Interviews

On this week's rotation of 'Musical Chairs', Naarm-based Balinese community orchestra Gamelan DanAnda (GDA) enters the studio. GDA is dedicated to increasing awareness of the unique features of Balinese Gamelan music, for audiences to enjoy, performers to understand, and composers to be inspired. Can't tune in? No worries – the Gamelan music collective is set to perform at Sunday Sounds: Flight 1067 to Africa and Global Village LIVE at Kingston City Hall on Sunday, March 23. Mark your calendars!

Known for his masterful banjo playing, Old Man Luedecke is one of Canada’s best-loved and most intriguing roots singer-songwriters. With a storyteller’s heart, his narrative-driven songs are playful, coy, and soul-warming, appealing to anyone looking for new growth from old roots. Coming into Southern Style to play an intimate live set, tune in to hear about his Australian tour and Melbourne show at Northcote Social Club on March 19.

Nestled in the Dandenong Ranges, the Open Studios program is a cultural event that began as an idea to share the creativity of the hills with the wider community. Now in its 22nd year, all are welcome to explore the artists' inner sanctum on March 22-23 and 29-30. Singer-songwriter, graphic designer, and visual artist Tracey Roberts catches up with Helen - tune in to hear more about this vibrant event.

Legendary Naarm 5-piece Behind Crimson Eyes has announced their final body of work and subsequent farewell tour, following the band's decision to hang up their instruments after 20+ years in the game. Vocalist Joshy Stuart has a chat with Ryan about the band's wild history and why they've decided to end Behind Crimson Eyes. Tune in to Tyrannosaurus to hear about their final EP ‘An Exodus Of Eden’.

Colorado melodic technical death metal band Allegaeon has released their seventh studio album 'The Ossuary Lens', the first album since 2015 to feature original vocalist Ezra Haynes. Having rejoined the band after a sabbatical of seven years, Ezra Haynes catches up with Ryan. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus to hear the band's hectic plans for 2025.

Following up their iconic thrash release 'Dead End Destiny', Adelaide band Hidden Intent has just released their heaviest and most thought-provoking album 'Terrorform'. Diving deep into the human psyche, challenging warped thinking, inherited prejudices, and self-imposed limitations, the band will be play at Northcote Social Club on April 5. Chatting about the new album and the songwriting process, tune in to Burning Bitumen as Kene and Leah Noir catch up with drummer Pauly.

On March 22, The Mill Brewery will celebrate their 8th birthday, putting on an evening of extreme metal, industrial noise, karaoke, at their new venue, The Bendigo Hotel. On the lineup is one of Melbourne's most revered black metal acts, Kilat, whose sound draws from contemporary raw black metal artists, as well as Nusantara and ancient Javanese imagery, script, and traditions. Ben and Karina drop in to Burning Bitumen to chat about the big night, tune in to hear more about the festivities.

Known for their weighty combination of post-metal and doom, shot through with influences from Eastern modal music traditions, local band Black Aleph has a borderline spiritual quality to their music, which comes from the unique instrumentation of guitar, cello, and Iranian daf drum. Chris chats with Lachlan from the band about Black Aleph's recent album 'Apsides', tune in to hear more about their show coming up at Shotkickers on March 22.

A former pro snowboarder reborn as a nomadic psych-pop prophet, Hawaii musician Gus Englehorn has lived a rollercoaster life that reads like one of the fantastical fables that fill his songbook. His recent record 'The Hornbook' magically transmutes the entire history of 20th-century rock 'n' roll into an alien transmission from the future. Claire Stuchbery catches up with Gus Englehorn on Firewater - tune in to hear more about the new album.

Coming into Mystic Brew for a Studio 5 Live session is the instrumental, cosmic dance outfit Intermood. Weaving between instrumental dream odysseys, club ravers, and feel-good bops, their EP 'Casuarina' is like dystopian waiting room music, evoking contrasting and varying moods. With touches of disco, psychedelia, and jazz, tune in to hear the band live, followed by a catch up with Mike Gurrieri about their new release.

