Emerging UK indie-rock four-piece BLOXX have achieved a great deal since bursting onto the London music scene in 2016 with their debut single 'Your Boyfriend'. From signing with Chess Club Records in 2017 to playing Reading & Leeds to supporting indie-rock legends The Wombats and Two Door Cinema Club, BLOXX have quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting emerging bands in the UK.

The band recently released 'Go Out With You', the first track from their debut album sessions. The toe-tappingly catchy track follows their acclaimed debut EP Headspace, which was released earlier this year via the iconic Chess Club Records and even scored air time on triple j here in Australia.
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We caught up with lead singer, Ophelia (Fee) Booth to chat about their new single and how their headline UK tour is going so far!

How did BLOXX come together? When did you decide to start making music?
We all met in college. We were actually in different bands and stuff, I was writing my own stuff and one day I got asked to play a show and Moz and Taz were the best musicians in our class and they were really into my stuff, then we started writing and playing together and it just happened!

Tell us about your music. How did you guys find your sound and how would you describe it?
We like to write fun and relatable music, something the fans can jump to and sing along to. We go through a lot of different genre’s as listeners, so I’m not sure you can call our sound anything specific rather than indie guitars and poppy hooks!

Who or what were your earliest influences?
For me, growing up I listened to a lot of music, my granddad was big into punk and The Specials and things like that, so I guess that’s where I might have found a love for guitar. I also loved Pink and the Editors a lot - very varied ha. I’m a huge Jeff Buckley fan too, I think that’s my biggest daily influence in songwriting.

Congrats on the release of your new single 'Go Out With You'. What's the story or inspiration behind this track?
Thank you! When we wrote this, I was really focusing on it being a live track, something that would go really well live, so we got a bit fun, and kept it bouncy ha!

Is there anything specific you can tell us about your songwriting process?
It differs, sometimes I get down and write on an acoustic guitar in my bedroom and then shape it with the band in rehearsals, or sometimes we all just mess around in the rehearsal room for a few minutes. It’s harder to TRY to write than it is to just let it happen. I find some of the best songs happen naturally.

You're currently on a huge headline UK tour. How is it going so far?
It’s been insane! It’s humbling to see so many people singing back to us, we really enjoy it. Every night is filled with smiles and a very happy 4 members of BLOXX ha!

You guys have supported Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats and Sundara Karma, as well as played at festivals like Reading, Leeds and The Great Escape. What has been your most memorable gig so far and why?
I think we’d all agree that Reading 2019 was and will probably remain our favourite gig for a very long time. We have so many fond memories from gigs, but Reading was 35 minutes of consecutive amazing-ness! Manchester shows never let us down though!

What has been your biggest challenge as a band so far?
I think every band faces challenges at some point, and we’ve been fairly lucky so far, in the sense that we haven’t actually faced TOO many (touch wood). Of course, there are little things, like timing, and balancing jobs to stay steady, but we’ve moved out of those times and I think we’re all hoping that the challenges are over.

What advice would you give other emerging artists/bands looking to pursue a career in music?
Never stop working for it, push for your art, and push for what you believe in. Stay strong-minded, and always believe in your work, against whether or not other people agree, because if you stop enjoying it, then it becomes a chore. It shouldn’t ever feel like a chore if you love your art. Also write, write, write, and make loads of contacts!

What's next for BLOXX?
Hopefully world domination soon! Kidding, kinda. We just want to continue having fun and growing as artists and individuals! We love what we do and are so grateful, that we want to keep giving back to those that support. Meaning new music, big things, big gigs and a whole lot of fun!​

You can follow BLOXX on Facebook for more info and listen to 'Go Out With You' now on all major streaming services.
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Following the announcement of their biggest Australian tour to date, LA rockers The Growlers have just dropped their sixth studio album Natural Affair via their own label, Beach Goth Records and Tapes. ‘Natural Affair’ follows last year’s Casual Acquaintances, a raw collection of demos and outtakes from their Julian Casablancas-produced 2016 LP City Club.

​Choosing to produce this record themselves, Natural Affair is the band's most mature release to date, developing their distinctive garage rock aesthetic into a slinkier, dancier sound, coupled with lyrics that grapple with ideas on gender dynamics, social media as well as the pleasures and perils of modern love.

