Mix Tape Volume 24
Our next Mix Tape for 2023 has some absolute rippers on it, check out some of the new music released this summer…
Following the rapturous reception for their Generator single and launches in Sydney and in their home town of Wollongong, Chimers have released a new video and digital single for the track Tooth, which first appeared as the B-side on the limited edition 7″ of Generator.
Wollongong’s Chimers, whose self-released and self-titled album of 2021 has found fans amongst the likes of Henry Rollins, Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto, and members of The Mark Of Cain and Mudhoney, are currently playing a host of shows up and down the East Coast, combining headliners with supports for Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies, the Scientists and Mudhoney.
The limited 7″ single of Generator”/Tooth and digital downloads of both tracks can be ordered now from Chimers’ Bandcamp page.
Electronic pop auteur Alison Goldfrapp and the esteemed house and techno mainstay Paul Woolford step up to the plate to deliver the euphoric, piano-driven collaboration Fever, following hot on the heels of Digging Deeper, Alison’s recent depth-charged collab with the enigmatic German producer Claptone.
Paul Woolford has been delivering show-stopping sets to international audiences for the past decade and never misses the mark with his razor-sharp, floor-focused sound design. Fever is adorned with textured arpeggiators and signature dreamy vocals from avant-pop originator Alison Goldfrapp, strokes of highly pressurised synths blast through the arrangement with rapturous effect. A sonic sugar-rush, Fever release represents another important step towards Alison’s transforming musical journey.
In Alison’s own words – “I love the simmering and explosive energy Paul has brought to my track ‘Fever’. I can’t wait to hear it out on a sweaty dancefloor.”
Aberdeen-via-Brighton alt-pop-rock trio The XCERTS return with the bombastic single GIMME and announce their worldwide signing to UNFD.
GIMME hits top speed straight from the gate and shows the band at their fully fledged new-selves; a distorted pop sound that feeds off their established work but shows the band at a creative and adventurous stage in their career. The chop-cut guitars, urgent vocals and explosive production push GIMME’s pop credentials to their limits and create a perfect sonic sledgehammer. The accompanying video, directed by Zak Pinchin, bottles up that energy, holds the viewer by the metaphorical ankles and shakes for one minute and forty five seconds – a perfect visual to accompany this fresh chapter of The XCERTS’ evolution.
On writing the track, the band said; “It’s been too long since we last released new music and we wanted to reintroduce ourselves with a rebirth of sorts. GIMME is our most bombastic piece of work, sonically and musically, so it felt like the perfect introduction to the new era. Unapologetically in your face and written with complete artistic freedom. Lyrically, it’s more observational than gut-wrenchingly personal; when burning desire meets apathy, it’s both comical and pitiful, which makes for one hell of a scene.”
Producer, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, who records and performs as PVRIS, has dropped a new single GODDESS via Hopeless Records. The single is a gritty, punchy and action packed dance party that channels female rage, power, confidence, and autonomy all in one. Lyndsey says, ‘It’s a celebration of femininity, all shapes and forms, and a cathartic, guttural scream at the same time.”
Goddess is the follow up to the pair of singles that PVRIS shared in late 2022 – ANYWHERE BUT HERE and ANIMAL. Together they served as a reminder of the range and multifaceted nature of Gunnulfsen’s artistry. Accompanying the singles was PVRIS’ first short film, directed by long-time friend and tour mate Jax Anderson.
New Zealand alternative pop star BENEE returns with a brand new single and music video entitled Green Honda via Republic Records.
Green Honda, which was featured on New Music Daily on Apple Music, is the first new song from BENEE leading up to a larger body of work due out later this year.
Heading to Los Angeles to work with MXM Music’s Elvira Anderfjard (Tove Lo, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift) and Luka Kloser (Jojo Siwa, Dylan Conrique), the New Zealand alt-pop queen tapped into the crazy new energy she found with these new collaborators.
BENEE spoke on creating ‘Green Honda’ and the real-life Green Honda that she still owns:
“It was such a refreshing experience to be in the studio writing with two other young women. There is so much that you just don’t need to explain when you’re working with your true peers. It’s intuitive. They just get it, and that’s amazing.
