Interviews

Born in Japan and raised in Australia, OjiAji is a multifaceted artist whose music serves as a bridge between his dual identities and addresses the challenges of mental health within the context of his unique background. His 2021 album 'Irene' sold over 500 copies on vinyl, and was nominated for the 2022 Australian Music Prize. Stopping by Stone Love to play a couple of songs live to air, tune in to hear about his new album, which he'll be launching at the Railway Hotel on April 10.

Local singer-songwriter Kavisha Mazzella was born in the UK to Italian and Anglo-Burmese parents. She is about to launch her new album, 'There is a Field', recorded with Nicholas Lyon, and the title track is based on a Sufi poem by Rumi that she's set to music. Kavisha drops by the Global Village to chat with Roger about the album, tune in to hear some of her new music.

Joining Claire on The Breakfast Spread this Tuesday morning is Julia Mcfarlane and Thomas Kernot from Uriel's Bath (J Mcfarlanes Reality Guest/ Angel Wash). They just dropped their new, self-titled EP earlier this year, which splashes around with ambient, industrial and techno sounds. Bringing in a selection of tracks to share with Claire Dickson, tune in for a round of Musical Chairs.

Boasting a collection of high-calibre musicians with an impressive pedigree (The Cat Empire, The Badloves, Ajak Kwai), PSI PHI will be launching their debut album at Shotkickers on April 18. Drawing inspiration from the gatefold-era of 70s prog and psych rock hedonistic excess, PSI PHI evoke the gods and monsters of the golden age of rock with virtuosity and intensity. Members of the group stop by Pojama People, tune in to hear them chat with Chris Pearson about the upcoming show.

Honed by 57 years of experience playing local and international tours, having the honour of jamming onstage with the likes of Santana, Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple) and Ron Wood (Rolling Stones) to name a few, Kevin Borich is a force of musical nature. His latest album ‘Duets’, was met with rave reviews and shot swiftly to number one on the ARIA rock, blues and jazz charts. Ahead of his show at Memo Music Hall on April 16, Helen Jennings catches up with Kevin about his VIC and NSW tour. 

Composer, lyricist and writer behind 'STELLA: The Musical – the Miles Franklin story', Monique diMattina will be joining Helen Jennings on Roots of Rhythm to chat about her event at the Sorrento Writer's Festival, 'Words and Music: Let’s Sing! Why choirs matter'. As Ella Fitzgerald once said "The only thing better than singing is more singing" - Monique's session will be a celebration of words and music, happening on April 26 at Ellen Grant Hall. Tune in to hear more about the event.

Centred around the brother-sister partnership of Mira and Tori, Fade Evare rests on the push and pull of the siblings’ respective musical journeys, with Mira’s starry-eyed youthfulness playing off of Tori’s quietly assured and tasteful production. The tripwave trio have recently shared their new singles ‘Let It Go / Welcome Back' - the first release since their debut album. Tune in to hear about their show with Telenova at Forum Melbourne on May 2, and for a round of Musical Chairs with Milo.

This week on Down by the River PBS presents a special delayed broadcast from the 2026 Port Fairy Folk Festival. Join Lauren on stage for live sets and interviews from Irish Mythen (pictured), Svavar Knútur and Charley Castle and the Boys in the Well. Re-live the magic of this concert and feel the energy of this unique live radio event.

Fresh off the release of their new album 'Straight Line Was A Lie', Aotearoa/ New Zealand’s quartet The Beths are returning to Melbourne on April 25 for a show at the Forum. Across ten tracks, songwriter Elizabeth Stokes explores roundabout progress, mental health battles, and fraught family ties with lyrics that are both deeply personal and universally relatable. Ahead of their Australian tour, Crispi catches up with the band about the new record.

Neo garage femme rock band Girl Monstar are back with a bangin’ new collection of songs. Having shared stages with The Ramones, The Buzzcocks, Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop and more, the group split in 1993, but the OG members of Sherry Rich, Anne McCue, Susan Shaw and Janene Abbott have reunited. Crispi catches up with Sherry from the local band, tune in to hear about their new record ‘GRRRR!! The Album’.

Three respected and influential singer-songwriters - Sara Storer, Shane Howard and Shane Nicholson - will join forces in an extraordinary live collaboration, celebrating the craft, power and legacy of Australian songwriting at MEMO Music Hall on May 14. This event will bring together three distinct voices whose songs have shaped the nation’s cultural landscape across generations. The two Shane's join Ernie, tune in to hear an intimate live performance from them.

Coming on to Swinging Doors to perform a couple of live songs for Ernie is US musician Mike Frazier. Hailing from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia but relocated to Seattle, Washington in 2022, Mike Frazier is carrying on the tradition of record craft with a focus on authentic songwriting and high-quality production. Tune in to hear what brings him to Naarm/Melbourne. 

Brutefest is returning to The Tote this April 25 for another day of heavy metal chaos across two stages. Headlined by US thrash band Warbringer and supported by many Australian band, including Ratlord, Circle of Blood, Monoliyth and Virulent Invocation, Kene brings in Virulent Invocation to Burning Bitumen to chat about their Brutefest spot. Tune in to find out what time they'll be playing on the day. 

Joining Kene on Burning Bitumen this Thursday night is US metal guitarist Jack Owen, a founding member of Cannibal Corpse and part of Six Feet Under. Originally a side project formed by Chris Barnes with guitarist Allen West of Obituary, Six Feet Under has released 14 albums, and is listed by Nielsen Soundscan as the fourth-best-selling death metal act in the US. Tune in to hear what Jack Owen has been up to recently.

