discover new australian music

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

We started off the same way most young punk bands do. Lots of Green Day, Against Me, The Menzingers etc. We were all high school emos. That has always played a part in our sound, putting us on the melodic, emotive side of punk more so than the chordal, political origins of the genre. The sound is still developing as we grow. We listen to grunge, hardcore, folk, dub reggae, trance, world, blues, and lots of country. It’s fun to listen to what people outside of your immediate genre are doing that makes them special.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Listening to more and more music every day. In recent years, the online accessibility to new obscure music is so cool, we can digest music from all over the world and sift through music we otherwise never would have found. More people are pushing boundaries and saying goodbye to genre “norms” and that is super inspiring to us. We never feel like we’ve got to stick to a certain concept.

What can punters expect from a semantics live show?

Lots of yelling, lots of headbanging, a couple of tears and way too much fun! Energy is what makes a show, so we won’t always play our parts perfectly, you can listen to our tunes at home and enjoy precise recordings, but we aren’t sacrificing a punk rock performance for that. I don’t think its what people come to our shows for.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

The best advice we have received is to barrage Unearthed with our activity. Our incredible friend Luke Morgan stressed the opportunities we could gain if we took this seriously and let the curators know we exist. Since then, no one has reciprocated our efforts better than triple j and Unearthed.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

I’d blast the entire Novos album by The Gooch Palms. I break out in dance every time I listen to it. There’s something about the surfy, punk reinvention of The Misfits, The Ramones and Elvis Presley ballads that is just irresistible.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

'Boys Will Be Boys' by Stella Donnelly is a tearjerker. The lyrical depth and intensity tied in with her sometimes delicate delivery and belting vibrato is almost too much. Incredible song, gives me the shivers every time I play it.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Easily 'Broken Leg' by Blue Juice. Most underrated song of the 2000’s.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

Half of us went to the Waax album launch at the Triffid, all we can say is… wow. Insanely energetic band with mountains of talent and fresh musical ideas, they’re a band we really look up to.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Brisbane music community that inspire you.

Brock Weston (drummer of Bugs and producer at Bedlam) is an infinitely wise and creative individual with great taste and pure enthusiasm for music. Bugs in general are a pretty incredible group. They have given us a hand spreading the word about us and are one of the most talented and deserving groups in the country. We’re also head over heels for Voiid who are long-time friends of ours. Seeing them grow and kick milestone after milestone so unrelentingly is so inspiring and so much fun to be around.

What are your plans for 2019?

We’ve got our gigs booked up for the rest of the year with some amazing bands (Press Club and Lazy Susans notably) and we’ll be writing new tunes in the interim! This year has been hectic already, we want to keep the ball rolling and hit 2020 prepared for even more action!

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

We developed our sound fairly organically by collaborating with one another and jamming at home – on and off, we’ve actually been playing music together for some years now. In 2017, we decided to take our ideas to the studio and recorded our first few songs, all lo-fi funk and groove. More recently we have been crafting ideas which we take to each other - adding to each other’s ideas until we arrive at a song. Then we move into the production stage where we start fleshing out how exactly we want the song to feel and sound.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Our greatest source of inspiration is the musical process itself. We are all passionate about making music. It is a wonderful creative process filled with emotion, commentary, thoughts and reflections which we can share with the world.

What can punters expect from an Approachable Members of Your Local Community live show?

The Approachable Members show is always a party - filled with groove, singalongs, outstretched stage banter and everything in between. We love to transform the space we’re in, we’ve converted venues before into your neighbourhood street, complete with clothes lines, notice boards and street signs. We’ve recently decided to treat all of our sets like stadium pop inferno performances. Unfortunately most of the venues aren’t delivering on our runway staging requests. Anyway, if you find yourself at an Approachable gig, you better make sure to equip your -19 decibels ear plugs – we make music for your ears, but we’d hate to be the cause of any long-term hearing damage.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

Shock horror, because the best advice we’ve been given is from our parents - to push the project as far as we can and have the best time in the process, but to keep straddling our day jobs and studies. It turns out it’s super challenging to make much money from music and living off it would be truly quite a challenge.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

An Australian track with a near 100% success rate of cheering someone up is Ben Lee’s ‘We’re all in this together.’ While it might still be up to debate whether or not Ben Lee is a living genius who wrote the best pop hits of Australia in 2005, at least we can all agree that he’s voice of our generation.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

'The Summer' by Josh Pyke. And then apologise.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

'Shooting Stars' by the Bag Raiders. We played this at our Splendour DJ set and it WENT OFF.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

Jack River at The Forum. An amazing show and perfectly put together. We absolutely love her album. We think that she’s really nailed an awesome pop sound. But her live show took it to a whole other level. And that was all before rock legend Alex Lahey snuck on stage and rocked out a sax solo. Obviously, we wept.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.

