We've rounded up Adelaide's best new music for September, including Duck Lake, Maybe Hugo, Naomi Keyte, Street Legal and more.
September 26, 2024
Culture
Adelaide’s best new music
Coldwave – ‘The Ants’
Post-punk band Coldwave have released their first singles for 2024 – we’ve been on the edge of our seats at the CityMag office waiting for it to drop. The AA-release features ‘Italia ’06’ and ‘The Ants’, the latter being CityMag’s top pick. ‘The Ants’ music video, directed by Conor Mercury, has an edgy, unpolished feel, showcasing the band’s talent and musical ability. As the song grows more intense towards the end, the mundane clips chop and change in a faster motion, highlighting the abnormality in those otherwise normal everyday moments.
Remarks
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Vocalist Harrison Evans says “we returned to a really comfortable place” when writing ‘The Ants’.
“It’s built around reminiscing on childhood, and is a bit of a soul-searching expedition around the realisation that you’re one of many,” he says.
Catch Coldwave live on October 25 at Jive. Buy tickets through the website.
Duck Lake – ‘Daydreams’
Duck Lake knows how to get the CityMag office daydreaming. With vocals that gently float around your ears and whimsical storytelling, it’s hard not to fall in love with this song. The five-piece Adelaide indie rock band takes inspiration from Men I Trust, Loving, and Alice Phoebe Lou, and it shows. ‘Daydreams’ is like a lullaby for the soul, transcending the mind to daisy fields and sunsets.
Ephemerons – ‘Waterline’
Despite the title of the song, Ephemerons’ ‘Waterline’ makes us feel as though we are drifting away at sea. Calmly floating as the water pushes us from left to right as they sing “drifting into sleep / shimmer like the sea”. From the two-minute 50 mark, the song ramps up its intensity, making us feel like we’re caught in a storm, but can’t stop listening.
Forest Avenue – ‘New Age’
From regional South Australia, punk rock band Forest Avenue have released their debut album titled One Day Later. The 11-track compilation is gritty and has us headbanging with every new track. CityMag’s top album pick is ‘New Age’. As they sing “it’s all about the new age”, the heavy guitars and strong bass carry the songs’ aurora and leave us wanting more.
Gratts and Moody Mae, featuring Jaj – ‘Nuit De Fievre’
We can picture listening to this song sipping Sangrias on a lounge chair in a beach club in Spain, despite the artists all originally coming from other parts of Europe. Gratts, the Belgian born DJ who now resides in Adelaide has collaborated with Belgian band Moody Mae, Rheinzand’s Reinhard Vanbergen on violin, and Jaj from Paris on vocals. This song has us feeling like we’re at a party and that’s exactly what producer Gratts was going for as he says the track is a “glorious French disco weapon that will sound as good at the disco as on the airwaves”.
Gratts is playing at daytime disco Mellow Magic Sunday at Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club on October 20. Buy tickets here.
Maybe Hugo – ‘Fall in Line’
‘Fall in Line’ is the second track on Maybe Hugo’s debut EP Maybe, Might Be, Could Be. This EP was hotly anticipated in the CityMag office, as Maybe Hugo had us hooked from his first single ‘Like B4’ released in April. Then, we anticipated the multi-instrumentalist was well-placed to fill a gap in the Adelaide scene with his signature brand of alternative soul. Now having heard the EP, we’re pleased to say we called it.
The falsetto harmonies and funky guitar riffs meld effortlessly on this track that ‘keeps us groovin’ as the lyrics suggest. The accompanying music video, directed by Alex Salkicevic, bounces between calming countryside and a poster-filled bedroom, complete with a retro TV stacked with VHS tapes and a disco ball to streak light and set the mood.
Maybe Hugo is due to announce live shows later in the year, but you can catch him as a DJ, Potentially Hugo playing at ADELoud on November 16.
Modern Living – ‘Got You Feeling’
‘Got You Feeling’ is the debut single by Modern Living, a new music duo consisting of producers Mark Share and James Curd, who is based in Adelaide.
The funky bassline was a highlight of this dance track, with its blend of nu-disco and house music sounds. Filipino pop singer Ivoris adds a playful element to the song with her high-range vocal performance.
The duo describes the song as “a rose-tinted hit of nostalgia dance pop, layered with sugary hooks, polished production and gliding vocals”.
Naomi Keyte – ‘Emmylou’
‘Emmylou’ is the latest track from contemporary folk artist Naomi, named for and inspired by femme folk singer Emmylou Harris who released almost 30 albums and collaborated with everyone from Dolly Parton to Mark Knopfler and even Fred Again in his electronic pop record released earlier this month.
Naomi’s tribute is a serene one, with reflective lyrics that celebrates the idea of leaning into a coupling where opposites attract; “You stay up talking to the moon // I wake up with the sun”. With hypnotic trills and calming riffs, Naomi is sure to enthral folk and country fans.
