Interviews

Touring for the fourth time in 4 years, US industrial/noise/metal band Health are returning to Australia. This week on Burning Bitumen vocalist Jake Duzsik talks to Kene about their many releases and collaborations, as well as a few insights into this next run of shows.

Featuring members of Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem and Arcturus, Norgwegian industrial symphonic black metallers The Kovenant have recently announced their first Australian Tour. This week on Burning Bitumen Kene catches up with Nagash from the band to learn a little more about how the band came together, and what they have planned for Australia.

Ahead of the Carcinoid, Reekmind and Aglo launch show at The Bendigo Hotel on August 8, JRoc catches up with Aaron from Aglo, along with Dane from Sydney based group Reekmind. Tune in to The Doom Saloon to hear about Reekmind’s album release 'Glints from the Crematorium’, and what the death/ doom group Aglo have in store for the show on Saturday.

For 15 years, Art As Catharsis has championed experimental sounds from the Australian underground: music that pushes outward, digs deeper, and resists easy categorisation. Across heavy, progressive, psychedelic, ambient, experimental and uncategorisable music, the label has built a home for artists working at the edges of genre. Ahead of the '15 years of Art as Catharsis’ show at The Bendigo Hotel on August 21, JRoc catches up with Lachlan R. Dale about the event. 

After a year of bubbling behind the scenes, Echo Beach is resurfacing for the half dozen. Echo Beach number 6, in 2026 - 'Big Bush Baleària' is back on the menu. To help celebrate 10 years of Figaro, they're back home on the Collingwood Children's Farm, with a program spanning three stages and a range of live sets, global tastemakers and underground heroes of ours. Ahead of the event on October 31, Nico and Liam join Milo Eastwood to spin some tracks on the Wheels of Steel.

At the age of 23, Ruth Roshan first encountered Argentinean Tango in Paris. With her many ensembles, including Tango Noir and Chamber Noir, she has recorded four albums of melodic tango-inspired pieces and songs, toured the world, and gathered an exceptional group of musicians around her in the process. Ruth Roshan and Tango Noir will be performing at the Paris Cat on August 20, but prior to this, she visit the Global Village to talk about her favourite tracks.

Rooted in Latinx club sounds, community and underground energy, Now or Never is linking up with Chuleo Club on August 28, for a night of dance at Melbourne Town Hall. Built around pressure, rhythm and release, there will be sets from A.Chal (Peru/USA), Slim Soledad (Brazil/Berlin), LIZZ (Chile) and Dinamarca (Sweden/Chile), alongside Colombian-Australian DJ and Chuleo mother Zalina, along with Kiki House of Furia. Tune in for a guest mix from Zalina on Headhunters with Elle Young.

Devastating, minimal and full of moments that only happened once, 'You Will Cry' is the new single from local folk singer Annie-Rose Maloney. Recorded live in a single take at her Melbourne home on a second-hand TASCAM four-track cassette recorder, the song captures the warmth, imperfections and honesty of a real performance. Playing at The Merri Creek Tavern on August 16, Annie drops by to chat about the upcoming show, and to play some songs live.

Nate Amos from This Is Lorelei stopped by PBS back in March to talk about his upcoming album 'The Singer in My Band', releasing on Matador Records in September. Also known for his other band called Water From Your Eyes, tune in to Underground Love with Jordan to hear more from the Brooklyn-based artist.

Self-described as a “bald and bearded, metal-headed, hill hiking, dopamine dealing, loud sounding man”, Seattle-based comedian Luke Severeid has made a name for himself around the globe, fusing comedy with a love for heavy metal music and unique insights on life. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus as Ryan Evans chats with Luke about his experience at Knotfest last year, his upcoming show at the Thornbury Theatre on September 10, along with his favourite heavy music releases of 2026.

On the second half of the show tonight, Ryan Evans will catch up with the vocalist of Tasmanian death metal giants, Psycroptic. Performing their new album 'The Pulse Of Annihilation' at Max Watts on August 15, Jason Peppiatt will be chatting about Psycroptic's co-headline tour with Rivers Of Nihil, and stories from his 20+ year tenure as the frontman of the band. 

The 'Jumpin' the Blues Allstars - Live on PBS FM’ album will be launched at The Fitzroy Bowls Club on August 16. Led by double bassist Steve Purcell, the Jumpin' the Blues Allstars band would get together once a month to back a different femme vocalist from Naarm/Melbourne's vibrant blues, RnB and roots music scene. The songs on the album are selected by Tom from some of his favourite sessions. Tune in to the show from 1pm as Steve stops by to chat about the launch. 

Freeform is a music festival that brings together leading international and local electronic artists for a full day of dancing and discovering. On the line up is USA electronic music producer and sought-after festival DJ, Avalon Emerson. The album 'Written into Changes' by Avalon Emerson & the Charm just came out in March this year, which she describes as "soft and bedroomy". Ahead of her festival appearance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on October 3, Milo catches up with Avalon.

Joining Crispi on Radio City is the folk duo Fountain Lakes, made up of Emma Henney and Jac Tonks. With a sound that is expansive and genre spanning; with texture, reverb and dreamlike dual vocals, they will be celebrating the release of their debut EP 'Junkyard of Lost Hearts' with a show at the Railway Hotel Ballroom on Friday, August 14. Tune in to hear about their plans for the EP release.

After honing their chops in every dive bar, saloon and honky tonk in Naarm, sorcerers of twang, Acid Arrow are set to launch their new single 'Drop Your Shoulders Down' at Shotkickers on August 15. Riding the knife’s edge between struggle and surrender, the track leans into life’s trials and the quiet strength we all need at times. Tune in to Swinging Doors from 4pm for a live acoustic set from Brooke Penrose and Brett Marshall, the duo behind Acid Arrow.

