Mix Tape 38
Plenty of awesome new selections in Mix Tape 38, give it a spin…
Canadian alt-rock outfit The Beaches share a new song from their highly anticipated upcoming record, Touch Myself, out everywhere now. The track is the fourth single from their third studio album, No Hard Feelings, out everywhere August 29th via AWAL. Their recently announced North American tour is also on sale now.
Kicking off with a bright guitar juxtaposing the single’s subject matter, Touch Myself is a passionate, yearning anthem about struggling to get over a former partner. Witty but vulnerable lyrics take center stage, complemented with anthemic riffs to create the perfect scream-in-your-car breakup track that’s certain to be a fan favorite.
“Touch Myself is a song about being so heartbroken you can’t even masturbate, because when you do, it just makes you think of your ex,” shares the band. “It’s about how grief can sneak into the most private parts of your life and leave you feeling totally wrecked.”
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Charlie Collins announces the release of her new single The Last 48 Hours, produced by Steven Schram (Crowded House, San Cisco), mixed by Tom Iansek (Big Scary, #1 Dads), and features Neil Finn on piano and bass. The song is from her forthcoming album Nightwriter, arriving Friday, August 29th (via Island Records Australia).
Nothing really fazes Charlie Collins, even when she’s dealing with some of the heaviest things imaginable, she’s often wickedly funny. Balancing light and shade is something she does in person but also on record, as she offsets dry lyrics against deeper harmonic instrumentation. As she says about ‘The Last 48 Hours’, “musically I wanted it to be fun, not like woe is me but more ‘fuck it, this is who I am.’”
Charlie describes the song as about “coming to terms with being an addict because of my addictive personality. When I became sober, I noticed I was still trying to find things to give me high whether it be nicotine, caffeine, masturbating, sex, relationships and pretty much anything that wasn’t drugs or alcohol. I think I laughed most of the time writing this because it was a realisation of parts of my personality traits.”
GRAMMY®-winning Icelandic-Chinese artist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Laufey is premiering Lover Girl, the latest single from her highly anticipated forthcoming album A Matter of Time. Of the song, Laufey explains, “The hardest part of loving someone is being away from them. This is that story.” A Matter of Time is coming August 22 via Vingolf Recordings / AWAL.
Feeling sonically unrestrained gave Laufey the space to share new sides of herself while exploring sometimes heavier themes. “People expect a pretty façade of girly clothes, fantastical stories, and romantic music,” she says. “This time, I was interested in seeing how I could draw out the most flawed parts of myself and look at them directly in the mirror.” A Matter of Time finds Laufey at her most daring—and also playful—as she captures the experience of “real love” in its many forms and what it means to observe as it strips you down to your most vulnerable and anxious.
Following the releases of Ruby, The Song of The Masochist and I Wouldn’t Like You, multi-award-winning musician, writer and performer Tim Minchin shares You Grew On Me, the fourth single from his forthcoming album TimMinchinTimeMachine, out 25 July via BMG.
A masterclass in dark comedy and emotional subtext, You Grew On Me is a twisted love song that uses medical metaphors to chart the progression of an all-consuming toxic relationship. At the piano, Minchin compares falling in love to developing a terminal illness describing the other person as a tumour, virus and disease that’s taken over his body and mind. What begins as a seemingly mild connection grows into something he can’t escape, even though it’s destroying him. The song cleverly mixes heartfelt vulnerability with biting satire, ultimately portraying love as both devastating and inescapable.
Tim Minchin said: “I’ve performed this tune in various forms for years, and it has always been one of my faves. It’s sort of discombobulating because it constantly shifts: between funny and heartfelt, between two different time signatures, and between different key centers. This version, with its bonkers choral backing vocals and awesome Jak Housden guitar, is deeply satisfying to me.”
Wet Leg reveal the third song from their anticipated second album moisturizer – due July 11th. Entitled davina mccall, it’s a soft, lovelorn ballad that takes a cheeky premise – Big Brother and Shakira – and coats it in a sense of earnestness that’s new for Wet Leg; it’s a song about pure, unadulterated devotion.