We are inspired by all of the friends around us, amazingly talented musicians and producers willing to share their knowledge with us. We currently share a studio with Japanese Wallpaper (Gab Strum) who produced our latest release ‘On + On,’ and a friend by the wild name of Hamish Patrick. Both of them are simply phenomenally talented - these guys inspire us. They’ve really helped us develop our songwriting and producing, and help us find a creative process which works best for us. We recognise that we’re really fortunate in Melbourne to be a part of such a supportive community of musicians, producers, writers and visual artists that are always keen to give a helping hand.

What are your plans for 2019?

This is going to be a big year for Approachable Members. We just signed a deal with New York label AntiFragile which is outrageously exciting. We are currently working on a new EP titled ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, which we’re hoping to release some more singles from very soon. We’ve got some very exciting collaborations with Australian artists on forthcoming singles, we can’t wait for you to hear. If you follow our socials, you might already have some clues. Speaking of sounds, Bigsound is coming up, and we’ll be heading to Brisbane! And maybe some other secrets too.

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

Our music is the audible sound of two friends who fell in love with each other at first sight. I feel our sound has come together subconsciously from the countless hours spent together sharing music, comparing our upbringings, driving home with each other, skipping class for food and the thousands of hours spent together at band practice just jamming and covering songs we mutually loved. Our music reflects the world around us, like really happy but not and also really sad but not also.. Our sound comes from such an array of artists and genres and eras, it’s hard to nail it, but we definitely aspire to match the individuality and attitude of so many punk artists who do what makes them and others happy and feel included.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

We REALLY just love music, art and culture and we get inspiration from a bunch of different art. I think we grab inspiration from just about everything. We really feel that what’s around us will often shape who we are and that’s the same with the music and art we make too. We always send each other single covers or music videos, weird mini YouTube doco’s, quotes we think are nice. It’s always fun looking back on how our inspiration has changed over the last few years I think at this stage we inspire each other based on what the other one gets excited about.

What can punters expect from a TOWNS live show?

A TOWNS show is 30% music and 70% us asking how your day has been. We like EVERY show to be different because we are both such inattentive people who get bored of things VERY quickly, so we like to make sure we have as much fun at every show as possible while also including everyone else in the room. So essentially a TOWNS show is an explosion of energy, a safe space for everyone,  oozing vulnerability, a LOT of shit talking and a whole lot of happi people having fun.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

The best advice I got given was to never throw away any song, click save on every project because it might turn into something one day. I remember Alex Lahey saying that at a panel for ’Face the Music’ In Melbourne a few years ago and I always remember it when I think a song sucks. On the other hand the worst advice I ever got was from a lot of my friends dads growing up, suggesting that I should do Cold Chisel covers at the local pub to get my band attention. They would ALWAYS argue that point, like every day, ever. 

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

It goes one of two ways either ‘Mango Tree’ by Angus and Julia Stone for a calm lift up to really ground someone in life and to appreciate all the pretty things. OR Gretta Ray’s ‘Unwind’ can leave me feeling VERY optimistic. Oh and Ben Lee - Catch My Disease is an absolute BOP. OH FAR OUT AND ‘Don’t Change’ by INXS is a REAL winner

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

For crying, the artist Toy Boats had a song ‘Searching for the Wonder’ that is extremely beautiful, I think everything he released had so much emotion that it’s hard not to get caught up in it. Such a unique voice too, I always find voices that aren’t afraid to stand out much more powerful than your typical Australian Idol chart topper. I also just really can’t get past 'Blood' by the Middle East. It never ceases to make me cry happy and sad tears simultaneously. 

