As we kick off 2019, there’s plenty of Australian acts who will look to dominate across the next 12 months.
Get across 7 of our favourite right here, and expect them to cause even more noise throughout the year:
CLEWS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWWuX0nzGY4
2018 was a huge year for Clews, who spent much of it playing at festivals like Yours & Owls and Festival of the Sun, an extensive tour with Holy Holy, and supporting Albert Hammond Jr. Headed up by sisters Lily and Grace Richardson, Clews deliver huge hooks and riffs, evidenced by their 2018 single ‘Crushed’ which had a strong presence on radio and streaming services. They’ll be touring ‘Crushed’ in March, so head along and witness it live.
SHADOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csaQ2usslUM
It’s an exciting time for local hip-hop, and Shadow is spitting aggressively from the frontline. The Perth emcee has proven himself as a proficient emcee over grime and more traditional rap beats, performing at Origin Fields and Falls Festival, and it’s no surprise that the UK scene has also embraced Shadow wholeheartedly. He recently signed to Golden Era Records, bringing plenty of energy to the longstanding label, and we can expect his first project within the fold to arrive in 2019.
CLYPSO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv4Q3407YY0
Imagine yourself on a spotless beach on a summer day, with one of those fancy cocktails with a miniature umbrella sitting inside it. What’s blasting out of the speakers? It’s Clypso. With a vibrant and lively approach to production and vocals, Clypso has impressed us on numerous occasions, especially when we saw her perform up at BIGSOUND in 2018. In 2019, she’s already dropped her ‘Cameo’ EP and will be touring it across the country in the coming weeks.
ERTHLINGS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff7cr31LsIk
With the likes of Flume, Jagwar Ma & Nick Murphy on their roster, local label Future Classic is one of the country’s most proficient tastemakers – and it sounds like they’re onto another winner with Erthlings. The high school friends released their debut single ‘Bridges’ in 2018 to widespread acclaim, also playing festivals and shows alongside their FC labelmate G Flip. Their second single, ‘Cuts & Bruises’ arrived in late 2018, and we’re hoping for much more in the coming months.
ARNO FARAJI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBcqq402q48
WA young gun Arno Faraji has been on a national radar since he took out the triple j Unearthed High competition back in 2017, and he spent much of 2018 levelling up – collaborating with Melbourne heroes Remi and Sensible J, and signing with the tried-and-trusted Astral People team. His single ‘Things Change’ slid in late in 2018 to evidence his smooth songwriting once more, and he kicked off 2019 by making a special appearance alongside Tkay Maidza at Falls Festival.
PLANET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h5MtRoiJYg
Planet truly made their mark in 2018 – first came ‘Save.Sold’ and then their debut Walking Eight EP, also playing hometown shows and touring alongside DMA’s in the UK. It seems like Planet made their mark overseas, with UK booking agent ATC Live signing a deal with the band. And if last year’s EP got you excited, prepare to hear a lot more. “It’s our first EP to be released and I reckon it says a lot about what’s to come in the next few years,” singer Matty Took says. “We would love to drop album after album, every few months, but I doubt people would have the same connection to the songs.”
ADRIAN EAGLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzmhWnApKns
Adrian Eagle spent 2018 on the road – whether it was performing at Groovin The Moo or alongside Thundamentals – and even a cheeky stop at the ARIAs to scoop up an award for his appearance on Hilltop Hoods’ single ‘Clark Griswold. Come 2019, we’re ready for the Eagle to well and truly land, and if his wonderful single ’17 Again’ is anything to go by, this is one of Australia’s most promising voices.