‘Emmylou’ is the last single release from Naomi as she gears up to release her new album Milk Paper Gold on October 31. You can catch Naomi at Space Jams Festival at Myponga Markets on October 5.
Nathan Hui-Yi – ‘MOUNTAIN VILLAGE’
Nathan Hui-Yi has become somewhat of a regular in CityMag’s best new music column, having appeared in our July and August editions.
This month, Nathan returns with his debut solo album, FOR THE LAST TIME, which includes the tune ‘MOUNTAIN VILLAGE’
The song is about someone struggling in life – “more addiction to the bottle than the screen”, he raps. “Fighting the demons and darkness every night in my head.”
The song blends cultures, with sounds from Nathan’s Chinese heritage juxtaposed with hip hop. Meanwhile, the Polish language appears in a sample taken from the song ‘Cichy Zapada Zmrok’ by Anna Jopek and Pat Metheny.
Nathan is playing at OzAsia Festival’s Lucky Dumpling Market at Elder Park on October 27.
OIL! – ‘OIL!’
OIL! Is not like the others on this list. Firstly, the titular track ‘OIL!’ By OIL! Is 17 minutes long. Like the band’s namesake, their sound is slippery, taking many turns to prevent the melody from becoming predictable. The track is dynamic, maintaining a high-tempo jazz vibe with noise rock elements – and potentially some road noise and ambulance sirens thrown in? Maybe listening to this on repeat all morning is making this CityMag reporter loopy, but if you have a deadline to meet, we highly recommend OIL as the frantic backtrack.
There’s no denying the eight-piece improvisers that make up OIL! are highly talented, hailing from their own successful bands. With saxophone, theremin, bass and more on show this track, and much of the album, seems like the sonic equivalent of throwing everything at the wall and realising you’ve made something gallery-worthy.
Oscar The Wild – ‘Roll With The Punches’
This new single by indie-grunge quartet Oscar the Wild is described as “a rallying cry against the fleeting media attention given to stories of violence against women”.
CityMag would describe this song as pop punk, with lead vocalist Ruby Gazzola allowing their Aussie accent to shine through.
“When I’m alone sometimes I think that I would fight/But in the moment I can’t find a reason why,” sings Ruby.
Ruby explains that they wrote the song after the Bondi Junction attack when violence against women was declared a “national emergency”.
“The lyrics follow thoughts experienced during violent encounters, but can be understood by the collective perpetrators and victims alike,” Ruby says.
“Despite horrible individual circumstances, there is a general feeling of repetition – it seems we constantly hear this same story, then conveniently forget until the next attack”.
Head to Cry Baby on October 5 or Semaphore Music Festival on October 6 to hear Oscar the Wild play ‘Roll with the Punches’.
RobT — ‘It’s Alright’
Adelaide-based artist and music producer RobT has released a seven-track album Prologue. The album is an experimental blend of modern synth sounds and catchy choruses. The final song on the album, ‘It’s Alright’, talks about recovery and hope after a major life event or trauma. Offering electric sounds reminiscent of the 80s with a deep emotional layer of traditional piano, RobT offers a composition that evokes both nostalgia and yearning. The singer’s voice is tender yet powerful, projecting a raw vulnerability. The type of song that invites reflection, ‘It’s Alright’ encourages you to get lost in your thoughts.
Savanna Kate – ‘Fall Prey’
Comforting and contemplative, ‘Fall Prey’ will wrap around you like soft blanket. The song invites an ethereal atmosphere complemented with traditional piano and feathery vocals. The bass thumps like a heartbeat, offering a slow but powerful build-up of emotion as the song reaches a captivating chorus energised by vibrant beats.
Shannon — ‘Waiting’
A feel-good folk vibe entered the doors of CityMag’s office with Shannon’s lead single ‘Waiting’ from her debut seven track EP Heartburn. With a mellow acoustic guitar, hints of piano, and a sweet set of vocals, this song is the perfect road-trip listen. The lyrics – encompassing themes of loneliness – contrast the positive instrumentals, inviting you to have a cry or bop to the tunes. The South Australian artist opens her soul with confessional lyrics, offering a relatable listen.
Street Legal — ‘Cardio’
The local four-piece rock group Street Legal is sharing their love of the post-punk scene with their blood-pumping song ‘Cardio’. With electric notes weaving through electric guitar and sharp drums, the song boasts themes of self-confidence. The song is like a two-minute rush down your spine, begging to be danced to. Having played alongside heavyweights like Regurgitator, Magic Dirt and Models, Street Legal are also releasing their debut EP early next year.
Travis Cook — ‘perfect futures’
Travis Cook has put a spin on the 2007 song ‘Perfect (Exceeder)’ by Mason and Princess Superstar – which recently hit mainstream earbuds again as it featured in the 2023 movie Saltburn – slowing down the vocals and adding hypnotising electric sounds. Like the name, the song sounds like a future world, layering perfectly timed technological beats. ‘perfect futures’ reflects the creativity and artistry of remixing and mastering, encouraging listeners to let loose and enjoy the ride.
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