Previously released tracks from the album include the title track and new wave funk number Natural Affair as well as Try Hard Fool, Foghorn Town and our personal favourite, Pulp of Youth.

The Growlers will be in Australia in January 2020 for their biggest run of Australian shows to date with some 12 dates down the east coast. Check out the dates here.

Natural Affair is available now on all popular streaming services. Take a listen below and let us know what you think!

Former Wollongong based, now Sydney five-piece, DROVES sprung onto the Australian independent music scene last year with their debut single ‘Time’ and have been kicking goals ever since. Releasing their debut EP ‘Bloodline’, which scored airtime on triple j, as well as playing Farmer & The Owl Festival and supporting some big names on the scene including RAAVE TAPES, San Mei, Bakers Eddy and Johnny Hunter. 

Now DROVES are back with their latest single ‘Retribution’, a gripping new wave number driven by reverberating guitars, building percussion and chanting vocals, that sees the band explore and experiment their sound further. Think Foals meets New Order.

"'Retribution is the first instalment of many songs to come that challenge the established concept of society through an ironic blend of pop-hooks and dark imagery," states frontman, Phil Spiteri. "The song was inspired by the complete free reign that the rich are given to dig up and spit out the planet."

To celebrate the release of ‘Retribution’ the band are playing exclusive single shows in Sydney and Melbourne at the end of the month. Head to their Facebook for more info.

Following her impressive debut single ‘Wish We Had History’, emerging New Zealand singer-songwriter BEXY has just released her latest single ‘Stay Away’. Co-written and produced by Ambian & Sleo, along with Zac Emerson and Jesse Brown, ‘Stay Away’ is a laid-back indie pop gem that delves into the universal struggle between head and heart.

We had a quick chat to BEXY about the new single and how she got into music.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to music?
I’ve always been obsessed with music. My Dad is a muso so there were always instruments around the house, so naturally, I gravitated towards them. I can’t remember when I wasn’t writing songs on my bedroom floor. However, I was always very quiet about it all. I struggled to sing in front of people. I used to only post singing videos on Facebook, any performance I would cry before and after or just wimp out and not do it. If it was at home I’d make everyone turn off the lights and sit in another room if they wanted to hear my singing. But even with all my fear, deep down I knew music was what I wanted to do forever. 

Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
I think my sound has and will constantly evolve and change as I change and go through different experiences and develop different skills and ideas. My mum has always taught me to just aim to be the highest and truest version of myself and that will bleed into my music. All I can do is be authentic and create what feels right in the moment, try my best and surrender to the rest.

How do you begin your songwriting process? Do you have any routines or rituals?
It’s different all the time. Most recently, my best ideas have come from driving in the car and having a wee singing therapy session by myself to the sound of the car engine. Trying to work through my emotions and recording it on my iPhone, then when I’m home I’ll listen back to the recordings and if anything sticks out to me, I’ll find a piano or guitar and just delve into the idea and refine it. 

I’ve been doing a few co-wrote sessions in studios, where I write from scratch with other musos - All very new and daunting to me but I basically bring out my diary and share way too much and we birth something from that. 

Congrats on the release of your new single ‘Stay Away’. Can you tell us a little about the story behind it?
Well, it all started with a random night in the studio with some new friends, drinking gin and tonic and sharing a little too much information. This song is about when you know someone is bad for you in a way, but your heart utterly adores them so you struggle to ever stay away from them. This song is about the constant battle you have with your head and your heart. At the moment music is my number one and I don't want to get distracted but it's hard when special humans wander into your life. But also I need to live my life to have things to write about so ya know ha ha. I’m heading into a very contradictory and confusing season.

