the best new sounds you’ve never heard

A seductive melancholy defines ODIWAMS (onedayitwillallmakesense), the extraordinary debut EP of Sydney artist Maina Doe. The musician reconfigures the experimental and elegaic sounds of R&Band soul, transforming them into something entirely her own. ODIWAMS is characterised by its duality of lightness and darkness, its evocations of dueling feelings such as hedonism, solitude, and serenity. “It’s my music buffet, take what you can from it,” says Maina Doe.

So many styles and stories stretch across the six tracks that make up ODIWAMS. “I have always wanted to make music that comes from many angles and perspectives. This EP realised itself very organically when I was writing it,”Maina Doe says. In moments, Maina Doe chronicles the pleasures and pains of urban life - its euphoria, its connections, its disappointments, its alienations.In other instances, she longs for a simpler existence, solace sketched in beautiful shades of brooding electronica. For instance, on EP opener “Hello”she meshes her transcendent vocals with a bunch of diverse field recordings -taken from travels, shows, and intimate conversations.

“It’s not always easy for me to be vulnerable. So some of the more vulnerable moments are a little hard for me to grip with, knowing that a bunch of strangers are going to know me like that. The most challenging and rewarding part of this is accepting that I don’t have a choice – the music will push and continue to be made and I have to allow myself to be heard and seen and felt” says Maina Doe. Produced with Finbar Stuart, 18YOMAN, LEN20 and UNOStereo, the EP balances ambient tones with electronic futurism, crafting a singular sound of sprawling R&’B that contains dreamy, eerie undercurrents. The EP’s lead single “Maybe” embodies this, a buoyant but unvarnished look at how we can be drawn to facades and mislead one another. “Maybe we blinded or short on some guidance/I don’t know what it is I stay in my business, we all got our reasons” Maina Doe sings.

Instead of confining oneself to these restrictive characters, she advocates for authenticity, while also admitting that fallinginto the traps of status and appearances is a part of

everyday life. “Don’t Worry Bout Me” expands Maina Doe’s explorations of independence and individuality. On the second half of the EP, Maina Doe narrates the tough but ultimately cathartic experience of moving through troubling emotions. The spellbinding “Witness” sees Maina Doe travel through humility, anger, and beauty, emerging with a new sense of self-possession (“You gotta listen, they’ll never get it”). This floats onto “Damnnnn” an intricate and beautiful rumination on overcoming heartbreak. She finishes with album closer “Lucid Dreams” a dreamy, infectious song about shaking off of vanity and embracing forgiveness. “I hope this record makes people feel closer to themselves, their convictions, and me,” says Maina Doe.

Since 2019, Maina Doe has been lauded for her singles, receiving support from BBC Radio,

Vice, Notion, Soulection, Rinse FM and Vogue, among others.She has performed support slots for the likes of Masego, Winston Surfshirt, and Tkay Maidza. Last year, she made her headline debut at a sold-out show at the Sydney Opera House for festival VIVID LIVE."

Championed by the likes of NME, The FADER, DIY, The Line of Best Fit & So Young, HighSchool are Rory Trobbiani & Luke Scott, a duo from Melbourne whose two EPs to date – ‘Forever at Last’ and ‘Accelerator’ - are lo-fi gems. Relocating to London from Melbourne in 2022, they’ve since toured Australia, Europe, Japan, North America and the UK, playing numerous festivals and touring with CHVRCHES, Sam Fender, Provoker, NewDad, Sunken and zzzahara. A brilliant live band, they’re now signed to [PIAS] and are working towards their debut album.

Indie rock four-piece smol fish are a band of best friends from Boorloo (Perth), Australia. With earnest lyricism and playful instrumentation, the band explores the lovely and lonesome aspects of being a 20-something navigating the world today. 2024 is looking bright, with an EU/UK tour in April/May, and  a new single ‘If Only’ hitting playlists and garnering triple j rotation. Be sure to superglue your socks to your feet, because smol fish are ready to blow them off!

BALTHVS, the Bogota, Colombia based psychedelic funk trio was formed in the countryside while the group waited out the 2020 pandemic. The band was  escaping the city during uncertain times and according to Balthazar Aguirre,  “we wanted the music to meld with the peaceful environment surrounding us at that moment.” Alongside Aguirre (guitar, vocals), the band consists of Johanna Mercuriana (bass, vocals) and Santiago Lizcano (drums, vocals). Their genre-defying sound blends cumbia, surf rock, funk, and Turkish  musical influences. The music is comprised of lyrics in English, Spanish and  plenty of instrumentals that meld mysticism and psychedelics. “Colombia is  very psychedelic, there’s plenty of availability and a lot of traditional  medicine involving entheogens and plant medicine around.” The result is a captivating sonic tapestry that transcends conventional boundaries, captivating listeners with its multifaceted influences. Known for their dynamic and electrifying live performances, BALTHVS has become synonymous with energetic shows and captivating improvisations. Since  their inception, the band has embarked on a prolific creative journey,  releasing an impressive catalog featuring over 34 singles and 3 full-length albums. Their music has resonated globally, amassing over 6.8 million streams worldwide, establishing BALTHVS as a formidable presence in the music  industry. While BALTHVS has conquered their home turf, gracing the stage at Colombia’s largest music festival, Rock al Parque, they have also taken their  infectious sound to international audiences. With three performances at SXSW  in Austin, TX, a successful U.S. tour, and a triumphant inaugural European  tour in 2024, the band is poised for even greater heights with a new  full-length LP set to release on Mixto Records in the fall. Eager to continue  their sonic exploration, BALTHVS is set to enchant audiences worldwide with  their innovative and boundary-pushing approach to music.

