Most queer anthems tend to be high-energy dancefloor fillers, so I was really excited to hear Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Tommy Lellan taking a different route with his new single “CURSÈD.”
“CURSÈD” is a gorgeous jazz-pop track with powerful lyrics that encourage queer listeners to tune out negativity and practice self-acceptance. While it’s available on all the streaming services, I’ve decided to post the lyric video to make sure you don’t miss Tommy’s insightful songwriting. Follow him on Instagram to learn more about his releases as they drop.
Naarm-Melbourne-based artist Rhys Tolhurst is bringing the good vibes for your Friyay with his brand-new single “Dance With Me.” If Ben Rector and Guy Sebastian ever collaborated, it might sound a little like this upbeat pop gem. It’s inspired me to take an impromptu dance break, so I’m sure it’ll at least have you bopping along.
“’Dance With Me’ is about letting go, living in the moment, and celebrating love, positivity and diversity,” Rhys said.
And we couldn’t use a little more of that right now? Locals who want to hear more from Rhys can catch him headlining at Hamer Hall on May 11 as part of the 2026 Morning Melodies program. This is Rhys’ first time leading a show of this scale, but with bangers like this in his catalogue I’m sure it won’t be the last! Tickets for that show are on sale now from the Arts Centre Melbourne.
Image used with permission from Killer Entertainment
If you were on the fence about seeing Sarah McLeod and Dallas Frasca on their Green Electric Tour, the release of their latest single “’Til It’s Gone” might tip you over the edge. Hearing these two vocal powerhouses on the one track is an absolute joy. It’s bluesy, edgy, and so incredibly cool.
“The song was inspired by a line in ‘Big Yellow Taxi,’ written more than half a century ago, and it’s confronting how little has changed,” Sarah and Dallas said in a joint statement. “We’re still prioritising profit over care for country, and the climate is pushing back hard. ‘Til It’s Gone’ speaks to the moment we’re in right now, a crossroads, and the responsibility we all share to make better choices before the damage becomes irreversible.”
Sarah and Dallas don’t just pay lip service to the issues. They’ve teamed up with Green Music Australia for their upcoming tour to reduce their carbon footprint through initiatives like plotting sustainable travel routes, using meet-free catering and eco-certified accommodation, and selling merch made from recycled materials. They’re encouraging fans to get in on the act too by choosing low-emission transport options and wearing sustainable fashion to the shows. The Green Electric Tour kicks off on February 19 in Bungambrawatha/Albury. Tickets for all shows are still available but won’t last long!
Flynn Gurry serves up some of the best high-energy folk I’ve heard in some time with his latest single “Bones.” If you’re into acts like Mumford & Sons and our own Pierce Brothers, I know you’ll fall hard for this upbeat track from Flynn’s new EP.
“I am very excited but also quite nervous to be releasing ‘Bones’ to the world,” Flynn admitted. “This song is SO MUCH FUN to play live and I have felt it translate really well on the live stage but do feel this track may surprise listeners from my previous work hence the nerves. The writing inspiration for Bones explores heartbreak through hindsight – one day you realise you’re two people who have stayed too long, given everything you had until there was nothing more to give. Love has become exhaustion. Sonically, artists that inspired the sound of this track are the likes of Kaleo and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.”
“Bones” comes from Flynn’s new EP Gold, which is due out on March 13. He’ll waste little time before touring the EP around the country. Plenty of these shows are free, so there’s really no excuse for staying home!
Jake Davey’s captured my heart with his romantic new single “Workin’ On Me.” It’s a sweet, introspective country ditty about self-reflection, growth, and doing your best to show up for the people who matter most.
“Workin’ On Me is an incredibly personal song, and I wanted that to come through in every part of the production,” Jake shared. “I self-produced it, bringing together an amazing group of musicians, and focused on every detail to make sure the emotion and story felt honest and authentic. This track really reflects where I’m at as a songwriter and as a person.”
Jake shot the video in his hometown on the mid-New South Wales Coast with his coproducer Jackson James.
“Working with Jackson James on the video for ‘Workin’ On Me’ was such a great experience, we share a passion for storytelling and visuals,” Jake said. “I was lucky enough to have my wife and our baby boy Dalton featured in the clip, which gave it an incredibly raw, authentic feel. Capturing those real family moments on set made the day so much fun and personal, moments I’ll never forget.”
Fresh from his headline performance at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Jake has just been announced as one of the artists on the bill for this year’s Djarii Bila Festival in Biripi Country/Taree. It all happens at Fotheringham Park on May 2. Early bird tickets are on sale now through Humanitix.
Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity
I wouldn’t normally go so hard on a Sunday as I understand many of you are nursing sore heads, but I had to share “discontent,” the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne All Regards. So it may not be your usual laidback weekend folky fare, but it’s so good that I think you really need to get your ears around it.
Speaking of the inspiration for “discontent,” All Regards’ co-vocalist Stefan Sepulveda said “I think a lot of people (myself included at times) feel overwhelmed by the state of the world and the never-ending cycle of conflict and disasters, both natural and man-made. There have been times in my life where I’ve felt that there is no hope for positive change and been resigned to just watching everything turn to shit.
“The problem with that is that it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy – and that’s the message of the song, if you sit there waiting for the world to burn then that’s exactly what you’re going to get. So together with the next single ‘resist’, there’s a real call to action to get out and create positive change in whatever ways you can.”
All Regards aren’t wasting time getting both songs into the world. “resist” will be released next month before the band launches both songs with a massive hometown show at the Worker’s Club on March 27. Their EP launch sold out in 2024, so make sure you don’t sleep on tickets for this one when they go on sale.
Photo credit: Beth Morrison (Act Four Photography)
Sri-Lankan-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based singer, songwriter, and producer ANUJA has won my heart with his gorgeous new single, “Your Stranger.” His striking voice stopped me in my tracks. It’s so flawless, effortlessly moving into falsetto and creating such an intimate vibe. Consider me swept off my feet.
“This song is a conversation between two lovers,” ANUJA explained. “It’s one person saying, I don’t know what will happen between us in the bigger sense; whether we’ll go to heaven, whether there’s reincarnation or rebirth, whether we’re twin flames or soulmates. I don’t know. But what I do know is that in this moment, we’re together.”
This track is even more impressive when you realise ANUJA is an entirely self-taught musician and producer. He’s doing it all from his home studio while balancing his career as a doctor. That’s right; he could save your life too. Swoon.
Boorloo/Perth indie-rock quintet navy june have been building a reputation as a local band on the rise after supporting the likes of Old Mervs, Great Gable, and Fool Nelson. Now with the release of their latest single “mister,” it might be time for music lovers on the East Coast to take notice. This song has such an original, smoldering sound. It’s a little psychedelic but with a modern twist. Ruby Barton-Taylor delivers incredible vocals which are complemented beautifully by her bandmates’ instrumentation.
“’mister’ is about being unapologetic in your opinions of someone,” navy june explained. “Being honest and raw when someone is cruel to you. It explores ideas of heartbreak while still being empowered, truthful and sexy.”
navy june are wasting no time promoting their latest release. Hometown fans can catch the “mister” single launch at The Bird tonight.
Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Sunshine Coast country starlet Shanleigh Rose has thoroughly charmed me with her personal new single, “Pretty.” The lyrics read like a letter to a partner, revealing Shanleigh Rose’s self-confidence and willingness to move on from a connection that doesn’t see her worth.
“We’ve all had times where we’ve let the judgments of someone else dictate how we feel about ourselves. I wrote ‘Pretty’ as a reminder that it is up to each of us to define who we are as individuals and which traits we consider most important,” Shanleigh Rose said. “Personally, I know I’m creative, kind, and can laugh at myself, and those are the qualities that make me pretty.”
After taking Kamilaroi Country/Tamworth by storm, Shanleigh Rose will be back on local stages with a gig at Rosalie House in Jarowair and Giabal Country/Toowoomba on March 1.
Boorloo/Perth-based indie-rock act Clay Brown & The Trouble Round Town are back with new music this week, and they’re sharing it first right here on Sounds of Oz. I’m so thrilled to bring you their third single, “Satisfy Your Mind” today ahead of its official release on Friday, January 30. If you loved their previous tracks “All My Friends” and “No Place,” I know you’ll dig this bold blues-rock track.
It’s so easy to get swept up in that killer guitar riff and Clay Brown’s incredible vocals, but make sure you pay attention to the lyrics. “Satisfy Your Mind” explores the modern obsession with social media and encourages listeners to focus on their own real-life paths instead of getting caught up in a loop of doomscrolling and digital competition. It reminds us that the best way to find your even keel is to quit comparing yourself to carefully curated digital profiles and run your own race.
If you love “Satisfy Your Mind,” you’ll be happy to know there’s more new music on the way. Clay Brown & The Trouble Round Town are preparing to get into the studio and record their debut EP, which we’ll hear later this year. Expect to hear a few more tunes from that release when Clay Brown & The Trouble Round Town officially launch “Satisfy Your Mind” at The Bird on January 31. Tickets are on sale now from Oztix.
Image used with permission from Clay Brown & The Trouble Round Town