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
At the moment I love Jorja Smith, Raveena, Mahalia, Clairo, UMI - very much into female artists who carry themselves with grace and empower other women. Love Still Woozy, Tame Impala and King Princess. There are so many artists I look up to. Sometimes it's not even just their music but the way they use their influence and community they've created to spread positive messages and change the world in their own way. It's brilliant and beautiful and it's one of the reasons why having the talent and passion for pursuing music as a career is such a privilege.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
Wow, you know what that's a hard one because I am a sucker for a good inspirational quote. I lap up advice, especially if it's from my mum, Oprah, Sarah Blondin or Eckhart Tolle. But something that has always stuck with me from a young age is a scene from an old TV show my family is obsessed with called ‘Frasier’. A character called Martin says: “Life's a crap shoot. We could all go at any time. That's why we have to make the most of whatever time we've got. Like sand through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives”. I'd watched every episode of every season of Frasier a million times but for some reason this time it really resonated with me... I no longer wanted to live in fear. It gave me perspective, that inspired me to live an interesting, fulfilling life.

What advice would you give to emerging songwriters and musicians like yourself that are wanting to pursue a career in music?
You have to want this more than anything and be the hardest working person in the room, push aside fear and just go for it. Use the resources that you have to make the best possible art you can and then surrender to that and enjoy yourself. Enjoy every part of it. Plus just be a good person. This is what I tell myself every day anyway. 

What is your favourite thing about making music?
It’s my therapy and oh boy, I love it so much!

What can punters expect from a BEXY live show? 
A ton of beautiful energy - cuddles and kisses. A lot of me either accidentally flashing you or my guitar pic flying out of my hand mid-song.

What are your plans for the rest of 2019?
I want to just keep writing more and more music. I'm doing a few intimate performances and I have more music coming out. Woop woop! A couple more singles and an EP.

​To celebrate the release of her new single, BEXY is hosting a gig on October 11th in Christchurch where she will perform old, new and unreleased music. More details here. 

Bridging the gap somewhere between alternative, electronic and dark pop, Sydney and LA-based artist CXLOE (Chloe Papandrea) offers up something unique and exciting with every new release. Since exploding onto the scene in late 2017 with her honest and raw debut single ‘Tough Love’, which premiered on triple j and peaked out at No.1 on Spotify’s Viral Chart, and supporting acts such as Maroon 5, Alison Wonderland and Broods, CXLOE has quickly made a name for herself as the “next big thing” in pop music.

In 2018 her breakthrough sophomore single ‘Monster’, gained praise both locally and internationally, finding a home at the top of Spotify Australia’s New Music Friday as well as placement in an additional 6 country’s New Music Friday playlists including the US and Canada. Her third single, ‘Show You’ is a hard hitting pop number co-written with Sam Farrar of Maroon 5 sitting on a tidy 10+million streams. 

Maintaining her growing momentum, this year has been a huge year for CXLOE as she continues to experiment and evolve her sound. Her latest offerings ‘I Can’t Have Nice Things’, ‘Low Blow’ and most recently, the infectious dark pop banger ‘SICK’ feat. LA artist gnash, are proof that CXLOE is on top of her game and a true force to be reckoned with.

Listen to CXLOE’s music below and let us know what you think.
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Relatively new to the music scene, Melbourne based singer-songwriter Charlotte Gemmill, better known as Eliott, has quickly cemented herself as one to watch with her soul-tingling vocals and beautifully honest songwriting. 

In just two short years, Eliott has released her debut EP ‘Bold Enough’ and a multitude of standout singles, including the achingly beautiful ‘Over and Over’ and more recently, the dreamy pop anthem ‘Find A Way’. Outside of the studio, she has supported the likes of Dean Lewis, Matt Corby and Ok Moon on their Australian tours, as well as recently finishing up her own East Coast headline tour. 

We had a quick chat with Eliott about her latest single, letting go of her fears and her ultimate dream collaboration.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what path led you to music?
Music has been a part of my life since I can remember, no one in my family had a career in music but they definitely had great music taste. So growing up I was always listening to bands like Fleetwood Mac, Crowded House, Eva Cassidy - to me, some of the best songwriters and storytellers. I’d always sing with my mum, ever since I was a little girl. And I’m so lucky to have the most supportive family and mates who have always encouraged me to stick to it.

For those who haven’t listened to your music before - how would you describe your sound?
When I write a song, at the forefront of everything is the lyrics and the story I want to tell. So I guess the production always has to support that. I guess you could call it alt-pop - heavy on the ballads haha.
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Can you tell us a little about your most recent single 'Find A Way' and the story behind it?​​
‘Find A Way’ is ultimately about letting go of fears and finally becoming the person you want to be, I wrote it at a time where I didn’t think I could handle all the pressure and stress of being in music but I knew I had to be vulnerable and open myself up to move forward. ‘Find A Way’ is kind of my anthem in trying to do that. 