404 is an exciting new electronic artist hailing from Seoul, Korea. Cosigned by Mixmag, he is known for his production chops, high energy DJ sets and  eclectic style, having worked with an array of artists in the Korean scene including the likes of HYPNOSIS THERAPY and NZ-Korean artist Hans.

Sunny allows listeners to be drawn into a world woven from a visual tapestry of 60s/70s cinema, folklore, and celestial imagery. Drawing inspiration from his violinist grandfather's heritage, alongside a childhood immersed in choral hymns, and a later passion for pop music, Sunny crafts evocative melodies set against lush cinematic soundtracks. Sunny has amassed 4 million followers across all social platforms, bringing  a younger audience into instrumental/soundtrack music. Luminary has been featured on over 1.6 million videos across Instagram and TikTok, including on the official accounts of the Paris Olympics, McLaren, Manchester United and many more. In his debut live performance, Sunny will reorchestrate his unique sonic world into a real-life, communal experience.

Performance in all its forms has always been intrinsic in Ayesha Madon’s life, from learning drums and piano in her early teens, through to her starring role in Netflix’s smash series Heartbreak High (currently #4 on Netflix globally), to building a full recording studio in her Grandma’s garage in the suburbs of  Sydney the day she finished shooting Season 2. She can’t help herself.  For the rising creative, music and songwriting remain at the fore of her creative output as she strives for humility and grit in all aspects of her work. A deep consideration for authentic storytelling and humility and a natural ability to keep it real is how Madon continues to captivate in whatever medium she harnesses.

NT bruthas J-MILLA and Yung Milla forged their own paths to fame, from the lean streets of Darwin’s southern suburbs to the heights of Milla-mania on remote communities across the country. Now, for the first time, the two Marranunggu rap kings meet at the crossroads for an explosive alliance of rhyme, dance and style. Happy Mag calls J-MILLA “a dominant force in hip hop”. triple j calls Yung Milla “hot shit”. We’re calling SAME BLOOD the hip hop party of the year.

Australian singer-songwriter SAHXL released his debut EP, COME THRU, in late 2023 and is gearing up to release his follow up in May off the back of his latest single documenting a tale of heartbreak, “Negligent”.

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SAHXL has big intentions: “I have one goal— to introduce the world to the new sounds of R&B coming out of Australia,” he says. “I’m not just doing this for myself; I’m doing this for the people around me too.” It’s safe to say he’s well on his way. The Sydney-based artist started making music as a 14-year-old as a form of emotional release, and eventually put his music on SoundCloud, catching the attention of local producers. He has released a number of singles, has been included in Apple Music’s Up Next Local series, and has been shouted out by radio personality Ebro Darden and fellow Australian musician The Kid LAROI.

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Last year, he became the first Australian artist to sign with Def Jam. COME THRU offers a captivating introduction to SAHXL’s sound, storytelling ability, and impressive emotional range. The project is a vivid, vulnerable collection of songs following the arc of a romantic relationship from start to finish. The project positions SAHXL as a wise storyteller in touch with his trickiest and most unpleasant emotions, as well as an adept producer and composer capable of wordlessly conveying yearning, remorse, and anger through his instrumental arrangements.

total tommy arrives armed with a boldness that is instantaneous and infectious, both on record and in person. With great depth in her creative range and sonic versatility, comes a quiet confidence of an artist in control. total tommy sounds like the first time you got high, because she broke your heart, and makes you wanna do it all over again. “total tommy started when I moved cities, came out, and spent time properly getting to know myself. Parts of my brain got unlocked that I’d never been able to tap into before, and with that I quickly got to learn a lot about who I was. I partied so much with new queer friends, fell in love, made mistakes, and wrote music to make sense of it all”. total tommy is an artist to experience from the front row with your friends, where she’ll leave nothing on the sidelines with a willingness to share herself and her experiences. For fans of Wet Leg, Ekkstacy, Royel Otis, Alex G

A multi-talented artist, Nick Ward emerged with his brand of bedroom pop on triple Unearthed, releasing multiple tracks and refining his sound across debut EP ‘Everything I Wish I Told You’. Then came 2022’s ‘Brand New You’ about which NME raved: “…a tightrope balance of bravado and self-doubt… few can make it as relatable, redemptive and hopeful”. After a successful headline tour in 2022, Nick was recently named the Ticketmaster 2023 Breakthrough Artist, a well-deserved recognition that showcases his exceptional talent and potential in the industry. Ward is also a part of the Sydney musical collective Full Circle, which brings together young creatives, including fellow artists FRIDAY*, SOLLYY, Dylan Atlantis, Breakfast Road, and Zion Garcia, who collaborate to push the boundaries of the pop music experience. From starting as a triple j Unearthed high finalist in 2019, Nick has attracted the attention of local and international tastemakers, press alike, including V Man, SideNote, PAPER, GQ, Wonderland, Notion, 10 Magazine, NME, Junkee, and more.