April 10 - Noteworthy New Releases
Our favourite releases of the week.
Mitchell Seager – ‘Mr. Fixer’
Tenderness is at the forefront of Mitchell Seager’s latest poignant offering, ‘Mr. Fixer’. The track sees Seager locked in quiet contemplation, heady introspection, accompanied by finger-plucked guitar and clean backing vocals. Though ‘Mr. Fixer’ is pensive and restrained, it is also instantly catchy. Seager has the voice of someone who belongs on the radio - someone who is easy to listen to, and easy to fall in love with. Though he is known for his electric drumming in projects such as LOLA, it seems that behind the microphone is where he belongs. ‘Mr. Fixer’ is a dreamy and healing number - it more than lives up to its title.
Sounds like: Gazing through a stained-glass window on a rainy day.
By Emily Wilson
Monya – ‘Little’
Folk trio Monya arrive in quiet force with debut single ‘Little’, a spacious arrangement that begs the attention of a pin-drop silent room. Hamish McCombe’s lyrical acoustic guitar threads together the undulating passages of Scarlett and Grace’s intertwined vocals, which yearn for an ungraspable past. ‘Little’ seems to unceasingly rise in intensity throughout its runtime, with frequent interjections of silence creating moments of almost uncomfortable poignancy. The otherwise sparse instrumentation fills in for a final crescendo, as wider guitars and piano lead to an encapsulating last line, “but it’s over the hill now.” Monya seem to be a band that is self-assured in their sound, and with impeccable musicianship and emotive songwriting, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be.
Sounds like: A trip down memory lane.
By Finn McCole
Anna Jeavons – ‘Stay (Plot Twist)’
The image of a rainy day, a warm cup of chamomile tea and ruffled-up bed sheets come front of mind when the opening chords of Anna Jeavons’ ‘Stay (Plot Twist)’, ring out in the air. Not a lonely image, but one with a lover, whose body heat is softly lingering nearby, accompanied with an acoustic guitar softly plucking at strings. It’s warm, but vaguely distant and blurry. The track’s soft hand is steady and the guitar is constant, mellow and raw, with a melancholic undertone that cements itself the more we listen. It’s the milky words that Jeavons’ utters that hold our attention, and leave us uncertain. If this is a breakup, then why do we feel so at ease?
Sounds like: Missy Higgins declaring it’s the end of the road.
By Millah Hansberry
jessemelancholy – ‘nineteen’
‘nineteen’, the third track off of Jesse’s newest EP, is an emotionally driven piece, projecting the want of someone at any cost. Jesse embraces the need of someone far away, someone maybe he can’t get a hold of. You can feel the pain, the need, the yearning and the struggle of this relationship through his voice and the progression changes. With passing chords added at the end of the chorus, it almost feels like he’s come to terms with what is happening. Jesse has fused pop, hyper-pop and even alternative indie, all blending in with his pitched-up vocals, adding a sense of vulnerability, but backed by the subtle lower vocal take and harmonies sprinkled throughout the track.
Sounds like: Long-distance lovers fighting for any given chance
By Asher Hammat
Loopole – ‘Bloodstream’
Adelaide-based alt-rockers Loopole are back after two years, with their latest single ‘Bloodstream’. It marks their first release since their 2024 debut EP Room 19, and hears them revisit some of their more rock and punk influences. The track is driving, high-energy and direct, carrying a constant groove all the way through from start to finish. Pulling influence from the likes of Fontaines D.C. and The Cure, blended with their own contemporary Australian indie flavour, Loopole form a unique sound that is simultaneously both nostalgic and fresh. Accompanied by a beautifully produced, moody music video (their first to date!), ‘Bloodstream’ captures both your eyes and your ears as Loopole pulls you into a brand-new world. Excited to hear (and see) what comes next from these guys!
Sounds like: A mid-summer coastal road trip with no AC, windows all the way down.
By Callum Turner
Stewart Avenue – ‘Beer Song’
Sturt Avenue’s ‘Beer Song’ is a warm, nostalgic ballad reflecting on “the good old days.” Vocalist Bryn Soden speaks in a soft, familiar demeanour, creating the feeling of a conversation with an old friend. It conjures visions of gathering around a fire and reconnecting with family and friends in the Adelaide Hills at sunset. The song is timeless, it could soundtrack any decade as Soden sings the lyrics “the years roll on, but nothing's changed.” The instrumentals featuring banjo, violin, mandolin and accordion transport you to the Middle Ages and create an old folk tavern vibe. You imagine it being an old shanty tune to drunkenly jeer in the age-old tradition of grabbing a beer with mates. It's a song that feels like it's already been in your life for years.
Sounds like: You're having a drink with Paul Kelly
By Thomas Jackson
