Category: Single Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gareth Leach & the Narratives of Hope Take On John Farnham

My heart is heavy as Eora/Sydney deals with the aftermath of Sunday’s attack on the Jewish community. I can’t understand the mentality of hating what you imagine of people so much that you fail to see their humanity. It feels so out of step with the Australia I know and love.

I can’t find the “right” song for today. I’m not sure it exists. But it didn’t feel right to go quiet either. So instead I’m going to post something that will hopefully make you smile. Because I think we all need all of that. And if anything will help you block out the darkness for just a few moments, I think it might be Gareth Leach & the Narratives of Hope’s version of John Farnham’s “Reasons.” If you’d ever wondered how this Farnsy classic might sound as a bluegrass song, this one’s for you.

“This is a song that we have been playing live and is a crowd favourite, so it only feels right to release it for our fans,” Gareth Leach said. “Doing a bluegrass cover of a song can be a pretty tricky thing to pull off without being super cheesy, so we were very cautious to not cross into that territory. This song, in particular, is so much fun for us to play and it was important for us to capture that whilst also staying faithful in tipping our caps to the great man, John Farnham.”

“Reasons” is the first track lifted from Gareth Leach & the Narratives of Hope’s upcoming EP Blues, Grass & Gospel, which we’ll hear early next year. They’ll also play the Echuca Country Music Festival at Echuca Racecourse on March 28.

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Beautiful Monument Ushers in New Era With “Dancing With the Buried”

Incredible female-fronted rock acts have been back in the headlines lately after visits from international powerhouses Garbage and Evanescence. But you don’t have to look that far for female-fronted acts that pack a punch. Naarm/Melbourne-based band The Beautiful Monument show they’ve got the goods with their impressive new single “Dancing With the Buried.” It’s a powerful number that explores the often harsh reality of picking up the pieces after domestic violence.

“This track hits very close to home,” admitted vocalist Lizi McIntosh. “It’s about victims not being believed about their abuse because of the stigma that surrounds domestic violence as a whole. The video represents that abuse comes in all forms, shapes and sizes; even if it’s not what’s stereotypically perceived by societal norms.”

The release of “Dancing With the Buried” marks the start of a new chapter for The Beautiful Monument, who’ve spent the last year writing, recording, and developing their sound.

“We’ve taken our time to ensure the next era of The Beautiful Monument is our best yet; not only for our fans, but for us as musicians,” they said. “We can’t wait to show the world what we have been cooking up, and we look forward to the thrill ride to come!”

The Beautiful Monument will show metal and hard rock fans just what they’ve got when they play the Hellbound cruise next October.

Photo credit: Andrew Bromley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Kunins Showcase Individual Voices With “The Levee” and “The Sorrow You Are Drawn To”

Meeanjin/Brisbane-based father-daughter duo The Kunins have offered an early taste of their third album with their new single. It features two gorgeous folky songs, “The Levee” and “The Sorrow You Are Drawn To.”

Lily Maia Kunin takes lead vocals on the A-side, “The Levee,” while her dad Ken takes the mic on the B-side, “The Sorrow You Are Drawn To.” The Kunins recorded these songs back-to-back at their home studio and said they serve as companion pieces, “Like pairing the perfect wine and cheese.”

The Kunins will release their third album, Time is a Cruel Master, on January 23. They’ll promote it with a string of shows at community halls around the country. Here are all the confirmed dates so far:

23 January 2026 – Cooran Hall, Kabi Kabi Country/Cooran
24 January 2026 – Maleny Community Centre, Jinibara Country/Maleny
30 January 2026 – Burringbar Hall, Bundjalung Country/Burringbar
31 January 2026 – Tom Atkin Hall, Yugambeh Country/Tugun
7 March 2026 – Manly-Lota RSL, Quandamooka Country/Manly

Photo credit: Synapse Creative

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ella Fence Releases Beautiful New Track, “Couple Kids”

Ella Fence ticks all the boxes with her gorgeous new single “Couple Kids.” It’s a bit of a slow burner, but once it hits its cinematic conclusion you’ll be glad you took the ride. And those lyrics. Oh those lyrics! This is rock music at its introspective best.

“It’s about the quiet urge to escape, and the tenderness that comes with finally understanding where that desire comes from,” Ella explained. “I’m thankful for the space music gives me to explore that in a healthy way.”

If you’re heading to Sofia Isella’s final Aussie show at The Roundhouse in Eora/Sydney tonight, make sure you arrive early enough for Ella’s set. Tickets are still available through Moshtix.

Photo credit: Simone Gorman Clark

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chani Releases Introspective New Single, “Inside”

Australia’s proving to be a rich breeding ground for powerful female hip hop artists. Following in the steps of Barkaa and Sampa the Great comes Chani, who has just released her fantastic new single “Inside.” It’s another smart track from this Western Australian artist who combines her raw, resonant lyrics with soulful sounds.

