Got the goods…

Well, all of those picnics are beginning to run us down a bit. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not complaining, but the last time I was drinking in a park this frequently I was barely out of high school (NSW police don’t come for me). Nonetheless, we’re absolutely loving it, and you best believe we’ve got the best playlist in all of Aus while doing it.

And so, we won’t waste any more time. Five fire tracks by local artists coming right up. Check it below. 

PLANET (Sydney/Eora) – ‘Ship Won’t Change’

Indie-rock four-piece PLANET treat us to some sombre nostalgia in their latest slow-burn ‘Ship Won’t Change,’ the ‘Aching Dream’ curators reaffirming the combined power of introspective lyricism and acoustic textures in moving a listener.

Staying true to their folk roots, the band brandish their unplugged chops for the world to see, echoing sensibilities of classics like ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ in their own unique style. Frontman Matty Took’s vocals are especially piercing in this cut, magnified by sister duo CLEWS at various instances as he sings about the inevitable fear of messing things up in a relationship, a worry we’ve all had at one time or another. It’s an age-old tale, one that Matty outlines in lyrics like “Tell me you won’t go. It’s been turning in my mind for days/ I keep it in.” The accompanying drums and eventual horns find a measured balance between roaring and whispering, blaring hard enough to match the emotion of the subject matter whilst mirroring its sensitivity.

It’s another quality offering from the Sydney quartet, another reminder that our local indie rock acts can make you feel and swoon just as much as they can make you mosh. Take a journey around the Earth with Planet in ‘Ship Won’t Change.’

Teal (Sydney/Eora) – ‘Loving Me’

Teal oozes sensuality in her tender new single ‘Loving Me,’ the singer-songwriter acting as another example of the growing power of the Sydney R&B scene.

The groove sees the ‘Drifting’ singer put her ethereal vocals to task, putting the fundamental desire to bask in a significant other’s company into musical form. She consequently crafts a groove that would perfectly soundtrack such an occasion, the intermingling of her vocals with the gentle piano chords and drums emanating a reassuring sense of comfort. Her vocalisations at 3:20 close out the track with a veil of silky sweetness, the layering of her head voice and repetition of ‘No Pressure’ driving home the fact that whether you’re having a lazy day or “dancing under the moon”, all that matters is the person you’re doing it with.   

It’s definitely strange times right now to say the least, but it’s still possible to find fleeting moments of comfort here and there. ‘Loving Me’ is such a moment, thank us later. 

Big Skeez and Goldfang (Sydney/Eora) – ‘Where Yuh From’

Big Skeez and Goldfang give a thrilling ode to culture in their new collab ‘Where Yuh from,’ the Sudanese and Trinidadian MCs coming together to rep their roots and affirm the importance of community. 

Naturally, both stars go in with their respective verses, playing off the frenzied beat and each other with a tangible steeze. Goldfang’s repetition of ‘Where Yuh From’ drives the existential questioning of the heater home, while Western Sydney’s Big Skeez uses his baritone vocal to provide the track with some low end that’s texturally satisfying. The accompanying video is on par with the energy of the bop, Skeez and Fang rapping their assess off as they reflect the intensity of the music videos that permeated hip hop in the 90s and early 2000s.

It’s a reminder of the age-old truth that the only way to know where you’re going is to own where you’re from, all while using that identity to find a place of commonality with your peers, no matter how different to you they may be. 

Pretty Girl (Melbourne/Naarm) – ‘Arc’

Pretty Girl is as ethereal as ever in her latest single ‘Arc,’ the ‘Sun Phases’ curator meshing the complementary spheres of bedroom pop and house for a melodic groove that’s totally soul-stirring.

The up-tempo groove follows the singer/producer do justice to the intricacy that is the Naarm dance scene, the various kicks, snares and hats she paints shimmering upon the sonic canvas. Her vocals find a point of synchronicity with the textures as well, with ad-libs such as the ones at around 2:28 intermingling and colliding with the melancholic synths. The track listens like the type you’d hear at an underground rave beneath the stars, punters pushing on into the kick ons part of the night as the moon shines above.             

If you wanna get in your feels while being reminded of the elixir of dance, Pretty Girl has a whole world to indoctrinate you into in ‘Arc’.

Blessed (Sydney/Eora) – ‘Not Sorry’

Western Sydney OG Blessed is coming through with the fruits of his lockdown labour this Friday morning, unveiling his first single of 2021 ‘Not Sorry’ in his ever unique style.

The guitar-driven offering follows Blessed as he mirrors the hip hop and R&B sensibilities the west has renowned for over the past couple of tears. As a result, he utilises his production and vocal prowess to merge the two into a protest anthem against the clout chasers of the music industry, which especially cuts deep in lines like “They move different when you up/All my feelings in my cup/They said I wouldn’t be none/So my middle fingers up.” His vocals are especially fiery in this cut, the veteran producer manipulating flow and melody as he communicates the changing nature of trust in a life in the arts.

If you want to see why the Western Sydney music scene is flourishing so hard, peep ‘Not Sorry’ to see one of its pioneers at his finest.