Interviews

Tune in to this edition of The Breakdown as DJ Manchild is joined by the living legends of Zambia’s 1970s underground music scene: WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc). Blending psychedelic rock, funk, and Afrobeat rhythms, their new album ‘SOGOLO’ is laden with powerful messages of hope, and even more powerful riffs. True custodians of the Zamrock sound, their performance at Town Folk Festival this weekend is one not to be missed!

Joining Fiesta Jazz from the motherland of Flamenco this month is Jorge Pardo. He's played with many musical legends, including Paco de Lucia, and jazz legend Chick Corea, whose compositions 'Spain', '500 Miles High', and 'Windows' are now considered jazz standards. In 2013, Jorge won an award for Best European Jazz Musician by the French Jazz Academy in Paris as a tribute to his expertise. Tune in to hear about his show at Bird’s Basement on November 20 and 21.

Equally fluent in jazz, classical and Latin music, Nestor Torres’ rhythmic and melodious flute sound sets him apart in a class all by itself. His career spans over 35 years and includes 18 Cds, 4 Latin Grammy nominations, 1 Latin Grammy Award and a Grammy nomination, as well as collaborations with the likes of Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Dave Mathews, Gloria Estefan, and performances with, among others, The New World, Cleveland and Singapore Symphonies. Tune in as Saúl catches up with Nestor.

Regarded as the 'Hendrix of the kora', Seckou Keita is revered as one of the world's great instrumentalists. Ahead of a special show at Memo Music Hall, Keita swung by PBS to play an exclusive in-studio set, and to have a chat to Stani about his career and his exploration of the music of southern Senegal.

In this edition of Stars In The Static, Greg Sher catches up with Tamara Murphy to talk about her project, Spirograph Studies. After a 4 year wait between albums, Spirograph Studies are set to release 'Melody Driver', a record that pushes their hypnotic, textural approach to improvisation into new directions, textures, and dreamscapes. Tune in to hear about their album launch on November 18 at the Jazzlab.

World-renowned Australian composer, performer, and academic, Professor Cat Hope will be joining Ian in the studio to talk about her gripping art-music work, ‘Speechless’, newly released on CD and Bandcamp. ‘Speechless’ brings forth the voices of refugees from around the world. Cat is especially known for her work with groundbreaking animated graphic scores, bass drones, and new and often rebellious notions of where music is placed and how it can speak to us both artistically and culturally.

IKSRE, which stands for “I Keep Seeing Rainbows Everywhere” is the project of vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and sound healer, Phoebe Dubar. Written, recorded and produced in a solar powered caravan during an epic, 20,000km road trip to some of the wildest, most remote places in Australia, IKSRE’s new album ‘expansion a (south)’ is set for release this November. Tune in to Deeep Space for an ambient, soul-healing live performance from IKSRE.

Hailing from Albany, Western Australia, Carla Geneve has just released her new album ‘Don’t Be Afraid.’ A collection of songs with raw honesty, unfiltered and luminous in its depth, the tracks expose the ache of lived experience, and the quiet force of survival. Inspired by Seamus Heaney’s final words, it is a meditation on fear, compassion, and empathy, brought to life on a secondhand piano. Tune in to Homebrew as Brooke is joined by Carla for a stripped-back, live in-studio performance.

'Milk Thistle Salmon Blush', a psychedelically minimal spectacle and the eighth release from Melbourne/Berlin artist Gregor, came out last month. The new record interweaves disparate elements and double meanings that coalesce into a cohesive whole, exploring themes of preoccupation, communication, fear, temptation, and yearning. Gregor joins Claire Dickson on The Breakfast Spread to chat about the new album - tune in to hear a selection of tracks that he's brought in to share with Claire.

Tune in to Dounya this Tuesday for an interview with Syrian / Lebanese DJ and producer, Luqman. Creator of the party series 'Club Unity' and radio host on MainFM and AREA3000, listen in to hear an upbeat guest mix from the Naarm/Melbourne based DJ.

Local band Flitcraft have returned with their new album 'Transmission Echo’, and it's filled with heavy melodic rock like 70’s Priest or Scorpions, but also quirky and modern, giving it a progressive flair that somehow the term 'progressive metal’ doesn’t quite fit. Tune in to Burning Bitumen as Kene and Leah catch up with the band about their new record, along with their upcoming show at Bergy Bandroom on November 29.