Vomitory was formed in 1989 by guitarist Urban Gustafsson, shortly after joined by drummer Tobias Gustafsson, during the emergence of the globally recognised Swedish death metal scene. Building on their momentum, the band announces their 10th album, 'In Death Throes'. Recorded at Leon Music Studios and Goff Studios with producer Rikard Löfgren, the album cranks up the intensity while featuring the first new line-up in 21 years. Kene catches up with drummer Tobias Gustafsson about the new record.

On April 14 at The Retreat Hotel, Robert Bundle (Songlines), Leila Gurruwiwi (Agency Projects, 3KND), Fred Gesha (Festival Producer at City of Port Phillip) and Paul Gorrie (DJ PGZ) will explore how First Nations artists are creating spaces where wellbeing, cultural safety, and artistic integrity coexist. Local DJ PGZ joins Edd Fisher for a guest mix and to talk about this event, tune in to learn more about Yarning Strong - a panel event presented in partnership with Blak Stage.

Formed in Santiniketan, West Bengal, in 2009, The Three Seas grew out of an all-night jam between Australian saxophonist Matt Keegan and local musicians Raju Das Baul and Deo Ashis Mothey, alongside Kolkata-based drummer Gaurab 'Gaboo' Chatterjee. Joining Pradip on Tiger Beats Elephant Grooves, tune in to hear about their new album 'Antahkarana', a luminous meeting of Baul mysticism, Himalayan folk, rock and dub, which they'll be performing at Jazz Lab on April 11. 

Womaloya is an international musical collaboration between five female artists from the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific. Five artists from Réunion Island and Australia create new music together for the first time, blending the traditional Maloya of Réunion Island with contemporary Australian sounds. Tune in to Flight 1067 to Africa for an intimate live performance and interview with this remarkable collective of musicians.

Local musicians Patrick Ryan (Cantrips) and Lachlan Stuckey (Surprise Chef) have teamed up to form the new project Blademasters. Their debut release 'King’s Knight' and 'Live By The Blade' features delicate acoustic guitar arrangements in unison, set against a dramatic rhythm section, which is inspired by David Axelrod's bold cinematic jazz works of the 1960s and 1970s. Tune in to Mystic Brew as Mike Gurrieri catches up with the duo ahead of their launch at High Note on April 23.

Tyler Beam, vocalist for Pennsylvanian deathcore group The Last Ten Seconds Of Life will be joining Ryan on Tyrannocoreus this April 14. About to release their new album 'The Dead Ones' on April 17 via Metal Blade, Ryan and Tyler will be chatting about the deathcore scene in the American north-east. Tune in to hear about the band's touring cycle this year and goals to visit Australia soon.

Respected band of the eighties, The Eastern Dark will be catching up with Crispi on Radio City. With a mix of sixties-via-Ramones pop smarts, hard rock crunch and punkish energy, their slim output has produced a world-wide cult awareness. Listen in from 2pm to hear about the re-release of their 1985 singles 'Johnny & Dee Dee / Julie Is A Junkie' on Grown Up Wrong Records. 

London-based duo U-BEND bridge the gap between acid cougars and the namaste death cult. Their steady stream of sold out 12” releases are packed with low-tempo, off-kilter gems that can regularly be heard on 'Charlie Bones’ Do!!You!!!' radio, with previous broadcasts on U-BEND.com. Joining Milo on The Breakfast Spread to spin the Wheels Of Steel, tune in for some obscure pop gems, to churning house and acid work outs, and to hear about their show at Collingwood Basement on April 18.

Solo artist of the year from the 2021 'Australian Folk Music Awards', Ruth Hazleton is taking her darkfolk album 'Heronbones' to Brunswick Ballroom on Sunday, April 29. A collection of stories (both traditional and composed), Ruth draws from deep wells of folklore and trad song, reshaping these narratives through a darkfolk lens, blending electronic sampling and sound design with guitar and banjo. Ruth Hazleton joins Lauren Plant on the show to chat about the upcoming album launch.

From busking on Bourke street in 2014 to headlining sold out venues around the world, twin brothers Jack and Patrick Pierce aka the Pierce Brothers will be joining Lauren Plant on Down By The River. Having just played at Port Fairy Folk Festival, their album ‘Moonrise’ debuted at #1 on the ARIA album charts in December, and the indie folk outfit are taking their fourth studio record on tour this month. Tune in for a live set from the duo, and to hear about their show at 170 Russell on May 1.

A collective dedicated to all things deep, underground and psychedelic, Terri and Bec from Spincycle Records will be coming on to Audio Vitamins. They'll be sharing an insight into their local label, talking about their past releases and doing a special guest mix for Jonny Alexander. Tune in to hear about their upcoming party at Collingwood Basement on April 25.

The new album 'The Singer' from local artist DC Maxwell comes out on May 22, and Crispi will be catching up with DC on April 30 to chat about the new record. A sharp songwriter and a wild live performer, 'The Singer' is a collection of songs about singing and dancing while the foundations of the world tremble. Tune in to find out where you can next catch DC Maxwell perform live. 

After their crushing Studio 5 Live performance, Kene will be catching up with local band Carcinoid. Embodying suffocating doom elements while forging their sound by incorporating a plethora of sludge, punk and hardcore stylistic influences, Carcinoid is known for bringing intensity to all of their performances. They'll be playing at the Burning Bitumen Birthday Bonaza, '25 Years of Evil' show, tune in to hear about the celebrations going down on May 9 at the Bergy Bandroom.