Adelaide's best new music

We've rounded up Adelaide's best new music for July, including atl., colourblind, effie isobel and TONIX.

Words: Claudia Dichiera, Helen Karakulak and Charlie Gilchrist
Graphic: Mikaela Balacco

alt.— ‘Conversations That Hurt’

Remarks

Listen to this playlist on Spotify.

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This sounds like if our reporters lined up in front of the amp, the immediate attack of the beat would propel us across the room and we’d say thank you, loving every disorientating second of it. This track is a high-energy plea: “I want you to show me something / Just give me a reason to let you in’. Desperate lyrics paired with a distinct pop-rock sound featuring infectious guitar riffs and robust drums. Someone, please bring back the music festival Soundwave, give these guys a stage to headline and send us tickets.

Avalon Kane and Stu Patterson — ‘Killing Time’

The beat of ‘Killing Time’ has us in a trance. From the verse to the pre-chorus, we are hypnotised, until the strong rhythm of the chorus wakes us up, leaving us bobbing with delight. The electronic pair mesh perfectly together in a song that transcends us into another reality.

<a href="https://avalonkane.bandcamp.com/track/killing-time">Killing Time by Avalon Kane and Stu Patterson</a>

blush – ‘shades of blue’

‘shades of blue’ by blush gave this CityMag reporter early Taylor Swift vibes (think Love Story). CityMag couldn’t help but sway a little listening to this folk rock/alt-country tear-jerker. Blush is led by Annita Vucic, with Liam Dawe on drums, Jack Paech on guitar and Harry Nathan on bass. Their Spotify bio says “the group synthesises the genre touchpoints of folk, shoegaze and indie rock” and “aim to transform moments of vulnerability into lofty and empowering choruses which prove that ‘deeply personal’ and ‘universal’ aren’t mutually exclusive characterisations”.

Catch blush playing at Cry Baby on Thursday, July 25.

colourblind — ‘Body Horror’

It’s been a long wait for colourblind’s debut album, after their debut EP, Move Like You, was released in 2018. But the wait was worth it, as colourblind’s self-titled album is raw, energetic and full of chaos (in the best way possible). CityMag’s top pick was the second track ‘Body Horror’ as the band chants “Won’t you say it to me / say it to me”, the song grows more intense, but we are here for it.

colourblind is playing an album release show at the Crown and Anchor at 8pm, Saturday, August 24.

Dom Sensitive — ‘R&D’

From the first seconds of ‘R&D’, CityMag were intrigued. We’d never really heard anything like it before and couldn’t help ourselves but sit in silence and take it all in. The song feels like it belongs in a late 90s, or early 2000s grunge movement. While we listen, we draw similarities to sounds like Rage Against the Machine – with Tom Morello strumming and nodding at the front.

With a new name (previously known as Dom Trimboli), Dom describes the new piece as “the sonic manifestation of honing one’s artistic prowess; the sound of consistently doing things differently because you want a different result”. Dom’s debut album, Leather Trim, is set to be released on 27 September.

effie isobel — ‘Peach Heart’

Listening to ‘Peach Heart’ is like eating an icy pole on a hot summer’s day – sweet, and just what the doctor ordered. The song is inspired by singer effie isobel’s personal experience and conversations, discussing crushes with her friends, along with every human’s want for connection. The sounds feature a vintage drum machine and radio effects, paired with the soft and boppy voice of effie isobel, mixing it all together to create a straight-up, juicy banger.

Indiago — ‘P.L.B’

This new track from Adelaide Hills rockers Indiago almost didn’t get released. It was originally written in 2017 and never made the cut, with bassist Shane Cox saying it was “put on the back burner for years”. They eventually re-jigged it into its final form: a fast-paced, gutsy single showcasing what they’ve got ahead of dropping their debut album. And boy, are we glad they did. The driving, distorted bass immediately sets the tone, with high-energy vocals picking the pace ahead of the hook. “…When the newsfeed’s pumping it’s so contagious” was the lyric that particularly jumped out at our journos, something we know all too well in the CityMag newsroom.

