We've rounded up Adelaide's best new music for April, including Templé, Swapmeet, Avalon Kane and more.

Aaron Thomas — ‘Before I met you’

This song is playful. The upbeat sounds of the guitar, drums, harmonies and piano bounces from ear to ear and leaves CityMag tapping our feet in the office. This song highlights the true love between two people and looks into a new romance with the hope that it will last forever as Aaron sings: “Because I love you more than I could have loved myself / before I met you / well it was like I was someone else“. This indie folk track has influences from Aaron’s time in Spain with its upbeat sounds.

Avalon Kane and Stu Patterson — ‘Don’t Believe Anymore’

Self-described as “explorative electronic music”, Avalon Kane and Stu Patterson have released the latest in a string of successful collaborations in ‘Don’t Believe Anymore’. A gradual build-up of synth and saxophone draws you in before the deep voice of Patterson begins reminiscing on a relationship passed, perfectly articulating the feeling of going from extreme closeness to total unfamiliarity.  “Used to be someone I knew / somebody I could understand / but now I don’t know what to do, and I don’t know who you are.”

The chorus, though slow, has that kind of melody that just makes your body want to move with it. Though they had us from the first note, the second chorus comes out swinging, with a sudden change in the tempo and energy leaving CityMag ready to sing/scream along in the shower. The saxophone returns to lead us out of what was been an incredibly enjoyable five minutes and 17 seconds.

Gratts feat. Mr. Beale — ‘Submerge Me’

Upbeat percussion leads us into Adelaide-based Belgian musician Gratts’ newest release ‘Submerge Me’, featuring London vocalist Mr Beale. The extended introduction sounds like someone was let loose in the percussion section of the orchestra, but in the best way possible. Gradually production shifts and we are left with synth and more basic percussion as the vocals begin. The song continues to build on a base of overlapping instrumentals, topped with layers of cool vocals from Mr Beale as she sings of losing yourself in someone. “You and I (danger) / unsanctified (danger), our minds can break (danger) / oh for hell’s sake. Submerge me…in you.”  

An easy listen, CityMag is loving this versatile tune, the combination of Mr Beale’s vocals and production by Gratts a beautiful mix that leaves you wanting more.

Jeremy Leone — ‘Feelings’

We’ve all been guilty of getting in our own heads and overthinking something which in turn makes it a much bigger deal than it ever had to be. In ‘Feelings’, Leone perfectly articulates watching someone go through this, as he sings “know that it’s all in your head / maybe it’s time you chose me instead”. CityMag has found your newest pop listen in Jeremy Leone’s ‘Feelings’.

JesseMelancholy — ‘if u asked me to’

True to the artist’s name, JesseMelancholy has written a sad boy bop. Kicking off with gentle guitars, the indie influence is clear before the track spirals into hyperpop territory. 

The lyrics document the insecurities that crop up in young love when you feel both so empowered and destroyed by someone you’re crushing on. With lines like ‘I spray my cologne more times than I probably should’ we hear nervous excitement. The chorus then lowers the boom, with a melodramatic reference to suicide that on first listen, raised CityMag’s red flag and sent us into a spiral of analysis. Do these lyrics capture a manipulative edge young men think is powerful? Does it capture a worrying trend of emotional abuse in relationships? Maybe it’s a commentary on the power we hand others when we battle with low self-esteem. With heavy bass and a heavy message, JessMelancholy doesn’t pull punches in this genre-bending emotional track. 

Maybe Hugo — ‘Like B4’

Maybe Hugo’s new single ‘Like B4’ is one of the strongest debuts CityMag has heard recently. ‘Like B4’ is determined and soulful, and would slot in perfectly on a soundtrack of the biggest indie film of the year. 

You may know Hugo from kicking around Adelaide’s nightlife as a DJ and promoter. With this track, he’s reintroducing himself to the city as a force of funk, with refined flair and aloof vocals. ‘She doesn’t talk to me like she did before / she doesn’t want me / want me anymore’ – we’ve all been there, right?  

The 23-year-old multi-instrumentalist began his music career on the saxophone, which you’ll hear on this track, and is well-placed to fill a gap in bringing alternative soul back to pop. 

Swapmeet — ‘Collision’

‘Collision’ is the second single from Swapmeet’s debut EP Oxalis, which captures the band’s dreamy pop meets indie folk-rock sound. Oxalis as a whole is a concoction of hopelessness, grief and contentment with lyrics on Collision like, “Set back the months / save the day / pay” playing into these themes. There’s a cool detachment to the vocals, being hypnotic rather than overly emotional. The acoustic guitar-lead track has a cozy feel to it and as a whole this EP is the perfect melancholy listen as autumn bleeds into winter.

Templé — ‘Who You Are’

The synthy bassline and drum machine percussions take the lead on ‘Who You Are’ by Templé, the lead track on the multi-instrumentalist’s début release of the same name. Blending techno and disco sounds, this dance song includes a soulful collaboration with vocalist Quartz Pistol. The song uses layer upon layer of sound to achieve its effect; CityMag identified a bass drum, a cabasa and bongos among the percussion sounds used. Ben Smith is the genius behind this tune, having rebranded as Templé in 2023 and launched his own label, Templé Musiq.

War Room — ‘The Top Floor’

War Room’s description of itself as “a chaotic rock band from Tarntanya/Adelaide Australia” captures the band better than CityMag ever could. The band’s new single, ‘The Top Floor’ is what this reporter would tentatively describe as “post-punk/math rock”. The clanging guitars, tight drumming and energetic lead vocal performance all contribute to the “head-banging” quality of this tune. ‘The Top Floor’ is accompanied by a head-spinning (in a good way) music video directed by Conor Mercury with Sam Twiddle as Director of Photography and Chelsea Mustaca, Jackson Phillips, Hari Strick, Ellie Wilson and Sam Wilson as actors.

Young Offenders — ‘Anything Else’

CityMag gets the impression that Young Offenders are not fans of authority – their Spotify bio reads: “It’s all ANARCHY, it’s all it has ever been”. The Adelaide-based alternative punk/ska/reggae band has recently released a new EP, Anything Else, with the first song sharing its name. ‘Anything Else’ is a high-powered pop-punk tune composed by Kyle Landman. CityMag can only imagine how epic it would be to see this song live in a mosh.