What a year! Let's take a trip down memory lane and recap our top 22 music releases from the year that was...
Karl S. Williams - ‘Mighty Judgement’
Karl S. Williams is channelling his inner Bob Dylan here on the powerful single ‘Mighty Judgement’, a brutal commentary of the modern world told with Williams’ unmistakable fervour. Opening with acoustic guitar and a Dylan-esque vocal delivery, the track quickly builds in intensity, introducing commanding electric guitars and huge drums that strike in the space between vocal melodies to create an epic call and response rhythm. Truly brilliant stuff from this local stalwart.
Buttered - ‘Perfect’
Stepping up the tempo significantly from their early soulful ballads and moving more towards 80’s funk/disco territory Buttered’s ‘Perfect’ is another slice of brilliance from the talented duo. Wonderfully cheesy synth sounds, popping bass and pocket drums lay the foundation for this infectious track that is really brought to life by front men Scott Dalton and Jackson James Smith’s unmistakable harmonies and insanely hooky vocal melodies. If you’re a fan of early Parcels, Jungle or 70’s car chase music you’ll love this track.
Mirror Mirror - ‘Baby Be Mine’
Mirror Mirror introduced themselves to us in style this year with their 70’s soul-inspired debut single ‘Baby Be Mine’. Led by a smooth Rhodes piano the track has the contemporary flavours of Rex Orange County with the timeless groves of Steely Dan, presented through a live video that channels the modern vintage feel of Silk Sonic.
Ordley’s - ‘so far so good’
Ordley came in hot with his euphoric debut single ‘so far so good’, described as an ambient house track that paints a naively optimistic picture of all things life. The soft opening builds organically into a wash of synths and a subtle backbeat before introducing a warbling bass resulting in one of the most tasteful EDM drops we heard all year.
Little Georgia - ‘Dressed In Gold’
Local favourites Little Georgia returned with their first new music since 2020, turning up the amps for a powerful blues inspired number ‘Dressed In Gold’. Pulsating Rhodes piano and a rollocking drum rhythm set the gritty tone for this self-assured single while the wonderfully paired vocal harmonies tell a story a locked-down observer walking through the emotions and chaos of the past two years.
Tully John & Liza-Jane - ‘Child’
Tully John & Liza-Jane delivered another atmospheric masterstroke with the vibrant new single ‘Child’. Locally recorded with Tim Goodburn at Bignote Studios in Burleigh the track builds upon an intimate acoustic guitar and vocal, layering harmonies, roomy electric guitars, and pocket drumming to create a slow burning epic that should fit nicely into anyone’s Sunday chill playlist.
Eliza & The Delusionals - ‘Bed Song’
‘Bed Song’ is another sonically rich nostalgic rock melting pot of guitars and souring vocals, typical of the Eliza & The Delusionals signature sound. A true masterclass in how songwriters Eliza Klatt and Kurt Skuse always seem to emotionally driven lyricism with fresh, dynamic song writing arrangements the track did well to set the scene for one of the most exciting local album releases of the year.
Austin Mackay - ‘Dancing Through The Fire’
Fresh Gold Coast resident Austin Mackay introduced himself to us this earlier in the year with ‘Dancing Through The Fire’, his own take on Australian heartland rock created to get people on their feet. Powered by an upbeat arpeggiated synth the track features a host of intricate melodic hooks to create a spacious yet urgent sound reminiscent of The War On Drugs or Future Islands. Exploring the idea of two people holding on to a relationship that is inevitably falling apart, Austin Mackay’s ‘Dancing Through The Fire’ is heartfelt modern song writing at its finest.
clovo - 'Sociopath’
clovo backed up her 2021 debut with the powerful new single 'Sociopath’, a huge sounding dark pop anthem taking cues from the likes of Mia Rodriguez and Nessa Barrett. Again using heavy hitting sounds to tackle big issues, 'Sociopath’ outlines the struggles of mental illness and was penned as a creative purge during an especially rough patch in clovo’s life. Strutting drums lead the way over haunting synths and effortlessly cool vocals to create a cinematic sound that is best consumed while watching the excellent accompanying video.
Eyesite - ‘Don’t You Love Me’
Eyesite celebrated their final weeks of year 12 in style with the heavy hitting, punk inspired belter ‘Don’t You Love Me’. Monstrous, fast paced guitar riffs, inspired vocals and thrashy drums set the scene for this angsty onslaught of the senses that dives into the frustrations of a young person trying to finish school during a pandemic. Again channelling early Silverchair vibes, the band lifted the roof off a bunch of local venues on a run of tour dates finishing up with a show at Gold Coast Schoolies Week.