'Exotic Illusions' - the debut album from D.D Mirage is a cosmopolitan love letter to Italo disco, Neapolitan funk, Nigerian boogie, cosmic house and lovers' rock sounds that have inspired the Sydney-based duo since this project began. Having first played music together during the mid-2010s in the indie-psych bands King Colour and SCK CHX, they take their musical relationship to new heights with this album. Tune in to Mystic Brew as the duo stop by for a special guest mix with Mike Gurrieri.

For over 10 years, Anti Fade Records has hosted Djilang’s famed 'Jerkfest' each summer - a day of alternative music at Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong. This year, the lineup features The UV Race, The Green Child, Guitar Wolf (JP), Bananagun, and Wrong Way Up, just to name a few. Festival organiser Billy Gardner joins Claire on The Breakfast Spread—tune in from 8am to hear what we can expect the day to sound like.

Delivering an unforgettable blend of drum and bass, baritone sax, noise punk, and warped electronics, local band Boggle is gearing up for their debut album release at the end of the year. Kicking things off by launching their new single 'The Jig Is Up' at The Bergy Band Room on March 28, tune in to Homebrew as Brooke catches up with the band about their new music and playing at the last Meadow music festival on March 21 - 23.

A sixth-generation fiddle player and bilingual singer from Cork, Ireland, Clare Sands weaves traditional Irish roots with contemporary sounds and influences, embodying a fearless, warrior-like spirit. Catch her channeling the music of her ancestors at the Gasometer Hotel on March 26, while performing her new EP 'Gormacha' [pronounced GUR-MA-KA]. Tune in to Come Together to hear Ajak Kwai check in with Clare Sands while on her Australian tour.

Known for his eclectic and genre-defying work, Barry Adamson is returning to Australia for a highly anticipated tour following the release of his tenth album, 'Cut to Black'. Having made his mark as the bass player for the British punk band Magazine and a key figure in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Barry will be playing at the Corner Hotel on March 21. Tune in to Black Wax as Adam Rudegeair chats with Barry about his latest works.

Embracing the five elements' eco-cosmological roots and their modern metaphorical potency, pianist and composer Joel Trigg presents a new suite of music which, in the spirit of holistic wellbeing coach Carey Davidson, is designed to enrich our self-understanding, enhance empathy, and soothe the anxious soul. Performing his new work 'The Five Elements' at the Melbourne Recital Centre on March 21, tune in to Black Wax to hear Adam catch up with Joel about this upcoming solo piano performance.

On March 22, local event 'Warm Mids Afternoon' invites people to come and spend the whole afternoon at the glorious Abbotsford Convent, with a mini festival celebrating beautiful, dreamy music. Featuring solo and improvised performances, IKSRE, Zoltan Fecso, and Clariloops drop by Deeep Space to play an improvised session for Llyod Briggs. Tune in to hear the magic.

In a genre dominated by male gunslingers and antiheroes, The Counterfeit is breaking new ground with their electrifying debut original, 'Hurricane Lilah', featuring the spellbinding voice of Freya Josephine Hollick. To celebrate this new release, the normally 10-piece band will play an acoustic Monday session on The Breakfast Spread with five members from band. Tune in to hear Claire chat with them about their upcoming third album, 'Violent Night on Prairie', along with some live tunes.

Making her debut in Australia this March is New York-born, Tamil Nadu-raised singer and transdisciplinarian Ganavya. Wielding a voice that's equal parts lullaby and lightning bolt, and drawing from a deep well of spiritual blueprints passed down through generations, she brings her beautiful music to life at Hamner Hall on March 14 and 15, followed by The Jazzlab on March 16. Ahead of her Melbourne shows, Ganavya stops by Tiger Beats Elephant Grooves to share her musical journey with Pradip.

Berlin-based Syrian DJ Zeynep is a magnetic force, with a captivating ability to shapeshift genres, creating a sound that is a luscious fusion of intoxicating rhythms and hypnotic beats. From underground raves to iconic club nights, she brings fierce energy to dancefloors worldwide, translating the invisible into a tangible vibe. Amidst her busy DJ schedule, she catches up with Penny on Passing Notes. Tune in to hear from the femme-forward, boundary-pushing DJ.