You also recently released the video for ‘Find A Way’. Did you ever feel scared about putting something so personal like that out into the world? What has the response from your fans been like so far?
Super scary but so rewarding. The response has been incredible. At the end of the day, I write these songs for me, but to see people I’ve never met connect with it in their own way, it still blows my mind. 

What is your favourite thing about making music?
The fact that you’re literally creating something from the very start - something that can make people smile, laugh, cry - and something that can not only be a cathartic experience helping you deal with your shit but help other people through their own shit. That’s pretty incredible. 

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
They change all the time, but I love songwriters like Julia Jacklin, Stella Donnelly, Missy Higgins, Kacey Musgraves. There’s something about all of them that I keep coming back to. 

You embarked on your east coast headline tour in July, and also supported Dean Lewis and Matt Corby on their respective Australian tours earlier in the year. What are your favourite and not so favourite things about touring?
My favourite things: meeting incredible people, playing in some of the most beautiful venues in Australia, sharing my songs and stories with people on stage.  My not so favourite things: Doing it solo - it’s tiring and long and mentally draining. But the moment you get on stage all of that negative energy disappears. 

Aside from your solo project, you recently featured on Kite String Tangle’s ‘Killing Time’ and Lucian Blomkamp’s ‘Doing This For You’ as well as co-writing Montaigne’s new single ‘Ready’. Who would you love to collaborate with next?
I mean it’s pretty far fetched but a girl’s gotta dream, right? To write with Kacey Musgraves would be so amazing, Sarah Aarons too. I’d love to write a song with her and pick her brain.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?
I’m always trying to write and create, always moving and onto the next thing.
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Do you have any advice for songwriters/musicians like yourself that are trying to break into the industry?
Trust your own judgement, write what you want to write, and be confident. 

You can stream Eliott's music below and check out her video for 'Find A Way' here!
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2019 is already proving to be a huge year for Western Australian electronic dance trio, Crooked Colours. After playing Laneway festival, releasing two new singles 'Hold On' and 'Never Dance Alone', and wowing audiences at Groovin The Moo festival over the last two weekends, the boys are also about to release their sophomore album 'Langata' and embark on their biggest headline tour to date.

We had a chat with drummer Liam Merrett-Park about the bands new album, what to expect from their live shows and wanting to collaborate with John Mayer.

​Can you tell us a little about yourselves and how Crooked Colours came to be? 
We are three guys from the Southwest of WA that play indie-electronic music. We met through mutual friends like 7 years ago and we started creating music to play for friends at house parties. We had no ambitions of a career in music, we just liked to create it and play it in front of people, and we stuck at it until it has now become the biggest thing in our lives.
 
Tell us about your music - how did you guys develop your sound?
We were always into electronic music, so when we started writing songs in the early days we would try and emulate songs that we liked. During that process you hear a song and go, “How do I make that sound?” and you go back to your bedroom and try and recreate it. During that process you would distract yourself with something different that you liked and expand on that. In a way you almost become your own inspiration, wanting to expand on the last idea you had and make it bigger or weirder. That’s how we have been working, expanding on idea’s that we had on our last album.
 
Your debut album ‘Vera’ hit No.1 on the iTunes Electronic chart and gained over 30 million collective online streams. That must have felt pretty good to get such a strong reaction to the album?
Yeah it was surreal. We had had such a big break since our last release so we didn’t quite know how it would be received. After releasing the first single Flow, the reaction blew us away! It was crazy, we were getting tagged in all these travel Vlogs and on high fashion runway shows. Then the album came out and we hit the ARIA charts and it was actually such a shock! Honestly it has been such a great few years and we are so thankful.
 
Your sophomore album ‘Langata’ is out May 17. How would you describe this album?
It is the next step of Vera. Some deeply personal lyrics, some party lyrics. Some dance-y tracks and some slower chilled tracks. It’s our favourite body of work we have created yet.
 