“Green Honda was quite a light-hearted song at first and some parts just flowed immediately. I headed straight to Europe on tour after the writing session so I had to go back and forth with Elvira and Luka to get the production just right.
“I wanted the energy of the song to capture the idea I had of writing a song about knowing where you’re at and what you need to say and not being afraid.
“There is a personal history to the Green Honda story… my green Honda was my first car, passed on to me by my grandmother when she gave up driving. I call him ‘Steve’, and he’s on the cover of my ‘STELLA & STEVE’ EP. We’ve had lots of adventures together.”
FALLING IN REVERSE are already kicking 2023’s ass with a new single.The band has shared the video for new track Watch the World Burn. The song is another epic anthem that finds frontman Ronnie Radke laying his lyrical cards up on the table while his vocal style escalates from a rhythmic cadence to an earth-shaking howl.Falling In Reverse continue to explode by leaps and bounds in this nascent decade. The band’s catalogue has clocks over 2.7 billion — yes, billion — streams. The most recent single Voices In My Head garnered 95 million streams and was the #1 song of 2022 at SiriusXM’s Octane, while Zombified has clocked 120 million and topped the U.S active rock charts. Elsewhere, Popular Monster was also, well, a monster, that landed at #1 on the U.S active rock charts, as well.
Stand Atlantic are back with a vengeance. The Aussie rockers have unveiled a new track, kill[h]er, and it’s one of their most angst-infused anthems yet. The song, penned in a small hotel room in LA, brings big-time energy and is all about annihilating self doubt. The song marks Stand Atlantic’s first release of 2023, and is a testament to their powerful year ahead.
Stand Atlantic’s Bonnie Fraser says of the track:
“self sabotage is a bitch, self doubt kills and denying good and genuine parts of yourself because you’ve been conditioned to think they’re not good enough is a form of murder. it’s a reminder to myself not to give in to that shit. personal growth is important but don’t deny who you are. sometimes i find myself thinking back to who i used to be and missing that person.”
Pop megastar Ellie Goulding release her new single Like A Saviour alongside the video for the track. Ellie’s hotly anticipated fifth studio album Higher Than Heaven is now set for release this March 24th.
With a pulsating bassline juxtaposed with the 80s tinged synths, new single Like A Saviour sees Ellie once again deliver a high energy pop smash. The accompanying video, directed by Joe Connor with choreography by Daniel Alwell, features Ellie and a cohort of backing dancers stranded in a desert – a landscape they must battle against as the song reaches its epic crescendo finish.
Ellie took to social media last month to announce the new single but also share the new release date for her forthcoming album Higher Than Heaven which is now set for release this March 24th. Ellie explained “We’ve had some exciting opportunities appear behind the scenes which I cannot wait to share with you in due course. In the meantime as a thank you for your patience”
Sleaford Mods have released their sinister new single Force 10 From Navarone, featuring guest vocals from Dry Cleaning frontwoman Florence Shaw. Accompanied by a brand new video, the song is taken from the Nottingham duo’s forthcoming album UK GRIM, which will be released on 10 March 2023.
Reflecting the depth of the new record, this emotional commentary explores the inner life anxieties of 21st century living, with a wry examination of social conventions. ‘The track is a conversation with myself coming to terms with happiness and whether it is in fact a darker space than my negativity and depression. Coupled with that it explores the myth of activism and inaction of the majority in the UK in the presence of a corrupt government.’ says Jason.
Jessie Ware is back with her brand new single Pearls and announces her fifth studio album ‘That! Feels Good!’, due for release on 28th April via EMI Records.
Pearls sees the dancefloor diva back where she belongs. Thumping with 70’s funk infused basslines and infectious grooves towed by sonic synthesisers, the track was co-written and produced by Coffee Clarence JR, Sarah Hudson and legendary British producer Stuart Price. The track is riding high on captivating energy that seems like it could’ve emerged straight from a mirror ball.
