Sounds of Oz

Posted on 05/01/202605/01/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Winters End Honour Late Member Christopher With “Deadtree”

In the 2010s, fantastic songs like “Ivy” and “Afterthought” put Eora/Sydney act Winters End on my radar. However, in 2020 they disappeared from view when founding member Christopher Pinto passed away suddenly from a head injury. After several years of grief and soul searching, his sister and collaborator Marissa Pinto has decided to continue Winters End in her brother’s memory. The new single “Deadtree” is a heartbreaking tribute to Christopher. Marissa’s voice has always captivated me, but I’ve never been quite so moved by it as I am listening to this song.

The recording sees Marissa reuniting with Winters End’s longtime producer Lachlan Mitchell, known for his work with The Whitlams and The Jezabels. It was recorded at Parliament Studios and mastered at Studios 301 by Steve Smart.

Winters End will support Ocean Wizard at Wombat Brewery in Yuin Country/Ulladulla on January 17 before a hometown headliner show at Oxford Art Factory on January 24 to promote the release of “Deadtree.”

Image used with permission from Winters End

Posted on 05/01/202605/01/2026 by Lauren Katulka

CARDAMONE Impresses With Alt-Pop Gem, “Sidelines”

If you like your pop music with edge, you’ll appreciate “Sidelines,” the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne chanteuse CARDAMONE. She gives a stellar vocal performance on this brooding track which explores the idea that in the aftermath of a relationship, things aren’t always as they seem.

“Sidelines is about acting like everything is great when it isn’t,” CARDAMONE said. “He thinks I’m living it up, but underneath I’m a mess.”

CARDAMONE has performed at some of her hometown’s best local venues including The Toff in Town, Birds Basement, and the Evelyn. Follow her on Instagram to learn where she’ll pop up next.

Image used with permission from CARDAMONE

Posted on 04/01/202602/01/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Amy Pania Reinvents Herself as Amyrah

Rubibi/Broome-based artist Amy Pania is laying her heart bare under a brand new musical moniker, Amyrah. She admits her latest single “Inside Out” is the “rawest” track she’s ever released.

“I wrote it at the bottom of an emotional pit, struggling with my mental health and these cycles of anger that left me seeing red, but creating the song became the moment I finally climbed out,” she said.

Amy’s voice is gorgeous, soulful and brimming with emotion. And I love when artists aren’t afraid to be vulnerable and so authentically themselves. This is pop music that matters. I can’t wait to hear from Amyrah this year.

Image used with permission from Blue Music Services

Posted on 03/01/202606/01/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Colin Lillie Celebrates Unity in Australia With “Our Land”

Last year I felt division within Australia in a way I’ve never felt before. I happened to catch a train full of people heading to Eora/Sydney for an anti-immigration march. It was packed with white retirees holding flags sounding off about migrants taking over their country. I watched in horror as one man said loudly that he should have worn his steel-capped boots as an Asian woman apologised while trying to make her way through the crowd and get off the train. That same night an Asian man wearing a Make America Great Again cap asked me whether I had a problem with him. Of course I said no, swiftly looked down, but wondered what would have happened if I’d answered in the affirmative. A couple of months later, I found myself sitting in a crowded park during a local seafood festival, trying to enjoy my fish and chips, when more white Boomers began sounding off about immigration. Then of course there was the terrorist attack in Bondi, a frightening reminder that hatred against people based on they are can turn deadly.

I’m naïve enough to think that the tragedy at Bondi and the acts of brave Aussies like Ahmed al-Ahmed may help remind us that we are one community and that our differences make us stronger. I’m also naïve enough to think music can make a difference. So in that spirit, I wanted to post about “Our Land” by Colin Lillie, a Scottish immigrant living in Mparntwe/Alice Springs who’s pretty proud to call Australia home. He’s joined by diverse contributors who played their parts from all parts of the country: Norman Daymarringu, Liam Jangala Price, Xueyan Chen, Gretta Ziller, Pete Denahy, Brad Bergen, Wayne Davis, and the stunning Austranesia Choir from Cairns.