For the first time, Nordic folk-rock act Kalandra will be coming to Australia for their debut tour across the country. Spearheaded by four Norwegian and Swedish musicians, Kalandra have captivated the world with their unique blend of melancholic Nordic folk, gritty guitars and ethereal melodies. Tune in to Burning Bitumen to hear about Kalandra’s second album 'A Frame of Mind’, which showcases their evolution of songwriting, exploring belonging, memory and resilience.

The ninth album 'Flowers', from metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada marks the beginning of an epic new chapter for the group. They’ve just spent the summer playing some of the biggest shows of their career, performing in amphitheaters across the globe, and their single 'For You' is the band’s first-ever track to chart on both the Mediabase and Billboard Active Rock charts in the US. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus to hear Ryan Evans chat with the band’s vocalist, Mike Hranica.

Drummer and tech visionary Barra for local band DEADSKIN drops in to Tyrannocoreus to hang out with Ryan Evans. With an eerie brand of metalcore that expels haunting lyrics with a soundtrack to match - tune in to hear about DEADSKIN's new singles 'Seeing Things' and 'Peeling Skin', along with their recent live shows and plans for the new year. 

Joining Milo on The Breakfast Spread for an acoustic, in-studio performance is Palm Springs - the outsider folk identity of Erica Dunn. Born out of a compulsion to write sparse, intimate verse, Palm Springs has been a cornerstone of Dunn’s songwriting that sits in a separate interior back room from her other creative outputs (Tropical Fuck Storm, MOD CON, Fiancée, Harmony et al). Tune in to hear about her new album 'Turning Yr Back On The Dolphin'.

Joining Tom on Jumpin' The Blues this week is Steve Purcell from Belmar Records. Specialising in original roots, blues, jazz, and soul recordings, Belmar Records aims to introduce music lovers around the world to some of the incredible musical talent Melbourne has to offer, one track at a time. Tune in to hear about a brand new Belmar Records release; a limited edition vinyl and CD - 'The Jumpin' the Blues Allstars Live on the Radio Vol.1’.

Award-winning Tamil-Australian artist Wild Gloriosa crafts music rooted in self-love, identity, and community, resonating with audiences through its honesty and depth. Having graced major stages including Woodford Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, and Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Wild Gloriosa will be performing at Strawberry Fields this month. Joining Milo for a round of Musical Chairs, tune in to hear her selection of tunes for this Thursday morning.

The Port Fairy Folk Festival has expanded its line-up, with more artists joining the seaside celebration taking place from March 6 - 9. From its humble beginnings in 1977, the festival celebrates its 49th year in 2026, featuring a huge multi-venue main arena with four stages, family-friendly entertainment, excellent food, and more. Director Justin Rudge joins Lauren Plant, tune in to hear him discuss some of the artists to watch in the global folk scene.

Written largely on autoharp, local singer/songwriter Georgia Knight has announced the release of her much anticipated debut album, 'Beanpole'. The album weaves moody dark-pop with trip-hop pulses and synth-washed layers, unfolding into an avant-garde landscape that coaxes listeners into a world of musically dark terrain and cinematic breadth. Listen in to Radio City as Georgia Knight brings in her autoharp for a special, intimate performance.

Off the back of the London album launch for 'The Second High', Liz Stringer is back on home soil for the 'To Survive Tour', a campaign that brings awareness to the housing crisis and raise much-needed funds for Australia’s most vulnerable. Audiences will be given the opportunity to donate their chosen amount to a local community support organisation using QR codes at each show, to which Liz will also donate personally. Tune in to Radio City as Crispi catches up with Liz about this tour. 

On November 22, Alison Ferrier and the Upshots and Tanya-Lee Davies and her band will each launch a new single into the atmosphere at the Lomond Hotel. Singer-songwriter Tanya-Lee Davies is a heart-seeking missile, specialising in dreamy pop country psychedelic folk sounds, and Alison Ferrier is a country punk, rock and blues artist, with a dash of double denim '70s sweetness. Tune in to hear Ernie catch up with them before the show that weekend.

Tune in to Fang It! to hear Ruari catch up with Toody Cole and Her Band, the co-founder and mainstay of iconic Oregon group Dead Moon and the godmother of raw DIY rock 'n' roll. Returning to Australia for the first time fronting her own band, after three decades of performances here with Dead Moon, Pierced Arrows, and as a duo with her late, great husband Fred Cole, tune in to hear an exclusive Studio 5 Live performance, the day before Toody Cole's show at The Tote on November 21.