“Pearls is a record that doesn’t take itself too seriously but demands you to have a dance. It’s inspired by divas like Donna Summer, Evelyn Champagne King, Teena Marie and Chaka khan and I guess attempts to show – in lightness – all the hats I try to wear (usually at the same time). It’s the second song you will hear from my collaboration with Stuart Price and Coffee – with the wonderful addition of Sarah Hudson – and hopefully gives you a taste of the fun we have working together. “ Jessie also added, “That! Feels Good! stems from over 10 years of understanding who I am, and who I enjoy being as an artist and the thrill of performance. “
Ukiyo is the newest member of the Island Records Australia family. The electronica multi-instrumentalist and producer has shared his first offering on the label; his new single Slow Motion.
Slow Motion features Ukiyo’s trademark warm, electronic soundscapes enveloping a delicate vocal from Will Hyde. The track swells with lush production that ensures it’s ready for both quiet commutes and heaving dancefloors.
Ukiyo pulled inspiration for the song from “that kind of dark place where you feel like you’re falling apart quicker than you can put yourself back together, and the thought of reaching out for help is a burden on a world that seems like it’s moving on fine without you.” Having music help him through the toughest of times, he’s hoping it can “help people get out of that place like music has helped me, and remind the people that need to hear it, that they’re not alone.”
Following an illustrious career as one quarter of ARIA Award-winning folk band All Our Exes Live In Texas, Eora/Sydney based musician, songwriter, singer and presenter GEORGIA MOONEY shares her highly anticipated debut solo single War Romance, accompanied by its video featuring internationally renowned comedian Rhys Nicholson making their drag debut. As expansively cinematic as the artist herself, War Romance sees Georgia Mooney muse on finding a lover to spend the end of the world with.
On the single, Georgia Mooney shares, “I have always loved wartime films & novels for the way they portray relationships. When life is fragile and we are faced with our mortality on a daily basis, we cling to one another for comfort. Superficial problems fall away and the bonds of love feel extraordinarily strong and vital. It’s a bit melodramatic, but romantic and earnest too. Like standing on a cliff, clutching a letter, staring out to sea.”
Enter Shikari have shared It Hurts, the second single to be taken from their highly-anticipated forthcoming album A Kiss For The Whole World, which will be released on April 21 via SO Recordings / Ambush Reality.
It Hurts follows January’s earth-shaking lead single (pls) set me on fire. It brings with it a call to switch up our worldview and reassess the ways in which we judge ourselves – all in a flurry of race-to-the-finish-line intensity. Lead vocalist and producer Rou Reynolds explains: “It Hurts came to me in a dream. Literally. Melody, chords, and fully-formulated chorus were all part of a dream that, thankfully, remained with me when I woke up. I was hiding under the duvet at 3AM, singing it into my phone, much to the bewilderment of my girlfriend.
Lyrically, It Hurts is about perseverance, and the importance of reframing failure as a fruitful and, in fact, pivotal route to progress. Society teaches us we should avoid and criticise failure, when defeat and honest mistakes can actually present us with insights that light our way forward.
In reality, we should be taught that simply to try makes us more than enough.”
The Plain White T’s are back with a new single and video. Spaghetti Tattoo is an acoustic love song in which frontman Tom Higgenson recounts a memorable first date. The video finds the band appearing as puppets, with scenes that pay homage to famous moments from film history.
It’s a dreamy, airy track propelled by lush harmonizing and understated emotion. It’s also deceptively simple — gentle strumming, percussion that mimics a heartbeat, and Higgenson’s heartfelt vocals. But its energy and relatability can fill the room. It’s truly a feel good song about how “it feels good not to know.”
“I went on a great first date with a girl I’d been talking to and DM’ng with for a while,” says Higgenson. “We laughed and drank and got lost in the moment, until we realized that we were the last two people in the restaurant! It felt so good to be out again after those crazy last couple years, and the date left me filled with excitement and optimism about love and life. So the very next day, I grabbed my guitar and wrote this song. She had a spaghetti tattoo on her arm, which was such a fun and silly detail, so I had to include that in the song. It’s definitely a song about noticing and enjoying the little things.”
With her SOLD OUT 2023 North American DIRT FEMME TOUR currently underway, internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY® nominated artist Tove Lo returns with Borderline, her first release since last year’s critically acclaimed, fifth-studio album DIRT FEMME.
