Happy New Year! (It’s still January, so it counts… just!)
For the first time this year we’ve added ten new tracks to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Kicking things off with our first Track of the Week of 2025 is Eora-based rock ‘n’ rollers Krystal Rivvers, with their new single “Sienna”.
“Sienna” is the band’s first release of the year, and their first since the release of their debut EP Arora back in November. Co-produced by Jack Moffit and the band’s lead singer Earl Weir, “Sienna” is a vibrant slice of sun-soaked rock and roll, full of captivating vocals, rousing choruses, and an almost relentless momentum. It was pitched to us as having some War on Drugs vibes – and you can hear that – but there’s also a touch of The Church in there too, to our ears at least. A strong opening salvo to what’s looking to be a busy year for the band – which a debut album and Australian & International touring on the cards.
In the meantime, Naarm readers can catch the band at Lulie Tavern next Friday (28th Jan). And if you’re kicking about Eora in April the band will be at the Booty Block Party at the Lansdowne on April 5th.
The Yolŋu people hail from north-eastern Arnhem Land, and they, too, have their own ways of dealing with the ‘getting the kids to bed’ blues. Inspired by one of their children’s stories, the new tune “Go To Sleep (The Legend Of Ŋamini Baŋ’ Baŋ’)” from The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band is written from the perspective of the nightmarish creature who will kidnap the little kids who refuse to go to sleep. Their penance is having to go and live with her in place of her own children, who she lost many lifetimes ago. It’s a belter of a tune, with guitars that shred, soaring vocals and a sweet brass section to boot.
British singer-songwriter Shura is back after six years this week with “Recognise” the first single from her forthcoming new album I Got Too Sad For My Friends – out May 30th. It’s a striking (re)introduction to her music – with beautiful ethereal vocals floating along an atmospheric soundscape of synths, intercut with frenetic drumming and glitching electronica.
‘Basic Being Basic’ from Djo, the project of multi-talented musician/actor Joe Keery is utterly addictive. On the first spin it will hook you in – it’s upbeat, fresh and has a tantalising pull to it. He is performing at Laneway and also has a headline sideshow at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on Wednesday 12 February.
“Sweet Illusions” is the latest single from Dreamboys guitarist & singer and former Time Lord – Peter Capaldi. “Sweet Illusions” is the title track from Capaldi’s forthcoming sophomore solo album which is set for release on March 28th via Scottish label Last Night in Glasgow. The album was recorded and mixed across 2023 and 2024, with production from Dr Robert (The Blow Monkeys). There’s a delightful jangle to this one which brings to mind the likes of The Go Betweens. This is certainly no actor vanity project.
Deist Oelofse is the artist behind the indie-folk project We Are All Fossils. He is currently based in London, and his new single, “Rapture”, is an intimate and delicate reflection on growth and transformation. “The song captures the journey of breaking free from numbness and embracing change, inspired by the mornings in the Lake District. It reflects on nature’s resilience—how it adapts to shifting conditions, no matter how harsh. This imagery sparked a personal reflection on my own resistance to change and the lasting impact it’s had.”. It has a tenderness to it that it is reminiscent of early Bon Iver.
Nicole Selivan hails from Ukraine, and at the age of twenty left her home country to the safety of Brussels, where she has started creating music under the name of SALVIA. Her debut single is “Time” featuring bass and pulsing electronic drums, giving it an ethereal post-punk feel to it. She has teamed up with Arno De Ros and Tom Stokx (who are also in The Haunted Youth) to form her band.
Lush and expansive instrumentation, insightful lyrics and a swirling upbeat melody give “The Light Won’t Shine Forever” from Naarm/Melbourne-based rock outfit Floodlights a grandness that builds and builds. This is the latest single to drop from the bands forthcoming album, Underneath, due to drop on the 21st March.
Louis Parsons from the band reflects: “This song explores the fleeting nature of emotions – how joy is ephemeral, how hope can be ripped away and then found again. But all these feelings are part of our pursuit of what we love, whatever that may be.“.
Also added to the playlist this week is “Fusées” the final single from French singer-songwriter Laura Cahen‘s new album De l’autre côté (out today!). We also mark the return of Adelaide post-punks Placement with the inclusion of their latest single, “Inertia/Heavy Lids”.
Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
Krystal Rivvers “Sienna”
Andrew Gurruwiwi Band “Go To Sleep (The Legend Of Ŋamini Baŋ’ Baŋ’)”
Shura “Recognise”
Djo ‘Basic Being Basic’
Peter Capaldi “Sweet Illusions”
We Are All Fossils “Rapture”
Placement “Inertia/Heavy Lids”
SALVIA “Time”
Laura Cahen “Fusées”
Floodlights “The Light Won’t Shine Forever”
