New Music Discoveries 13th December: Hachiku & Tushara Rose, The Bamboos, Dear Seattle, and more

In our final playlist update of the year, this week we have added ten new tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Our track of the week goes to a festive track, “Merry Kissmas” from Hachiku and Tushara Rose.

Naarm/Melbourne-via-Germany-via-Detroit indie-rock/alt-pop outfit Hachiku is the music project from Anika Ostendorf (she/her), who was a much-loved member of the brilliant Milk! Record family during it’s lifetime, and Tushara Rose is a good friend of hers. The track was a co-write from the two pals many years ago in an apartment in Nottingham, putting verses and instruments to a jingle Tushara’s mother had created during Tushara’s childhood. “Merry Kissmas” is a feelgood tune celebrating the best of the festive season. It has the super-power to ward off cynical grinches, and revitalise after nights of festive excess.

Keeping the mood decidedly festive this week is Melbourne funk legends The Bamboos and their new single “Hot Christmas”. The single helps fulfil a long time wish of Bamboos bandleader and guitarist Lance Ferguson – to release a Christmas EP. Featuring sublime vocals from Kylie Auldist “Hot Christmas” shines a light on what mades a summer yuletide in the southern hemisphere so unique. This one should be destined to become an Australian Christmas classic in our opinion!

Lauren Mayberry “Sunday Best” of Chvrches fame, has just released Vicious Creature, her debut solo album, and it’s fabulous. We were lucky enough to catch Lauren at an intimate acoustic show this week in Liverpool, and the focus track, “Sunday Best” was on the setlist. She says the song is about “looking for light and hope when struggling with grief”. It’s a lush grand rollercoaster. Lauren will be touring the US early next year. Hopefully she will make her way out to Australia.

“Boys Like You” is the latest single from Australian dance duo Midnight Pool Party – their third of the year. It’s a song all about flirtation and that electrifying tension of early attraction. It’s also a song designed to make you get up and move, as Darren Morilla explains: “We aimed for a song that could make people dance but also wanted to explore new musical influences, blending a Pop/R&B vibe with K-pop elements while maintaining our unique MPP sound”. It’s playful, full of catchy beats and infectious melodies – it’s quality pop songwriting, and we can’t wait to hear more from the duo.

It’s not long now until Dear Seattle drop their third album, TOY – due out on the 17th of January. The latest slice from the boys from Sydney’s Northern Beaches is “Counting Hours”, a raw and honest take on a relationship that hasn’t gone the distance, probably due to self-sabotage.  “She wrote a letter and left me the key. Said ‘this is putting it bluntly, but your life’s a mess and i’m worried…'” doesn’t pull any punches.

“Last Train To Wyong” is the new single from Mogareeka punks Scared of Sharks, and their last before the release of their debut EP Double Happiness – which drops December 16th. The single is inspired by the night Tim, the band’s drummer, got too cooked at a rave, lost his keys, phone and wallet and proceeded to catch the train in completely the wrong direction. It’s been a fan favourite and highlight of the band’s live show over the past year and it’s now been committed to record. Packed full of larrikin storytelling and scrappy guitars, the vibes are right on this fun post punk track. The band will be launching their EP at Wollongong’s Society City on December 20th, so head along if you’re in the area.  

Singer/songwriter Georgie Winchester who hails from Wonnaura/Maitland NSW has released the cathartic “The Signs”, a track which highlights the regrets of not recognising the ‘red flags’ early on in a doomed relationship. It has a bright breezy feel for it, as she workshops what went wrong with the relationship. Georgie has a few shows coming up – catch her if you can. The track was recorded with the prolific Jack Nigro (Skegss, Dune Rate, The Terrys and so many more).

We also have new tracks from Brighton fuzz pop band BEACH RIOT with “Meltdown”; Irish folk act Charles James & The Rise and their track “Sailor and the Saint”; and finally perennial AU favourite Daphnie with yet another new DIY bedroom banger “Wanna Be (with) You”.

Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:

and on Spotify:

Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:

Hachiku & Tushara Rose “Merry Kissmas”
The Bamboos “Hot Christmas”
Lauren Mayberry “Sunday Best”
Midnight Pool Party “Boys Like You”
Dear Seattle “Counting Hours”
Scared of Sharks “Last Train To Wyong”
Georgie Winchester “The Signs”
Charles James & The Rise “Sailor and the Saint”
BEACH RIOT “Meltdown”
Daphnie “Wanna Be (with) You”

Header Image Credit: Marcelle Bradbeer