Catch them playing it live at Jive on July 27.

Nathan Hui-Yi — ‘NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS’

‘NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS’ dropped at the very end of June, after we published our last column but CityMag thinks it’s one of the strongest releases from Nathan Hui-Yi so we’re sneaking it in here. Nathan pushes back on rap tropes and plays with electronics in a way no one else in Adelaide seems to be as he pioneers Chinese-Australian rap. This track opens the inventive beat with a mysterious sample of 1970s Brazillian bossa nova (a new wave blend of jazz and samba). There’s a lovely delicate spoken word layered under Nathan’s rap vocals. The track also incorporates a satisfying chime that scratches a spot right in the back of this reporter’s brain. The lyrics are relatable for those among us who fall fast: “What’s your name you got sharp kicks, pierced lips // See those eyes, mesmerised, after one glimpse” and the catchy hook delivers a final blow, “Just remember, we just friends, nothing more nothing less”.

Psithur — ‘Exodus’

Psithur first popped up on CityMag’s radar last November when they released first single, ‘Summer Rain’. Their second single ‘Exodus’ is a respectable follow-up. The cover art indicates a celestial change. If their debut was symbolised by being rained out, this track is finding its way through the fog and shows us a new depth to the band.

Vocalist Jared Mules holds nothing back on this one, striking a delicate balance between strained vocals and full-bodied belts in a release that’ll hit you at about the three-minute mark, accompanied by those distinctive heavy guitars. Drummer Brad Hapke drives the momentum, keeping pressure on the listener. Inspired by bands like Thornhill and Polaris, Psithur says their sound seeks to have “a backdrop of driving melody, rising from an undeniable heaviness. In this track, they’ve hit the brief, hard.

Rebma Rose — ‘ANNA’

It’s not often that CityMag features a 14-year-old in our Best New Music column. But Rebma Rose’s new track ‘ANNA’ sits comfortably among the other songs on our list. The Year 8 high school student describes herself as an “Indie Singer/Songwriter with a bit of a Pop/Rock flavour” and was a recent finalist in the SCALA Songwriting People’s Choice Competition. Rebma Rose says ‘ANNA’ “weaves a sonic narrative of heartache and betrayal, enriched with poignant rhythms and evocative lyrics that evoke deep emotions, affirming self-worth and compelling you to move the grove – and hit replay!”. For such a young musician, CityMag thought Rebma Rose demonstrated a talented songwriting ability.

RobT — ‘Spend Some Time’

Adelaide-based singer, guitarist, keyboardist and studio producer RobT has recently come out with his newest track, ‘Spend Some Time’. According to his Spotify bio, RobT’s music is “melodic and harmonically rich” and “his energetic soulful style encompasses EDM, House, Chill and Retro New Wave, inspired by artists such as David Guetta, Tiesto, Hermitude and Calvin Harris”.

This dance-pop track is about valuing those who are important to us – at least that’s how CityMag interpreted it. “So much that I can see for us/You’re the one I go to the one I trust/You’re always there for me and I want you so,” sings RobT. “I see you standing next to me/Young and wild and strong and free/The good times in my life I felt with you”. CityMag thought the synthy interlude at the 1:20 and 2:47 mark was particularly cool. RobT has clearly been busy in the studio, having recently also released his house-infused track ‘Keep On Looking’.

TONIX — ‘I Was Asleep’

Listening to ‘I Was Asleep’ by TONIX, this CityMag reporter felt transported back to the 2010s indie pop of his high school years. Launched in 2021, the music project was inspired by band members Henry Brill Reed and Archie McEwan’s love of saxophone, which features prominently in their music. Henry and Archie are joined alongside lead singer Sammi Keough, who says the song is “a warning to one’s younger self, reflecting on being naïve and blind in a relationship, and a theme that has bonded us as individuals in a band”. This song is a teaser for the TONIX’s soon-to-be-released EP, coming out later this year.

Tonix is having a launch party for this single at the Lab on Friday, August 9.