The video for davina mccall is directed by Chris Hopewell and is a charming stop-motion animation, where we meet the band as clay figures cruising along in search of a feather-stealing goblin, while calling back to the ‘CPR’ video and their family portrait.
davina mccall is also a great showcase of the band’s new way of collaborating: Hester Chambers began the song and teased it out with Ellis Durand; Rhian Teasdale wrote the lyrics and melody, a process that felt a little like solving a mystery. “Ellis and I were on the edge of our seats, being like, ‘We’re gonna get this, we’re completing the puzzle,” says Chambers.
On the heels of the ARIA Platinum smash hits—back to friends and undressed—singer-songwriter and producer sombr returns with a new song, we never dated. The highly-anticipated single—written and produced by sombr with additional production by Tony Berg—is out now via Warner Records.
From sharing his first taste of music online in 2021, to quickly garnering millions of monthly listeners and penning concurrent chart-topping singles, sombr’s rise has been meteoric. The breakout artist has spent the last few months selling out venues around the world, making his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and captivating a global fanbase through his vulnerable storytelling and steady stream of new music
Australia’s rising indie-pop antihero Darcie Haven returns with Doomsday, a dramatic, diaristic heartbreak anthem that captures the chaos of young love with brutal honesty and tongue-in-cheek flair. The single sees Haven sharpening her trademark blend of raw lyricism and grungy pop production into something both darkly playful and devastatingly sincere.
“‘Doomsday’ is about feeling like the world is ending when a relationship doesn’t pan out the way you’d hoped. It’s a bit petty and tongue in cheek, while being deathly serious at the same time. Equating a breakup to an apocalypse is dramatic, but deeply true to the inner turmoil of short term, explosive relationships.”
Australian country-pop artist Rachael Fahim unleashes her powerful new single Who You Are, out now on Island Records Australia.
The rising artist channels heartbreak into strength on the soul-baring Who You Are, delivering a bold confessional sequel to Rachael’s previous single, Good Luck; that claimed the #1 spot on the CMT Chart last week.
“’Who You Are’ was born in my situationship era,” says Fahim. “I had fallen headfirst for someone who treated me like an option. It’s about the aftermath of a toxic relationship, when you stop excusing the bad behaviour and start realising your worth. This song isn’t just about mourning love lost, it’s about mourning the version of myself that I lost, because I stayed too long.”
Coming of age in front of thousands of witnesses, indie’s emboldened mood-enhancing force, The Lathums have quickened their stride since the release of their third album, Matter Does Not Define earlier this year and release their latest single, Cobblestones, with Australia, Japan and Singapore in their sights. Riven with a choppy Johnny Marr jangle and a dubby heart beating to distant echoes of The Clash, the summer single lands as festival stages beckon, both at home and overseas.
“’Cobblestones’ started when I was in my teens and started paying close attention to the world around me: the streets, the buildings, the way history leaves its mark. Where I’m from, cobblestones seem to be everywhere, and they started to feel like a symbol for the stories and truths buried under modern life. The song is about what gets covered up, not just by concrete or tarmac, but by politics, ego, and time. It’s about how we build over the past and try to move on, but the past is still there, just beneath the surface.”
Fresh from supporting indigo la End in Japan, Australian alt-pop artist Yorke has collaborated with the Japanese rock band, to rework her K-pop inspired single sorry in advance, out now.
Fans have been asking and anticipating this collaboration since indigo la End began using Yorke’s song ‘like in the movies’ as their walk on song for their recent tour. Yorke shares, “I found out through YouTube comments that indigo la End had been using my song ‘like in the movies’ as their walk on song for their tour, and I messaged them on Instagram to thank them. We ended up staying in contact and on a whim, I sent Enon the ‘sorry in advance’ demo. To my surprise, he wanted the band to jump on the track, and they went away and made it their own. Fast forward to now, where we get to play it together in Tokyo, which is even more special. I really love how they transformed the track, and I’ll be forever grateful to Enon and the band for embracing and introducing me to a whole new Japanese audience.”
