We’re kicking off March bracing for a cyclone and with ten more tracks added to our Discovery playlist on Apple Music and Spotify, including one we premiered earlier in the week.
Our first Track of the Week for the month goes to Los Angeles-based Aussie singer-songwriter Iluka with her new single “Woman Gone Mad”. Released in time for International Women’s Day, “Woman Gone Mad” is an alt-pop protest anthem and rallying cry for our current moment. At least that’s according to Iluka: “While oligarchy and fascism seem to be the new reality as weak men in power become more unhinged, I think music, art, and community are what’ll save us.“
With a touch of Stevie Nicks in the delivery, the powerful single explores themes of resistance, strength and solidarity. It’s big and bold in its delivery and full of attitude. Though, despite that it’s also a song tinged with grief, taking inspiration from the aftermath of the recent catastrophic fires in Los Angeles, which tore through and destroyed Iluka’s neighbourhood.
Also released to coincide with International Women’s Day is the poignant “Sister” from New Zealand’s singer/songwriter Jenny Mitchell. It’s a sweet reflection and acknowledgment of the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Jenny has roped in her two sisters, The Mitchell Twins, Nicola and Maegan to sing harmonies. There’s a beautiful video which was filmed at the family home in New Zealand. It’s wholesome, uplifting, and a beautiful tonic for the end of the week. “We spent a day shooting the video at my family home in New Zealand. The tree hut, swing set, chicken coop and everything in between are the real deal. They’re the places we grew up exploring. Our little mini-mes and their Mum’s came to our place for the day and between us + my longtime collaborators, Scrambler (Wade McLelland and Bradon McCaughey), we created something that feels extremely nostalgic to me and just full of joy and our version of girlhood.”
Keeping with the theme of empowerment and resilience, on the playlist this week we also have “Hold On” – the latest single from Tash Sultana. Emotive and powerful, “Hold On” is, according to Sultana, “for anyone who’s ever had to find strength when life pulls the ground out from under you. Hope this one reaches whoever needs it”. It’s bright, high energy, and there’s an undercurrent of anger, of defiance, and a will to continue on that is palpable. Accompanying the single is an intimate, stripped-back live performance filmed straight from the studio floor. US readers should also keep an eye out too as Sultana has just announced a massive US tour. With their Red Rocks show selling out in minutes, you’re not going to want to snooze on getting tickets.
There are some artists whose vocals just send the chills. Kaleo is a prime example. Closer to home, we have Naarm’s Josh Hannan who blew our mind with his debut single last year, “aftermath”. He has followed up the debut single with his debut EP which is being released today, Dead Heart.
The title-track was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical drawings and his own scientific studies. “I was doing cardio physiology at uni and I had this visual idea of building a new heart,” explains Hannan. “We were actually chopping up hearts, working it all out, and I was super inspired by that. I thought writing a song around a heart could be really interesting, because it’s so scientific and complex, but it’s also such an emotional organ in a way.”
The track is high on emotion as he lays out the feelings of having your trust taken away. Josh will be playing next Wednesday March 12 at Metro Social in Sydney. We don’t think he will be playing in such intimate venues for much longer.
An AU favourite, WA singer-songwriter Riley Pearce returns this week with new single “Like A River”. The single is Pearce’s first since the release of his sophomore album It’s Your Turn Now last June. “Like A River” sees Pearce in a reflective mood exploring the tensions between responsibility and chasing your passions. It has all the hallmarks of the best of Pearce’s work – there’s that intimate and emotive vocal, there’s the richness of instrumentation and melody. But, beautiful as it is, there’s also a little bit of an edge to this one too – intentionally – as Peace describes it: “The song is meant to feel somewhat uncomfortable at times – the pulsing bass, the pedal steel swells, it’s the feeling that your heart is beating out of your chest, and the panic is setting in.”
In “Two Birthdays”, singer/songwriter Angus Legg from Naarm, beautifully encapsulates the confusion and trauma of separation for the children of divorced parents. His vivid storytelling told through the eyes of an eight-year-old, showcases the hurt caused by this tumultuous event. Written through his own experience, it’s intimate and beautifully constructed.
“Religious” is the second single to emerge from Sydney’s Milly McPherson, in the lead-up to the release of her debut studio album. Milly has drawn on her experience growing up in a religious household, using faith as a metaphor for youthful naivety in love. ”Religious” is lush, dramatic and cathartic. There’s much to look forward to from the talented twenty-one-year-old.
Also added to the playlist is “Sunrise”, the debut single from WA teenage five-piece Nood Harbour. The band will be launching the single at Scarborough’s Indian Ocean Hotel next week. Tickets available HERE. We’ve also added the brilliantly titled “That’s How I Got The Congas” from Melbourne’s Cool Sounds.
Finally we have added “Postcolonial Blues” from Second Idol which we premiered earlier in the 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:
Iluka “Woman Gone Mad”
Jenny Mitchell “Sister (feat. The Mitchell Twins)”
Tash Sultana “Hold On”
Josh Hannan “dead heart”
Riley Pearce “Like A River”
Angus Legg “Two Birthdays”
Milly McPherson “Religious”
Cool Sounds “That’s How I Got The Congas”
Nood Harbour “Sunrise”
Second Idol “Postcolonial Blues” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
