From our desks to your ears, here is this month's New Music from the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers.

Lyric’s Expansive Debut

After drip feeding us with a constant stream of releases over the past few months, 19-year old local artist Lyric has dropped her expansive debut EP ‘every colour, every hue’. The self-reflective EP explores different shades of the human emotion through a diverse range of sounds and lyrical content across five tracks. The opener ‘lunar eclipse’ describes first love over bright guitars, ‘1985’ applies wisdom over progressive synths and EP closer ‘one-sided love’ tells of heartbreak alongside a piano and building instrumentation. Super impressive debut from this local artist on the rise.

Ferny Fairway’s Grungy Rock Belter

Burleigh Heads four-piece Ferny Fairway are putting guitars front and centre with their grungy indie rock belter ‘Good Measure’. Taking cues from local emotive rockers Eliza and the Delusionals and Hockey Dad, the band create their own unique flair courtesy of smooth emotive vocals and intricate guitar parts. An impressive fuzzy wall of sound from Ferny Fairway to open their 2023 account.

Fake News’ Full Throttle Explosion

Local punk fans rejoice, Fake News have released their full throttle EP ‘Take Me Away’ and it does not disappoint. Relentless high energy guitars, pounding drums and intense vocals explode through each of the four tracks with highlights including the commanding opener ‘Where We Stand’ and the anthemic ‘Rise and Fall’. Fans of classic Millencolin and The Ataris will love this latest offering from Fake News.

Ollie Twohill’s Powerful Reflection

Ollie Twohil hits close to home with his stark reflection on the catastrophic floods that hit the Northern Rivers in 2022. ‘Washed Away’ draws from Ollie's acoustic roots as a busker but is brought to life with the help of shredding electric guitars, layered vocal harmonies and heavy drums to create a melodic rock tune that adds even more flavour to his diverse collection of releases. Powerful stuff here from Ollie Twohill.

Will Carlson’s Unique Musical Cocktail

Will Carlson is continuing to pave his own way with the release of his unique musical cocktail ‘Issues’. Drawing influence from early 2000’s Kylie Minogue, as well as mid 2010’s Melbourne Bounce club music, Carlson’s bedroom production and spoken word inspired delivery come together to create a sound that won’t be for everyone but is certainly unlike anything else you’ll hear this month.

Kent Dustin’s Modern Pop Earworm

Kent Dustin is keeping us well fed with the release of his second single for 2023 ‘Another Lover’. The groove-heavy modern pop earworm is driven by an off kilter beat, decorated with intricate production and brought home with Dustin’s effortlessly cool vocals. Recently warming the hearts of local audiences at his single launch in March, Kent Dustin seems to be on a creative roll and has not put a foot wrong all year.

Out 7 April

Seaside Return

After almost two years between releases Seaside have picked up right where they left off with the huge sounding euphoric indie rock gem ‘We’re On Fire’. Written about the tug of war between two people in love the beautifully produced track draws you in with its haunting guitars and continues to captivate for the entire three minutes with impressive dynamics and clever song writing. World class stuff here from local favourites Seaside.

Life Is A Myth’s Disco Funk Party Starter

Prolific local music maker and collaborator Liam Kirk has taken time out of his busy schedule performing in local bands Selve and Heavy Wax to further explore his solo moniker Life Is A Myth. ‘Moonlights’ is an energetic electronic-disco-funk party starter featuring a driving rhythm, layers of mind bending synths and a flamboyant vocal delivery. The first taste of an EP to be released in June ‘Late Nights’ sets the scene for another adventurous body of work from Life Is A Myth.

Lily Bloom’s Feast For The Senses

Lily Bloom is following up her 2022 debut with another sonically compelling feast for the senses that will leave you gobsmacked. ‘What If It Happens Again’ tells a shocking (but too common) story of abuse through an open form song structure that grows in intensity reminiscent of Billie Eilish’s ‘Happier Than Ever’. With the hope that the vulnerability of her heartbreak will comfort survivors and confront perpetrators, ‘What If It Happens Again’ is artistic expression at its finest. Out 14 April

Hinterland’s Fragile Juxtaposition

Hinterland have stripped things back this month with the release of the pop/country single ‘Fragile’. Lyrically diving deep into introspection, feelings of inadequacy and childhood traumas, the music tells a different story following an uplifting composition featuring acoustic guitars, bright vocals and the band’s signature fiddle parts. Accompanied by a clever lyric video, ‘Fragile’ will have you dancing and reflecting all at once. Out 21 April

Sunday Sesh’s Musical Banquet

Lovable larrikins Sunday Sesh are continuing their dominance over hard-hitting party anthems with the release of the raucous debut EP ‘Entree’. Opening with the fuzzy, Arctic Monkeys-inspired jam ‘Paradise’ the remaining three tracks revisit the band’s previously released singles ‘Tactical Vomits’ ‘Tinder’ and ‘Love Bite’. With a follow up EP titled ‘Dinner’ promised soon, this local four-piece clearly have a banquet planned for us in 2023.

Salty Season’s Unique Blend

Salty Season are introducing themselves to us this month with the charming new genre-defying single ‘Cowboy’. Driven by a jangly indie guitar, the song twists and turns featuring moments of folk rock, country and blues over a careless, half spoken vocal delivery reminiscent of Kirt Vile. You can catch Salty Season’s unique blend live at Miami Marketta on 7 May at Sunday Harvest.

KOOLZ’s Smooth Change

KOOLZ has given us a smooth musical change of direction this month with the Latin-influenced modern hip-hop body mover ‘828’. Working with up-and-coming producer Musicbysecrets, KOOLZ’s vocals shine through with the help of some tasteful autotune and a glitchy 16 note drum groove. Drastically different to where she left us on her previous release, ‘828’ proves that KOOLZ cannot be defined by a genre.

Sunny Luwe Brightens Up Your Day

Dani Teveluwe has brought a fresh energy into 2023 with the release of the Nelly Furtado-inspired single ‘Fly Like A Bird’ alongside a brand new moniker. Now known as Sunny Luwe, this local musical chameleon continues to expand her sound diving into nostalgic 90’s pop territory with the help of a co-write alongside Grammy-nominated artist Sally Seltmann. With a video that showcases some of the Gold Coast’s finest coastal landscapes, this debut from Sunny Luwe is a colourful ray of sunshine that is sure to brighten up your day.

Anita Spring Returns To Her Roots

Anita Spring has revisited her roots with the heartfelt pop ballad ‘Playing With Fire’. Again working with a host of international talent on producing and mixing duties, Anita takes the songwriting reins herself telling a heartfelt story of temptation backed by an acoustic guitar and a yearning string section. Always seeming to be on the move creatively, Anita Spring is currently touring Queensland with her tribute show to Olivia Newton-John ‘Forever Olivia’.