Adelaide’s best new music
We’ve rounded up Adelaide’s best new music for May, including aleksiah, Destinezia, Ella Ion, Energy Angel, The Empty Threats and more.
aleksiah – ‘The Hit’
It was only in March that Adelaide’s favourite pop princess exploded back onto our radar as her song ‘Clothes Off’ became an earworm no one wanted to get rid of. Known for masking heavy themes with familiar poppy ballads, her latest release, ‘The Hit’, is no exception. aleksiah likens the feeling of pining for validation to a drug, with lyrics like: “it’s the hit that gets me through the night / leaves me thinkin’ that I’m fine” and “maybe this will be my downfall”.
Fans can bop along (or cry) to aleksiah’s newest release at her upcoming show at the Lion Arts Factory for her ‘Cry About It’ tour, on Friday, August 15.
Avalon Kane – ‘The only one who knows me is me’
Avalon Kane describes her sound as “mysterious dark electronica” which perfectly encapsulates the vibe of her latest – ‘The only one who knows me is me’. The continuous thumping beat creates a disorientating sound scape, transporting listeners to the sweaty, blurred memories of nights past. Accompanied by a spectacularly produced music video, filled with familiar Adelaide talent Conor Mercury, the new release blankets listeners with a euphoric haze.
Destinezia – ‘Do They Know?’
Destinezia are a four-piece band you need to have on your radar if you’re a fan of indie surf rock that sounds like that of Spacey Jane and Royal Otis. The group have just released their debut EP, Do They Know?, and through their cohesive and strong sound, we’re surprised this is the first body of work from them.
While they’ve truly found and mastered their sound, the EP’s title track ‘Do They Know?’ proves that this band has range. Beginning with an easy breezy ballad and angelic vocals, the track builds into an absolute belter with a surprising violin accompaniment – we cannot get enough!
Ella Ion – ‘Creature Skin’
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With her first release in two years, Ella Ion has dropped ‘Creature Skin’ – one half of her latest two-track release. Proving her growth as an artist, ‘Creature Skin’ is an anthem for transformation as Ella reclaims her agency and creates on her terms. With lyrics like “I shed my creature skin and venture out”, ‘Creature Skin’ feels like an intimate look into Ella’s mind as layers of delicate, breathy vocals envelop listeners in a comforting pool of ethereal sound.
Energy Angel – Slingshot
‘Slingshot’ by Energy Angel – the first song off their upcoming EP N R G, which will be released in June – gives the 2000s pop punk grunge vibe, and CityMag is here for it. We picture this song playing in the pivotal montage scene of a 2000s rom-com – the part where everything is seamlessly going in the protagonist’s direction, before the main conflict arises and stuff begins to really hit the fan as the band sing “Slingshot, up on the way down / let’s start this cycle again”.
Gratts – ‘Off My Feet’ feat. Venessa Jackson
Gratts brings a slice of the European electronic scene home, with his latest track – ‘Off My Feet’. The Belgium-born DJ and producer’s catalogue is a one-stop shop if you’re looking to soundtrack a moody cocktail bar with some base-heavy beats that perfectly set the vibe. ‘Off My Feet’ is a nearly seven-minute-long track that features soulful vocals from Venessa Jackson that you cannot help but groove to.
Hello Enemy – ‘A Lot Like You’
‘A Lot Like You’ – CityMag’s top pick of Hello Enemy’s debut album That Goes On There – begins with a soft, spooky, eerie bass riff. As the drums seamlessly join, the song kicks up a notch as the band sings: “You will say what you say / Walk with me / Stay with me / I’m a lot like you”.
Nat Luna – ‘levitating’
Nat Luna says she’s in her “lovergirl era” and that’s evident in this sultry jazz track. ‘Levitating’ is the latest release from her debut EP ultraviolet, which is due for release in July and has a more romantic tilt than her more upbeat March release ‘conditions’.
“I wrote it about this kind of cosmic love, the idea of a twin flame, past lives, feeling like you’ve known someone forever,” she says.
The hypnotic pop release has clear influences from the style popularised by Ariana Grande and SZA, but Nat Luna’s lyrics and vocals have a delightfully youthful quality. As the alt-R&B artist gets in her feelings, she’s carving out a space for herself in pop to levitate beyond Adelaide.
Newgate Crowd – ‘All (f)or Nothing’
The latest track from the Barossa Valley trio is a soundtrack of burnout with a punchy alt-rock sound we’ve come to expect from the group.
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While their earlier single ‘Miss You, Everyday’ was about watching someone else sabotage their potential, ‘All f(or) Nothing’ is more introspective.
“It’s about giving everything – your time, your energy, your identity – to music, and still questioning if it’s leading anywhere,” the band says.
If this fast-paced track is anything to go by, as the band leans into discomfort, their sound will continue to evolve.
Nug Chompah – ‘The Aliens Are Us’
Producer, rapper and “visualiser” Nug Compah has dropped their latest track ‘The Aliens Are Us’, ahead of the release of their album, Propagandata, on June 20. ‘The Aliens Are Us’ takes inspiration from 1990s United Kingdom EDM and blends sounds from hip hop and drum and bass.
Nug Chompah describes the song as a “hybrid of experimental electronics and fractured drum patterns exploring ecological collapse and information saturation”.
“Dense, surrealistic lyricism maps the emotional and psychological costs of late-stage capitalism through a kaleidoscopic sonic landscape,” Nug Chompah says.
Sean Blackwell – ‘CLOUDS’
Aboriginal musician Sean Blackwell’s latest single, ‘CLOUDS’ is the most wholesome sounding song included on CityMag’s Best new music column this month. However, behind the sweet melody are some rather sombre lyrics. “I don’t know what to do with myself,” sings Sean in the chorus.
With only his voice and acoustic guitar in hand, Sean is backed by his band, Drew & Kristen, Sean and Co. Sean is a Narungga musician living on Kaurna Country who combines the sounds of blues, country and folk to create “beautiful harmonies with lush acoustic guitars”.
Sofia Menguita – ‘Still’
Manila-born, Adelaide-based Sofia Menguita’s latest single ‘Still’ is the perfect track for a gloomy winter day with a warm cuppa. The slow and mellow attributes of the song are sure to get you in your feels as Sofia sings: “I smiled at you a little too hard / And I don’t know what it means but you said you ain’t for me”.
Drawing inspiration from New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga and The 1975’s ‘Chocolate’, the track tells the story of loving someone she couldn’t have. It’s a bittersweet tale of longing, all wrapped up in a catchy, feel-good indie pop vibe.
The Empty Threats – ‘the one’
If you have ever been lucky enough to see The Empty Threats live, you know the kind of captivating aura they command. This band of flamboyant larrikins transform even the quaintest of venues into a place that everybody wants to be at, with unmatched showmanship. Known for their lyrics littered with poignant social commentary, their latest track, ‘the one’, drills home a reminder many of us need on the daily: “take your medication”. With gritty vocals, heavy guitars and an occasional primal scream, this is a track you will want to see live next time the Empties are playing around town.
TOWNHOUSE – ‘Rugrantz’
‘Rugrantz’ is the latest release by TOWNHOUSE, and the song reflects the band’s signature style of merging raw emotion with an unapologetic attitude. Despite the heavy instrumentals, the song conveys deep emotion as the lead vocalist, Daniel Heath, passionately sings: “I’ll act like I’m not sad / I’ll act like you didn’t do this on purpose / I’ll act like I’m not mad / This awkward silence makes me nervous”. As a band that uses music as an avenue to explore relationships and breakups, their latest release serves as a powerful and empowering anthem to everyone who has walked away from being taken for granted and being let down.