The song comes with an official music video, directed by Brazilian director Nogari, shot in Mexico City, and serving as the sequel to No One Dies From Love, which NYLON named one of the Best Music Videos of 2022.
Speaking about the new track, Tove Lo reveals, “Borderline is a song about being on the edge of love. The drama you cause inside yourself and with another person if you feel insecure. You test them. This song has existed for a long time and I’ve always felt it was incredibly special so getting to release it now has sort of a full circle feeling. Maybe that’s why it was the perfect song for Annie’s revenge video. I hope my fans love the bizarre love story that unfolds in this video, it’s my favorite kind of thing!”
Forget the roses this Valentine’s Day, get set to fall madly in love with the deliciously smooth new tune Be A Lover from Sydney funk collective The Regime. Oozing with silky soul, funk flavours, sensuous instrumentation and effortless flow, Be A Lover will have you crushing hard on The Regime as they continue their enamouring pathway to a full-blown, loved-up funk revolution.
Hailing from Sydney’s inner west, The Regime collide a horde of 20+ talented musicians under their collective musical umbrella, drawing inspiration from funk, soul and electro genre realms, with new school and old school nods fused with a lush and invigorating twist. Taking cues from the likes of Sam Cooke, D’Angelo, Space Buoys, Wim Hof and George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, The Regime once again bust out a sonic indulgence that’ll keep you coming back for more via their brand new single Be A Lover – and the love is truly overflowing. “Be A Lover is a soulful ode to funky liberation,” shares The Regime of their latest release. “The song is about ‘what it feels like to dance away all of your constrictions’. Inspired by the indigenous Jesus Christ, Mother Mary full of funk, and the omnipresence of our non-binary creator aka The greatest Mac of all, also known as the big ‘G’.”
Attention all cinephiles: you are cordially invited to the premiere of Heartbreak Of The Century, the newest single and music video from UK-rock band Neck Deep. The track is described as “a classic sounding Neck Deep song, catchy, angsty, pacey, powerful and a little bit pathetic” by vocalist Ben Barlow, complete with an Academy Award deserving music video.
Barlow continues, “We took the idea of ‘the heartbreak of the century’ and imagined if you could actually win an award for that. So there we had it- a shitty Oscar’s, where we won the heartbreak of the century award. We wanted the video to feel classic/ nostalgic, something that was entertaining to watch rather than your usual. It features some of our best (worst) acting to date and is one of our favourite videos we’ve ever done.”
Singer songwriter Jess Hitchcock returns with her first new music since 2019’s Bloodline, with the emotional new single, I Don’t Have The Heart.
Jess explains, “I Don’t Have The Heart came to me via Tina Arena. She thought it might suit my voice and I felt it also suited a mood I wanted to connect with: having the courage to disappoint someone. Falling out of love with someone isn’t a choice but it forces one to be made.”
The single was produced by Joel Quartermain (Meg Mac), and the accompanying music video was directed by Siân Darling (Courtney Barnett, Electric Fields, Alice Skye, Paul Kelly) with cinematography by These Wild Eyes (Tash Sultana) featuring Evie Ferris (The Wiggles, Australian Ballet), & Baden Hitchcock (Bangarra). It was made on the lands of the Wurundjeri-willam People.
With the release of I Don’t Have The Heart, Jess is excited to reveal that she is putting the finishing touches on her highly anticipated studio album, Unbreakable, due for release later this year.
A pulsating, razor-sharp slice of alternative rock, the brand new single THE GREAT DEPRESSION from heavy-hitters Alt. is by far their most expansive sonic outing yet.
Laden with electronic hues, glossy grit and shimmering darkness, THE GREAT DEPRESSION marks the first new music from the Adelaide group since unleashing the commanding track WRAITH in 2022 alongside the news of the group signing with Resist Records in Australia, and SharpTone Records for the rest of the world.
Also accompanying the new single , Alt. have unleashed a dynamic music video, capturing both the track’s emphatic themes and the group’s searing live energy.
