Best new tracks Down Under #26

With the vibrant indie music scene in Australia and New Zealand constantly outshining much of the output from their British and American cousins, Little Indie picks our weekly bunch of some of the best new tracks on offer.



THE SPRING PEAKS - ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH?

Perth indie five-piece dropped both this Americana-esque, feelgood single cut, and the EP it is taken from, 'Coming Of Age', last Friday (June 28). Revisiting similar lyrical themes to the EP's title cut, of love that has been lost, it is nostalgic and summery, with a great vocal. "The meaning behind the words 'are you strong enough' are that these days, it is too easy for relationships to end and for partners to separate rather than to talk it through properly and find a solution."
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SODA - TIME FOR THAT

Sydney's 20-year-old Brae Luafalealo ropes in sister Mahni on this hip-hop/R&B fusion, which pairs percussive melodies with his own rap and the vocal accompaniment of his sibling. "It’s a song inspired by the loyalty and selflessness that we have for each other as family and the ‘I would do anything for you' mentality that you have for the people in your life that you love," says Brae.
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VAST HILL - OBLIVION

Credit: Rosie O'Donnell

From their debut album 'More Than You Imagined', out in October, Sydney synthpop duo, Elle Kress (vocals, keys) and Adin Milo (vocals, guitar), drop new bouncy single, co-produced by Michael Chow (from band FROYO). “‘Oblivion’ is about the struggle of being with someone well past its ‘due-date’. You’re both exhausted, fighting over every little thing and just as its about to be let go, you both unwillingly try [to] give it another go. There’s also that moment when you just sit there waiting and hoping for that old feeling to come back," they state.
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ALPHA STREET - DARKEST PLACES

More synthpop, this time on the new release from this Adelaide trio. The four-minute electronic pop number opens with a big-hitting, catchy groove that envelops the smooth flowing lead vocal of Penny Atlas. Far from dark, the effect is light and breezy, with catchy hooks.
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MAIDEN CHINA - THURSDAY NIGHT

Self produced, lo-fi bedroom alt-pop sub-four minutes from Gold Coast-based musicians Joseph and Tatum. Pals from an early age, they came together with a shared passion for jamming and creating new sounds; originally with the goal of developing previous individual sonic exploration, the two have now combined skillsets to curate different music genres into something entirely different. The result here is simple, unaffected and soothing.
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CASSEL - CAR CRASH SCENE

Following the release of their debut EP last year, the Melbourne-based alt-rock quartet - formerly the solo project of Yasmin de Laine (whose voice is a force to be reckoned with) - unveil this off-kilter, undulating new single. The song explores the fallout following a serious road accident and the grief accompanying the event; delving into the relationship between one's investment in the vicarious grief of others, watching the metaphorical car crash scene, and the exhaustion that occurs as a result.
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