Interviews

Ricky McCandlish, vocalist for Naarm-based melodic hardcore band Saving Face, sits down for a chat with Ryan. The pair will discuss Saving Face's sophomore EP 'The View From Up There', the upcoming album launch on June 21 at the Bergy Bandroom, as well as the band's goals and ambitions for the rest of the 2025. For more on the event, including the slew of special guests, listen in to their conversation.

Annabel Blackman's bedroom pop project Solo Career has received high praise since the release of her first EP 'The Sentimentalist' in 2021, being named one of The Guardian's Best Australian Albums of 2021. Now, her second single, 'Spenda,' from her upcoming debut album is out, and she chats with Pete about this sly-synth-pop release. Tune in to Club It to Death to hear more about the new album, 'Interior Delirium', out Friday, July 11 via Dinosaur City.

Bringing a handpicked selection of tunes, including his own atmospheric art rock and playful arrangements, to Musical Chairs is Lewis Coleman. The Naarm/Melbourne-based artist will take his dynamic ensemble to The Tote on June 19 for an evening of hot, saturated fun; sweet, sincere silliness; and some damn good musicianship. Tune into The Breakfast Spread with Milo Eastwood to hear more about the show and the new music he'll be performing.

Singer-songwriter, Mel Parsons is returning to Australia this June, playing at Northcote Social Club on June 12. After a watershed year in 2024 with her album 'Sabotage', multi award-winning and 2025 Taite Prize finalist Mel Parsons brings a taste of things to come with her upbeat, introspective new single and video ‘Post High Slide’. Tune in to Down by The River to hear from the Aotearoa based artist, Mel Parsons.

Naarm's The Jimmy C—aka multi-instrumentalist Jamie Coghill—joins Crispi on Radio City to chat about his new album 'Refreshing', out June 13. A one-man band since 2005, Jamie has released nine albums, scored U.S. web series and horror films, and played drums in cult Aussie acts like Luxedo and The Devilrock Four. His music pays homage to 60s psych, power pop and cinematic flair yet is something else entirely. Tune in for the chat and a sneak peek into his quirky, sonic world.

On June 15, the Megahertz will go head-to-head with the rugged Rock Dogs in a battle for the Community Cup. Taking place at Victoria Park, the event will feature entertainment from a range of incredible acts, including Spiderbait and Frente! Ahead of their performances at the Reclink fundraiser, Crispi catches up with Spiderbait vocalist and bassist Janet English, as well as Angie Hart from Frente!

Dropping into Swinging Doors to play some live country tunes on his acoustic guitar is Tasmanian musician Van Walker. His latest album 'Healing Decent' was recorded in Canada and emerged from the strange and dark times of lockdown, exploring themes ranging from ruin and refuge to death and reanimation. Tune in for some hearty music from Van Walker, followed by an interview with Ernie.

Guy Blackman from Chapter Music drops by to celebrate the reissued release of 'Can't Stop It!', a homegrown collection of post-punk from 1978-82. This deluxe remastered compilation boasts six bonus tracks, pressed on black vinyl, as well as limited edition green and white. 'Can't Stop It!' documents a fantastically inventive and dynamic era, when Australian acts stepped out of the shadow of overseas influence and asserted their own musical identity. Tune in to hear more on this landmark era!

After 15 years in the game and over 60 vinyl releases - including several "001s" - Pugilist is excited to launch his own label: Ruff Kutz. With a focus on quality over quantity and no strict rules around sound or tempo, expect the unexpected from Pugilist. Bringing his techno influences to the Wheels of Steel this Friday, tune in for the latest beats from this local DJ and producer.

Instrumental group hailing from New York, The Budos Band, have released a new album featuring 11 sweaty, hard-hitting funk songs, like 'Escape from Ptenoda City,' alongside explorations of Turkish psych in 'Night Raid' and Zambian rock in the riff-heavy 'Overlander.' The album continues the stylistic evolution the group began with their bold 2014 release, 'Burnt Offering'. Tune in to The Breakdown to hear DJ Manchild chat with the band about their new album titled 'VII'.

Having gained international recognition for her fusion of indie, folk, and Americana - following early success as the writer and performer of the theme for the crime drama Wallander starring Kenneth Branagh - Emily Barker has returned home to Fremantle after 20 years living in the UK. Alongside Lachlan Bryan, Emily will perform songs from her latest album 'Fragile as Humans' at George Lane on June 19. Listen in to 5ft High and Rising to hear from this emotive storyteller.

Led by Guinean-Australian multi-instrumentalist Amadou Kalissa, 6-piece ensemble Mandeng Groove are releasing their debut LP 'Conakry'. Recorded out of the family-run studio in Conakry, Guinea, the album is an exciting collaboration that features traditional Manding music, performed by master musicians from Conakry, with the jazzy-funky flavours of the Melbourne-based group. Tune in to Flight 1067 to Africa to hear from the band, ahead of their performance at Northcote Social Club on June 20.

Indie-folk darlings Rowena Wise and Didirri are stopping by The Breakfast Spread for a special live performance of their latest release, 'No Cure for Love'. The single is raw and rapturous in theme, drawing on the pain and pitfalls of their eight-year relationship to craft a troubled ballad of real beauty, featuring sweeping melodies and harmonies that hold the listener in a vice. Tune in to hear about their upcoming Australian tour and show at Howler on July 19.