Enon Kawatani (indigo la End lead singer) says, “the connection that came about by using Yorke’s song ‘like in the movies’ as the SE for the tour’s appearance has brought us here. This is the second collaboration with an overseas artist. Please listen to ‘sorry in advance’ dyed in indigo colours.”
After two years away from the spotlight, global superstar Lewis Capaldi makes his extremely welcome return with new single Survive – a bold, brave new anthem that underscores a challenging period in his career, that ended at Glastonbury 2023 in an extremely tough, but special unifying moment as the Pyramid Stage crowd helped carry an emotional Capaldi over the finish line.
“Most nights I fear that I’m not enough, I’ve had my share of Monday mornings when I can’t get up” sings Capaldi in a huge, hair-raising and brutally honest track that addresses mental health challenges of self-doubt & despair, but comes out swinging in a chorus full of defiance – “I swear to God I’ll survive, if it kills me to, I’m gonna’ get up and try, if it’s the last thing I’ll do”
Survive also sees Lewis re-united with close collaborator Romans, who co-wrote his global mega hit Someone You Loved, that extraordinarily turned 23x Platinum earlier this year.
One of Ireland’s most beloved folk bands, The High Kings, return with a powerful new track, blending traditional elements with a modern sheen courtesy of their new single The Rocky Road To Dublin – The Celtic Remix. A rousing take on the Irish classic, the track builds on the band’s previous version featured on the #1 charting 2025 film Sinners. The Rocky Road To Dublin – The Celtic Remix also paves the way for the upcoming Australian tour this September.
The Step It Out World Tour will visit some of Australia’s most iconic venues, kicking off on Thursday 11 September in Brisbane, before heading to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and finishing in Fremantle on Saturday 20 September, with the Perth and Melbourne shows already completely sold out, and low ticket warnings in place for Brisbane, tickets for The High Kings’ Step it Out Australian tour are on sale now from metropolistouring.com/the-high-kings-2025/.
The High Kings previously gained significant attention after their version of The Rocky Road to Dublin was featured on the 2025 horror film Sinners, the global box office hit that reached #1 worldwide, and starred Michael B. Jordan in dual leading roles. A “classic song that every Irish person knows”, as The High Kings’ vocalist and instrumentalist Brian Dunphy explains, the group were inspired by both Ludwig Göransson, the composer for Sinners, and fellow countrymen The Pogues for their new sonic endeavour, working alongside arranger and producer Billy Farrell to create a reimagined version of the song that has squarely put them on the map. “This song has been a staple of our live show since we started and we are known for our signature version throughout the world,” explains fellow vocalist and instrumentalist Darren Holden. “Since we’ve blown up this year through our connection to the Sinners movie, a whole brand new generation of HK fans have demanded more from us and this is sort of a welcome gift to the them. This has been a total rebirth and resurgence for the band on a global scale.”
Get It Done sees Guy Sebastian deliver a powerful, soul-driven anthem about finding the fire within to face the things in life that feel almost too difficult to confront. Set against a backdrop of soulful guitars, keys, and producer Lucian Nagy’s thunderous drums, Guy’s lead vocals cut through with both power and heart.
On the track, Guy says, “The message is clear: even when you’re facing the biggest mismatch, it’s not time to sit back — it’s time to knuckle down and get on with it. ‘Get It Done’ is a gritty, honest battle cry for courage, resilience, and owning the tough moments that shape who we are.”
Was It Something I Said? is the brand-new single from duo-fronted band The Pleasures. The release comes ahead of the band’s forthcoming sophomore album, Enemy Of My Enemy (out August 15, 2025 via UberSavvy Music/MGM).
Was It Something I Said ushers in an evolution in The Pleasures’ sound with bigger, bolder, and more riff-laden moments. Essentially, it’s a country duet seen through a 90s alt-rock lens – with discernible shades of Sheryl Crow and even Tom Petty in its mid-tempo swagger, instantly catchy guitar hooks and wailing Hammond organ.
