The Aussie Come Up: Dive Into Australia’s Hidden Artist Gems

The magic of music allows us to be whisked away! It can transport you to experience new feelings, sensations, and places. You no longer have to board a plane or have a passport to experience the far-out corners of the world! It’s an occurrence that we’re used to, as many of our faves are over hundreds of thousands of miles away in places like Australia.

Yet, that doesn’t stop us from having them on repeat and planning a vacation to see them. And, of course, telling others how amazing they are! It’s only fair for us to follow through and share the latest music we’ve been jamming out to. Are you ready to dive in and get transported by talent? It’s time that we take you on an adventure and introduce you to a few of our favorite gems hidden in Australia.

We’re incredibly biased toward Australian music. We mean, look at us with 5 Seconds of Summer. But in our defense, that means we have impeccable taste in tunes. Many incredible acts reside within the Aussie landscape. Therefore we carefully curated a list and a playlist of who we considered the best of the best. These are artists that you want to get on your radar, follow, and become a fan of. Without a doubt, you’ll realize that’s the best decision you’ve made all day. We narrowed our long list of Aussies down to our top 5 and they don’t disappoint.

Fenn Wilson

Stumbling across this emerging artist out of Melbourne has been delightful. Fenn is, by all means, an incredible artist with sharp poetic lyricism that effortlessly captures any listener. The blend of his writing, musicianship, and powerful soul-filled voice gives you a musical experience like no other. It’s one that tells beautiful, heartfelt stories about love, loss, and more. Each song, from start to finish, delicately pulls you into the narrative along with him.

At the end of listening to Fenn’s music, you always have something to take away and remember. For example, ‘Turn The Leaf,’ is a sentimental letter with a gentle yet strong instrumental backing that captures the pain of love meshed with loss that will leave in your feelings. And to emphasize, that’s how you know this singer-songwriter has true talent. With talent like that, you certainly can’t miss out on it.

Recently, he had a gig back in Melbourne with his 10/10 band to kick off his return home after being away in the UK and Europe. A man who has great music and can put on a show? Love that! Obviously, Fenn Wilson, our new best friend, has earned a spot in who we “stan” list. 

Fenn’s albums, Ghost Heroin and Honey Dates Death / Ghazals are undeniably rich in goodies that you’ll find on them. You’ll especially want to check out ‘Dancing,’ ‘Love Again,’ ‘Eye On You,’ and ‘Ravens.’ With everything that we said about Fenn, we think that if you enjoy the likes of Hozier, Fenn Wilson is the ideal artist for you to stan too. Trust us with this: we’ve never steered you wrong before, so get behind this Australian artist!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FENN WILSON:
BANDCAMP | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

Friends of Friends

When you’re looking for music that blends modern rock with a mid-2010s alternative vibe, Friends of Friends is the artist for you. Friends of Friends is an emerging Indie Rock band from Brisbane that just took the stage at Spilt Milk. Performing at Spilt Milk is a huge deal for this rising band. On the same day as their stage performance, other Aussie acts we love, such as Peach PRC, Redhook, Ruel, and Ocean Alley, had their stages. This is explicitly a hallmark of their career that shows us their pathway to generating more visibility and success. 

It was no accident that we discovered Friends of Friends, and they stood out to us. Their sound will take you back to Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy meets AM by the Arctic Monkeys. When you picture edgy, emotional, and cutting-edge lyrics that make up the alternative to the Indie-Rock genre with energetic instrumentals, we want you to imagine Friends of Friends. Like in ‘Human,‘ their unique hazy sound and storytelling style will pull you in. The narrative of ‘Human’ about trying to love through stumbling through heartache that pulls you down more than gravity with their powerful backtracking and unapologetically singing without masking their accents is appealing. 

Friends of Friends is undoubtedly for people who love the Arctic Monkeys and Hot Mulligan! Get lost in their guitar riffs, synths, and hard-hitting head-banging music. It’s time to grab your speakers and play ‘THE BENDS,’ ‘Morphine,’ and ‘Way Out.‘ You must get ahead of the curve with us by having Friends of Friends on your listening history. 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FRIENDS OF FRIENDS:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

Ocean Alley

If you’ve been on TikTok lately, their hit ‘Confidence‘ has taken a storm over the platform. And, rightfully so. The reggae-rock fusion band is groovy and addicting! ‘Confidence’ was released in 2018 on their album Chiaroscuro. A few years later, down the line, it is getting the attention it deserves. This one song going “viral” on social media has put more eyes on Ocean Alley. For us, and we are sure for you, the dreamy-wavey ‘Confidence’ has been our gateway to this Sydney-based band.