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Okay, so we have two answers. 
1. ‘Arnold’ by Luke Million would have to be THE D-Floor banger. That song has never not gotten me up and moving like a person who actually goes to the gym. 
“UP…. DOOOWN.. COME ON, MORE ENERGY!’ YAS. Even reading it gets me pumped. 

2. Here’s the scenario. The D Floor is like THUMPING and people are like “woah we want a song that will go HARD!! What will take us to the next level??” Ya bois walk up to the decks with a usb full of .mp3 bangers. The people are going bananas! Our hands are shaking with power.
We select ’Parlez Vous Francais’ by Art vs Science and THE CROWD GOES WILD. Everyone just pops OFF like a frog in a sock!  

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

The last local show I went to was this super sweet local fest called ‘Flip Side Festival’ that ran across three different venues and featured every act on the bill being female fronted or featuring one or more fem/non-binary member! It was just such a wicked time. Our wonderful friends in Teenage Joan’s were on the lineup and FAR OUT they rule hard. I also caught a MONSTER of a set by High Time which was just packed full of energy, life and positivity and I spent the whole show just air drumming and stank facing and UGH it was seriously just amazing. I love Adelaide. AND I love the fact that all of this happened on not just a Saturday, but also on a FRICKIN SUNDAY NIGHT!! 

Tell us about the bands or people in the Adelaide music community that inspire you.

Adelaide’s music scene is full of so many supportive people. It doesn’t feel competitive, it just feels full of people all interested in everyone succeeding and having a lovely time. We can’t give enough love to Nick O’Connor, the projects manager at Northern Sound System for all his support in getting TOWNS of the ground. Teenage Joan’s for reminding us how good it is to simply be doing what we love. Pinkish Blu for being our best friends and being the people we go to for positive reinforcement.  And finally anyone whoever attends The Crown and Anchor on a Wednesday night to see all the wonderful talent of Adelaide.

What are your plans for 2019?
More music. More touring. More pushing ourselves creatively. More learning. More loving. More TV. I think 2019 has really just been SO lovely to us thus far. Getting the offer for Spin Off was much bigger than anything we thought this year had to offer. So who knows what curve balls what this year can throw eh? We have some really exciting things coming up and we’re just so thrilled to keep pushing ourselves in the most creative ways and making things we feel represent who we are and what we’ve learned. We’re very bloody excited to do another hot lap of the country and see all the beautiful people across the country side. But to be honest I think as long as we get to be ourselves and stay in friendship love with each other, anything could happen and we’d be so ecstatic.  Just having our friends by our side while we go through life is beautiful enough and more than we could ever ask for. 

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

The Hoodzy sound definitely came from a lot of trial and error and using different aspects from a lot of genres but my sound is hands down inspired by the grime scene. 

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Putting my people, my sisters, everybody that I represent on the map. 

What can punters expect from a Hoodzy live show?

High energy, blasting sounds & a safe environment for everybody in the place. 

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

The best advice I’ve been given was to never change myself or my sound for anyone. That came from my no.1 supporter who happens to be my girlfriend. 

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Its definitely gotta be Kaiit and her track 'Miss Shiney'. If those vibes don’t cheer you up I don’t know what will. 

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Now that ones gotta be Kobie dee and his track 'Jody'. The storytelling in that track is just mind blowing. 

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next? 

I think we all know Onefour. Spot the Difference is the only real way to kick off a dance floor. 

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

It was a free show on the beach that Montaigne played. It was crazy. That lady can move.

Tell us about the bands or people in the QLD music community that inspire you.

It’s gotta be Jesswar from QLD. Just the power and confidence that the girl brings is crazy. Definitely something a young girl like me would look up to. 

What are your plans for 2019?

The plans from 2019 is just to establish my music in the scene & bring as much energy to the table as I can.

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

Our music is really signature to us, you could say its a smash together of lots of different genres (which depicts our music taste pretty well) recently we've moved towards a sound that is a lot more us, progressing from twinkly pop-rock into a more powerful 90s grunge sound, we hope you're all liking it as much as we do!

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

We think our greatest inspiration for making music is each other! We've all been really close since primary school, and making music with your best pals is as inspirational as it gets. It's really exciting for us to be able to all work together on something we're so passionate about and have fun while doing it!

What can punters expect from a Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers live show?

