Welcome to “This Week’s Sonic Safari,” where we will be taking you on a thrilling adventure through the vibrant world of independent music. We’ll wander across beautiful lush soundscapes in this sonic journey, looking for hidden gems and digging up musical treasures created by brilliant musicians from all around the world. Our journey promises to be an intriguing investigation of originality and invention, from the busy streets of indie music to the peaceful woods of acoustic folk.
So secure your seat in, set your headphones, and come along with us as we embark on a musical exploration of the highest calibre, ready to experience the amazing variety of this week’s best and newest songs.
Leau – Too Many Friends
“Too Many Friends” by Leau offers listeners a taste of her soulful sound and acts as a meaningful prelude to her upcoming EP. Leau effectively conveys sensitivity and honesty with her beautiful flowing vocals that gently intertwine with the instrumental. Dreamy harmonies that permeate the song as it goes on provide an intriguing auditory experience that lingers long after the last notes disappear.
Leau’s artistic career is characterised by self-awareness and perseverance as she works through the challenges of identity and expression. She allows listeners to enter her world through her songs, where passion and honesty are valued highly. Her open-minded observations on the challenges of growing up and the transforming potential of music connect to the shared experience of all people and serve as a helpful reminder of the value of remaining true to who we are. “Too Many Friends” is a sincere cry to embrace the beauty of being who we are, fully and shamelessly.
TYDE – Latte Partay
With their latest single, “Latte Partay,” Aussie based TYDE presents a delicious fusion of disco, funk, and rock music that defies expectations and elegantly embraces life’s ambiguities. This dynamic eight-piece band from Meanjin, fronted by the captivating Ella Belfanti, rejects convention and invites listeners to let loose and have some fun with them. They bring a new and fearless energy to the table. “Latte Partay” expresses TYDE’s contagious energy and unquestionable talent. Their resume encompasses support gigs for well-known acts like Harry James Angus, as well as concerts at YONDER Festival and Byron Bay Bluesfest.
“Latte Partay” is a declaration of optimistic nihilism that dances proudly in front of late-stage capitalism’s realities while looking it down with boldness. Amidst the mayhem, TYDE creates a festival-ready anthem that celebrates the small joys of life with snappy horns, groovy basslines, and rockin’ guitar solos. According to Ella Belfanti, “It pokes fun at the generation wars, laughs through the helpless feeling many young people know all too well with our leaders’ inaction across a long list of world issues, and at the end of the day comes back to what’s truly important: caffeine and sharing the love with your mates”. Prepare to join the “Latte Partay” by grabbing your dancing shoes – TYDE is here to ensure that the good times continue, one irresistible groove at a time.
Vintz Desert – Underscore
Vintz Desert’s “Underscore” is an engaging indie-folk wonder that explores the depths of self-comparison and introspectin. With influences from musicians such as Novo Amor, Lissom, and Lowswimmer, Vintz Desert creates a lighthearted, yet moving ambience which grabs listeners’ attention from the very first note. The artist compares their own personality to that of a carefree individual in the song’s introspective lyrics, which address the tendency to compare oneself adversely to others. This reveals a raw vulnerability that connects with sincerity.
“Underscore” is a tantalising peek into Vintz Desert’s soulful musical universe and is part of a larger EP that will be released in May. Vintz Desert expresses himself by crafting storylines that touch on issues of love, mental health, and the human condition through emotional storytelling and soulful acoustic ballads.
Maggie Ries – Pretty
With her debut single, “Pretty,” Maggie Ries bursts onto the music stage, paving the way for the release of her much awaited EP in 2024. This edgy pop anthem challenges society’s strict standards of beauty and self-worth. Maggie bravely addresses the negative impacts of unattainable beauty standards with her upbeat voice and catchy melodies that stick in your head. She draws from her own experiences to convey a message of empowerment and self-acceptance.
Maggie’s music is profound and approachable, evoking deep discussions about what true beauty is. It has hints of Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. Maggie urges everyone to discover the beauty within themselves by embracing originality and rejecting social constraints through her insightful lyrics and self-awareness.
Shawn William Clarke – My Key Light (Quiet Company)
The anticipation for Shawn William Clarke’s new album “Softer Scissors” is high with his latest single “My Key Light (Quiet Company)”, which sets the tone for an immersive musical journey. Shawn is an experienced storyteller who incorporates complex tales into the fabric of his indie folk music to transport listeners to a place where creativity and reflection coexist. The song offers a taste of the album’s varied tonal palette, drawing inspiration from the finger-picked folk of the ’60s to Canadian rock icons Sloan and Hayden.
In this track, Shawn expertly combines a warm, expansive sound that envelops listeners in a cocoon of soft melodies with introspective lyricism. The song exudes a sense of collaborative imagination and shared experience, having been painstakingly recorded at Currie’s Music in Gravenhurst, Ontario, with a lineup of renowned Canadian musicians that includes David Gluck and Graydon James. This song will draw listeners in with its rich instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics, leading them to eagerly await the release of the entire album.
MICHA – One Call Away
The latest track from MICHA, “One Call Away,” exhibits the incredible versatility and intriguing presence of the Dutch sensation that has been enchanting audiences all across the globe. MICHA’s musical career is soaring to new heights with a jam-packed schedule of 40 gigs in only three months, ranging from cosy living room gatherings to full clubs. “One Call Away” not only exemplifies his ability to fascinate with just a guitar and his soulful vocals, but it also shows off his talent for writing catchy dance songs that grab listeners and leave them wanting more.
With his welcoming and memorable vocals, MICHA explores the intricacies of human connection in “One Call Away,” vividly capturing longing and desire. The song invites listeners to lose themselves in the narrative as it moves fluidly between full-band pop sections and percussive guitar-driven verses. MICHA’s musical style is both engaging and eclectic, with influences spanning from Jon Bellion to Chet Baker. The songs are genuine and well-written, with a strong sense of authenticity.
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.