MDWS’s - ‘Naive’
Local producer MDWS [pronounced “Meadows”] channels the luscious, emotive vibes of Joji on his single ‘Naive’. Leading with an intimate guitar part and the sultry tones of MDWS’s baritone vocal the track slowly builds with the help of layered harmonies and beautiful production. Accompanied by an equally impressive video ‘Naive’ is sure to was a huge return to form after his 2015 single ‘Circles’.
Georgia Hoareau - ‘Therapy’
After blowing us away with her debut single “17” late last year Georgia Hoareau delivered yet another gem, with the self-assured pop beauty ‘Therapy’. Captivating from the very first minute Georgia’s vocal stands front and centre with minimal instrumentation letting the lyrics and emotion express the unique struggles of a 16 year old.
Peach Fur - ‘Sun Rays’
After almost two years between rereleases Peach Fur returned better than ever with their second single in as many months. ‘Sun Rays’ sees the band revisit their roots, mixing smooth dub/reggae elements with modern psychedelia that is sure to impress fans both old and new. First penned back in 2015 the track carries a strong message about breaking free from the mainstream to focus on the ones you love.
Mass Sky Raid - ‘Undertow’
Mass Sky Raid got us psyched for their forthcoming sophomore album earlier this year with the release of the anthemic single ‘Undertow’. Full throttle drums, souring guitars and commanding vocals come together with driving synthesisers to create the type of sonic euphoria you would expect from an early The Mars Volta track.
Eimhin - ‘Lately’
Eimhin (pronounced Ev-an) stopped us in our tracks with his brilliant debut single ‘Lately’, an earnest folk/rock song about looking inward and realising that vulnerability is not weakness. The Irish expat stayed true to his roots with clear, earthy influences of his homeland that mix beautifully with modern production and heartfelt vocal delivery.
Mad Snax 'Down & Dirty'
Mad Snax served up a mouth-watering dose of EDM with their full-throttle slap-house banger 'Down & Dirty'. Teaming up with French producer Poylow the track is bursting with hooks, from the lead synths to the slinky bass, but it’s the vocal melodies from co-writer DVNA that really steal the show.
Geniie Boy ‘Elevator To The Sky’
Local favourites Geniie Boy solidified their project as more than just a one-off collaboration with the release of the fantastic new single ‘Elevator To The Sky’. Another alt/pop ear-worm the track features the unmistakable vocal of Alisha Todd and the quirky musical genius of Scott French, offering a more psychedelic sound to their previous work. Inspired by a podcast about an interstellar elevator, the accompanying video takes you on a wild ride to an intergalactic house party that’s well worth the trip.
Jesswar - ‘Fell In Love’
‘Fell In Love’ was Jesswar’s first taste of a forthcoming debut mixtape that saw the proud Fijian-Australian take a slight step back from the high energy rap we’ve come to expect, offering a unexpectedly tender love letter, coupled with a smooth Latin infused RnB backbeat. Released alongside a stunning accompanying video, ‘Fell In Love’ gave an exciting glimpse of Jesswar’s next creative chapter.
ECB - ’Slime’
After dominating triple j’s ‘Bars Of Steel’ segment, local hip-hop collective ECB (East Coast Brotherhood) returned to the scene with a hard hitting single and gritty new video to match. ’Slime’ features slick verses from rappers Chiggz, JK-47, Will and Nate G with the film clip seeing all the members appear in a shiny vintage convertible cruising the familiar streets of the Southern Gold Coast. The production and overall delivery clearly draw inspiration from early American Hip-Hop greats but the glitchy beat and connection to country gives ECB a unique edge.
Pure Milk - ‘Dreams on a Platter’
Loveable locals Pure Milk returned with their fourth EP ‘Food Court Days’, a charming refection of the mundane joys and scuffles of adolescent youth. Six clever, guitar driven indie rock tunes are woven together beautifully with the help of Dylan Lindquist’s production and the timeless story telling of vocalist Lewis Nitschinsk. Highlights include the thrashy chorus of ‘Dreams On A Platter’, the lyrical stream of consciousness in ‘Men/I Despise’ and the Aussie twang of the closing title track. A brilliant body of work here from Pure Milk, best consumed as a whole.
City Over Sand - ‘Echo’
City Over Sand made a triumphant return with the release the acoustic pop stunner ‘Echo’, offered as the first taste of their recently released EP ‘Half Full’. Written about solitude, resilience, trouble, and a helping hand the track doesn’t put a foot wrong from start to finish, from it’s world-class production to beautiful layered harmonies, it’s a near perfectly crafted song that seems to float past you in an instant.
San Mei - ‘Sink Or Swim’
After experimenting with industrial edged ‘90s rock on her 2021 releases, San Mei returned to the signature dreamy guitar sounds on her new single ‘Sink Or Swim’. Lyrically threading a needle of emotion between turmoil and happiness the track is described as an anthem for choosing optimism over drowning during dark times.