After a massive 2024 that saw them supporting punk heavy-hitters like Frank Turner, Luca Brasi, and Smith Street Band, Great Job! are coming out swinging in 2025 with the release of their latest single “Take Your Meds.” If you like the gritty, introspective lyrics and powerful vocals of the acts they’ve played with, I know this will be right up your alley.
“This song is named after the alarm I have on my phone that buzzes every morning,” vocalist Charlie Hollands said. “It’s about breaking things off with someone and initially feeling freedom before being proven that not only was it not only the wrong decision, but a life-threatening one. Because it’s not about a person at all … it’s about that whole romanticised idea that medication is a hindrance to the soul, and that the answer isn’t valiantly throwing a bottle of prescription pills into a lake.”
“Take Your Meds” gives us our first taste of Great Job!’s debut album, which drops later this year. They’ll launch the single with a show at Monster Mouse in Eora/Sydney on March 7.
Zanna Black has really impressed me with her latest single “This Town.” It’s such a unique tune that refuses to sit neatly in any box.
Zanna’s sweet voice has a definite folk feel, but the guitars bring a bit more of a rock edge to it. And then there’s that extra something that’s so hard to define.
Zanna said this song has a dual meaning for her, noting she was inspired by the residents of Queensland who had to flee their homes during flooding and her grandfather who had to leave his homeland. Whatever you take from “This Town,” I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.
I’m a long-time fan of KEZRA’s warm vocals and songwriting ability. She’s best known for folky music, but she’s taken her first foray into country with her latest single “Another Life.” She makes the transition sound easy, with her trademark talents priming her for success in this new genre.
“This one was a bit of a cheeky/fun write for me. Usually, I write sad, deep songs but this was formed by a rhythmic jam I started on my acoustic guitar which set the tone for the whole song,” KEZRA explained. “I wrote it about meeting someone for the first time who you feel so deeply connected to – you don’t know why or how as you don’t really know them at all – but there’s this instant lust/love kind of feeling, that makes you feel like you’ve known them for a lifetime. Becoming hyper-fixated over the idea of what they would be like in a relationship if they took a chance on you, but they’re with someone else.”
Fresh from his first headlining show at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Nathan Lamont shows he’s a star on the rise with “Bigger Things.” It’s a fabulous country-rock crossover track which reminds me of music from industry icons like Dan + Shay, Rascal Flatts, and our own Keith Urban. Nathan’s not imitating these artists though. Instead he shows he just might be their natural successor. The single saw Nathan working with MSquared (Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis), who’ve previously written and produced hits with Aloe Blacc, Tina Arena, and Casey Barnes.
“This was my first time working with the MSquared fellas! We had so much fun working on this track together,” Nathan said. “I have been a big fan of their work for a long time so to have the opportunity to get in the studio with them, I knew we would cook up something amazing, and I feel like we achieved just that.”
While headlining a Tamworth Country Music Festival show is likely to remain one of the year’s highlights, Nathan’s got plenty of other exciting shows in store. Catch him promoting “Bigger Things” at the following gigs:
Hayden Phillis shows maturity beyond his years with his latest single “Lies.” The insightful track sees Hayden questioning the religious teachings he’s absorbed since childhood as he searches for the truth. He worked the concept with his mentor Kevin Welch before cowriting “Lies” with Michelle Cashman.
“I was really happy with the song after we wrote it,” Hayden said. “It already felt like an accomplishment and it’s about those moments of realisation we all have when we start questioning the things we’ve been told.”
“Lies” comes from Hayden’s forthcoming EP, which we’ll hear later this year.
Image used with permission from Bec Gracie Publicity
Ruby Gill has absolutely floored me with their latest single, “Touch Me There.” This intimate exploration of sensual awakening and coming out is a real revelation. Take a few moments just to listen to this one. It’s subtle, but if you give it your full attention I know you’ll fall as deeply in love with it as I have.
