectre of another person they still felt drawn to, I know you’ll love “Call Me By Her Name,” the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter CARDAMONE. It’s a heartbreaking song about trying to hold on to someone, even though you know their heart lies elsewhere.
“The track is an emotionally driven pop song about loving someone who is still in love with someone else,” CARDAMONE explained. “It builds from intimate verses into a soaring, dramatic chorus inspired by artists like Sia, exploring the fear of being replaced and the lengths people go to in order to hold on to someone they love.”
CARDAMONE’s gorgeous vocals really drew me into this one. You can hear her fighting back the emotion as she delivers her heartfelt lyrics. Pop ballads don’t get better than this.
After a big 2025 that saw them release their mini-EP Blue, play Harvest Rock Festival, win best group at the SA Music Awards, and support AC/DC, Tarntanya/Adelaide rock quartet Oscar The Wild are continuing the momentum with their latest single “Ghost.” It’s three and a bit minutes of indie grungy goodness which explores the line between healthy affection and emotional dependence.
“Ghost” has quickly become a staple of Oscar The Wild’s live sets. There are plenty of opportunities to see them play this song and all your favourites at their upcoming gigs. Tickets are on sale now through the links below:
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:
Rosscoe Frantz has captured my heart with his intimate new single “Raw and Bitter.” Its reverb-drenched guitar provides the perfect backdrop for Rosscoe’s powerful lyrics. Each one is like a gut punch, giving voice to a love on shaky ground. One for the heartbroken out there, it’s incredibly impactful and incredibly human.
“‘Raw and Bitter’ is a stark, intimate reflection on the parts of love people rarely talk about,” Rosscoe admitted. “The moment when a relationship is strong, the feeling is real, but the future isn’t necessarily aligned. The song explores the tension between deep affection and quiet doubt, where love coexists with confusion, and staying means asking the hardest questions. It’s a song about holding something precious in your hands and not knowing whether to fight for it or let it go.”
Rosscoe has supported a who’s who of Aussie talent including Sarah Blasko, Boy and Bear, and Pete Murray through his career. He’ll step into the spotlight as the headliner tonight when he launches “Raw and Bitter” at Mojo’s in Walyalup/Fremantle.
