We've rounded up Adelaide's best new music for August, including DEM MOB, Haptics, LOLA, Parvyn and Sunsick Daisy.
August 29, 2024
Culture
Adelaide’s best new music
DEM MOB – ‘I’ll Get By’
The latest release by Indigenous hip-hop outfit DEM MOB is a slight shift in tone from what we’ve come to expect from the group, but it only proves their versatility. The band hails from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, about 1257 kilometres from Adelaide. “I’ll Get By” is about the personal challenges each member went through when they relocated to Adelaide. The message is reflected in the title, one of overcoming adversity through self-awareness. The clean vocals and sharp-hitting rap verses communicate this in an empowering, soulful track with a catchy beat.
Eva Rundle — ‘A Familiar Place’
When CityMag first listened to Eva Rundle’s new single ‘A Familiar Place’, we thought it was eerily reminiscent of a 2000s grunge female singer mixed with Fleetwood Mac, and we are here for it. Eva was inspired to write this song after she moved away from the suburbs to a country town. As the lyrics tackle getting out of your comfort zone, Eva says although things “felt familiar”, “nothing was recognisable”.
“So, the song is about feeling stuck in a familiar place – feeling lost,” she says. “Not only emotionally or physically, but in time and space – and then ultimately about finding yourself.”
Eva Rundle is performing at the Kingsway Stage at the Royal Adelaide Show on Saturday, August 31.
Remarks
Listen to this playlist on Spotify.
If you’re a South Australian band or musician, join our Artist Network, and let us know about your new release.
Haptics — ‘Rhythmic Medicine’
When we played Haptic’s new song ‘Rhythmic Medicine’ through earbuds at our desk in the CityMag office, we immediately began to bop our heads from side to side. A little embarrassed, we took our earbuds out and were zapped back into reality. That’s exactly what this song does to you: it takes you to another place. Haptics tells us this is the second of five singles dropping this year, and we cannot wait to hear what’s to come.
Heartline — ‘Synthetic’
Pink Lemonade is the six-track EP from metal band Heartline. This EP is a fusion between metal and pop, exploring new sounds and playing with expansive EDM soundscapes. CityMag’s top pick was track three, ‘Synthetic’ as it touches on “how people communicate on the internet” compared to regular, face-to-face communication, according to Vocalist Luke Taylor. Luke also says this form of e-communication is “perverted and twisted”.
Jannah Fahiz — ‘Brokenhearted’ (Treadgold remix)
‘Brokenhearted’ is a pop anthem. Picture this: it’s the early hours of a Sunday morning and we’re out on the town. We’re contemplating whether or not we want to stay out, or whether it’s time to go home. The music is the decision maker. So with that in mind, if ‘Brokenhearted’, the Treadgold remix, by Jannah Fahiz blasted through the speakers at 3am after contemplating an Uber ride home, then we’re “not fucking leaving”.
JesseMelancholy – ‘Wings’
The first minute and 30 seconds of this song felt like a regular, sad boy, heartbreak tune. Until the bass drops and things start to turn up a notch, but we couldn’t get enough. JesseMelancholy tells the story of struggling to support others when having a hard time as he repeats the lyrics: “I can’t be there for you / I’m not even there for myself” while in the punchy verses, he cries: “I want to spread my wings / you cut them off my body / hearing you speak / is really just a hobby”.
JesseMelancholy is playing at UniBar on September 21.
LEZEN — ‘TELEVISION’
CityMag felt transported into a sci-fi hyper-reality listening to ‘Television’ by LEZEN, with its 80s synths and Blade Runner aesthetics. As if an ode to electronic music, the track includes a recording of Icelandic art-pop singer-songwriter Björk defending the music style: “I find it so amazing when people tell me that electronic music has not got soul and they blame the computers / It’s like, you can’t blame the computer / If there’s not soul in the music, it’s because nobody put it there”.
LEZEN is a South Australian DJ and producer who describes his music as: “Dark, brooding, emotive tones combined with lighter elements of Pop and Electronic from the 80’s, playful 90’s energy, early-2000’s House and Trance, all wrapped up into an accessible, yet impactful EDM package – a truly unique take on the world of modern electronic music.”
LOLA — ‘FAST LIFE’
‘Fast Life’ is the kind of song CityMag thinks would be best experienced live at a venue like the Cranker with a beer in hand, hair let down, and the mosh pit going crazy. LOLA is a skate punk band featuring Billy Burns on lead vocals and guitar, Sebastian Reyes-Hewitt on lead guitar, Maxwell Bowen on bass and Mitchell Seager on drums. The band says they blend “an eclectic mix of artist influences”.
