Interviews

Renowned artist and master of mid-century aesthetics Josh Agle, better known as Shag, stops by the Ports of Paradise this Friday morning for a special chat about his upcoming exhibition at Outré Gallery on Smith Street in Fitzroy. Join Paddy and Shag for a proverbial cocktail of vibrant conversation and mid-century tunes, and to get a sneak peek into Shag's latest work!

The debut EP 'Reimagining' from live act, producer, and DJ Rita Bass is out now - and Miscellania is firing up the heaters for the release party on June 28, presented by Night Shop. True to its name, 'Reimagining' marks a reinvention of Rita Bass, embodying freedom, renewal, revival, and release. Tune in to Headhunters as Rita Bass joins Elle for a chat and a special guest mix.

Living legends of Zambia’s 1970s underground music scene WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) will be bringing their psychedelic rock, funk, and Afrobeat rhythms to Town Folk Festival this November 15. Their new album 'Sogolo' is out this month, and is laden with powerful messages of hope and even more powerful riffs. Tune in to Pojama People to hear this PBS exclusive interview with Chris Pearson.

Tune in to The Modernist to hear Richard 'Cas' Castle catch up with Adelaide duo, Pascoe and Martin. They'll be discussing their debut 18-CD release 'Here Comes Everything', which features 18 single improvisations - each named after one of the 18 chapters of James Joyce’s 'Ulysses'. Listen in for their rich, playful, and virtuosic music.

GRAMMY-nominated and ARIA Award-winning electronic group Cut Copy are making their long-awaited return with their new single, 'Solid'. Carried by the choral mantra 'We’ll be solid,' the song was originally intended as an instrumental and serves as a nudge to keep going—even when life throws a few curveballs. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread to hear Milo catch up with the Melbourne-native group.

Naarm's Steve Ryan-Gledhill joins Helen on Roots of Rhythm to chat about his upcoming self-titled album, launching June 27 at George Lane in St Kilda. Blending heartfelt storytelling with country, blues and Americana, his music draws on years of lived experience. His latest release is a double A-side of upbeat break-up tunes—'End Of The Line' and 'It Happens Every Day'—delivering foot-stomping rhythms, rich horn riffs and timeless charm.

Burning B3 Trio is the spirited combination of Liam Kealy's Hammond b3 organ and Sammy Owen's Stratocaster, together with Tony Martin on drums. From blazing jump blues to sizzling slow blues and everything in-between, Owen and Kealy play a true "Hammond trio, traditional blues show" in every sense. Turn up the dial and settle in for an afternoon performance with all the hues of the rhythm and blues.

With poetic lyricism and intricate guitar work, the music of queer folk singer-songwriter Charlotte Ekkel explores cycles of love, loss, and change in parallel with nature. A conservation ecologist by training, Charlotte’s deep connection to the Aussie bush suffuses her music—nature is the grounding hum underlying every melody. Charlotte joins Lauren Plant on Down By The River, tune in to hear about her debut album 'Changing of the Seasons', and upcoming shows in July.

As part of Northcote Social Club's birthday blowout, Cheersquad Records & Tapes is taking over Wednesday nights from July 2 to August 27 with an eight-week residency stacked with familiar faces, label favourites, and local legends. Wally Kempton from Cheersquad Records & Tapes joins Crispi on Radio City to chat about the Wednesday residency - tune in to hear him celebrate the artists, crew, and crowds that have helped shape both Cheersquad and Northcote Social Club over the years.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Domini Forster will join Crispi to discuss her upcoming second solo album, 'The Lonely', out June 20. Known for her intricate song-stories and evocative voice—likened to Laura Marling and Joni Mitchell—Forster invites listeners into a dusk-lit, melancholic folk dream with this latest relase. Drawing on her work in music and mental health, the album explores themes of connection, disconnection, and the strength in vulnerability. Tune in for an intimate conversation.

Private Function drop into Junkyard, fresh off the release of their fourth album ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and deep into their chaotic national tour. Known for their unrelenting live shows and unmatched irreverence, the band is back with 'Animal'—a feral, riff-heavy single that doubles down on their heavier edge and snarling energy. Catch the mayhem when PF join Michael to talk wild gigs—including their upcoming show at Max Watts on June 27—electric chairs, escapee koalas, and their 19-track bonkers LP.

Fresh from their Canadian tour, ZÖJ visit Global Village to discuss their new album 'Give Water to Birds', created in collaboration with Brett Langsford. Gelareh Pour and Brian O'Dwyer will share insights into their musical journey, the concept of neo-Persian experimentalism, and details of their upcoming album launch. Tune in to the Global Village for a special live performance from ZÖJ and guest guitarist Brett Langsford, followed by a chat with Roger Holdsworth.

London-based multi-instrumentalist Tenderlonious and Naarm jazz-funk explorer Horatio Luna join Mike on Mystic Brew ahead of their appearance at The Night Cat for Jaubi x ON-LY, an evening of improvisation, fusion, and musical connection. Jaubi (pronounced Jaw-Bee) is the acclaimed instrumental quartet from Lahore, Pakistan, whose unique blend of spiritual jazz, Hindustani classical, and golden era hip hop has captivated global audiences.

Western Sydney metalcore outfit Elara join Ryan to chat about their crushing debut EP, building community through heavy music, and what’s on the horizon for the rest of 2025. Known for their raw energy and DIY spirit, Elara aren’t just playing shows—they’re creating space. Through their all-ages initiative YOUR LOCALS, Elara are helping revive a live scene in Western Eora that’s inclusive, youth-driven, and loud. Listen in to hear the band talk riffs and grassroots gigs on Tyrannocoreus.

