As we stride further into August, we’ve added ten more songs to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including two tracks we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Our track of the week is “God’s A Different Sword” from Naarm / Melbourne-based Folk Bitch Trio.
The three-part harmonies of Folk Bitch Trio on “God’s A Different Sword“ are intoxicating. Reminiscent of a multi-layered Laura Marling or Julia Jacklin, they are a joy to listen to.
It’s little wonder they supported the likes of Alex G, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Julia Jacklin and Courtney Barnett, and rocked out at festivals such as SXSW and BIGSOUND. They are about to head off to Europe on a massive tour before performing a bunch of shows back in Australia in November. Check out their website for more details.
About the track, the trio explain: “‘God’s A Different Sword’ speaks to relinquishing a pattern but indulging in the habit ‘just one more time’. The song was produced by us and Tom Healy during a fleeting stop in Auckland, Aotearoa this winter, while we were in town supporting Ben Howard. The lyrics are exasperated and questioning, so we wanted them to be held by instrumentation that is optimistic and open. The video, made by our dear friend Bridgette Winten, shows us gallivanting around our stomping grounds in Naarm, where this song was written and born.”
Naarm Aboriginal lead indie punk band Chasing Ghosts have released “Amnesia Everybody”, a potent thought-provoking anthem, highlighting how, in Australia, we so often choose to ignore the brutal historical treatment of Australia’s First Peoples. The band isn’t afraid to give us some home-grown truths.
Front man Jimmy Kyle, who hails from Thungutti Country, writes about the track: “Anthropologist W.E.H. Stanner talked about “The Cult of Forgetfulness”, and “The Great Australian Silence” in reference to non-indigenous Australians and their failure to acknowledge not just the atrocities of our past, but in also choosing to not think about them at all. Instead, a different history arose in Australia – one of negative stereotypes that victim-blamed First Nations Peoples for our own marginalisation and systematic decimation.”
“This song references the stark realities and historical data of this country’s background; that 50% of Australian massacres that were led by colonial police and often murderous politicians…and yet it is these same perpetrators who have streets named in their honour, heritage listed graves, statues, electorates, towns, and cities; glorifying their names and misrepresenting their reputations for sanitised and palatable amended versions of history”
We need to listen and learn from these artists such as Chasing Ghosts.
“all you ever wanted” is the new single from Divebar Youth, the musical project of Adelaide-based producer and artist Vinnie Barbaro. According to Barbaro the song is all about realising what you love in life and not letting your thoughts stand in the way of getting there. It’s yet another strong release from the increasingly prolific artist, though perhaps more atmospheric, understated and muted in delivery compared to some of his other releases. Bigsound attendees will be able to catch Divebar Youth at two showcases. More information on those can be found HERE.
Troubadour Steve Smyth is back with “PETROLHEAD” from an upcoming record, which we believe will be called matches. Steve has been living in Spain, hence a little out of sight but certainly not forgotten. “PETROLHEAD” has a chilled summer vibe to it, tantalising and teasing before Steve’s impassioned vocals take hold. Give the video a run as well. It will have you longing for summer daze.
London’s Tapir! are back this week with their new single “Hallelujah Bruv”, their first since the release of their acclaimed debut album The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain back in January. It’s an absolute delight on a track, with the six piece band keeping things quite simple on this one. It’s one picked acoustic guitar and singular vocal; and yet so comforting and full of charm and warmth.
“Breckenridge Lane” is the sophomore single from LA-based Illinois songwriter Timmy Skelly. The track is described by Skelly as a tribute to the small town in Illinois that he spent his formative year: “I wanted to capture the yellow haze of rural summer drives, the butterflies in your stomach feeling of taking risks for a midnight kiss, sneaking beers into the tackle box and smelling like a fire pit for weeks.” It’s a nostalgia tinged slice of americana that doesn’t sound out of place alongside some of his more famous and esteemed genre mates.
Also added to the playlist this week are new tracks from New Zealand artist Ratbag (“pinky boy”) and Arizona rap trio Belaganas (“Taming Strange”).
Finally we added two tracks which we premiered earlier in the week – “Hell Or High Water” from Green Mohair Suits, and the video premiere of “Magnetic Field” from PAXY.
Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
Folk Bitch Trio “God’s A Different Sword”
ratbag“pinky boy”
Chasing Ghosts “Amnesia Everybody”
DIVEBAR YOUTH “all you ever wanted”
Steve Smyth “PETROLHEAD”
Tapir! “Hallelujah Bruv”
Timmy Skelly “Breckenridge Lane”
Belaganas “Taming Strange”
Green Mohair Suits “Hell Or High Water” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
PAXY “Magnetic Field” [Exclusive Video Premiere]