“During the longest dry spell of my life, I came out to myself,” Ruby recalled of the song’s inspiration. “The first time I said it out loud was in this song – all that sitting by a river waiting for the truth to come out led to me being honest for the first time about who I was attracted to and what kind of sex I wanted in my life. It took almost two years of zero kissing to get to that point of self-knowledge. Not intentionally – everything just felt so wrong and scary after being touched in really unsafe ways before that. I was numb for years, but I finally felt sensation in my body again after writing ‘Touch Me There.’ It broke me open. I hope it breaks other people open too, whether it’s about queerness or otherwise. You have a say over your love and pleasure.”
“Touch Me There” comes from Ruby’s sophomore album Some Kind of Control, set for release on March 28. They’ll play the following shows through March and April to celebrate the new music:
“Love On The Loose” is a song for rock music fans who crave classic sounds. Delivered with plenty of swagger, big crunchy guitars, and even bigger vocals, Willie J’s 6v6s’ latest track is making me nostalgic for the crowded pubs with sticky floors of my youth.
This song already sits at 11, but I have a feeling that Willie J’s 6v6s can turn the voltage up even higher. Find out when they launch “the single”Love On The Loose” at The Gem Bar in Yálla-birr-ang/Collingwood on March 15.
In the meantime, if you want more rocking tunes check out my playlist Sounds of Oz Loves Rock. It’s got a bunch of new Aussie rock music featured on this blog including “Love On The Loose”. I’m adding new songs all the time, so give it a follow to listen to the latest.
Image used with permission from Dave Laing Publicity
Rachael Coltrona has just dropped “Everybody’s Doing It” a fresh floor-filler for your Friday. Whether you love clubbing or those days are long behind you, I think you’ll vibe with this empowering dance anthem.
Rachael says “It’s about owning who you are, no matter what everyone else is doing.”
Like so much of the best music, this “Everybody’s Doing It” came together quickly. Rachael actually wrote and recorded it, with the help of Eora/Sydney-based producer Phil Anquetil, in just two days. Talk about talent! Turn this one up loud and it just might give you the energy you need to make it to the weekend!
Last February, Melanie Cowmeadow brought a tear to my eye when she paid tribute to her late father with the single “Dear Dad.” This year she’s making me smile with her latest release, “Snakes & Ladders.” It’s a much more upbeat number that stays true to the country sound Melanie’s known for.
“I wanted to write something that captured how life can sometimes feel like a game,” she explained. “Sometimes you’re climbing that ladder, other times you slip down a snake, but you keep going. This song is my way of making light of those moments that can feel heavy.”
“Snakes & Ladders” is the title track from Melanie’s forthcoming debut EP which tells relatable stories of love, loss, and personal growth. Follow her on the socials to hear more about it ahead of its release later this year.
For someone who doesn’t consider themselves a country music fan, I’m sure enjoying a lot of it lately. Or maybe there’s just a glut of outstanding country music coming out of this country. The latest track to delight my ears is Andrew Swift’s new feelgood single, “Nothing Better.” Andrew drew from his own experiences of a life that couldn’t be panning out any better!
“It feels like not long ago I was mentally preparing to be fixing caravans and living life as a single man until the end of my days,” he admitted. “I didn’t think that being a full-time musician, homeowner, having a loving partner and a baby on the way would be on the cards, but here we are. Sometimes life blindsides you in the best way possible.”
Recording “Nothing Better” saw Andrew reunite with his long-time collaborator, the multi-award-winning Matt Fell.
“Having previously worked together on the last three albums, I feel like we’re on the same page now more than ever,” Andrew said. I love being able to get down to his new studio, Wilder Studios, in remote Tasmania. It feels like you’re a million miles away from the real world and you can really focus on the recording process.”
You can hear Andrew’s authenticity in his lyrics and vocals, so it’s only right that the music video features the real people and places that shaped him rather than actors and fancy locations. Jeremy Minnett of Eyes and Ears Creative captured footage of Andrew’s childhood home and real-life partner Simone.
Country artists are some of the hardest working musicians in the nation, and Andrew is no exception. Even though he’s got a baby on the way, it’s on the road and playing shows all over this wide brown land. Make sure you catch him anywhere you can.
