For the final time this month we’ve updated our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music with ten new tracks, including one we premiered the music video. Singer-songwriter Alex the Astronaut is our Track of the Week this week with their new single “If You Have To Go” which dropped this morning.
The track is from Rage And All Its Friends, the freshly announced and highly anticipated EP – due for release on November 22nd. The track was written during Troye Sivan’s World Pride writing camp in 2023 and had the room in tears after the first play through: “It’s either a perfect thing or a really bad thing if you make a whole room of people cry… by the end of the three minutes of ‘If You Have To Go’, Troye and my campmates had all welled up – so I guessed we were onto something.”
The song, the first to feature a guitar solo by Alex (excellent btw), explores themes of missed moments and lost opportunities. Whilst it’s a tried and tested tear jerker, it’s not a particularly maudlin or downbeat, instead it errs towards dynamism and empowerment, with a good dose of sparkle and swagger too. Roll on November 22nd so we can hear the whole EP!
You’ll be able to catch Alex on the road soon, with shows in Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne at the end of October and into early November. You can find more information and tickets HERE and for the Newcastle show HERE.
“Tell Your Friends You Love Them” is not only wholesome advice, it’s the new single from Naarm/Melbourne-via-Germany-via-Detroit indie-rock/alt-pop outfit Hachiku. The track is from their anticipated second album The Joys of Being Pure at Heart, which is slated for release early next year via Marathon Artists/Independent. It’s also an absolute delight – bright, bubbly, whimsical and with a familiarity that’ll have you replaying it more than once. You also need to make sure you check out the accompanying music video.
Meg Washington is back this week with her new single “The Hook”, and this one is Paul Kelly adjacent. The single is also the first to be released from soundtrack for the feature film How to Make Gravy, on which Washington is serving as executive music producer. “The Hook” samples “Sunset Lover”, the hit single from French electronic producer Petit Biscuit. The result is a pop song that finds that sweet spot between brightness and melancholy and really showcases Washington’s vocal. The soundtrack album is open to pre-orders now, and the film will be released later in the year on Binge.
2024 is proving to be a busy year for indie-pop singer-songwriter Tia Gostelow, her impressive new single “Wasting Days” is her sixth of the year. The poignant track was written in collaboration with Lachlan McGuffie, and features Matt McGuffie on production duties. “Wasting Days” sees Gostelow in reflective mode, exploring themes of uncertainty and the passage of time. It’s dreamy, introspective, and emotive; there’s a tinge of melancholy to Gostelow’s vocal – but there’s also comfort and warmth there.
We are going to be getting to hear more of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s ethereally beautiful vocals this year, with the announcement of a new posthumous album: Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions. Released on November 8th, the album is a reworking of some of Gurrumul’s most well known and beloved songs and features accompaniment from the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra. First single, the title track “Banbirrngu” is available now and is a powerful reminder of the beauty of Gurrumul’s voice; but also his legacy both culturally and musically, with “Banbirrngu” deeply rooted in Gurrumul’s Yolngu heritage.
“A Door! A Window” is the latest single from Danish singer-songwriter Asbjørn, and the last to be released from his forthcoming new album The Secrets Our Bodies Hold – which is set for release on November 1st. There’s always something interesting going on production wise in an Asbjørn track and this one is no different – with imitation bird song in the first verse, fairytale-esque harp samples, and some delightful strings (practically a trademark) throughout. It’s the kind of song that rewards repeat listens, with its secrets revealed one at a time. Cathartic, empowering pop done perfectly!
Also added to the playlist this week are new tracks from Naarm musicians ISHAN (“Olivia Rodrigo”), KIAN (“MY RELEASE”) and Edmonton-based singer-songwriter JJ Miller (“Back from Irian Jaya”). Finally, we also have “FALLBACK” from Melbourne pop punk act All Regards, the video for which premiered last week.
Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
Alex the Astronaut “If You Have To Go”
Hachiku “Tell Your Friends You Love Them”
ISHAN “Olivia Rodrigo”
Meg Washington “The Hook”
KIAN “MY RELEASE”
Tia Gostelow “Wasting Days”
Gurrumul “Banbirrngu”
JJ Miller “Back from Irian Jaya”
Asbjørn “A Door! A Window!”
All Regards “FALLBACK” [Exclusive Video Premiere]
