How do Circa Waves capture summer so perfectly in every song? Well we've been waiting patiently for another dose of sunshine, and finally we have it with Movies. It's a snappy, stylish return to form that showcases everything we love about Circa Waves – especially those killer hooks and their knack for writing an earworm chorus. It's the first taste of the band's forthcoming new album What's It Like Over There?, due out Friday 5 April.
This was a collaboration we didn't know we wanted until it was announced, but when two of the most beautiful voices rising through the Australian music scene come together it is pure bliss. We're still floating and we won't be coming down anytime soon. Their voices soar and harmonise together, growing and moving within the symphony surrounding them. It's raw and emotional, and we're certain you'll be hitting replay again and again.
It's about time you get on the hype train because Kwame is the real deal. He's leading the newest wave of Australian hip hop, and a few bars of his latest single Clouds will prove exactly why. Lyrically it's everything we've come to expect from Kwame – sharp, smart, and honest – but here the production steps up another notch (how is that even possible) proving his prowess doesn't stop when he puts the microphone down. The future is Kwame and 2019 is going to be huge.
All hail Sampa, she is truly the greatest. Featuring a spoken word section from the talented Nadeem Din-Gabisi, Energy showcases Sampa's signature free-slowing rhyme over fire production created alongside Kendrick Lamar collaborator Rahki and Silentjay. It's her first track since Birds and the BEE9 (which is still continuing to clean up the awards) and showcases a slight change in sound, while still continuing the refreshing style she brings to the Aus hip hop scene.
The top-notch collabs keep coming. This time Golden Vessel has teamed up with Melbourne Elkkle and Brisbane producer Akurei to create what is definitely his best track yet. Based around a conversation the trio had about stolen moonrocks, Moonstone's fluid, space-bound production floats around the vocals in the most hypnotising way.
We've had our eyes on Erthlings since they burst onto the scene with their incredible debut single Bridges and then went on to blow us away at Bigsound. We've been waiting patiently (kind of) and finally they've delivered single number two – and as expected, it is brilliant. The four-piece started writing together when they were just nine-years-old and their chemistry is electric. Hypnotic, pulsating beats carry delicate, floating vocals to create a track that balances the band's dreamy and dark aesthetics perfectly.
Nina Nesbitt's Colder is the perfect slice of poignant, anthemic pop. It comes ahead of her eagerly-awaited second album, The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change out Friday 1 February. Inspired after watching how fearlessly young people fall for each other because they've never had their heart broken, Colder is a slow-burner that'll be stuck in your head for days.
Lanks can do no wrong, and Stronger Than is further proof of that. Landing in the middle of his new, three-track EP Inoue, it showcases all his greatest strengths. Built around tender piano melodies and delicate vocals, throw in some simple production and catchy beats, and you have three-and-a-half minutes of pure Lanks brilliance.
We've had to wait three years to hear something new from Jess Ribeiro, but Love Is The Score Of Nothing makes it all well worth the wait. The track introduces a new sound from Jess – we've become used to her brand of intricate folk, but here she is in full indie banger-mode. Be one of the first to hear Jess's new direction when she comes to Geddes Lane on Saturday 2 February. Tickets are available here.
Melbourne-via-Darwin trio Bell City Square have dropped their latest track Sixteen. Once again they're showcasing their haunting take on pop music, and after everything they promised with breakout single Make Me Feel Nothing, you can bet Bell City Square are pop-rock stars in the making.