“THE GREAT DEPRESSION is about the ever-growing cases of anxiety and depression in the world,” shares Alt. vocalist Daniel Cullen-Richards of the group’s latest release. “Social media and the pandemic are playing huge rolls in the decline of mental health everywhere. Some people are looking to death to end the suffering in the war against our own mind.”
THE HU – Mongolian rock sensation and UNESCO “Artist For Peace” ambassadors have shared a new version of their 2022 groundbreaking single This Is Mongol.
With featured guest vocalist/guitarist William DuVall of Alice In Chains now appearing on the updated track, This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls) further highlights the song’s original message of promoting Mongolian culture and empowering environmental awareness by adding English-translated lyrics, sung by DuVall, and an unforgettable chanting chorus: “Hey, We are warrior souls, rolling like a river of fire / We are warrior souls, running down the dragon to slay / This is our way (This is our way).”
Halsey shared a solo version of Die 4 Me. While they initially began working on the song while recording their chart-topping 2020 album Manic, Halsey’s original verse first appeared alongside Post Malone and Future’s vocals on the 2019 release of Die for Me. Teasing the release on social media last week, Halsey explained, “It’s been long known in my fanbase that there’s a demo of ‘Die For Me’ with just me on it. I performed my verse on the tour all summer long and since so many people have asked for it, I decided to put my full version out as ‘Die 4 Me’…Big big thanks to @postmalone @louisbell and @future for having me on the original release and co-signing this version finally seeing daylight.”
GRAMMY® Award-nominated powerhouse trio Jonas Brothers return with their anxiously-awaited new single Wings, out now via Republic Records. Wings launches a new era for the band and is the first single from their sixth full-length record—and one of the most anticipated releases of the year—The Album, out May 12th. The band have accrued many multi-Platinum and Gold ARIA Accredited singles, including an ARIA 7x Platinum single.
The Jonas Brothers said, “‘Wings’ is the perfect start to this new chapter for us. Working with Jon pushed us to explore our artistry in a way we never have before. The song is a great first taste of that creative exploration and what’s to come with THE ALBUM.“
Much-loved visitors to Australia, BROODS, release a new single Fuck My Money.
The dark electro-pop track is produced by talented Finnish producer Hank Solo, who is behind songs from Lil Peep, Ava Max, Felix Jaehn and Cheat Codes. The sibling duo Georgia and Caleb Nott wrote the track together in Los Angeles when they were down to their last few dollars, anticipating they were going to be dropped by their US label.
Georgia says, “We were feeling extra existential and questioning everything. We’ve always made music for the love of it and to connect, never for our bank accounts. So one studio day, feeling a bit down on ourselves and frustrated with the music industry and how exploiting it can be so we just kinda said “fuck it, let’s dance” and got our feels out. I remember a conversation I had with an Uber driver around that time. She told me “money is a good servant but a terrible master” and that stuck with me.”
She continues, “This is our song to remember that. To say “I own you, you don’t own me” to the flimsy five dollar note in my wallet and take some small bit of power back.”
The National have unveiled New Order T-Shirt, the second pre-release track from its ninth studio album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, due Friday, 28th April on 4AD / Remote Control.
Accentuating the album’s layered meditations on the rupturing of connection, New Order T-Shirt is a warmly hypnotic track that shifts between singer Matt Berninger’s brightly detailed memories of someone he misses and heavy-hearted resolution (“How we wove through the cones walking home / To the place on Atlantic you shared with your hilarious sister / Kicking off your black flats, demolished and laughing / I keep what I can of you”). “To me the line ‘I keep what I can of you’ means something about everyone I’ve ever known or loved,”
Aaron Dessner says. “There’s a simplicity to ‘New Order T-Shirt’ that reminds me of our earlier records, but with the full maturity and experience we have now. It feels like a really important song for the future of our band.”
Beloved Australian psych-rockers Ocean Alley have mustered up a fresh new video for West Coast, the latest single from last year’s critically acclaimed album Low Altitude Living.