Tune in to the Ports Of Paradise to hear a live performance from the electrifying ensemble, Johnny Fuego and The Heat. Featuring the powerhouse vocals of Loretta Miller, the 9-piece will share with Palmtree Paddy their unmistakable swagger of the 007 theme to Shirley Bassey’s 'Goldfinger', Tom Jones’ 'Thunderball', and deep-cut gems from Bond’s legendary back catalogue, ahead of their show at The Night Cat that night.

'Mango' is the new LP from local producer, Jacky Winter. A sideways breakbeat record, Winter works sample heavy MPC jams into classic song form, where melody is King. Joining Richie 1250 on Stone Love, tune in to hear about Jacky Winter’s LP launch party at The Railway Hotel Ballroom on November 29, with guests Stefan Blair (Good Morning) and vinyl DJ's Stuckey (Surprise Chef) and Lady Love Potion.

With vivid lyricism and a voice that soars with a disarmingly honesty, folk artist Leah Senior returns with her new single ‘People Pleaser’. Written during an online workshop with Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief), the song is a call to step away from external pressures and noise, to come back to your own small world. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread as Claire Dickson is joined by Leah Senior for an intimate, acoustic performance, and to hear about Leah's upcoming new album.

One of Australia's longest-running black metal bands, Pestilential Shadows have been building a towering canon of work since 2003. Whereas many of their native land's extreme metal exports either tend toward the chaotic or too clean, the shadowy collective led by founding vocalist / guitarist Balam consistently create compelling swathes of drama and darkness, all-enveloping emotion and regal-yet-gritty grandeur. Tune in to Burning Bitumen to hear about their new album ‘Wretch’.

Mork was created by Thomas Eriksen in the town of Halden in Norway during 2004. Both then and now, the band functions as a one-man-band, much like many others within the black metal-genre. Primarily a side-project for Eriksen from the inception until the debut album was made in 2013, Mork are coming over to Australia next year for a nationwide tour. Burning Bitumen catch up with Thomas Eriksen, tune in to hear about Mork's show in Melbourne on January 22 at Central Club.

Local nu-metal band Bad Juju have just released their new EP, 'Simulacra'. Blending gritty alt-rock with raw emotional intensity, guitarist Abe Miller joins Ryan Evans on Tyrannocoreus to chat about the band’s latest release. Tune in to hear why Bad Juju shifted their sound from emo to nu-metal, and what it was like to work with Sam Bassal from nu-metal band Ocean Grove.

Jesse Barr, the vocalist for local heavy hitters Hate Complex will be joining Ryan on Tyrannocoreus. Having just released their new single ‘SILENCE’, tune in to hear Hate Complex's upcoming debut album ‘DISSONANCE’, and what we can expect to see from the band in the not too distant future.

Local singer-songwriter Charlotte Le Lievre returns with 'Tamworth Lights', a deeply personal and moving new single. Following on from the success of her debut album, 'Songs from the Barrier Line' - 'Tamworth Lights’ marks the first release from Charlotte’s forthcoming sophomore album, 'Grief Knows No Borders', due in Spring 2026. Tune in to 5ft High and Rising to hear about her upcoming show at Cactus Room on December 3.

On Roots of Rhythm this December 3, Helen Jenning will interview Nigel Bourn from Adelaide based band The Honey Badgers. Having placed sixth in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2023, their debut album, ‘Shakin’ peaked at #1 on the ABARAC charts. Tune in to hear about this blues, soul and funk band’s upcoming tour across Victoria.

Mornington Peninsula songwriter Emily Jane Pritchard is set to release her debut EP, 'Never Ending Holiday', launching the new record at the Wesley Anne on December 6. The four-track collection of guitar-driven indie-folk features songs straight from the heart, decorated with touches of soul and pop, delivered with a voice that drifts seamlessly between heart-achingly sweet and ruggedly raw. Bringing her guitar into Down By The River, tune in to hear Emily perform a few live songs.

Local power-pop group Icecream Hands have emerged from the depths of winter with a very special gift – a new album, 'Giant Fox Pineapple Tree'. This year’s traditional pre-Christmas Icecream Hands show will become a full-blown album launch celebrating the release of their eighth record. Charles Jenkins and Doug Lee Robertson join Crispi on Radio City to chat about their new album that’s brimming with pop-rock melodies, tune in to hear about their Northcote Social Club show on December 20.

Local post-punk band screensaver has just launched their third album ‘Three Lens Approach’, and they're coming in to Junkyard to chat with Michael Mulholland about the record. Taking cues from the late 70’s and early 80’s, screensaver’s new album is propelled forward by a more than danceable rhythm section, weaving through polyrhythms of classic synth sounds and frenetic guitars. Listen in to hear how the new record builds on its predecessors.