“From NOFX and the Bennies to The Clash, and event Radiohead, LOLA creates music inspired by the natural environment, life experiences, shitty situations, the government, and general inebriation mixed with tomfoolery,” the band says.
Maisie B. — ‘Pull The Rug’
‘Pull the Rug’ by Maisie B. begins with a simple chord progression on acoustic guitar before giving way to a pulsating folk rock band and finally building up to an epic crescendo starting at around the 3-minute 15-second mark. A mellow piano takes centre stage in this song, which also features brush drums, electric guitar, bass and horns. ‘Pull The Rug’ is ultimately a song about sorrow – “Pull the rug from under my feet/Can’t forget the things you’ve told me,” sings Maisie B.
Maisie self-describes as “a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who weaves together their favourite elements of folk, jazz and indie pop into songs that are textually rich and emotionally charged”.
Nathan Hui-Yi — ‘goodbye grandpa’
The hip-hop track by Nathan Hui-Yi is a song about loss. “There’s a time to live/And a time to die/And we know grandma waiting on the other side/Waiting patiently for us to say our goodbyes/As he draws his breath/For the last time,” raps Nathan. Despite its sad subject matter, ‘goodbye grandpa’ features some sick drum loops, eerie piano and a jazzy saxophone solo by Zach Stolz. CityMag particularly enjoyed the trippy animations and stock footage in the accompanying music video.
Nathan is a Chinese-Australian rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist whose music is known for “painting nostalgic vignettes of life growing up in Adelaide whilst breaking the rules of stereotypical rap tropes” and creates “intricate bars [that] evoke cinematic imagery through his distinct vocal sound and signature stream-of-consciousness flow”.
Nathan is playing at OzAsia’s Lucky Dumpling Market at Elder Park on October 27.
Parvyn — ‘Free To Be Myself’
This latest single from Parvyn is a joyful disco track that fuses jazz, soul, pop and gospel choir elements and proves her unique artistry. It’s a refreshing listen that blends the Punjabi-Australian artist’s heritage and musical background, but ultimately this anthem of self-expression sounds like she had the time of her life making it. Tambourine, vocal riffs, and tabla – small hand drums used in Indian music – keep the energy high, with a surprise trumpet from Chris Davis and bass solo from Erik P.H Nielsen a fun addition. This is an exciting taste of her upcoming album Maujuda due for release November 1.
The album will be launched in conjunction with the OzAsia Festival at Nexus Arts on November 8, so get around it.
RobT — ‘Fake Friend’
This bouncy electro-pop song has a relatable premise: “You’re a fake friend, nothing but a fake friend yeah / say one thing then you go do another”. Whether it’s a situationship that fizzled out or a friendship breakup where someone has “come on strong and you don’t even bother”, this song is a fun exertion of the thoughts you’re left with. “And I’ll throw you a line and walk on the wire” sums up the sad reality of reaching out to someone who won’t reach back. But despite the blunt lyrics, which RobT insists are “not bitter, just informed” the EDM-inspired track sounds like it would fit into a pacey side scroll quest in a video game.
Sunsick Daisy — ‘Over & Over’
You might recognise Sunsick Daisy from their national tour or as a support act for Aleksiah or the Moving Stills. Their latest track ‘Over & Over’ explores the theme of grief with vulnerable lyrics that make for a catchy hook: “I’ll dry my eyes for one more night / I’ll say goodbye over and over and over.” The punchy guitar riffs and fierce drums create a moody atmosphere that is reminiscent of the emo-pop-rock of this reporter’s youth. We would have eaten it up on a rainy day at the age of 14 and now is no different.
Sunsick Daisy is joining Late November at the Crown & Anchor on September 15.
Tushar — ‘Feels Like a Start’
This reporter first heard the latest track from Tushar live at the Lab earlier in the month. In case CityMag doesn’t wax lyrical enough about live music, indulge us here for a moment, because jumping to this track with Tushar supported by a live band was a joy. Written by Tushar & Benny Tamblyn, this track is an easy listen with a surf-pop vibe that we love from the indie artist. It sounds like how enjoying a sunny day, having a picnic and stretching out on the grass feels.
Catch the official tour of this track at Velvet Underground in October.
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