“Inside” was produced by DJ BearHands and mastered by Rob Shaker. It’s the latest cut from Chani’s EP Spice, which drops next year.

Photo credit: Rob Simeon

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fiasco Release Folky Charmer, “Tonight Come Home”

Fiasco are serving up the feel-good vibes you need heading into the weekend with their latest single “Tonight Come Home.” It’s an upbeat indie folk-pop ditty with lyrics drenched in nostalgia and yearning.

“Tonight Come Home” gives us a taste of Fiasco’s debut EP which they’ll release next year. If you’re in their hometown of Naarm/Melbourne, you can catch them playing tonight at The Gem Bar. Tickets are still on sale through Oztix.

Image used with permission from Fiasco

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pilot Crisis Rock Out With “No Vacancy”

Crank up the volume, press play, and give yourself a couple of minutes to appreciate “No Vacancy,” the latest single from Meeanjin/Brisbane-based rock outfit Pilot Crisis. With Evie Cowen out front, this is an absolute belter.

Guitarist and core songwriter Mitch Chen said he wrote “No Vacancy” during an introspective moment of procrastination.

“I was sitting on the couch watching King of the Hill, noodling on the guitar and thinking about how I’d spend long stretches of time just wasting away,” he reflected. “Hours would slip by while I kept dreaming of doing something better, but never putting the energy into actually doing it.”

The release of “No Vacancy” caps off a big few months for Pilot Crisis, who toured with Vipersnatch, supported Beddy Rays, and laid down a bunch of new music which we’ll hear in the coming months.

Photo credit: Annabelle Cowen

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

isha Drops Dynamic New Single, “Beautiful Mess”

I love it when acts break the mould and push the boundaries of different genres to create something that’s truly fresh and new. That kind of artistry rarely comes early in someone’s career, so it’s exciting to hear it from isha, a Zimbabwe-born, Aussie-raised singer-songwriter with Indian heritage. A melting pot of influences, which include the sounds of Bollywood and modern pop and R&B, has helped her bring her exciting new single “Beautiful Mess” to life.

“I wrote Beautiful Mess sitting on my couch one night after hearing this random flute sound that sparked something in me. The song just flowed out in one sitting,” isha said. “It’s about that kind of Romeo and Juliet love… a little forbidden, a little messy, but so powerful you can’t help but fall into it.”

isha assures me she has big plans for releasing plenty of new music next year, so make sure you’re following her on her socials to learn all about it first.

Image used with permission from isha

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chloe Styler Reclaims Her Power With “Placeholder”

Chloe Styler is best known for her lighthearted pop-country tracks, but she’s showing a more vulnerable side on her latest single, “Placeholder.” Chloe’s never sounded better as she recalls a difficult relationship where she was treated as second-best.

“This song stirs up some messy, emotional feelings and still leaves an ache in my chest when I listen to it. But it’s honest, it’s raw, and it lives in that uncomfortable space between wanting to be loved and knowing you’re just being kept around as an option in someone’s life,” she said. “There’s no real resolution. It just sits in the sadness of that truth. It’s the heartbreak that comes when you finally see things for what they are, and you have to find your own closure because they’ll never actually give it to you. Here’s to never being the placeholder again though. That sucked.”

Chloe has a few more gigs before the year wraps up. See her at these free events in the coming weeks.

14 December 2025 – Christmas Movie in the Park @ Bim’bimba Park, Bundjalung Country/Pimpama (from 12:30 pm)
14 December 2025 – Cooly Carols @ Queen Elizabeth Park, Yugambeh Country/Coolangatta (from 5:30 pm)
21 December 2025 – Girlhood Summer Social @ New Farm Park, Binkinbah/New Farm (from 4 pm)

Photo credit: Phoebe Faye

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Emerging Country Star Liam Maihi Drops “Bound to Yours”

After winning the 2025 Big Break title, Liam Maihi is being touted as the next big thing in country music. It’s easy to see why when you listen to his latest single “Bound to Yours.” Liam’s voice is gritty and honest, fuelled by emotion as he sings out the lyrics he penned during a run of shows in Ngambri/Canberra.

“I had just got off a FaceTime with my partner and kids and was feeling a little homesick. It came flooding out,” he said. The song was originally conceived as a ballad, but Liam made a few tweaks and developed it into a certified country-rock banger.

“I wanted it to have that drive in the music. Something that you listen to while ‘on the road’. I realised that I’m not the only one alone in this situation of working away to support my family and that many of the people who love country also work on the road,” he said.

Liam will have a little downtime over Christmas, but he’ll be back on stages soon enough. Catch him at the following country music events in the New Year.

16-25 January 2026 – Tamworth Country Music Festival, Kamilaroi Country/Tamworth
14 March 2026 – A Night in Nashville @ Orange Showground, Wiradjuri Country/Orange

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity