Friday Favourites: The Best New Tracks of the Week 30/10/26

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're 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 bringing you our favourite tracks of the week.

This week's list features new music from DIIV, Spouse, CHVRCHES, Snoh Aalegra, Maths Times Joy and more.

DIIV – 'Dare Me'

'Dare Me' is a delightful shoegaze expression from New York alt-indie vets DIIV.

Taken from the quartet's new album Zirp!, which was produced by A.G. Cook (Charli XCX, Jónsi, Alaska Reid), 'Dare Me' features the band's hazy rhythmic guitar sound that's sure to have Aussie audiences swaying along when the band touch down next year as part of the Laneway lineup.

CHVRCHES – 'Overthinker'

Following last month's single 'Roses', Scottish synth-pop trio CHVRCHES return with new track 'Overthinker'.

Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty's latest is a bubbly three-and-a-half-minute track addressing a complex relationship.

The track is taken from CHVRCHES' upcoming self-produced fifth studio album All The King’s Men, which was recorded at Glasgow's Assumption Studios.

Spouse – 'Wishing On Numbers'

After getting my attention with their seven-minute epic 'The Birds Are Dead Along The Highway', emerging Canberra outfit Spouse return with 'Wishing On Numbers', a brooding shoegaze masterpiece that makes brilliant use of the violin.

Frontperson Em Nonogaki Hunter's textured vocals transform into an agonising scream by the song's end, surrounded by thrashing guitars and driving percussion.

"'Wishing On Numbers', despite not being the oldest track on the album, feels like the place where the album actually began for Spouse," says Hunter.

"The title refers to the theme of helpless hoping, pinned upon arbitrary symbols outside of yourself to try and make it come true. Make a wish at 11:11, it probably won’t come true, but now you have externalised your wishes - it's now up to something other than yourself to actualise."

The track, along with the rest of the album, was produced by acclaimed local engineer Matt Schultz (Twine, The Empty Threats) at Interim Studios in Adelaide. Spouse's highly anticipated Wishing On Numbers is out next month via Gutwrench Records. Pre-order here.

Bjéar – 'a moment (demo)'

LA-based Adelaidean Bjéar has shared cathartic new song 'a moment (demo)', the first release since his album, I Love You, Brae.

A haunting intersection of guitars, piano, synths and manipulated vocals, 'a moment (demo)' finds Bjéar continuing to push his sound into new areas.

The track is accompanied by a new series of vlogs Bjéar is uploading to YouTube where he discusses everything from the music he's making and his favourite films to philosophy, food and travel. Check out the first episode here.

Maths Time Joy – 'Only Ever'

Grammy-nominated British artist Maths Time Joy has a new track doing the rounds. 'Only Ever' is a minimalist, lo-fi R&B slow burn similar to early How To Dress Well.

The manipulated vocals stretch over the subtle production that turns industrial before the sudden halting finish. Really digging this one.

Coco Elise – 'His bed is on the beach'

We really like what Coco Elise is putting out there. 'His bed is on the beach' is a tender indie-pop song with lush harmonies and a steady, foot-tapping melody that swirls around your brain like a vibrant dream.

Taken from his debut album The longest bridge in the world, 'His bed is on the beach' is the perfect taste for those curious about Elise, and we encourage you to give his debut a listen here and read our fun rapid-fire Q&A with him here.

Girl Tones – 'Blame'

Hailed by Broken 8 Music as "one of the most volatile and exciting acts in the modern rock landscape", rock and roll duo Girl Tones (sisters Kenzie and Laila Crowe) have unleashed their highly anticipated debut album, Precious.

Produced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and released on his label, Parallel Vision, in partnership with Big Loud Rock, the album explores themes of self-sabotage, superficiality, grief, family and more through catchy, melodic indie rock instrumentation.

One of the album's standout tracks is 'Blame', a tasteful dose of guitar and drums with echoes of Arctic Monkeys and Veruca Salt. While the track has been out in the world since last year, we hope hearing it encourages you to give Precious a spin, which you can do here.

Snoh Aalegra – 'Just Friends'

Snoh Aalegra has one of those voices that gives you goosebumps. The Swedish-Iranian singer harks back to the days of powerful voices like Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton – she has a real '90s aura that's displayed on her new ballad 'Just Friends'.

Written by Aalegra, Lou Val and Joel Compass, who also produced the track, 'Just Friends' is a sparse R&B wonder exploring the grey area between lovers and friends.

I get Prince vibes listening to this one, with Aalegra in absolutely stunning vocal form.

ZEAL.H  – 'Mahi'

I don't know much about ZEAL.H, but I'm really digging her latest effort 'Mahi'.

The first taste of her new project SKIING THE GUT, which was created across sessions in Australia and Aotearoa alongside engineer Yianni Adams (Polish Club, CINTA), 'Mahi' is a whirling folk song with gorgeous harmonies and soft instrumentation.

There's also the sound of bikes riding through fields and running water, giving 'Mahi' an organic, experimental feel.

Druid Fluids – 'Ebbs & Flows'

Just over two weeks out from the release of local psych rockers Druid Fluids' new album Pareidolia, the band have shared another teaser: 'Ebbs & Flows'.

A much more laid-back affair than previous tracks 'Needles in Strawberries' and 'Petrichor', the third single from Pareidolia reminds me of Sydney's The Lazy Eyes, with the '60s melodies and frontman Jamie Andrew's silky, soothing vocals combining for a nearly eight-minute journey through nostalgic soundscapes.

The track is accompanied by a pretty awesome animated music video featuring 5,000 frames that were printed, scanned and sequenced to create the visual.

Selfish Sons – 'Malibu to Sunset Drive'

Brizzy brothers Jordy and Finn Polbodetto, alongside good mate Jonty Carlson, better known as Selfish Sons, have returned with the double single 'Malibu to Sunset Drive / Runaway'.

Both are great tracks, with 'Runaway' a tropical-flavoured burst of indie sunshine, but it's 'Malibu to Sunset Drive' that gets two thumbs up from the crew at The Note.

It's got a summer feel, with frontman Jordy Polbodetto's sweet tones pairing perfectly with the driving guitars and melodic drumming.

'Malibu to Sunset Drive' sounds like cracking a cold one on a warm afternoon at the beach.

Confidence Man & Spriitzz – 'Higher'

Since moving to the UK, Confidence Man have really embraced '90s dance music, which is evident on their new single 'Higher'.

A collaboration with Spriitzz that's been hyped as "the mega trance classic you didn’t know you needed", the track certainly lives up to expectations.

'Higher' is a euphoric '90s-inspired surge of shiny synths and anthemic vocals that's sure to please both old-school ravers and modern dance music fans.