“It’s a conversation of sorts” explains co-frontperson Lachlan Bryan, who started the band in 2022 with Catherine Britt. “It’s two ex-lovers that are still trying to prove something. They’re throwing so much shade and sass each other’s way that you just know they’re meant to be together. It’s a concept many of us are familiar with”.
Brisbane beloved alternative rock trio The Comfort share groovy, moody anthem, Blossom about creative burnout and growing through it.
Blossom is the captivating follow-up to last month’s Down (How Many Times Can I Lose Everything?) that nods to their early roots. The new song is a dynamic, dance-tinged alt-rock belter that delves deep into the journey of industry exhaustion and renewal. It reflects the stages of a musician’s life: the initial wonder as a superfan, the passionate commitment to carving your own path, and the weariness that comes from wrestling with the music industry. “It’s about rising above the noise, letting go of expectations, and choosing to create because we love it,” says the band. “It’s about building real relationships – with ourselves, with each other, and with the people who’ve stood by us. This song is a reminder that even when things feel worn out or forgotten, there’s still something beautiful waiting to grow.”
Recorded with ARIA-nominated producer and songwriter Callan Orr, Blossom sees The Comfort tapping back into the heavier energy that first defined their sound, while continuing to evolve the dark, melodic textures that have become their trademark. The track reintroduces the trio’s signature blend of hook-laden riffs, introspective lyricism, and harmonious vocal duality.
Following the release of her rhapsodic single No Happy Endings, acclaimed singer-songwriter Emma Swift offers another glimpse into her upcoming album The Resurrection Game with new song, Nothing and Forever.
Nothing and Forever is a dreamy, romantic, cinematic folk song with opulent strings. The track was recorded in a 16th Century Abbey on the Isle of Wight with a collection of Nashville’s finest, most in-demand players, including pedal steel master Spencer Cullum (Angel Olsen), guitarist Juan Solorzano (Devon Gilfillian, Sheryl Crow), bassist Eli Beaird (Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson,), and drummer Dom Billet (Yola, Phosphorescent). Produced by Jordan Lehning (Justin Townes Earle, Caitlin Rose)…and mastered by John Baldwin (Karen Dalton, Lee Hazlewood, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson).
“I am a big believer in the redemptive power of art,” Emma Swift says. “Though many of these songs come from a an immensely difficult time in my life, what I’m trying to do here is to alchemize the experience. To make the brutal become beautiful.”
Grit and glam go hand in hand as Kenyan-Australian musician Brazen Barbie unveils a brand new cut and music video, Ain’t No Dummy, with the lush new single taken from her forthcoming new mixtape, BRAZEN, set for release on Friday August 1.
Bustling with vibrant production, razor-sharp flow and a dynamic fusion of R&B, hip hop and rap, Ain’t No Dummy is a playful yet powerful outing that incorporates nods to some of the greats like Missy Elliot, Duke Deuce, Project Pat and Eve, while also flexing Brazen Barbie’s powerhouse ability to fuse influences without imitation – and inject lashings of empowerment. “Ain’t No Dummy is about knowing better and still doing it anyway, but on your terms,” shares Brazen Barbie. “It’s playful and a bit messy, sitting in that space where you’re fully aware, but still choosing chaos for the fun of it. There’s contradiction in it. being petty but self-aware, letting things slide but clocking everything. It’s also about people underestimating you, thinking you’re naive, when really you’re ten steps ahead.”
Global pop powerhouse Ava Max has officially entered her most fearless era yet with the release of her scorching new single Wet Hot American Dream, available everywhere now via Atlantic Records. An infectious dance anthem infused with Ava’s unmistakable, larger-than-life pop sound, the track ignites what promises to be the most daring and dynamic chapter of her career yet.
The new single arrives ahead of Ava Max’s highly anticipated third studio album, Don’t Click Play, out August 22, and follows a string of acclaimed releases including Lovin’ Myself and the rousing Lost Your Faith.
A dreamy collision of upbeat pop and lush melodies, the new single Valentine out now from Melbourne singer-songwriter Tilly Fenton is equally jubilant and vulnerable, showcasing Tilly’s effortless charm and sharp sensibilities.
