We are on the run-down to the end of the year, and this week we’ve added another ten tracks to our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including one exclusive premiere from earlier in the week. Our Track of the Week is “August 19” from the Naarm/Melbourne-raised and now London-based post-punk outfit HighSchool.
We first caught HighSchool supporting Sam Fender in Sydney in November of last year, and were instantly hooked. “August 19” is a dark swirling mix of shoegaze, lofi and muted vocals. It’s an atmospheric examination of young love, replete with nostalgic flashbacks and has all the feels of fullsome adolescence. It’s a dusty, moody and lush soundscape. You can sense a love of 80s northern English bands such as New Order here.
The band have signed with [PIAS] Australia and are currently working on their second EP in London.
After what feels like an age, Boorloo indie-folk band Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks are back with new music, and a debut album on the way early next year too. There is a delightful delicate wooziness to “Clothes Peg” that just hits the spot. Introspective and contemplative lyricism combine beautifully with an ethereal, almost jazzy, instrumental back drop. It’s a bit of a new direction for the WA folksters, but equally a very welcome reminder of just how good a songwriter Davies is and just how well the band can pull on those heartstrings. With The Nighttime, The Wind, The Crocodile set for release February 1st; the band will be heading out on the road over the summer. Head to their website to check out the dates.
Asha Jefferies has very neatly encapsulated the challenges faced at this time of year, with the on-point track, “Keep My Shit Together”. Hailing from the Northern Rivers in NSW, the track was produced by her good mate, Sam Cromack of Ball Park Music. This is upbeat yet melancholy pop, featuring lyrics that many will resonate with. Reflecting on the song, Asha writes, “It was written one hot and sweaty day around my piano in December. While feeling stuck and existential, this song is an ode to bringing lightness to hot and heavy feelings around Christmas time. We recorded this in mid-December, aircon cranking and all in organised matching white tank tops.”
“Employee Of The Month (9 to 5)” is the new single from Dutch rock band The Crimson Crows. The song sees the band sending up corporate drone culture and facing the existential dread of a meaningless dead end job with intricate guitar riffs, engaging gritty vocals and some classic rock swagger. The band only formed in 2022 releasing their debut single earlier this year, but they’re one to keep an eye on.
Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief) has released the intimate and emotive “Ruined”. Piano-led, she sings a lament “Can’t get enough of you // You come around I’m ruined.”. It’s gripping and vivid, and is the lead single from her solo album due to be released in 2024.
Brenn! has been teasing out samples from “Looking For”, his latest single to drop, and it has already racked up crazy numbers in anticipation – with more than 4.1 million views on the unreleased sound on TikTok. Holy moses! This folk-pop artist has had a phenomenal year, and no doubt 2024 will be even bigger. The latest track is an emotion-packed banger reflecting on love that sadly didn’t survive the perils of distance. Expect to hear way more from the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native.
Finally, we have an exclusive EP premiere from Marcus Wynwood (Killerbites).
Catch the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
HighSchool “August 19”
Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks “Clothes Peg”
Ella & Sienna “New Year’s Kiss”
Asha Jefferies “Keep My Shit Together”
The Crimson Crows “Employee of the Month (9 to 5)”
Adrianne Lenker “Ruined”
Coco Elise “Make Me Melt”
Brenn! “Looking For”
The Dead South “A Little Devil”
Marcus Wynwood “Simulation” [EP Premiere]
Header image credit: Hannah Mckimmie
