Chuck Sics shows you don’t need a big studio or years in the business to create a fantastic song. He recorded, produced, and mixed his psychedelic-rock debut single “Redo” in his bedroom studio, but it sounds every bit as polished as a major label release.
“The song is about the aftermath of confessing love for a friend who doesn’t share those feelings, and wishing everyone could forget it happened. Wishing you could disappear, or do it over again,” Chuck said. “The shame of rejection surely drives this need to forget it ever happened, but in the song I also tried to address that the way I dealt with the rejection at that time had not been fair. So the song is also about the pitfalls of self-victimising. Wallowing in sorrow and feeling as though everyone is out to get you – you manufacture this reality to justify your attitude, when really it’s your attitude that’s the problem. It’s a pretty high school problem, and I wish I’d been mature enough to handle the situation differently.”
Chuck Sics has set the bar pretty high on his debut release, but I can’t wait to hear how he evolves as a musician.
Harrison Storm is injecting a little folky goodness into your Thursday with his gorgeous new single “Find A Way.” Penned in a quiet moment during a solo cabin retreat, it’s a celebration of self-care and comfort that so many of us need.
“This song is a conversation between myself and the anxious part of me that I have been nurturing for years. The part that doesn’t feel safe in the world,” Harrison explained. “It’s a very literal song in that sense. The place I’m singing from is the calm, peaceful, and compassionate part of me that exists within, and the version of myself I’m singing to is this part that needs a lot of care and support.”
“Find A Way” gives us our first taste of Harrison’s sophomore album, which he’ll release later this year. He’ll play a couple of shows here in Australia before heading to the United Kingdom and Europe in November. Here are all the dates you need:
If your energy levels are running low this morning, hit play on “Stuck,” the latest single from Naarm/Melbourne five-piece Self Talk. With its punchy guitars and upbeat energy, this indie-pop rock track is better than any caffeine hit. Sitting somewhere between The Mavis’s and Paramore, there’s a real nostalgic charm to this one.
“Stuck is a simple, unashamed love song,” Self Talk explained. “An ode to the early moments of connection and the feelings you feel when you meet someone who gets stuck in your head. We really tried to capture some of those feelings musically — I feel like I can hear the butterflies and electricity and excitement in moments like the synth flourishes, the key change, and the trumpet that comes in at the end.”
Self Talk will launch “Stuck” with a hometown show at The Tote Upstairs on June 13. With support from Sick Visors and Grass Stains, it’s bound to be a fantastic night out. Tickets are available now from Oztix.
Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Hassall hits all the right notes with her relatable new indie-pop single, “Overpopulator.” With intricate lyrics and unpredictably addictive melodic movements, just see if you can resist playing this one a few times in a row.
The song’s music video, filmed by Willem Kingma (Bones & Jones, The Grogans), was shot in several locations around the regional Victorian town of Kolijon Country/Colac. Hassall said the clip aims to replicate the song’s over-caffeinated vibe.
“My favourite part of the day was shooting at our friend Maggie’s house,” she added. “It was a beautiful old house with feature pieces of furniture, and each room was painted a totally different colour, which made it ideal for filming.”
“Overpopulator” comes from Hassall’s debut album Means More to Me Than It Does to You, which drops on July 3. Before that she’ll support Killing Heidi on their 25 Years of Reflector shows, so if you’ve got some tickets make sure you don’t miss her set!
James Johnston tugs at the heartstrings with his nostalgic new single, “Back in the Day.” The track, which James cowrote with Morgan Evans, celebrates a simpler time when the world felt more connected, honest, and a little less crazy.
“’Back in the Day’ was written from a raw and unfiltered place!” James said. “I’ve known Morgan since I was about 10 years old and we just started chatting about that time in our lives and how things just seemed simpler. We started writing and the song came effortlessly! Putting myself back there brought back mixed feelings. On one hand there is a real joy in going back to those simpler times, but at the same time there is a sadness in missing what felt like a happier, safer world! I feel ‘Back in the Day’ really captures both of those emotions.”
James has some exciting headlining shows and appearances at leading country music festivals coming up, so make sure you catch him anywhere you can.
After wowing me with her pop-rock anthem “the blonde” and its ultra-catchy follow-up “6 Figure Trigger,”Zara Haines is showing a new side of her artistry with her latest single, “Freight Train.” While that title suggests a bold release, this is a gentle, stripped-back folk-pop song. Its acoustic sound helps me appreciate Zara’s gorgeous voice and relatable, introspective lyrics.
“I’m beyond proud to share ‘Freight Train’ with the world,” Zara said. “It tells a story close to my heart, about being overlooked and underappreciated—something I think a lot of people my age can relate to. I hope it brings others the kind of healing it brought me.”
“Freight Train” gives us our first taste of Zara’s EP, which she’ll release later this year.
