Adelaide’s best new music
We’ve rounded up Adelaide’s best new music released in November, including Anya Anastasia, Freegolf and LOS LEO … read on for the low-down.
aleksiah – ‘Faker’
Aleksiah’s new single ‘Faker’ is pop at its most candid – Adelaide’s answer to Lily Allen’s It’s Not You It’s Me era, where raw, self-aware lyrics meet a fun, infectious rhythm.
The solo artist has nothing to hide, with lyrics like “when it comes to lovin’ I’m a big faker,’ giving listeners a refreshing self-awareness combined with her usual playful charm and bold confidence.
‘Faker’ is a fun track that lays everything bare, combining an upbeat rhythm with unmatched vulnerability and charm.
Anya Anastasia – ‘Two Halves’
Anya Anastasia’s ‘Two Halves’ literally has two halves, with both gentle and reflective moments alongside hard rock.
The song begins with a humming guitar, accompanied by Anya’s raspy experimental art-rock vocals, giving the song a desert-like quality. Marching drums soon join the mix, building up the track’s momentum, which is suddenly interrupted by a change in pace at the one-minute-24-second mark as Anya sings, ‘No I won’t forget/No I won’t forget again.’
Enter the intense, headbanging outro at the two-minute 33-second mark – a true highlight of ‘Two Halves’.
“‘Two Halves’ draws on an urgent desire to shed the filters of adulthood and re-kindle the awe, wonder and emotional connection with the natural world that we all experience as children,” explains Anya, as reflected in the lyrics: ‘Show me the things that I no longer see, mundane to most is to you ecstasy.’
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‘Two Halves’ is written by Anya Anastasia, who performs vocals and guitars on the track alongside Satomi Ohnishi on drums, Lucinda Machin on bass and cello and Clara Gillam Grant on cello, with Gareth Chin responsible for the bass arrangements.
blinder – ‘hurting’
The debut single from Adelaide nu-gaze newcomers blinder is a dreary, drum ‘n’ bass-infused affair, with the quartet smashing genres together with grace.
‘hurting’ is totally emo and best listened to with the volume full-blast on a lonely walk home.
Keep an eye on this group, there’s something special bubbling up here.
Freegolf – ‘A Field of Marigolds’
There’s something real gloomy about this month’s releases. That extended winter and non-starter spring must’ve turned the seasonal depression dial on for a bit too long.
Freegolf – which hail from the Mid Coast – have dropped a new single which is a frustrated belter. The refrain – ‘I tried waiting, but that didn’t get me anywhere’ – a hooky scream along moment.
This one’s for the down-and-out lovers. Let summer bring you the companionship you deserve.
GUMBOOT – ‘heading west’
GUMBOOT is the latest project from cult club night Nausea promoter James Geue, aka Discarded.
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He told CityMag the tracks on his new EP under the moniker were “for the stuff that isn’t clubby like Discarded”.
While we enjoy Geue’s dives into dancefloor anthems, there’s something special about these trippy offshoots. ‘heading west’ is our pick, but don’t ignore the rest of the West Coast Sentimental EP.
LOS LEO – ‘I Can Change’
LOS LEO – the crisp, synth-pop project of Adelaide’s Tom Montesi – has just released a gorgeous 14-track record called LL-1000, and we’re big fans.
The 80s synths slide deliciously under Montesi’s vocals. The tracks themselves are reminiscent of The 1975 in their late 2010s era, but with a unique twist that’s perfectly mixed.
Our pick off the album is ‘I Can Change’ – the opening track – but we’re also big into ‘The Song I Wrote on The Palm of my Hand’.
My Chérie – ‘Box of Pencils’
My Chérie has unveiled her Life is Short and Life is Long EP, featuring the new single ‘Box of Pencils’; an acoustic track that is as captivating as it is melancholic. My Chérie draws from her own experiences of self-doubt and the slow work of rebuilding self-trust to create this ethereal piece.
Both fragile and liberating, the track’s twangy guitar notes make way for the singer/songwriter’s uniquely captivating vocals. This creates a layered musical effect with lyrics that speak to anyone who’s struggled with expectations that have been imposed upon them.
For anyone in a transitional moment of their life, this is a must-listen; a reminder that stepping into the unknown can be transformative.
Scarlett Cook – ‘Ties That Bind’
‘Ties That Bind’ by Scarlett Cook has a Medieval quality to it, described by the artist as a neo-classical ethereal pop ballad.
Scarlett’s melodic vocal performance demonstrates an impressive vocal range and is complemented by her intricate piano playing and a resonant cello.
“It’s a song about unwavering connectivity, despite geographical distance between people,” explains Scarlett, who completed the track in a Berlin apartment with a cat and a beagle by her side.
“I actually started writing it many years ago; however, it fell to the back of my mind due to an unfinished story with the central character,” she says.
“It wasn’t until I was on a plane last year, flying to Europe to live, with no real plans, no set job, not knowing where I would settle, that the song came flooding back and haunted me the entire trip.
“It was a perfect theme song to my solo travels by land from Greece up to Scandinavia. In the end, it became my greatest travel companion on my journey.”