Aotearoa dream-pop quartet Phoebe Rings have just released their debut LP 'Aseurai' - a sonically luscious album, featuring warm synth textures, gentle wave-like sounds, and airy flute solos. Out now on Carpark Records, the band are about to embark on a world tour, starting in South Korea and Japan this month. Ahead of their shows, Brooke catches up with the band to talk about their new release. Tune in to find out when Phoebe Rings will next be playing in Australia.

This July 5, SPACEJUNK returns to The Old Bar to launch their COVID-era album 'JUNK TIME' - a record that's equal parts post-hardcore fury and burnout riffage. With support from action rockers Swedish Magazines, nostalgic indie rockers Assteroid, and garage rock supergroup The Nowa Nowas, it's set to be a night to remember. But first, the SPACEJUNK crew drops in to Pojama People to chat with Chris Pearson about the new album.

For the first time ever, UK thrash metal band Onslaught are set to hit Australia, celebrating four decades of fury since the release of their seminal debut Power From Hell. Fans can expect a series of bone-crushing shows featuring this iconic album played in full — and in album order — for the very first time… and the very last. Tune in to Burning Bitumen to hear Kene and Leah catch up with bassist Jeff Williams.

Titans of thrash metal, Testament, have delivered some of the greatest metal anthems of all time. Recently inducted into Decibel Magazine’s prestigious Hall of Fame - alongside legends like Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Motörhead - the USA group will return to Australian shores this month for the first time in a decade. Tune in to Burning Bitumen as Kene and Leah chat with founding member Eric Peterson about their upcoming show at Northcote Theatre on June 21.

From the bayous of Louisiana to the clubs of Europe, John Campbell lived the blues. Before his untimely death in 1993 at age 41, he turned down offers from legends like Albert King and Muddy Waters, and impressed the likes of Keith Richards. Tune in this Wordy-Gurdy for 'John Campbell: The Greatest Guitarist You’ve Never Heard Of', exploring his remarkable life and music, with tracks from his three albums and insights from 'John Campbell: Spirit of a Bluesman' by Harry Shapiro.

Blues artist Phil Manning is back for one show at Memo Music Hall on Saturday, July 5, joined by special guest Warren 'Pig' Morgan. Both were original founding members of the Australian blues band Chain, which formed in 1968. Tune in to Roots of Rhythm with Helen Jennings OAM to hear these two musicians unite before their show in St Kilda.

Yoav Landau and Sam Haft from Israeli-American electronic-rock duo The Living Tombstone land in the studio to chat with Ryan ahead of their Australian tour. The duo share insights from their new album 'Rust' and divulge their thoughts and feelings on internet culture — listen in to hear about their process and sound before The Living Tombstone's show at Max Watts on July 6.

Zac Bergholtz (vocals) and Patrick Haas (guitar) from deathcore metal band Zeolite enter Tryannocoreus airwaves to chat about their sophomore album 'L'Appel Du Vide', re-grounding the group after a major lineup change, and their plans for the rest of 2025. Having been handpicked for tours alongside some of metal’s biggest names, including The Black Dahlia Murder and At The Gates, the future looks bright for this Naarm outfit.

Legendary Naarm-based soul singer Tracey Miller joins Lyndelle to chat about her powerful new single 'Still Here', the final release from her long-awaited album 'Queen of the Creek', out June 12. With a career spanning four decades, Tracey’s voice has lit up stages from Harlem to Soweto, Tokyo to Fitzroy, forging deep connections through gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues. Tune in for the conversation ahead of her show at The Gem on June 20, where she’ll be joined by Nitida and DJ Miss Goldie.

Tune in to The Breakfast Spread on June 19 as we hear from Elise Peyronnet, Music Director of the local and adventurous Now or Never festival. PBS listeners will have an exclusive insight into the incredible artists featured in this year’s festival, which showcases art, ideas, sound, technology, and future thinking.

'Until June' is the second release from local pop artist effe. Co-written and produced with Joe Agius (Hatchie, RINSE), the track balances emotional vulnerability with layers of dreamy guitars, synths, and restrained percussion - capturing the ache of holding onto something that's already slipping away. Milo catches up with effe ahead of the release show at Bergy Bandroom on June 27, with support from artist Flossy and Second Skin. Tune in to hear effe play Musical Chairs.

On June 19, Little Faiths will launch their long-awaited, self-titled debut album upstairs at The Tote. A collection of songs Jon and Doug had been honing over several years, driving, walking, and wandering near and far, the bones of the album were recorded in a single day at Head Gap Studio. Tune in to Radio City as Crispi catches up with Jon and Doug on the day of the big show.

'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.

Passing through Swinging Doors is Naarm's own Kyle Brew, bringing his rich, soul-soaked voice and acoustic cuts from his debut album 'Life and Living'. The alt-country/folk artist has been quietly carving out a name for himself with a string of raw, self-produced EPs—and now, after years of honing his craft, Brew is ready to launch his first full-length record at The Cactus Room on June 21. Catch the chat and a few live tunes as Kyle joins Ernie in the studio.

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.

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 local album launch. Gelareh, alongside long-time collaborator Brian, continue to push the boundaries of contemporary music, fusing Persian and Australian sound worlds in bold, avant-garde ways.

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.