In its 100-edition history, Blank Street Press has had two writers focussed on covering new music exclusively – our co-founder Samantha Morris, and Zac Fahey. Sam handed the mew music reins to Zac when she stood down as editor. As well as curating the new music column, both Sam and Zac have also had stints presenting new music on ABC Gold Coast and both listen to hundreds of hours of new Gold Coast music every year as judges on the Gold Coast Music Awards judging panel. Zac and Sam collaborated on the curation of this list of top 100 songs. Think we missed something that helped transform the city’s audioscape over the past 100 editions? Let us know – newmusic@blankstreetpress.com.au.
Golden Fleece - Amy Shark
Adore - Amy Shark
Blood Brothers - Amy Shark
Blue - Athena Joy
Shine - AYA J
Goumar - Baltimore Gun Club
One - Beckah Amani
Standards - Beckah Amani
Bring You In - Black Rabbit George
Take it Slow - Bobby Alu
Count Static - boWsER
Stranger Love - Budjerah
Over Drinking Over You - Busby Marou
Love - Buttered
Perfect - Buttered
XO - Calan Mai
Flesh and Bone - Casey Barnes
A Little More - Casey Barnes
God Took His Time On You - Casey Barnes
Bat Soup - Charlie Rebel
I Got Nothing - Cheap Fakes
Stone - Chelsea Rockwells
Talk - Chutney
Echo - City Over Sand
Here with me - (ft. DVNA) daste.
Trap Door - Dennis.
Run Little House - Dennis. x FDVM
Attention - Doolie
Looking like a Snack - DVNA
Sushi in Tokyo - DVNA
Lately - Eimhin
We Know This - Electrik Lemonade
Wasting Time - Eleea
Just Exist - Eliza and The Delusionals
Save Me - Eliza and The Delusionals
Salt - Eliza and the Delusionals
Unknown Water - Ella Fence
Don't Feed the Monster - Ella Fence
Boy - Elska
50 Million to One - Feeding Fauna
Losing It - Fisher
Fool's Play - Geniie Boy
17 - Georgia Hoareau
Therapy - Georgia Hoareau
White Tiles - Girl and Girl
Zachariah’s Third Eye - Girl and Girl
Boxing Under Water - ft. Cailin Russo Golding
It Calls Out - Harry J Hart
Take Life Easy - HEAVY WAX
Coastline - Hollow Coves
Anew - Hollow Coves
Purple - Hollow Coves
Elephant In The Room - Hot Coffee
That Old Heartache - Hussy Hicks
Get Ready - Hussy Hicks
Same Boat - Hussy Hicks
Bodies - IVEY
I Just Know - Jacob Lee
Oceans - Jacob Lee
Venom - Jesswar
Fell In Love - Jesswar
Re-animator - Jimmy the Saint and the Sinners
Mighty Judgement - Karl S. Williams
Anarchy - Lane Harry x Ike Campbell
The Dash - Lane Harry x Ike Campbell
Take My Hand - Lastlings
Ford Laser - Lemaire
Houndogs & Bullfrogs - Leopold's Treat
Heaven - Lily Papas
Dressed In Gold - Little Georgia
Wanna Stay - ft Dear Sunday Luude
Down & Dirty - Mad Snax
Delirium - Mass Sky Raid
Undertow - Mass Sky Raid
Naive - MDWS
Baby Be Mine - Mirror Mirror
So Far So Good - Ordley
Vertigo - PACES ft Yorke
Preloved - Peach Fur
Aliens - Peach Fur
Expectations - Pure Milk
Dreams on a Platter - Pure Milk
Save Our Spit - Radolescent
Mr Maybe - Rhea Robertson
Cupid Love - ROMII
Something Good - San Mei
Wonder - San Mei
Power - Saint Barae
Compliment My Shirt - Saint Lane
When Did We Grow Up - Saint Lane
Don’t Go (Riding Down The Cosmic Drain) - Syrup, Go On
Creature - Tesla Coils
Dog Days - The Lonesomes
Candy Cigarette - The Vultures
Conversations - The Vultures
White Lies - These Four Walls
My Heart Left Long Before I Did - These Idle Hands
Taste for Life - Tijuana Cartel
Hunger - Tully John & Liza-Jane
Show Me What It's Like to be Worthless - Wildheart
Honourable mentions
Idk why the light’s on - Akurei
Dancing Through The Fire - Austin Mackay
Like You - Bianca Power
Free Your Mind - CC The Cat
Sociopath - clovo
Slime - ECB
Forget it All - Sunset City ft Samantha Jade
Kingscliff - We All Drive
Stoned - Little Georgia
Wild - Lily Papas
Reviews over the years:
Baltimore Gun Club ‘Goumar’
“Just when you think there might be a moment of reprieve from the momentum, the song delves into a little axe grinding interlude, slowing the speed down in anthemic fashion while letting Psymon’s lead guitar tell us a bedtime story.” – Glenn Tozer
City Over Sand, ‘Echo’
“Written about solitude, resilience, and a helping hand, the track doesn’t put a foot wrong, from world-class production to layered harmonies, it’s a near perfectly crafted song.” – Zac Fahey
Black Rabbit George ‘Bring you In’
“The insistent ‘Bring You In’ ups the tempo while not sacrificing the moody, ethno-Spanish guitar vibes that serve as a consistent calling card across the entire album” - Anthony Gebhardt
Beckah Amani ‘Standards’
“'Standards' is a song I wrote which focuses on the black lives matter movement and my experience with racism growing up and how I've grown through that.” – Beckah Amani
DVNA ‘Looking Like a Snack’
“A tasty slice of modern soul which perfectly accentuates her swooning pop panache and silky-smooth vocals.” – Anthony Gebhardt
Eliza and the Delusionals ‘Just Exist’
“Another perfect slice of indie rock, with enigmatic frontwoman Eliza Klatt wielding powerful vocals and wailing guitar, ‘Just Exist’ continues the band’s steady rise through Australian music ranks.” – Natalie O’Driscoll
Georgia Hoareau ‘17’
“Stunning debut from one of the city’s emerging bedroom pop stars.’17’ is raw and emotive, signalling a coming of age for the artist that is both musical and literal. Georgia delivers songwriting that really hits its mark.” – Samantha Morris
Ella Fence ‘Don’t Feed the Monster’
“The track started as a conversation Brad Hosking and I had, because I was furious quite specifically about the female experience in the music industry and I was triggered. It has since grown to encompass so much more than just one theme – it's become about negativity and toxicity; within society, within your relationships, within yourself.” – Ella Fence
Ivey ‘Bodies’
“Latest offering ‘Bodies’ sees the band turn down the jangly guitars and turn up the synths, achieving a more indie pop/electro feel.” – Zac Fahey
Heavy Wax ‘Take Life Easy’
“I like the repetitive horns and singalong chorus. The song makes me think I’m sitting at the beach. It reminded me of seeing Heavy Wax live at beatniks and thinking “this is the most greatest thing I’ve ever heard” because I’d never heard music like that while so close to the band. I like the bass section and the melody and the harmony when people are singing. I love hearing so many horns because they set the beat and are fun and joyful.” – Marley J Morris (Age 10)
THIS PIECE WAS CREATED FOR BLANK'S SPECIAL 100th EDITION, DISTRIBUTED IN MARCH 2023.