Friday Favourites: The Best New Tracks of the Week 21/08/26

There’s so much new music being released in the world these days that it’s hard to keep up. Even if you consider yourself a music nerd, it’s impossible to listen to the hundreds of new tracks dropping every week. That’s why we are here to help.

The crew at The Note are constantly turning up the volume in the office, checking out all the latest tunes from local emerging artists right through to your favourite global superstars.

We want to make sure you stay ahead of the curve, so every Friday we are collating a list of our favourite tracks of the week.

This week’s list features new music from Wolf Alice, Earth Tongue, Eliza & the Delusionals, ONEFOUR and more.

Wolf Alice – 'Hit the Sky'

Heading our way in December, Wolf Alice have today shared a special edition of their fourth album, The Clearing, featuring the previously released tracks 'Gospel Oak' and 'Hammond Song' and new tune 'Hit The Sky'.

Recorded in Seven Sisters during sessions for The Clearing, this upbeat folk ditty has been revived with James Gavin on fiddle and Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean on backing vocals.

"It’s about encouraging someone you love to be themselves, because you can see how fabulous they are!" says the band's Ellie Rowsell.

It's not what you'd expect from Wolf Alice, but then again, this is a band who continue to evolve and experiment with each release, and it makes a nice addition to their catalogue.

Beabadoobee - 'Memories'

It's hard not to be drawn in by beabadoobee's sound. There is a real emotional pull to her writing that takes you deep inside her world. That's exactly the impact 'Memories' had on me.

I was hypnotised by the lively riff, which brought a genuine smile to my face, which is good news, as beabadoobee describes the track as "one of the happiest songs" on her forthcoming new album, Pylon.

Worm Girlz – 'Broken Tooth'

Still riding the wave from the release of their 2025 self-titled debut album, Brisbane/Meanjin alt-rock favourites Worm Girlz are back with new music.

'Broken Tooth', a groovey, melodic sonic treat, is a little taster of the five-piece's upcoming EP In Loving Memory Of.... Vocalists Lauren Rowe and Jade Montgomery exchange verses over moody guitars on a song inspired by the ghosts of hometowns.

"I always find it weird visiting my hometown, as it is a place that holds memories in every corner," explains Montgomery. "I often wonder about the parts of myself I have left behind there and if the memory of me haunts people the way that they haunt me. This song is about that feeling, the images and history that places and your memory can hold even when people are gone."

As bassist Angie adds, "Through your life there’s always people that come and go, friends that fade out of existence, people wiped from your mind as if they never existed. 'Broken Tooth' is for the ones that you hope remember you forever; the ones you hope see glimpses of you on the street."

Earth Tongue – 'Dimly Lit Cadaver'

I'm a little late to the party when it comes to Earth Tongue. I only stumbled across the psych-rock Kiwi duo (who now reside in Berlin) a couple of months back, but I'm already a massive fan.

Dropping their third album, Dungeon Vision, early this year to quiet acclaim, the pair of Gussie Larkin (guitar and vocals) and Ezra Simons (drums and vocals) are back with 'Dimly Lit Cadaver', a wickedly dense dose of driving fuzz rock; it's hard to believe it's just two people making this racket.

Like the psychedelic White Stripes.

Spouse – 'The Birds Are Dead Along The Highway'

Ngunnawal/Canberra is often overlooked when it comes to new bands, but we here at The Note are excited for Spouse, who took out the Music ACT’s Live Act Of The Year in 2025.

Following their debut single, 'Shame', the five-piece return with the seven-minute post-punk assault, 'The Birds Are Dead Along The Highway'.

Released independently via Gutwrench Records, this introspective track slowly transforms from a moody dose of grunge noise rock into a My Bloody Valentine explosion of crunching guitars and vocalist Karly Hartzman's animalistic screams.

Spouse are ones to keep your eye on.

DIVEBAR YOUTH – 'react'

'react' is a pulsating amalgamation of instruments and distorted vocals that continues DIVEBAR YOUTH's experimental journey through multiple musical soundscapes. There's a real urgency to 'react' that's sure to put you on edge.

sugarwife – 'Getting Closer'

Bubbling under the radar for close to a decade, Boorloo/Perth six-piece sugarwife are finally getting the recognition they deserve, with new single 'Getting Closer' a bustling guitar rocker sure to earn the band more fans.

"'Getting Closer' is a song about starting a new year full of fresh ambition while being grounded in reality and blunt self-awareness. It's all burnt-out lyrics hidden in hope-filled jangle," the band shares.

RONA. – 'In Memory'

RONA.'s new four-track EP To The Ground wraps up with the euphoric 'In Memory', a shimmering electronic expression that works perfectly as an early morning wake-up call or at 2am when you're in the club high on life.

ONEFOUR– 'HIM'

Embarking on a regional tour across September and October, drill group ONEFOUR have shared fierce new single 'HIM'.

The Western Sydney trio of J Emz, Celly and Spenny deliver cold bars over snapping 808s on a track about accountability, discipline and proving yourself through action rather than talk.

On the track, ONEFOUR shared: "This record took shape after a recent trip to Malaysia - the scale of Johor put us in this mindset where we were inspired by the culture of discipline, execution and loyalty. It isn’t about fame or rebellion. It’s about the standard we hold ourselves to as men and understanding that, in the end, the only thing that matters is the action we take. It’s about earning your place through discipline, through time, through pressure. Not folding under scrutiny."

Eliza & the Delusionals – 'Ever'

After what seems like an eternity, local trio Eliza & the Delusionals are back with 'Ever', a lovely shoegaze/indie mash produced by the exceptional Oscar Dawson.

'Ever' is a welcome return and hopefully hints at more material from Eliza & the Delusionals in the coming months.

Fontaines D.C. – 'Marianne'

Irish rockers Fontaines D.C. have announced their fifth LP, Dopamine Chamber, is on the way, but before the record drops in October, the lads have shared the album's first single 'Marianne'.

Produced by James Ford, who was behind the decks for the album, 'Marianne' is what you'd expect from the five-piece, with Grian Chatten's familiar vocals floating over the head-nodding rhythms.

LUCIDBLOOM – 'Fever Dream'

LUCIDBLOOM's evolution continues with 'Fever Dream'.

Formed by sisters Jennifer Noorbergen (vocals) and Katrina Noorbergen (vocals/bass), alongside Astrid Holz (drums) and Tom Haeusler (guitar), the band have become favourites of Sydney's underground music scene.

Much like the title suggests, the band's latest is a surreal dream-pop journey through love, grief and navigating life after a great loss.

Written and arranged almost entirely in a single day in a Blue Mountains warehouse, 'Fever Dream' is taken from LUCIDBLOOM's forthcoming EP.