Directed by Jamieson Kerr (who’s best known for his work with the likes of Skegss, Baker Boy and Ruby Fields), the West Coast clip plucks Ocean Alley from their coastal roots and throws them into the seedy, crime-fuelled (and yet, oddly beautiful) world of Grand Theft Auto. Evoking the scenic Californian landscapes of GTA V, we “play” as vocalist/guitarist Baden Donegal as he confronts a NPC (bass guitarist Nic Blom) on a rooftop, navigates an idyllic oceanside mountain and, of course, steals a car and zooms through the streets.
Not everything is what it seems, though, as trippy glitches and jarring jump-cuts make it clear: there’s no cheat code that can save Ocean Alley from this head-spinning simulation. The mountain scenes were shot in New Zealand, while the rooftop and street shots were pulled together in Sydney.
“The song sounds like it’s part of the GTA soundtrack, so we thought it would match up well,” the band said of their ambitious concept for the ‘West Coast’ video. “Mimicking the video game style movements of NPCs was a challenge but it was fun to have everyone involved in the film clip and give their acting skills a crack.”
Emerging Australian singer songwriter Lily Grace celebrates her journey to Nashville with the release of her single, Follow My Road, available everywhere now.
Written by Lily with Chaise Flanders and Kirsti Manna, and produced by award-winning Michael Flanders, the lyrics bring a confident narrative to this rising singer-songwriter’s story as she ventures from Australia to Nashville with an upbeat, catchy tempo to compliment.
“I wrote ‘Follow My Road’ to empower people to follow their dreams and set out on their own path. This song is about being independent and not needing to be reliant on anyone else; a man, a parent, etc. It’s important to know your own values, attitudes and beliefs and put these first. Stay true to yourself, your emotions and trust that you’re the captain of your own ship,” Lily shared.
Iconic Australian electro-pop-rock group, Rogue Traders, have released their first single in over a decade, the highly anticipated dance track, To The Disco.
After recently exciting audiences on social media by teasing the release of To The Disco, the catchy tune and electro beat is guaranteed to have fans rushing straight for the dancefloor, with the song a strong reminder as to why the Rogue Traders have remained such a beloved name in the Australian dance music scene.
To celebrate the launch, the Rogue Traders have announced a pop-up live show set to take place on February 23rd at the Columbian Hotel in Sydney. The 18+ gig will see lead vocalist Natalie Bassingthwaighte and keyboardist James Ash taking to the stage for an epic DJ and vocal set where they will perform their new single, along with past hits, in what is sure to be a nostalgic night to remember.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte says of the new single, “Inspired by an early RT album track, To The Disco takes us back to the dancefloor. Our fans have been so patient in waiting for new music from us after all of these years and the truth is, it takes time to get things feeling right. This track feels right, and we are so excited for you all to hear it!”
James Ash continues, “We will be smashing a live DJ and Vocal set, celebrating the launch of our first new single in over a decade. We can’t wait, it’s going to be epic!”
Janelle Monáe, music’s foremost freeassmuthafucka, is back in action with the release of her highly-anticipated single, Float, featuring horns by Seun Kuti + Egypt 80.
According to sources closest to Monáe, Float is inspired by Muhammed Ali talking shit in Zaire, 1974, Jane’s evolution, Mary Poppins’ umbrella, Aladdin’s magic carpet, Ja Morant’s flotation to the rim while dunking on his ops, Sara Elise’s ropes, excerpts from Paramahmsa Nithyananda’s talks on levitation, Raul’s toast on Dec 1, and Bruce Lee’s mighty philosophy on being “shapeless, formless,” and becoming one with your surroundings, to be like water…
100 gecs shares new single Hollywood Baby from the forthcoming album 10,000 gecs, which is set for release March 17 via Dog Show Records / Atlantic Records. The highly anticipated single has become a fan favourite during their recent shows, with grainy phone videos of the song circulating heavily in online forums and social media since the first timed they performed it in late 2021. The excitement for the song has been apparent ever since, with supporters showing up with the lyrics memorized despite the song ever being officially released.
A music video accompanies the single, directed by Laura Les and Dylan Brady and edited by longtime 100 gecs collaborator Weston Allen, showcasing the gecs dancing while setting off fireworks in their apartment. They have also revealed the tracklist for 10,000 gecs, which was written, produced, and performed by Laura and Dylan with the help of legendary drummer Josh Freese in Los Angeles.
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