In terms of the album-making process, did you do anything differently this time compared to your debut album?
This album was largely written on the road so in terms of locations. We were in hotel rooms or on the tour bus or planes which was completely different to largely being based in our home studios but other than that it was much the same. We kept it completely in house using the same gear as Vera. We’re just older and hopefully wiser.
 
What were some of your biggest inspirations (musically or otherwise) during the making of this album?
We were very inspired by the places we had been or the places we wanted to be. For example, the first single “I’ll Be There” was heavily inspired by a trip to New Caledonia and the track “Hold On” was inspired by our desire to be at the beach while we were shivering in the US winter.
 
What’s your favourite part of the writing process? 
That point when you know the project you are working on is actually going to turn into something you want. You often start a track and spend all of this time on it for it to turn into a blackhole of time that never forms into the vision you had of it. It’s best left alone and to start again. But at that point of perseverance and it works out, that’s our favourite. Also, when we are all in the studio jamming out at the final touches.
 
What can the crowds expect from the Crooked Colours live shows?
We always want to bring energy. Starting a bit chilled and then building into high energy at the end. Seeing the crowd react and dance is the ultimate reward. We are also going to tour with a new lighting rig which we are excited about.
 
What’s something most people don’t know about you guys?
We used to live together, and we would eat pasta bake and drink beers all week and we all got fat. It was fun but we all needed to get out of there.
 
If you guys could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? 
John Mayer. What a musician, what a voice! That guy has a deep love for everything music and I think would be able to impart some good wisdom on the way.
 
Are there any emerging bands/artists that you’re loving at the moment?
Ninajirachi. Legend!
 
What advice would you give emerging songwriters/musicians that are trying to break into the industry?
There are going to great times but also some pretty low times. You just have to ride the hard times out and keep on working. Don’t stop.
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'Langata' will be released on May 17th with preorders available now. Tickets for their national tour are also available now via their website.

British indie rockers Circa Waves have just released their third album ‘What’s It Like Over There?’ and we are a tad obsessed. Recorded in just one month and co-produced by Alan Moulder (The Killers, Foals), ‘What’s It Like Over There?’ is a shining example of how far the band have come since the release of their debut album ‘Young Chasers’ in 2015.

Fusing their classic indie-rock influences with a slick pop sound, Circa Waves have created an infectious record that sidesteps genres and challenges the stereotypical idea of what a indie rock band should sound like. Thematically, the album touches on themes of modern ennui, emotional fragility and all the inside-outs and upside-downs of relationships.

Whilst the anthemic ‘Movies’ will appeal to the band’s long-standing fan base, the likes of ‘Sorry I’m Yours’ and ‘Be Somebody Good’ see Circa Waves experiment with a new progressive sound that will surprise and delight in equal measure. ‘Me Myself & Hollywood’ touches on the band’s love of R&B, whilst ‘Times Won’t Change Me’ is a piano-led, Beatles-inspired future hit.

‘What’s It Like Over There?’ is available now on all major streaming services. Have a listen below and let us know what you think! Tickets for their UK, US and EU tours are also on sale now via their website. 

After touring the world as a vocalist for Flight Facilities, Australian pop darling Owl Eyes (Brooke Addamo) has signified the return of her solo project with the reveal of her lush, dreamy and utterly danceable disco single ‘You And I’. Premiering a few days ago on triple j Good Nights, ‘You And I’ masks raw, honest lyrics with an alluring upbeat composition reminiscent of 70s era disco featuring hazy bass luscious synths, and a summoning call-to-action of lyrics.

Accompanying ‘You And I’ is the sunny B-Side ‘Le Soleil’, opening with an ode to the romance of the French dialect. Written in Brussels, ‘You And I’ and ‘Le Soleil’ were the product of moonlit nights between Owl Eyes and Belgian nu disco producer Aeroplane (Vito de Luca). Aeroplane's French house influence trickles throughout the tracks, both embodied with love and dedication, reflected as lessons that are pure and honest.

In celebration of the new single, Owl Eyes has also announced two headline shows for next month. Her first solo shows in quite some time, Owl Eyes’ unmistakable stage presence will light up Melbourne’s Abbotsford Convent on Thursday 16 May and the Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney on Thursday 23 May. Tickets are available now via Owl Eyes' website. 

Listen to 'You and I' below and let us know what you think!
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