It’s the penultimate playlist update for August and we’ve added ten more tracks to our Discovery playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. This week we’re celebrating the return of a firm favourite here at the AU: King Stingray.
The band have just announced their much anticipated second album, For the Dreams, which is all set for release on Friday 8th November. Accompanying the announcement is the band’s ‘first ever love song’ and our Track of the Week: “Cat 5 (Cyclone)”.
Energetic, and joyful, the single is a continuation of the band’s blending of manikay traditions with those of rock and roll; but perhaps with a bit of extra ‘pop’ polish added (and maybe a touch of a Crowded House vibe). Recorded during downtime between gigs, the single, and the album really capture the band’s live energy, whilst the songs offer something of a snapshot into the last few years of the band member’s lives. It’s all a much needed injection of joy and optimism. Roll on November!
Also about to launch their second LP, is Thelma Plum, who has announced that her upcoming album, I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back, will be released on the 18th of October. She has dropped another single this week, the third from the album, “Freckles”, another gorgeous track from the Gamilaraay artist.
“All those freckles on your face are just kisses from the sun”, Thelma sings. She has a brilliant turn of phrase, whether it’s calling out bad behaviour or, in this case, the joy of unbridled love. It will be a test of patience, having to wait until October to hear the rest of the album.
On the new single, Thelma adds “Freckles is a love song about someone who truly sees all parts of you. To be loved in that way by someone is, to me, so incredibly wonderful.”
Another artist making a welcome return this week is Mallrat who has released her first bit of new music in two years. “Ray Of Light” finds the songwriter in playful and experimental form blending and fusing disparate musical textures freely. The presser describes it as celestial and caustic, and honestly that all fits. It’s also, we believe, utterly compelling! Hopefully “Ray Of Light” is just the first in a line of new releases conjured up by Mallrat.
One of our most cherished singer/songwriters is undoubtedly Alex the Astronaut. They are back with “Cold Pizza”, a song co-written with the great Paul Kelly. Alex has been busy studying acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), but has taken some time away from her spaceship and acting lessons to bring us this song of heartbreak and nostalgia.
The imagery and feelings in this song are intense, describing the pain of coming to terms with the end of a friendship/relationship. Alex has the innate ability to create songs that we can all vividly relate to.
Of writing together with Paul Kelly, Alex writes: “To get to write a song about pizza with Mr Paul Kelly was my absolute childhood dream come true. The idea for the song started from a line in my notebook; “Today, for lunch, I had the margarita pizza we had sitting on the floor.” I had three chords and a breakup to go from, and we were on. I love to race write, and Paul was like a wise tree, taking time to ponder over every line. Together we built the song up like a Lego into something that brought a tear to my eye when I read over the lyrics at the end of the day. Now it’s recorded and alive, and I can’t wait to share the magic of Cold Pizza with everyone,“
West Australian folk duo Salt Tree are having something of a busy 2024. They’ve signed to the Nettwerk Music Group, have been crisscrossing Europe with Canadian four-piece Jon and Roy, and are set to embark on their biggest Australian tour yet in October before heading back to Europe. Somewhere amongst all that they’ll also be releasing their brand new EP, Swell (out October 4th), which features new single “I’ll Be Here”. It’s one of those welcoming, warm hugs of a song that’s just full of heart, joy and love all wrapped up in beautiful harmonies and their organic folk sound.
Amyl and The Sniffers have been busy tearing it up in the USA, supporting Foo Fighters in LA, and have just announced that their third album Cartoon Darkness, will be released on the 25th of October.
Adulting can be hard sometimes, as frontwoman Amy Taylor eloquently explains the background to their latest track to drop, “Chewing Gum” – “The adversity of life is desire never fulfilled. Doing the dishes, cleaning, but never eating the meal. Trying to celebrate the ignorance of youth despite it being robbed away, so choosing ignorance, choosing to be dumb and choosing love, despite everything, choosing bad decisions for love. Surrendering to joy, surrendering to being a vision, in your own power, because making decisions based on emotion rather than logic is liberating.”
“Stereo” is the new single from Nashville’s The Wild Feathers, and the latest from their forthcoming album Sirens (out October 4th on New West Records). The track is the album opener, and according to the band it was the first song recorded, but the last written. What began life as an instrumental soundcheck jam has developed into this striking slice of country rock that boasts a brilliant chorus that’s practically demanding you singalong right from the start.
Also added to the playlist this week is “He Knows”, the latest single from Hussy Hicks.
We’ve also added two fabulous premieres from earlier in the week – “Sister Jane” from The Rayes, and “Mystery and Magic” from Sunset Salore.
Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
King Stingray “Cat 5 (Cyclone)”
Thelma Plum “Freckles”
Mallrat “Ray of Light”
Alex The Astronaut “Cold Pizza”
Salt Tree “I’ll Be Here”
Amyl and the Sniffers “Chewing Gum”
Hussy Hicks “He Knows”
The Wild Feathers “Stereo”
The Rayes “Sister Jane” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
Sunset Salore “Mystery and Magic” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
