If you like your pop music with edge, you’ll appreciate “Sidelines,” the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne chanteuse CARDAMONE. She gives a stellar vocal performance on this brooding track which explores the idea that in the aftermath of a relationship, things aren’t always as they seem.
“Sidelines is about acting like everything is great when it isn’t,” CARDAMONE said. “He thinks I’m living it up, but underneath I’m a mess.”
CARDAMONE has performed at some of her hometown’s best local venues including The Toff in Town, Birds Basement, and the Evelyn. Follow her on Instagram to learn where she’ll pop up next.
Rubibi/Broome-based artist Amy Pania is laying her heart bare under a brand new musical moniker, Amyrah. She admits her latest single “Inside Out” is the “rawest” track she’s ever released.
“I wrote it at the bottom of an emotional pit, struggling with my mental health and these cycles of anger that left me seeing red, but creating the song became the moment I finally climbed out,” she said.
Amy’s voice is gorgeous, soulful and brimming with emotion. And I love when artists aren’t afraid to be vulnerable and so authentically themselves. This is pop music that matters. I can’t wait to hear from Amyrah this year.
Image used with permission from Blue Music Services
Last year I felt division within Australia in a way I’ve never felt before. I happened to catch a train full of people heading to Eora/Sydney for an anti-immigration march. It was packed with white retirees holding flags sounding off about migrants taking over their country. I watched in horror as one man said loudly that he should have worn his steel-capped boots as an Asian woman apologised while trying to make her way through the crowd and get off the train. That same night an Asian man wearing a Make America Great Again cap asked me whether I had a problem with him. Of course I said no, swiftly looked down, but wondered what would have happened if I’d answered in the affirmative. A couple of months later, I found myself sitting in a crowded park during a local seafood festival, trying to enjoy my fish and chips, when more white Boomers began sounding off about immigration. Then of course there was the terrorist attack in Bondi, a frightening reminder that hatred against people based on they are can turn deadly.
I’m naïve enough to think that the tragedy at Bondi and the acts of brave Aussies like Ahmed al-Ahmed may help remind us that we are one community and that our differences make us stronger. I’m also naïve enough to think music can make a difference. So in that spirit, I wanted to post about “Our Land” by Colin Lillie, a Scottish immigrant living in Mparntwe/Alice Springs who’s pretty proud to call Australia home. He’s joined by diverse contributors who played their parts from all parts of the country: Norman Daymarringu, Liam Jangala Price, Xueyan Chen, Gretta Ziller, Pete Denahy, Brad Bergen, Wayne Davis, and the stunning Austranesia Choir from Cairns.
“Its refrain, ‘We belong to this land,’ captures the essence of those who’ve come from all corners of the world to call Australia home”, Colin said. “The song is both personal and universal – a declaration of love for a country that welcomes, unites and inspires.”
Wayne Davis of Treetop Media shot the gorgeous video to highlight the contributions Colin’s collaborators and the parts of Australia they call home. He also made a feature-length documentary which follows Colin’s journey across the country meeting elders, artists, and everyday Aussies, which will be released later this year. After the 2025 we’ve just had, art like this which celebrates togetherness is exactly the sort of thing I want to champion in 2026.
It’s been far too long since Faker set the charts ablaze with tracks like “This Heart Attack” and “Hurricane,” but the voice behind the music, Nate Faker, is back doing what he does best. Coming 14 years after his last single, “Comet” has a classic feel that I know you’ll love.
“It’s about a comet crashing down into the middle of your street, home, neighbourhood, town, and life and trying to stand your ground, even though it feels ridiculous to do so,” Nate said. “It’s about what the world is at the moment, and trying to find an optimistic spin. Ultimately, we’re surviving. Sometimes you can see the comet coming, and there’s no point running, you just have to face it.”
What a return to form this is. Thankfully Nate won’t leave us waiting too long for a bunch more music. He’ll release his new album Enjoy Your Problems later this year. I also hear he’ll play some full band shows in 2026, so there are plenty of reasons for Faker fans to get excited.
With so many of us caught up in “New year, new me” sentiments, I figured it was only right to ease into the year with some positivity. “The Blueprint,” the latest single from local folk-pop act Ellis King, definitely fits the bill. It’s sweet and romantic, the kind of track that reminds you how lucky you are to have someone special or restores your faith that this kind of love is possible.
“I think I can call Blueprint my first love song,” Ellis said. “It’s about finally finding what feels like ‘real’ love, after a lifetime of relationships that never felt fully stable, natural, or complete. It reflects on the chaos, the lessons, and the people I thought were right for me but weren’t, and how those experiences shaped me to recognise the real thing when it arrived…This song is about building something lasting with someone who sees you fully, (flaws and all) and how different that feels compared to the versions of love I thought I knew before. It’s about creating a home, not just in a place, but in a person (and a spotty dog).”
