Summer in Australia means peak socialising. Your mates who live out of town head home, the sun is shining, and the longer days blend seamlessly into nights out. It’s the one time of year that seems to always need a soundtrack and a ‘song of the summer’.
But, did you know that just 8.4 percent of the music we consume as Aussies is actually Australian?
Thelma Plum, Keli Holiday, Midnight Oil, Ben Lee, Gordi and a whole host of Australian musicians are asking us to Ausify our algorithms this month.
Why? Because the more we play Aussie music the more momentum it gets. More gigs, more music. More stories that represent the rich fabric of what makes up Australia being told.
Whether you’re out for a skate, a surf, or just chilling on the beach, here’s some inspo to help Ausify your playlists this AusMusic month.
An Afternoon Skating
Image by @jawmidnight via IG //
Sure, you probably already have your own playlist for this. But have you considered how much of it is Australian? To help Ausify your skating session, check out Amyl and the Sniffers for some high octane sounds or, blast some King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard genre defying albums. And, of course, no playlist would be complete without Skegss and The Skategoats, too. If you haven’t found Ecca Vandal yet, we think her loud and punchy sound pairs perfectly with a skate.
A Day Surfing
Image by Charlie Hardy via IG //
Obviously if you’re hitting the waves you’ll be listening to Ocean Alley, that’s a given. But to skip out Kita Alexander from your surfing playlist is a huge miss. Kita is pro surfer Owen Wright’s partner and someone we’re betting hasn’t found her place in your playlist yet with her fun, pop vibe. Hockey Dad’s music feels like it was born to be played over surf clips, while Radio Birdman are a classic, old school Aussie band whose music pairs perfectly with a surf. Especially their song Aloha Steve & Danno which is an ode to Hawaii Five-0.
A Night Partying with Friends
Image via IG //
There are so many Aussie artists begging to soundtrack your summer dance parties. Keli Holiday’s Dancing2 is shaping up to be the song of the summer. But, for something new, check out Ninjairachi. Her nostalgic music is packed full of 90s references (like Pokemon!) layered over an EDM track. For infectious beats that feel like they were made to be played on a balmy summer night, chuck on some Electric Fields.
A Road Trip with Mates
Image by @noicepicciesm8 via IG //
A road trip over summer is an Australian right of passage. Whether it’s travelling to see family, chasing a waterfall on a scorching day, or driving to the coast to race through hot sand and dive into the ocean, road trips feel like a summer non-negotiable. Soundtrack them with classic Aussie cult bands like Midnight Oil or Sunnyboys. If you’re more of a sing-a-long type driver, when was the last time you scream-sung to Scar by Missy Higgins? Or, what about Thelma Plum’s Better In Blak? Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know? Exactly.
Beach Day
Image via IG //
Nothing feels as good as that first beach day of the summer when the country slowly defrosts. A parmy at a surf club, sunscreen on your skin, and Aussie music playing on your speaker—the perfect day, really. For that welcome to summer feeling, Baker Boy makes the best feel good, high energy music to blast as the mercury rises. If you’re spending a chill, surfy day by the water Xavier Rudd’s music is the natural choice. But, if your beach days are more high-energy check out G Flip for big vocals and punchy beats.
Manning the BBQ
Image via IG //
So, you’ve been given the honour of manning the BBQ this summer. With great power comes great responsibility, and that means bringing the tunes. For your next BBQ, please the crowd by bringing back Aussie favourite Ben Lee’s infectious pop. Or, former triple j Hottest 100 winners, The Rubens’ catchy sound. If folk and country is more your thing, chuck on some Fanny Lumsden for the perfect soundtrack as the snags sizzle, too.
This summer, make it your mission to explore Aussie music. The more you explore, the more it gives back. Find out more at the Ausify website.