Next on the Tyronocerus line-up is none other than Ben Weinman of the legendary US metalcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan. Tune in for a candid chat about the band’s long-awaited reunion with original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, their upcoming Australian tour in August, and what lies ahead for one of the most innovative and volatile forces in heavy music. Don’t miss Ben Weinman in conversation, reflecting on the past, present and future of a band whose energy knows no bounds.

Blood in the Champagne bring their brooding, beat-driven sound to The Revue with Kristen on July 2. The Naarm-based post-punk/dark wave outfit will spin tracks from their debut album and dive into the themes that drive their music—class consciousness, capitalist realism, queerness, climate chaos, political awakenings, and finding love in the rubble. Self-described as a band of rebels making musical art for social evolution, tune in for a conversation as expansive as their sound.

'Mountains Mountains Mountains' is the latest single from local artist Emily Ulman. It’s a track about beauty and rot, pleasure and grief - and how even the most pristine places carry traces of what came before. As Emily puts it: 'We live in the layers: in what is visible, what is hidden, and the quiet charge in between'. Tune in to find out when we can expect her new album.

Local Chilean-background singer-songwriter Vanessa Estrada visits the Global Village to discuss her debut EP, and its launch at Shotkickers on Sunday, July 11. Vanessa's music blends South American folk traditions with contemporary textures. This personal body of work tells Vanessa's story of migration, protest, missing home, and love. It speaks to different facets of Vanessa's identity and journey—as an artist, immigrant, and a woman navigating a complex world through music.

Jimmy Kyle of Naarm-based First Nations indie punk band Chasing Ghosts joins Ryan on Tyrannocoreus this NAIDOC Week. The pair chat about Chasing Ghosts’ powerful new album 'Therapy', the band’s vision for 2025 and beyond, and engage in an open-hearted discussion around the “Welcome to Country” debate. Produced by Stevie Knight and mixed by James Paul Wisner, 'Therapy' builds on the acclaim of their 'Homelands' EP with a sharp, hook-laden indie punk sound rooted in justice and cultural pride.

Jenny Mitchell joins Down By The River following ​the latest release of 'Forest House', out now. Blending folk, Americana and country with heartfelt songwriting and a strong sense of home, 'Forest House' has already been praised by Kasey Chambers as “everything I love about Jenny Mitchell” and dubbed “album of the year” by Beccy Cole. Tune in as Jenny chats about the new record, her tour with Kasey Chambers, and the impact she hopes this project will have both musically and beyond.

Eora's Bryan Estepa joins Crispi on Radio City, diving into his latest release 'I See It Now', out June 27 via Lilystars Records. With over two decades in the Australian independent music scene, Estepa has built a reputation for heartfelt songwriting and rich melodic craft. Across seven acclaimed studio albums and countless tours through Australia, Europe, the US, Japan and the Philippines, he’s quietly carved out a legacy as “one of Sydney’s best kept secrets.”

Professor Emeritus Michael Atherton AM joins Roger to discuss his newly released autobiography, ‘Never Miss a Beat’. An accomplished composer, writer, and educator from Sydney, Atherton has been a pioneering force in Australian inter- and cross-cultural music. From self-taught guitarist to founding member of seminal groups Sirocco and Southern Crossings, his work has shaped the sonic landscape of a grassroots multicultural music movement in the Naarm pub scene.

Fiery five-piece all-girl rockers Hot Machine join Chris on Pojama People ahead of Arockalypse Now, returning for its fourth year on August 2 at the Westernport Hotel, San Remo. Formed in 2023, the Naarm-based band burst onto the scene with their debut single ‘She’s on the Money’, and haven’t slowed down since—bringing their blazing rock and roll to stages across the country. Listen in as Hot Machine talk riffs, rebellion, and getting loud at one of Victoria’s wildest regional festivals.

Naarm punk-rock heavyweights Press Club join Claire on Firewater to talk all things ‘To All the Ones That I Love’ – their brave, energetic and emotionally charged fourth album, released May 2. Known for their electrifying live presence and DIY ethos, Press Club have spent the better part of a decade pushing boundaries in Australia’s punk scene. On their latest record, they fuse the raw intensity of their early work with a more mature, textured sound, showcasing Natalie Foster’s soaring vocals.

Pizza Death are crashing into Arockalypse Now with a live set that’s as greasy as it is gnarly. Hailing from Naarm, this cult thrash-punk crew serves up blistering crossover anthems about three things: pizza, death, and—you're on the money—death by pizza. Riding high on the global buzz of their sophomore record 'Reign of the Anticrust', Pizza Death has topped Coretex Records’ charts and left sold-out crowds sauced and stunned. Catch the most brutal dinner-and-a-show experience on August 2.

Naarm-based composer and guitarist Cam Butler sits down with Lyndelle on The Afterglow for a live in-studio performance and interview. Known for his genre-blending work with electric guitar and string instruments, Cam has played in bands like Silver Ray, Cam Butler & The Shadows Of Love, and The Coralinas. He visits the show fresh off the release of his most personal album yet, ‘Spirits Flying Home’—a solo electric guitar record marked by lush distortion, looping, and deep emotional resonance.

Australian blues and soul guitar icon Geoff Achison swings by Roots of Rhythm ahead of his 60th Birthday Gig at Memo Music Hall on August 29. Backed by his powerhouse band The Souldiggers, Geoff will celebrate his milestone with a night of blues, rock and soul, sharing the stage with genre-defying shredder Kathleen Halloran and blues master Shannon Bourne. Tune in for a chat about Geoff’s storied career, what fans can expect from this special gig, and why turning 60 is no reason to slow down.