This week on Burning Bitumen Kene chats to Brann Dailor from US metal masters Mastodon about their new album Marrow Deep, their return to heavier material and a look back at the most tumultuous year of their career.

At the Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday August 21, Africubismo will be bringing together musicians who reimagine their shared lineages from West Africa and Cuba. Ray Pereira, Amadou Suso, Yunior Terry Cabrera and Julien Wilson from the group will drop in to the Global Village to perform some live music - tune in to hear about cascading West African harp lines meeting the polyrhythmic pulse of rumba and son, and contemporary improvisation bridges past and present.

Infusing centuries old Lithuanian folk music with decades old fashion and months old facial hair, The Lost Clog is made up of the offspring of World War II Lithuanian refugees living in Melbourne. Alex Brovedani (kankles player) and Jieva Brovedani (fiddle and drum player) visit the Global Village to talk about a fundraising concert for the Australian Lithuanian Festival on Sunday August 23, which is titled 'Baltic Ballads of Birds & Bees' and will be held at the Melbourne Lithuanian Club.

With a sound that is rooted in the rich traditions of the tar, setar, and oud, Reza Kashi is a gifted Persian musician. He began his career in Iran in 1998, migrated to Australia in 2017, and has become a sought-after musician who works with a variety of Middle Eastern, Western and Australian ensembles. Tune in to the Global Village as he chats with Roger about his presentation of 'A Mystic Journey with the Oud' at CY Venue on Saturday 29th August, and for an intimate solo oud performance.

Kaytetye producer and DJ RONA will be joining Milo Eastwood on the show today, the day before her EP launch at Hope St Radio on August 21. The new release 'To The Ground' explores the living frequency of Country and the power of rhythm to return us to ourselves. Moving between intimate sound design, expansive vocals and basslines inspired by ceremonial grounds, the EP draws the body back toward earth. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread from 8am to hear from RONA. 

In 1978, Robert Forster co-founded acclaimed rock band The Go-Betweens with friend and fellow singer-songwriter Grant McLennan. Their sixth album, '16 Lovers Lane', was placed at # 12 on The 100 Best Australian Albums list, and their ninth and last, 'Oceans Apart', won the 2005 ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album. Today on the show, Crispi will be chatting with Robert Forster about his 2025 album 'Strawberries', which he'll be performing at The Thornbury Theatre on Sept 12.

Joining Michael on the show this week for an exclusive interview, is USA artist, actor and radio presenter, Henry Rollins. He'll be chatting about a previously unreleased album from the 1976 band The Cramps, titled 'Gravest Gravy'. The band is credited as progenitors of the psychobilly subgenre, fusing elements of punk rock with rockabilly. The tapes of the album were transferred by Brian Kehew, and the tracks were selected for inclusion by Henry Rollins. Tune in from 7pm to hear from Henry.

After their Studio 5 Live performance, Amaru Tribe will be coming on to the Global Village for an interview with Roger. An intersection between cultures, traditional music from Latin America, urban flow and electronic sounds, their new album 'Golden Roots' is Amaru Tribe’s third full-length album and second vinyl release, created to celebrate 10 years of music, movement and connection. Tune in to hear about the creation of the new album.

Visiting the Global Village on the second half of the show today is Alec Ilyine and Poly Varghese. Belgian musician, sound engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Alec Ilyine is known for his exploration of diverse musical traditions. Poly Varghese, based in Australia and born in Kerala, is a virtuoso of the Mohan Veena (Indian slide guitar), and disciple of Grammy Winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, aka V. M. Bhatt. Tune in for some live music, and to hear about their inspirations and collaborations.

Formed in Melbourne in 1992, Icecream Hands - made up of band members Charles Jenkins (guitar, vocals), Douglas Lee Robertson (bass, vocals), Derek G Smiley (drums, vocals) and Marcus Goodwin (guitar, vocals) - are about to release a new EP in August. With a show at the Kew Court House on September 4, Charles Jenkins joins Crispi on Radio City to chat about the new EP, 'Pineapples Pieces'.

Tonight on Junkyard, Michael Mulholland will be joined by Hugo Race and Michaelangelo Russo to chat about the new album 'I Made It All Up For You'. Released back in March with his Italian band Fatalists, the record fuses together roots, electronica, Italian soundtracks and desert rock. With Giovanni Ferrario (Scisma, PJ Harvey) on guitars and synth, Francesco Giampaoli (Brutture Moderne) on bass and Diego Sapignoli (Sacri Cuori) on percussion, tune in to hear more about the album.

Coming on to the show this week, is The Jawa Pitu Band, who are launching their second album 'Kapindho' at the Northcote Social Club on September 5. They will be joined by Sekar Kidul, Melbourne's Sundanese Kacapi Suling ensemble, and performances from Reog Ponorogo (Javanese Giant Mask Dance), Pencak Silat (Sundanese martial arts), and the Sanggar Lestari Indonesian dance troupe. Tune in as members of The Jawa Pitu Band visit the Global Village to talk about the new album.

Joining Michael Mulholland for this episode of Junkyard is Guy Blackman from Chapter Music. He'll be chatting about the second instalment of Chapter’s acclaimed Australian post- punk compilation series 'Can’t Stop It!', originally released in 2007. Tune in to hear about this rich and dynamic time in Australian music history, a time when Australia stepped out of the shadow of overseas influence and asserted its own musical identity for the first time.