“Its refrain, ‘We belong to this land,’ captures the essence of those who’ve come from all corners of the world to call Australia home”, Colin said. “The song is both personal and universal – a declaration of love for a country that welcomes, unites and inspires.”

Wayne Davis of Treetop Media shot the gorgeous video to highlight the contributions Colin’s collaborators and the parts of Australia they call home. He also made a feature-length documentary which follows Colin’s journey across the country meeting elders, artists, and everyday Aussies, which will be released later this year. After the 2025 we’ve just had, art like this which celebrates togetherness is exactly the sort of thing I want to champion in 2026.

Photo source: Colin Lillie promo kit

Posted on 02/01/202602/01/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Faker Drops Comeback Single “Comet”

It’s been far too long since Faker set the charts ablaze with tracks like “This Heart Attack” and “Hurricane,” but the voice behind the music, Nate Faker, is back doing what he does best. Coming 14 years after his last single, “Comet” has a classic feel that I know you’ll love.

“It’s about a comet crashing down into the middle of your street, home, neighbourhood, town, and life and trying to stand your ground, even though it feels ridiculous to do so,” Nate said. “It’s about what the world is at the moment, and trying to find an optimistic spin. Ultimately, we’re surviving. Sometimes you can see the comet coming, and there’s no point running, you just have to face it.”

What a return to form this is. Thankfully Nate won’t leave us waiting too long for a bunch more music. He’ll release his new album Enjoy Your Problems later this year. I also hear he’ll play some full band shows in 2026, so there are plenty of reasons for Faker fans to get excited.

Photo credit: Clayton Boyd

Posted on 02/01/202602/01/2026 by Lauren Katulka

Ellis King Gets Romantic With “The Blueprint”

With so many of us caught up in “New year, new me” sentiments, I figured it was only right to ease into the year with some positivity. “The Blueprint,” the latest single from local folk-pop act Ellis King, definitely fits the bill. It’s sweet and romantic, the kind of track that reminds you how lucky you are to have someone special or restores your faith that this kind of love is possible.

“I think I can call Blueprint my first love song,” Ellis said. “It’s about finally finding what feels like ‘real’ love, after a lifetime of relationships that never felt fully stable, natural, or complete. It reflects on the chaos, the lessons, and the people I thought were right for me but weren’t, and how those experiences shaped me to recognise the real thing when it arrived…This song is about building something lasting with someone who sees you fully, (flaws and all) and how different that feels compared to the versions of love I thought I knew before. It’s about creating a home, not just in a place, but in a person (and a spotty dog).”

“The Blueprint” comes from Ellis’ EP Everything That Comes After, which drops on February 20.

Photo credit: Courtney King

Posted on 31/12/202530/12/2025 by Lauren Katulka

2025: Year in Review

2025 has gone by in a whirlwind. It was a tough one for me as I dealt with the fallout of a car accident last December, but it was also one of my favourite years for appreciating music. I saw what is among the best concerts of my life, and surprisingly it wasn’t from my all-time favourite artist Rob Thomas! It still has me buzzing more than a month later. The albums were fire! So here’s what got me tingling this year. What about you readers? I’d love to know about some of your favourites. Happy New Year Sounds of Oz readers. I’ll see you on the other side!

Top 10 Albums/EPs of 2025

Top 10 Concerts of 2025

Lenny Kravitz
Rob Thomas (don’t make me choose between the two shows I saw!)
Jimmy Barnes and friends
Toto and Christopher Cross
Cyndi Lauper
Mayday Parade, Jack’s Mannequin, and The Home Team
Billy Ocean
Damien Rice
George Clinton with Parliament Funkadelic
Fanning Dempsey National Park

Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema

Posted on 30/12/202529/12/2025 by Lauren Katulka

Sewell Siblings Playing Bloodline Shows

The ultra-talented Sewell siblings – Conrad Sewell and his sister Grace Sewell (Saygrace) – are teaming up for some intimate shows in the major capitals next June. The tour announcement comes off the back of the release of Conrad’s gorgeous new single, “Deserve.”