Opening with billowing bliss, Valentine blossoms as acoustic guitars underpin Tilly’s honeyed vocals before crisp beats and ethereal elements propel the track into an upbeat dreamy pop wonderland. Nodding to the likes of Lizzy McAlpine’s intimate and conversational songwriting, Lexi Jayde’s charismatic stylings, and the energy of boygenius in the bridge, Valentine also, at its core, gently tugs at the heartstrings with Tilly lyrically detailing a resounding universal theme.
“Valentine is about craving the simplest kind of love—the kind that doesn’t take much, just presence, care, and honesty,” shares Tilly. “I wrote it during a time where I felt like my needs weren’t really being met in a relationship, and all I wanted was for that person to just show up for me, even in the smallest ways. It’s a reminder that even the bare minimum can mean a lot when it comes to love, and that those little moments can make all the difference.”
Singer-songwriter Alex Warren teams up with global icon ROSÉ to release their highly anticipated collaboration, On My Mind. The song was announced as a surprise track on Warren’s upcoming album You’ll Be Alright, Kid, due out July 18th. Warren started teasing the potential ROSÉ collab on his socials a few weeks ago, and fans have been anxiously awaiting the release ever since.
On My Mind is a swelling love song in Alex Warren’s mastered style of anthemic pop. Produced by Ammo and John Ryan, the record beautifully meshes Warren and ROSÉ’s vocals for a striking listen. The accompanying music video was directed by Colin Tilley
Fresh from their US tour with Pearl Jam and ahead of three East Coast headline shows next month, two of which have now sold out, ARIA Award-winning and Spicks & Specks trivia-worthy band Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers dredge into the confusing waters of situationships – and witnessing friends date male musicians – on their new single UNSCARRED (stylised all caps) out now alongside its video. UNSCARRED follows their last single BALCONY and was produced by 3x GRAMMY Award-winning, London-based producer Catherine Marks (boygenius The Record, Wolf Alice, Foals), mixed by 3x GRAMMY Award-winning Oli Jacobs (Kendrick Lamar, beabadoobee, Taylor Swift), mastered by Ruairi O’Flaherty (Sabrina Carpenter, Lana Del Rey, Bleachers), and is out everywhere now via Community Music / Mom + Pop.
UNSCARRED masterfully translates the heartache of unclear relationships into a track wrapped in softness and patience, underpinned by cinematic and tender instrumentation. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers share, “UNSCARRED was written after hearing about a friend’s failed situationship with a male musician. It’s a feeling we can all relate to, when you think you’re on the same page as someone (who in reality can’t talk about their feelings and end up making you feel insane). It was nice being able to write from her shoes without actually going through the treachery of dating this man.” It’s the second song to emerge after they spent five weeks bunkered-down at The Grove Studios in so-called-NSW alongside Catherine Marks, and with ‘BALCONY’ sees them step into their new era – Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers as you know them, with a widescreen, indie-rock inflection.
Multi-Platinum alt-pop visionary BENEE returns with an electrifying and anthemic new single entitled Off The Rails. Co-written with notable female songwriting and producing duo Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd [Addison Rae’s Addison] and produced by Kloser and Anderfjärd alongside BENEE’s frequent collaborator Josh Fountain, she describes Off The Rails as “an aggressive, angry, chaotic product of my navigating the current state of the world and channeling my existential dread. It’s feminine rage—sick of being pushed around and embracing the chaos.” The genre-bending song is released alongside an equally exhilarating official music video directed by British music video direction team Bedroom.
BENEE shares, “Luka and Elvira are two incredible producers in the music industry right now. First we made ‘Green Honda,’ and then ‘Off The Rails.’ I felt this energy was really needed and perfectly places a certain tone in my storyline. It honestly was one of the few studio sessions I’ve ever done with only women, which brings such a different creative energy. I felt so comfortable really saying anything. In a typically male-dominated industry, I had a different connection with them. We had a lot of fun making this song and I love it, I hope listeners do too!”
For more music news and info follow Hi Fi Way