Adelaide’s best new music
We’ve rounded up Adelaide’s best new music released in May, including Adelaide pop princess aleksiah, who made her debut on the country’s top album charts.
0800KIN – WTFIS#THAT
Released as part of a compilation album called H34VEN:SENT, this electronic track has a chaotic club energy to it. By Adelaide-based DJ and producer 0800KIN, the track “WTFiS#THAT” pulls no punches.
The track is backed by an upbeat, consistent rhythm that provides the backbone of the track. The energy is off the charts, making the track hard to listen to without at least nodding your head.
Vocals are sampled from Shygirl, Sassy 009, and PinkPantheress, with other samples coming from the prominent video game franchise Five Nights At Freddy’s.
aleksiah – ‘Think About It’
Adelaide pop icon aleksiah is no stranger to this column, and clearly CityMag is not alone in streaming her discography as her new EP Good On Paper made its ARIA chart debut this week, coming in at number seven in the company of major international artists including Olivia Dean and Noah Kahan.
The final track of Good on Paper is called “Think About It”, and offers a contrast to the excellent selection of upbeat, poppy tracks that come before it.
The song is centred around a simple acoustic chord progression that leaves room for aleksiah’s soaring vocals. The lyrics are reflective, painting a picture of a late night contemplating life and love.
“I think about it sometimes/When I kiss you goodbye/When you ask if I’m fine/I wouldn’t leave it behind,” aleksiah sings in the track’s chorus.
Any Young Mechanic – ‘Captain And Compass’
Released as a single ahead of their long-awaited album The Modern Shoe Is Ruining The Foot, dynamic folk five-piece band Any Young Mechanic’s new single “Captain and Compass” has an air of wistfulness to it.
Acoustic guitar, double bass, and banjo intertwine to back up the heartfelt vocals and melancholic violin. The track’s driving rhythm contrasts with the song’s emotional core, creating an image of something out of place.
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“Hoot for the owl in the evening/Perched on a moonlight porch/Hope for the captain and compass/Looking to right their course,” the song opens.
CODA – ‘Treading on water’
Previously working in the rap and hip-hop genres under the name DeCoda S, CODA is the moniker of Cody Stephensen, brother to Dusty Lee Stephensen – who Adelaideans will know from Fringe hits like 27 Club.
In this track, Cody rebrands himself to reflect a return to his indie-pop roots, which he debuts in the new single ‘Treading on Water’.
The song is a dive into the struggle of a back-and-forth relationship. It begins slowly and simply, with only a piano behind CODA’s vocals. It doesn’t take long for this track to speed up and introduce several other instruments to the mix.
The vocals echo with sincerity, and it carries a strong emotional edge that feels truly authentic.
DROPSINK – ‘bite the bullet’
Adelaide rock/punk outfit DROPSINK dropped their fifth single in May, “bite the bullet” with high-quality production, solid guitarwork, and a poignant message.
This stirring but up-tempo rock song feels like a personal and heartfelt message. A wide electric guitar sound fills the mix, surrounding the song’s authentic vocals.
“If I bite the bullet, I think I’ll be better off,” sings vocalist Lachlan Searles in the song’s chorus.
DROPSINK’s bassist Simon Banaag says the band wrote the song during a practice session, and its themes were about “swallowing your pride and persevering through hard times, even when you really don’t want to”.
Overdue Fiction – ‘Insomnia’
Insomnia is the newest release from four-piece indie rock band Overdue Fiction. The song is a slow-burn, starting off with an elegant guitar melody and the soft backing of drums.
One-minute into the song, Overdue Fiction reach a crescendo with the electric guitars kicking in and drums picking up the tempo. Insomnia benefits from catchy lyrics and uplifting indie folk inspiration from artists like Elliott Smith.
“The worries in my head, yeah they’re in my/ They’re in my head where I can’t hide.”
Overdue Fiction can be seen on June 20 at Hymn Bar as part of Make Music Day.
Ryan Martin John – ‘Honey, Honey’
Honey, Honey is the newest release from Ryan Martin John — a melancholy folk song that intertwines violin and harmonious vocals with an indie folk drum beat.
Surprisingly, it is also the second song on the list to feature a banjo, with the instrument accompanying the lines “Cause I’m all alone now honey, honey” at the chorus.
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Ryan describes the tune as a “celebration of re-finding oneself” following the end of a relationship.
The folk musician will be performing his latest songs at an upcoming gig at Ern Malley in Stepney on July 25.
Sebastian Vivian – ‘Oddworld’
‘Oddworld’ is the title track from electronic musician and producer Sebastian Vivian latest EP and would provide the perfect soundtrack for a late-night dance party.
It is a fast-paced song backed by a trip-hop drum beat, while otherworldly bass and synth lines repeat throughout. The producer seamlessly blends genres, taking elements from acid house, techno and ambient music to craft a fun and experimental electronic journey.
Sturt Avenue – ‘Another Beer Song (Beeraboutit)’
Adelaide family folk band Sturt Avenue’s latest EP release Beer Songs has a distinct folk punk twist to its songs, none more so than ‘Another Beer Song (Beeraboutit)’.
It wants to be sung in a crowded pub at the end of a long, hard week, spurred on by a toe tapping tempo built with acoustic guitar and bass. Splashes of violin and accordion bookend the chanting call-and-response lyrics of the chorus, rife with tongue-in-cheek punkish meaning.
“Because the economy sucks (have a beer about it)”
“It’ll be alright (mate I really doubt it)”
Tonix – ‘Stupid thing I’ve done’
Electronic pop/punk outfit Tonix has freshly released a new single, ‘Stupid Thing I’ve Done’. Coming off the back of a tour filled 2025, it’s their first release for this year.
Piano, saxophone, and synthesiser morph together in beats that surround lead vocalist Sammi Keogh’s Evanescence-esque voice. “I cannot seem to shake it, this stupid thing I’ve done.”
Slow and mournful, it’s a song that speaks to hope, regret, and stupid decisions.
UMATT – ‘Fracture’
This month local metal band UMATT released their debut single in wild night at the Ed Castle pub, complete with shirtless stage dives.
It’s an explosive message of arrival from the five-piece band. Distorted guitar riffs and an aggressive ‘This is f**king UMATT!” as the opening lyric herald the band’s identity stamp onto the scene.
It’s fast paced, growling, intense; everything you want from a metal song.
Trials – ‘Cool World’
“Cool World” is the lead single and third track from Ngarrindjeri rapper and producer Trials’ debut solo album hendle — a 10-track hip hop record unpacking displacement, domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, racism and the carceral system. The track’s punchy, stripped-back beat juxtaposes its confronting lyricism which lay bare Daniel’s experiences and the dangers of apathy.
Across the album, Daniel reflects on adulthood and mental health. But for me, Cool World stands out for its refrain:
It’s a cool world that we all living in / If you give the bare minimum
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