Punters can expect a whole lot of wholesome vibes at Teen Jesus shows, we love making the crowd feel inclusive, welcome and love busting out a boogie on stage. 

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

The best advice we've ever been given is probably to have fun! Sounds a bit cheesy but we got told this when we first started the band and by living by that advice we've managed to have the best time in our music career so far.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

'Older' by Parcels would definitely be the song we'd choose to cheer someone up if they're crying. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thinks its impossible to not get up and boogie to this song.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

'Don't know how to keep loving you' by Julia Jacklin, would definitely be our song of choice to make someone cry, we're tearing up just thinking about it tbh.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

If we were the DJ at a party I'd say we'd have to slip in a sneaky little Kylie Minogue 'cant get you out of my head'. 

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

The last local gig we went to was at a small cute venue called 'The Front' ran by our pals at CBR DIG. 4 Canberra bands played stripped back sets to fit the mood, The Tipsy Scholars and Sputnik Sweetheart headlined and it was so bloody wholesome, we LOVE Canberra music scene.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Canberra music community that inspire you.

The Canberra music scene is so inspiring to be a part of, everyone is so inclusive and work really hard to amplify and support the music scene. You can really see the progress that the community has made of the last few years. It may be small but it produces A+ bands and people such as our beautiful talented pals Moaning Lisa and Sputnik Sweetheart (love you both).

What are your plans for 2019?

2019 has been a HUGE year for us so far playing gigs we'd only ever dreamed of, but the excitement continues with our first ever national tour coming up with Slowly Slowly, as well as playing some amazing festivals such as Spilt Milk and Stonefest later in the year! 

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

I've been producing music since I was 17 and the day I heard flume it all changed for me! 

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Inspiration for me usually comes from when I see a live act and it just pushes me to drive even harder to get there.

What can punters expect from a HVWKS live show?

I like to tell a story, every song is there for a reason. I also like to play bangers tho!

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

Best advice I've ever gotten was probably from my parents, they have told me from day 1 to do what ever I want and to never worry about what people think about me. 

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Rufus Du Sol and their track 'Like An Animal'. That song is pure happiness. 

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Shannon Noll and his track 'What About Me', (cause he was robbed). 

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Hayden James and his track 'Something About You'. No brainer that song is a TUNE!!!

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

Last local gig I went to was a gig I was lucky enough to play at, I was supporting Flosstradamus at The Met and it was crazy! 

Tell us about the bands or people in the Queensland music community that inspire you.

A big shout out here goes to my friends who are also in the music community. The list is so long but they inspire me everyday and I owe a lot to them! 

What are your plans for 2019?

This year is looking like a big one and I'm just ready to ride the wave! 

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

We all come from different places musically so we weren't really predisposed to having a certain sound. When we started out we didn't have a specific genre or sound we were aiming for, but our playing styles eventually blended into where we're at now. Some of our shared musical tastes include Wilco, early Kings of Leon, Courtney Barnett, The Strokes, Pixies.

What's your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Caleb says a lot of his inspiration (especially lyrically) comes from processing emotions and life experiences. Music as a means of catharsis is something we can all relate to. When some feeling or abstract 'thing' hasn't been dealt with, song writing definitely seems like a great outlet for it. In a more general sense we're all inspired to keep making music because of how bloody special it feels to connect with other people through it. Be it with each other or our fans, it's real great.

What can punters expect from a Spacey Jane live show?

We try really hard to make our gigs a safe and inclusive space for everyone involved. When we feel like the crowd is being respectful and looking out for each other, we really give it our all. Also, lots of hair flips from Ashton. And sweat.   

What's the best advice you've been given and who was it from?

One piece of advice that’s stuck with us was from a really great friend in a really great band that have had been killing it for over a decade now. It’s a simple one. He just said to ‘keep writing’. No matter what, always, always, always writing and creating. Can’t really fault it, and it’s always in the back of our minds. Thanks Will.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

‘Catch My Disease’ by Ben Lee (thanks for reminding us that this exists).

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Any of Julia Jacklin's tracks - namely ‘Don't Know How to Keep Loving You’.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

‘Since I Left You’ by The Avalanches.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

Jack Davies and the Bush Chooks put on a mini-festival for their EP launch, with a heap of great local bands. Jack is a very special songwriter and has a group of amazing musicians who are even nicer people.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Perth music community that inspire you.