We ventured down their discography and, as a result, found ourselves completely absorbed. In particular, we couldn’t stop listening to their latest album, Low Altitude Living. It’s a rad surf-rock album perfect for envisioning yourself on a beach. Or for when you’re lying out in the sun. Regardless of what scenario you’re in or imagining, Ocean Alley is an Australian artist that will have you swaying to their melodic presence. You play Ocean Alley when you need a bit of energy, a dance, a feeling of warmth, or want to feel like a hottie. Or, truly, all of the above. 

Ocean Alley just played at Spilt Milk, showcasing their abilities to the masses. If you didn’t attend, no worries. You’re in luck, our friend! Ocean Alley announced on social media that they’ll be touring in North America and the UK next year. That means it’s your cue to join the Ocean Valley fan space. Start your journey with ‘Confidence,’ ‘Perfume,’ ‘Drinks And Cigars,’ and ‘Yellow Mellow.‘ 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OCEAN ALLEY:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys

Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys are why we’ve dipped our toes into alternative country. The band’s approach to their sound is a spunky mixture of Rock, Americana, and a pleasant 70s vibe reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. Additionally, Caitlin’s voice honing in on the beloved twang found in country makes their music alluring. Her vocals sell the woven tales of hope within heartache found in all areas of life. It’s the type of midnight completion of holding on to the light while attempting to hold space to feel what’s broken for it to pass. 

We will guide you into a full Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys immersion. Grab your headphones, then sit back and get cozy for these tunes. You’ll want to start with tracks ‘Rosie,’ ‘Outside Life,’ and ‘5 AM’ from their debut album, Late Night Essentials. Naturally, to continue enjoying the band’s ambiance, you’ll put on All Night Long next. 

All Night Long is Caitlin Harnett & The Boys’ most recent release and their second album. It’s an astonishing album we’ve been unable to stop listening to. We know you’ll be feeling the same way once you hear it. In particular, listen to ‘Even Cowgirls Cry,’ ‘Only Dreaming,’ and ‘Living With Yourself’ and you’ll understand how we feel. We can’t deny that this West Sydney band is an exciting feat to keep up with. Join us on the Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys party train! 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CAITLIN HARNETT & THE PONY BOYS:
 FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

Gretta Ray

It’s the honey-blonde Australian artist that we have grown to love! The Indie-Pop singer from Melbourne is a vibrant presence that feels like a friend. It might be because she uses social media to create meaningful connections with her fans. We like to think it’s that because her songs feel like conversations with a close friend. Similarly to her music industry bestie, Maisie Peters, she creates pieces that capture the essence of being a woman in your 20s. 

The early 20s in womanhood take you on a windy path of discovering yourself, healing your inner teen, creating a new sense of gratitude, enriching your worth, and learning the shapes of love. Gretta brings a fun and energetic touch to her music and undeniably magnetic shows. You’ll know exactly what we mean if you’ve been fortunate enough to see Gretta Ray as a solo act or during her time with Maisie Peters. Everyone needs a new Indie-Pop star, and this rising one from Melby is the top choice. 

We got you covered on what you need to illuminate your music listening habits with Gretta. Our “make lemonade from” recommendations are ‘Don’t Date The Teenager,’ ‘Happenstance,’ ‘Positive Spin,’ ‘Love Me Right,’ and ‘Can’t Keep It Casual.’ Ultimately, any of these songs will hook you into Gretta Ray like we got hooked on her, too.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GRETTA RAY:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

From Australia To You With Love

To repeat what we said earlier, we severely narrowed down our list of all the Aussies we love! It was a hard decision to highlight these five uber-extraordinary musicians. Lucky for you, we have a little something extra for you! We couldn’t stop at 5, so you’ll find more jams from additional Australian artists within the playlist we made. If you enjoyed the talent acts mentioned above, you’ll enjoy Bones and Jones, Peach PRC, Shoe, David M. Western, Eat Your Heart Out, and Blusher. The additional artists are there for you to journey into so you can further your Australian music adventure.

Isn’t it fun to allow music to take you to new places? Building up our Australian repertoire has widened our listening palette markedly for the better. We are beyond excited to chat with you about this Aussie expedition! Grab some toast with Vegemite and head to our socials to expand the convo by telling us about your new Aussie faves. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter; don’t keep us waiting!