“We’ve always wanted to tour together, but our schedules never aligned – Grace being in LA and me being in Australia made it pretty tough. It finally feels like the right moment in both of our careers to share the stage and make this happen,” Conrad said. “We’ll both be bringing our own sets, but the real magic happens when we come together – harmonies, stripped-back versions of our songs, and a few surprises we’ve never done publicly before. It’s a celebration of family, storytelling, and the music that shaped us – this tour is all about connection: with each other, with our fans, and with the songs that mean the most to us.”

If you’re a fan of Conrad, Saygrace, or both, you won’t want to miss this. Tickets to Conrad and Grace’s Bloodline tour are on sale now through the links below.

5 June 2026 – The Night Cat, Naarm/Melbourne
6 June 2026 – Lion Arts Factory, Tarntanya/Adelaide (ALL AGES)
26 June 2026 – The Triffid, Meeanjin/Brisbane (ALL AGES)
27 June 2026 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on 30/12/202530/12/2025 by Lauren Katulka

Ama Drops New Pop Gem, “You’re never gonna get the girl”

According to my Spotify Wrapped, Ama was my most played Aussie artist of the year. Her heart-on-sleeve pop numbers really got under my skin, and I had every single on repeat for a while. So I’m thrilled that she’s giving us one more track to close out the year. “You’re never gonna get the girl” is Ama’s first release since her debut EP Julie’s House dropped in May, and it’s probably no surprise that I love it.

Ama has such a gift for writing songs that combine self-aware humour with bittersweet emotion, and “You’re never gonna get the girl.” The gentle layered pop sound reminds me a lot of the music LANY released on their soft album this year, undeniably catchy but acting as the support for the strong lyrics rather than attempting to steal focus.

Ama’s music has made such a strong impression on me this year. With the start of this new chapter, something tells me she’s going to follow up with a massive 2026.

Photo source: AMA EPK

Posted on 29/12/202529/12/2025 by Lauren Katulka

Live Nation Helping New Acts Play Live Shows With Next On

Getting in front of audiences can be tough for emerging acts. Venue overheads are pricy and as the cost of living bites us all and many music lovers prioritise seeing major acts simply breaking even if a challenge. Live Nation is giving up-and-coming Aussie and Kiwi acts a bit of a leg-up with its new Next On initiative.

Every month, Live Nation will give an artist the keys to one of their iconic venues, totally rent-free. It’ll cover all the show costs – from venue rental and production to marketing – and make sure every dollar from ticket and merch sales goes straight back to the artists. Live Nation will also promote the shows and provide professional support that could be absolutely massive for all acts selected. No wonder local talents like Kate Ceberano, Tim Rogers, Missy Higgins, and Teenage Joans are right behind this one. And they’re encouraging Aussie music lovers to do the same.

“Taking a punt on a new act, a new group, a book reading, a theatre show that is not necessarily on the popular culture radar WILL make you a more fulfilled human,” Tim Rogers enthused. “While the rush of being part of a spectacle is palpable, to engage with an artist as they begin makes you, more than ever these days, part of the experiment. To be a fan, a participant, a patron is a noble thing. You are not just an audience. You were involved, and joined the community. Welcome, Onward we go.”

“Giving young artists the chance to stand on iconic stages early, to find their voice and confidence in the right environment, is invaluable. I’m 100% behind it, and I’m thrilled to see these sorts of initiatives help make this possible,” Kate Ceberano added. “This is how we build a healthy industry – one strong foundation at a time.”

Do you want to play at the Palais Theatre, The Triffid, Fortitude Music Hall, Anita’s Theatre, Hindley Street Music Hall, or Tuning Fork as part of Next On? Click through for the Next On registration form. And if you just love music, keep an eye on the Live Nation website next year for all the details of its Next On shows.

Photo credit: Sam D’Agostino