Stella Donnelly is really putting Perth on the map internationally, and she's done a great job of promoting safe and inclusive gig spaces for everyone. She does an awesome job championing artists of all backgrounds at her shows here in Perth, and she's really brought up the standard of diversity to something the scene can be more proud of! Great Gable are one of Perth's hardest working bands, without a doubt. They've been at it for a little while and they're consistently on the up & up. It's awesome to see them succeed so much over the last few years, they're a bunch of awesome guys who kill it live & write great songs.There's a heap of other favourites that have always and continue to make Perth one of the best places to play & experience live music! Seriously WA music rules, and we wear the badge with pride.

What are your plans for 2019?

We're heading back into the studio to record what will hopefully become our first album! No promises there. It's just a lovely goal to have. We'll definitely be touring nationally at least once more this year, this time around has been too good to not repeat!

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

When I first started making my own music I was listening to a lot of Lana Del Rey and The 1975 and they have stayed strong influences throughout my music making! I think I was really attracted to the heavy-reverb and ambient sounds that just seem to immerse listeners in a bubble of floaty heaven!!

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

LOVE AND MALES cuz I’m so goddamn emo-chanel (and a hopeless romantic). My emotions have taken me down some weird routes and it’s always fun to reflect on through a BOP.

What can punters expect from a yergurl live show?

Me and my twin sister looking poppin’, perhaps a sneaky bucket hat or two, songs you’ll wanna cry to later, and if I’m lucky, someone walking away with an epiphany!! This is a place for people to get real with their feels if they’re open to it.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

To only release things that TRULY represent yergurl & me in a way I’d like to be represented. Artists are vulnerable to feeling pressure to conform or to just say “this is good ENOUGH” but mum reminds me that it’s okay to take your time, to send collabs back a few times etc. so I won’t have to look back on something under my name and cringe.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

‘Not About You’ by Haiku Hands. How could anyone resist a boogie when Haiku Hands is on? Even someone as emo as me would have to pause a sook sesh for this BOPPPPPP.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
‘Potential’ by Kllo. Let’s pretend I haven’t wailed over ex’s to this song time and time again.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What
Australian track do you put on next?
HAIKU HANDS NOT ABOUT YOU!!!!!!!!

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

I supported Congrats (front man of Slowly Slowly) for his first show ever and it was super dope. My bff got super emotional. I usually feel deceased after a gig but I couldn’t leave the crowd for this… I was feeling TOO MUCH!

Tell us about the bands or people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.

Aphir!!! She has the prettiest voice and I love the way she produces her vocals. Her music is really unique, chill and 100% inspiring. Her sounds make my ears smile!

What are your plans for 2019?

Lots and lots of writing, collabs, releasing some new music, and even some videos!!! Hoping to find myself on some PHAT stages this year!!!

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

I started out singing in small pubs and bars in Mornington, I was singing along to a guitarist until I ended up branching out on my own to become a solo artist, it was then that I started to learn the keyboard and percussion and started looping it together.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

My biggest source of inspo when writing/making music is other music (no specific artist or genre each time maybe be different) and also my friends and the people I and writing about.

What can punters expect from a TONES AND I live show?

I hope all my live shows are full of energy and people absolutely just get wild with me.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

ADREAN EAGLE, ‘A.O.K’. 

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Meg Mag, ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Anything from Confidence Man because every track is f**king hilarious so I would have a good time.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

The Beddy Rays, they are Ridiculously talented. Would go again!

Tell us about the bands or people in the Mornington Peninsula / Byron Bay music community that inspire you.

I am inspired by the musicians in Byron bay and the Mornington Peninsula. There are so many great musicians everywhere and everyone’s giving it a really good crack. The buskers in Byron live off music so that’s wicked in its own right. A lot of them live in their vans and play at night, build a fan base, the crowds get bigger and bigger. It’s an true life style that really works.

What are your plans for 2019?

My plans for 2019 is to keep busking, keep playing, keep writing, stay happy. I would love to play some overseas shows or ever busk overseas. Right now I am just really excited about the opportunities I have been giving over here and I want to try and experience as many new things as possible .