If you’re struggling to get through the working week, give yourself a moment to crank up “So What!”, the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne-based emo pop-punk act Cordiform.
I don’t throw the term perfect around lightly, but this might just be the perfect pop-punk song. Its energetic intro piqued my interest, but those relatable lyrics delivered so convincingly by James Hibble assured me these guys are the real deal. Then when the intensity of those drums went up a notch to match the power of Liam Nolan’s grittier vocals in the second verse, my adoration went to another level. “So What!” is anthemic, perfect for singing along to when life gets too much.
“[So What!] was one of the first songs we started working on after we released our debut EP, Growth & Despair, in October 2023,” Liam said. “The original idea was Tim Irwin’s [drummer] really early in writing, always looking at it wondering how we would use it. It went through a lot of changes but the foundations were always linked back to the original demo. It took working with [producer Ionei] Heckenberg to really pull a chorus together that felt big enough to give the energy to the song we thought it deserved.”
Ionei also shot, directed, and edited the music video for “So What!” with Jaydon Colvin. The clip sees the band coming together with Cordi Club, their playful take on Fight Club. While it’s lighthearted, it also emphasized how even the most mundane things can become meaningful when they’re shared.
“Working with [Jayden and Ionei] was so effortless,” Liam enthused. “They really took our ideas and our lack of experience and really guided us through a massive day. They are so energetic and uptempo with their work and they really want you to walk away with the best product possible. It was something like 36c when we filmed that day and everyone was struggling under all the lights in the cramped spaces but they never showed it, even if we did.”
Cordiform are wasting no time celebrating the release of “So What!”, kicking off an epic East Coast tour supporting Chasing Ghosts tomorrow. Tickets are still available, so get on it!
After eight years together, Meeanjin/Brisbane band the Holy Rollercoasters are calling it quits. But not before a fitting musical send-off. They’ve just released “Down and Dirty,” our first taste of their final ever album, The Last Will and Testament.
As its name suggests, this single is raw and vibrant. It’s pure funk, with big ballsy horns and a groove that just won’t quit. According to the press release, it was recorded with “all the band is the same room, one take, no fancy shit.”
The Holy Rollercoasters will release The Last Will and Testament in early August. They’re also promising one more show, so keep an eye on their socials for news about that big sendoff.
Cardboard Cutouts continue to impress me with their latest track, “Ask Around.” It’s full of musical twists and turns with one of the most epic instrumental breaks I’ve ever heard. If you love Aussie rock music, you won’t find better than what these guys are putting down.
“It was written about the emotional exhaustion of a drawn out break up – it’s messy, raw, heartfelt, and a bit of a belter,” the band explained. “It’s not just about losing a partner, but all of the things that come with that, like close friends and favourite memories.”
Cardboard Cutouts have been releasing some cracking rock tunes, so I can’t wait to hear more when they release their debut album, Politics and Footy Tips, on June 27. As if that wasn’t enough reason to get excited, the band are heading around the country for a national tour in the coming weeks. Get on to those tickets before they sell out.
Up-and-coming Western Australian indie-pop artist Bailey Perrie is back with a brand new sound on her latest single, “For The Plot.” This cool, brooding number is a world away from the country-tinged sweetness of her last single “The Lotto,” but I think it really suits her. Bailey’s voice sounds so haunting against the layered synths, which give enough space for her lyrics to shine.
“This song is about those impulsive, heart-first decisions we make—not because they’re safe, but because they’re real,” Bailey explained. “It’s about trusting the journey, even if it’s a little reckless.”
“For The Plot” gives us an exciting taste of Bailey’s third album, which will see this musical chameleon delivering honest lyrics as she experiments with pop, country, and rock sounds.
Bailey’s not a household name, yet, but she’s already generating some serious buzz. The Australian Songwriting Association named her Youth Songwriter of the Year 2024 and the International Singer Songwriter Association (ISSA) gave her its International Rising Star Award. She’s also been nominated in several categories in this year’s 2025 ISSA Awards and Nashville’s Josie Music Awards. In addition to the accolades, Bailey’s scored radio play around the world and racked up 3.4 million Spotify streams and 1.8 million YouTube views. She’s also shot music videos in Los Angeles and performed in leading venues across Nashville and Atlanta. But right now, Bailey’s entertaining crowds closer to home with shows across Western Australia. Here are all the places you can catch this star on the rise.
4 June 2025 – Unplug and Play @ Indian Ocean Hotel, Balingup/Scarborough (FREE) 7 June 2025 – Intimate Acoustic Gig, Doondalup/Joondalup 7 July 2025 – Monday Milk @ The Bird, Whadjuk Nyoongar Country/Northbridge (FREE) 11 August 2025 – Open Mic, Walyalup/Fremantle