“The Blueprint” comes from Ellis’ EP Everything That Comes After, which drops on February 20.
The ultra-talented Sewell siblings – Conrad Sewell and his sister Grace Sewell (Saygrace) – are teaming up for some intimate shows in the major capitals next June. The tour announcement comes off the back of the release of Conrad’s gorgeous new single, “Deserve.”
“We’ve always wanted to tour together, but our schedules never aligned – Grace being in LA and me being in Australia made it pretty tough. It finally feels like the right moment in both of our careers to share the stage and make this happen,” Conrad said. “We’ll both be bringing our own sets, but the real magic happens when we come together – harmonies, stripped-back versions of our songs, and a few surprises we’ve never done publicly before. It’s a celebration of family, storytelling, and the music that shaped us – this tour is all about connection: with each other, with our fans, and with the songs that mean the most to us.”
If you’re a fan of Conrad, Saygrace, or both, you won’t want to miss this. Tickets to Conrad and Grace’s Bloodline tour are on sale now through the links below.
According to my Spotify Wrapped, Ama was my most played Aussie artist of the year. Her heart-on-sleeve pop numbers really got under my skin, and I had every single on repeat for a while. So I’m thrilled that she’s giving us one more track to close out the year. “You’re never gonna get the girl” is Ama’s first release since her debut EP Julie’s House dropped in May, and it’s probably no surprise that I love it.
Ama has such a gift for writing songs that combine self-aware humour with bittersweet emotion, and “You’re never gonna get the girl.” The gentle layered pop sound reminds me a lot of the music LANY released on their soft album this year, undeniably catchy but acting as the support for the strong lyrics rather than attempting to steal focus.
Ama’s music has made such a strong impression on me this year. With the start of this new chapter, something tells me she’s going to follow up with a massive 2026.
She’s probably still best known for rocking out front of Killing Heidi, but I really dig the country feel of Ella Hooper’s solo material. Her latest single “Growing Up is Hard to Do” is a fantastic example of the brilliant new music she’s making. It’s so much fun with its relatable, introspective lyrics and catchy country-rock sound. Just when you think it can’t get any better, that sax solo from Mika Kohlman kicks in!
“This song comes from a period of self-reflection that kinda started with Small Town Temple – my last album,” Ella continues. “It finds me in a place where I can almost accept that growing pains never stop…I’m just learning to write different songs about them. It feels playful to me, as life is a little lighter now, internally anyway,” Ella adds. “Some days I can roll my eyes at the chaos of the last few years, or my whole life actually…it’s certainly been a hell of a ride. And as they say, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry!”
If you want to hear more of Ella’s new music, catch her on her summer tour. Tickets are available through the links for all shows.
Now Christmas is behind us music lovers across the nation are looking forward to the annual pilgrimage to the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Of course, all the usual suspects will be there, but there are also plenty of up-and-coming acts worth your time.
Homegrown Trio are one of the new breed that deserves to be on your radar. They’ve been nominated for a Golden Guitar for Best Duo or Group and just released their gorgeous new single “Do Over.” If you love American acts like Sugarland and Lady A, I know you’ll appreciate this vulnerable song about relationship regrets.
Homegrown Trio will stop by the Toyota Fanzone during the Tamworth Country Music Festival in Kamilaroi Country/Tamworth at 3:45 pm on January 23. They’re also playing Outback Sounds at Buchanan Park, Kalkadoon Country/Mt Isa on May 9.
After all this time following them, I thought I knew what to expect from Bootleg Rascal. But they’re really shaken things up with their latest song “Reasons,” taking their tongues out of their proverbial cheeks and delivering a touching heartbreak anthem.
“‘Reasons’ was a co-write we did with our mate Matt Collins from Wharves,” explained guitarist Jimmy Young. “He had a demo of the song and wasn’t totally sure where to go with it. We saw something in it and decided to give it a crack. It also features the always exquisite production skills of our mate Caleb Tasker, and we’re all pretty stoked with how it turned out in the end. On face value, ‘Reasons’ could easily be passed off as another break-up/heartbreak song. Those themes are in there for sure, but I think bubbling under the surface, the song also touches on broader elements of human connection. The commonality of emotions that we as people all share at some point in our lives, no matter our race, sex or background.”
“Reasons” comes from Bootleg Rascal’s self-titled album, released in October. They’re bringing songs from that record and all your old favourites to venues across the country in the New Year. Tickets are available now through the links.
