Quality tracks from quality artists…

The Aussie music scene has something for almost everyone. Whether it be R&B, surf-rock, techno, hip hop, you name it. Our music scene is totally expansive, with young artists creating fresh and unique music that pushes the bounds of their chosen genre, all the while injecting that classic Aussie flare that makes our music so damn special. It’s no wonder that people all across the world revere our artists, flocking to their gigs overseas and helping Aussie acts go from playing their local pub or bar to playing packed out concert halls in foreign countries.

So how lucky are we that we get to see these artists in their element, playing to their own. There’s something truly special about an artist playing a hometown show, with an air of inescapable pride and determination emanating from the artist and punters.

Yet, with COVID-19 and all it’s annoyingness grinding our music scene to a halt, it’s safe to say these artists need our support more than ever. Without touring, merch sales etc, they’re in a real tricky position that exposes how undervalued musos are in society. So, with this in mind, we thought we’d pay tribute to those musos and take a look at a couple quality tracks by local artists that you should definitely check out.

Check it below.

DVNA – ‘Looking Like A Snack’

DVNA (pronounced Da-na) is a creatively fierce R&B songstress from the Gold Coast. Actually, R&B doesn’t well enough describe the gorgeousness of her sound. She’s a fusion of new age soul, R&B and electronica, giving birth to a new genre defined by honey-drenched vocals and sweetly-textured beats. She also produces everything herself! She’s a true artistic powerhouse, and you’d know if you’ve looked into her lyrics that she’s a real poet in every sense of the word. ‘Looking Like A Snack’ sees DVNA doing her thing with incredible ease, serenading us with her soulful vocals as she reminisces on opening her heart to a past lover. It also features one of the most uplifting choruses I’ve ever heard, a shot of endorphins that never fails to electrify the soul.

Death By Denim – ‘Cigarettes & Honey’

Death By Denim are your quintessential Aussie rock band, with the Perth four-piece consistently delivering kick ass tunes and live shows that never fail to bring the house down. Blending R&B, rock and funk, the alt-indie outfit have clearly perfected the formula of creating catchy rock tunes overflowing with soul and grit. ‘Cigarettes & Honey’ is a classic Death By Denim track, with singer Nik delivering those delicious vocals atop lush guitar lines and banging instrumentation. Again, this is another song with a kick ass chorus, perfect for bringing a little grit to your night time drive. They’ve also got a new song titled ‘Jump To Mars’ dropping tomorrow, you should definitely check it out.

Vetta Borne – ‘Girls’

A real LWA favourite, Vetta Borne is an absolute queen of soul, with her mixtape Violeta a shining example of what you get when you mix endless talent with boundless heart. She’s another creative powerhouse, taking her musical destiny into her own hands through producing everything herself. Her track ‘Girls’ is an R&B gem for the ages, as Vetta Borne gets real vulnerable with us as she sings about the heartache of a failed relationship. With ‘Girls’, it’s hard not to think that Vetta has been doing this for countless decades, the track managing to strike the perfect balance between ballad, dream-funk and soul. It’s a testament to Vetta Borne’s unique artistry. And yes, there’s a super funky baseline on the track for your daily fix. If you’re in love as much as we are, you should definitely check out our interview with Vetta here.

Rum Jungle – ‘The Void’

Newcastle’s very own Rum Jungle are a real dark horse in the Aussie music scene. Boasting a classic reggae/ rock sound, the four-piece have definitely carved out a place for themselves amongst other local bands, playing with acts like Lime Cordiale, Peking Duo and Hilltop Hoods. ‘The Void’ is drenched in unapologetic fierceness as Ben McIntyre’s explosive vocals transcend time and place, making you feel like you’re seeing one of your favourite local bands down at the pub, a talent that’s more appreciated than ever right now.

Milan Ring – ‘Say To Me’

A multi-instrumentalist wonder, Milan Ring manages to breathe life into the the golden era of 90s R&B and then some, successfully crafting riveting soundscapes that meditate on personal evolution and artistic truth. A true gem that’s revered within the Aussie music scene, Milan Ring consistently continues to craft tracks that are bold and uncompromising. ‘Say To Me’ is an addictive R&B bop driven by a magnetic keys pattern, as she blesses us with those wonderful vocals atop an intricate beat, all self-produced. Overflowing with flare and honesty, ‘Say To Me’ is the spiritual cleansing you need for your Wednesday arvo.

Peach Fur – ‘Preloved’

Describing their sound as “1kg of rock ‘n roll, 1 cup of funk, 2 tablespoons of blues and a sprinkle of reggae, stirred thoroughly in a litre of psychedelic juice and left to cure in a jazzy jar”, Queensland rock-group Peach Fur are a melting pot of, well, all of the above. They’ve been consistently releasing quality tunes for years now, never failing to change it up while staying true to their musical roots. ‘Preloved’ sees vocalist Denny Hilder blessing us with those tender vocals as he’s supported by mellow guitar licks and harmonies, perfect for a long road trip down the coast.

The Lazy Eyes – ‘Tangerine’

It’s no secret we’re huge fans of The Lazy Eyes, the Sydney psych-outfit generating incredibly interesting and unique tunes that range from nostalgic ballad in ‘Cheesy Love Song’ to the lush psych-wizardry of ‘Tangerine’. It’s no surprise they’re tearing through the touring circuit as well (well at least they were, damn you COVID!), with their live shows never failing to transport you to the next realm. ‘Tangerine’ is the perfect example of the band’s talents, as they manage to pay tribute to the legends of the past while delivering a fresh and interesting take on the fundamentals of psychedelia. We can’t recommend this goodie enough folks.

Glo – ‘Self Love’ ft. Saskia

Sydney-based Glo is a woman of many talents, working as a dance coordinator for acts like Solange as well as working in music videos for artists like Sampa the Great. Her debut track ‘Self Love’ is an ethereal canvas of soul as she teams up with Saskia, both delivering gorgeous verses that hit a deep note within the spirit. For a debut track, ‘Self Love’ is pretty extraordinary, and we can’t wait to see what Glo does next.

The Grogans – ‘Lemon To My Lime’

Another track perfect to blare on your annual road trip down the coast, best mates Quin, Angus and Jordan are a super tight Melbourne three-piece that embody everything we love about surf-rock and more. The band successfully pay tribute to the genre while managing to make it distinctly their own, as their sound captures fiery nature of youth, innocence, and an overwhelming desire to live life to the fullest.

Lex Deluxe – ‘A Little Giving Doesn’t Hurt’

Last but CERTAINLY not least, Lex Deluxe is one of the most exciting producers/ DJs in the Sydney music scene right now. Her blending of disco, afro house, funk, tech, (essentially ever genre under the sun) has helped her turn up some of Australia’s grooviest venues the only way she can. Her sets are close to legendary, with the eyes of almost everyone that’s seen Lex live lighting up at the mere mention of her name. ‘A Little Giving Doesn’t Hurt’ is hypnotic, expansive, mind bending, but incredibly focused, as within mere seconds she has us in a trance that’s impossible to escape (not that we would want to escape anyway).

I hope you all dig those tracks! It just goes to show how incredible our music scene is, with every corner of churning out large amounts of music that’s honest, refreshing, and totally kick-ass. We definitely can’t stress this enough, but when gigs come back and the world starts to get back to normal, please get out there and support live music. There are so many high quality acts out there, and they’re definitely doing it tough right now. For now, try and support local acts any way you can, whether it be through donating to organisations like Support Act or donating through COVID-19 Music Relief. But if you can’t do any of that, then just listen to some quality tunes by local artists. I guarantee there’s plenty to go around…