My husband and I have what we call the “no death” rule. In equal measures tongue in cheek and deadly serious (pun intended), we simply aren’t allowed to die on one another. Of course it’s likely to bite us as we invoke this rule as we get older, but for now if we’re sick or injured or laughing until we can’t breathe or tripping over the dog, we can simply say “no death rule” and feel confident our love will last forever. So I very much relate to “I’ll kill you if you die before me,” the dreamy new single from Naarm/Melbourne-based artist moonsea.
In this lullaby-esque song, moonsea only half-seriously threatens her love because she’s determined not to be left alone. Its lyrics use humour to process anxiety, grief, and the kind of everlasting love we all hope to hold on to. “I’ll kill you if you die before me,” comes with a stunning music video featuring real paper puppets and stop motion animation from Nadeera A.
Lana Karlay is set for a busy year juggling her rising musical career with her year 12 studies. The talented 17-year-old from Djilang/Geelong has just released a new single, “Running Out Of Time” which she wrote and recorded in Los Angeles alongside producer Esthy. It features guest vocals from US artist Cam’dn and is the ideal showcase for her heavenly voice.
Lana was recently named Emerging Artist of 2026 by KROCK and Forte Magazine and you can expect to hear a lot more from her this year. She’s got another single and three music videos on the way to support her upcoming debut album, along with a return trip to the United States for more writing and recording sessions. Mark my words, she’s destined for big things.
I get it. It’s Valentine’s Day. That Hallmark holiday celebrating love. And that’s lovely. But if you want love songs, there’s plenty of that around. So I want to do something different and showcase a song for all of my single readers out there. If you’re looking for a feel-good independent anthem today, you’ve found it with “Cowgirl Blues” from Saralyn. This reminds me of those upbeat country floor-fillers Shania Twain used to release in the ‘90s. It’s so much fun, whether you usually listen to country music or not.
“Cowgirl Blues was built around a fun, high-energy recording process that leaned into big country sounds and feel-good momentum,” Saralyn reminisced. “Guitarist Adam Osmanovic (Viper Creek) brought the unmistakable country twang, supported by honky-tonk keys, pedal steel, banjo, and driving drums. The track grew naturally into something bold, playful, and full, capturing the joy of the room and delivering a big, confident country anthem made to be turned up loud.”
The video, shot by Jake Davey Studios in Gringai Country/Gresford, captures that sense of fun.
“The night came together with the pub rallying the local ladies, crackers, cheese, wine, and dancing well into the night. Surrounded by friends & family, the blue 1975 Kombi van became part of the story, with standout moments including the choreographed leg kick, a confetti pop ‘owe!’ moment, and carefree scenes of driving the Kombi turning the shoot into a celebration rather than just a video.”
“Cowgirl Blues” is the first single to drop from Saralyn’s forthcoming debut EP, which we’ll hear a little later this year. While that release celebrates her original music, Saralyn will also pay tribute to one of her idols, Lainey Wilson, with a string of tribute shows next month. Catch her anywhere you can:
Pacific Avenue are getting me buzzing their upcoming sophomore album Lovesick Sentimental with the release of another new track, “Things We Wanna Say.” While their previous single “Here We Go Again” was a sweet ballad, this newie is a pure rocker.
“‘Things We Wanna Say’ is an ode to the core friendships that you build in the ‘coming of age’ years of your life,” said Harry O’Brien, Pacific Avenue’s vocalist and guitarist. “So much of our adolescence we’re surrounded by close friends and as [you] grow up together, experiencing the world and new things for the first time, you create bonds that are fundamental to our individual identities, then as you move through your 20s and people start getting jobs or moving away from home, the experience becomes a much more isolated one. We never say the things we want to say. We aim to lift up the meaningful connections that you’ve made and more openly feel like you can express your love for the people who make it all worthwhile.”
We’ll hear more new material from Pacific Avenue when they release Lovesick Sentimental on March 6. You can pre-order it now. They’re wasting no time bringing the new tunes to the stage, with their tour kicking off in Boorloo/Perth the same day and continuing on to Europe and the United Kingdom.
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.
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!
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)
Naarm/Melbourne rock act Pretty Moi have won me over with their back-to-basics new single “ROAD DOG.” It’s got a fantastic garage rock sound, free of studio bells and whistles that might dilute its intensity. I also appreciate the surf and psychedelic rock influences that Pretty Moi wears proudly on their musical sleeve.
“’ROAD DOG’ started as a bunch of old ideas that finally clicked once we leaned into storytelling,” Pretty Moi’s guitarist and cofounder Ruben Vasconez Swett explained. “It’s intentionally absurd and a bit delusional, inspired by an old Norm Macdonald joke.”
“ROAD DOG” is so appealing in its raw sound, but Pretty Moi has more up their sleeve. The track’s B-side “WITH YOU,” featuring the horns of local outfit FREE PARKING blends that psychedelic bent with jazz and Latin flavours. Expect more music that will keep you guessing with Pretty Moi unveil their upcoming EP VOL. 2 later this year.
In a world where there seems to be so much division, MAXON’s new folk-rock track “Everybody” is like chicken soup for the soul. It’s an uplifting anthem that reminds us of the humanity that unites us all.
“A lot of the songs on the album – while hopeful – carry a thread of sadness,” MAXON said. “‘Everybody’ felt like the emotional homecoming. Nay [Pattuwage] and I wanted to write something that celebrates love and connection; something that uplifts.
“I’ve been through dark spaces in my life, and I know first-hand that singing together is healing. ‘Everybody’ is a reminder that joy and love are just as infectious as pain. Let this song be an anthem for togetherness. Honestly, I’d love to make a world choir with this one – send me your audition tapes! Let’s heal the world together!”
MAXON’s debut album Talking With Strangers will be released April 8. Expect to hear more new music from the LP when Maxon plays the following festivals:
“You Won’t Be There” was already one of the highlights from Riley Pearce’s 2025 album The Weight of Our Dreaming. But he’s just elevated the track with the help of Irish singer-songwriter Sorcha Richardson, who was last on our shores for Misneach. The artists collaborated remotely on the duet single, “You Won’t Be There (Time Zone Version),” which hit the streaming services today.
“‘You Won’t Be There’ always felt like it could live a double life,” Riley said. “A version where it had a more conversational tone, capturing the two sides of a relationship’s distance that comes with touring. I heard Sorcha’s song ‘Maps of Manhattan’ when I was on tour last year and it instantly became a favourite. I was so impressed with the energy and world she built with her verse – I actually like this version more than the original.”
“When Riley sent me this song, I knew I wanted to write to it,” Sorcha added. “I loved the subtlety he had created within it, and the effortless ebb and flow of the arrangement. The sentiment was something that had been on my mind already; nights spent thousands of miles from home, cinematic and romantic in their own lonely way, but impossible to experience without thinking of somebody you wish could be there with you.”
While I’m not sure when we’ll see Sorcha back in Australia, Riley is preparing to take songs from his The Weight of Our Dreaming album around the country this month. With shows in the capitals and regional centres, there are plenty of opportunities to catch him live.
