Interviews

Sonic explorers, label heads, and pillars of the Melbourne underground, Sleep D delve into the rave unconscious, driving rhythms, hypnotic basslines, and the hazy bliss of the morning after. Childhood friends with Iraqi and Maltese lineage, the duo and their coveted Butter Sessions label have ushered in a new era, sensibility, and creative energy for the city that raised them. Elle catches up with Corey from Sleep D ahead of their opening night performance at Now or Never on Thursday.

‘Intervals’ - the new record from Naarm musician and producer L Lewis, blends jazz harmony, electronic production, and improvisation. Expanding on the sonic palette introduced in their debut, the release was built from live local studio recordings with L Lewis, Lachlan Thompson, Finn Milne, and Jordan Dunster, before being chopped up in London by L Lewis himself. Elle from Headhunters catches up with L Lewis about the new record, which is out now via Bathtub Music.

The latest single ‘End of the Day’ from local musician Hannah Kate kicks off with an almost misleading brightness, piloted by its plucky bassline. But when met with Hannah’s vocals, it oxidises to form a coolness that carries throughout the track with ease, fusing together any frays left by obscure time changes and wonky guitar lines in the process. Coming in to Homebrew, tune in as Hannah discusses her latest single with Brooke.

Composer Kate Neal and percussionist Kaylie Melville from the Rubiks Collective join Ian this Sunday to talk about their new work 'A Book of Hours'. Merging stop-motion animation, screen dance, and a quirky live musical score from a choreographed ensemble of musicians, the piece is a meditation on the mystery of time. Tune in to hear about their performances in Melbourne and Bendigo this September 3 and 5.

Sydney based double bassist and composer Max Alduca presents his debut album ‘Monastery’, drawing inspiration from a personal journey through music and spirituality, reflecting themes of interconnectedness, trust, and hope, while also paying homage to his teachers and collaborators. Bringing together some of Sydney’s leading jazz musicians, the album draws on contemporary jazz, free improvisation and cinematic soundscapes. Greg catches up with Max ahead of his show at The Jazz Lab on August 21.

Saray Iluminado and The Klez Dispensers Down Under are getting together to present  a soiree of klezmer, Bosnian sevdah and Sephardic Jewish music in Australia, under the title 'Baklava and Blintz', at Memo Music Hall on August 31. Nela Trifkovic, Amy Zakar Banner and Galit Klas drop into the Global Village to share some of this music and to talk about this intercultural dialogue around music, food and drink.

Taking jazz and infusing it with beatnik, rock’n’roll, and sassy soul, Jazzparty will be playing at Northcote Social Club on August 23 as part of the venue’s 20th birthday celebrations, running from July through to August. With an array of instruments and a big, bold live sound, tune in to Stone Love to hear Richie 1250 catch up with the local 8-piece.

When Cong Josie confessed to Garry Gray aka Garry Sacred that he ripped off the Sacred Cowboys’ track 'Nothing Grows in Texas', the two recognised a kindred spirit, they bonded over their shared love of Alan Vega and ’70s boogie. Next thing you know, they’re releasing an EP together called 'Sacred Money'. Tune in to Sunglasses After Dark to hear Phil MacDougall chat with the duo about their collaborative new release.

Delivering intense sonic soundscapes that merge folk, experimentalism, electronica, and rock, Hugo Race has released his new album 'The Vigil'. Over the course of three decades, Hugo has left a mercurial trail of musical works, spanning numerous solo releases and international collaborations across studio albums, film and theatre productions, tours, and festivals. Tune in to Junkyard as Michael Mulholland catches up with the internationally based musician and author.

Carving out their own space within Australia's instrumental and dance scenes, Intermood’s blend of psychedelic jazz and high-energy neo-disco has risen from sold-out shows within Melbourne/Naarm’s thriving dance scene. Following the success of their debut EP 'Casuarina', an East Coast tour, and festival performances, the group is set to play two shows at BIGSOUND this September. Tune in to Radio City as Crispi catches up with the band ahead of their Brisbane stint.

Purveyors of all things soul, Sweethearts bring fresh energy to the genre with their dynamic performances. Each musician of the 17-piece ensemble contributes unique talents, from fiery saxophone solos to delicately crafted melodic storytelling. Tune in as Vince Peach catches up with members of the band for an exclusive interview, following their mesmerising Studio 5 Live performance.

Australia lost one of its greatest voices when Renée Geyer passed away on 17 January 2023. For over five decades, Renée was celebrated as Australia’s queen of soul, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and uncompromising artistry. On August 22 at Birds Basement, members of her own band will come together for a special evening to honour Renée’s memory. Tune in to Roots of Rhythm as Nichaud Fitzgibbon chats with Helen about the show.

Tune in to Roots of Rhythm this Wednesday morning for a special live performance from Monique di Mattina and Rebecca Barnard. Continuing their golden musical collaboration, the duo will delight fans at The Jazz Lab on August 23 with their show 'The Dao of Dylan'. Listen in from 9.30am for a sneak peek of this show, which touches on grand themes of life, the universe and almost everything else.

Born out of personal transformation, creative risk, and emotional release, Chitra's debut album 'You Can See It When It’s Dark' spans four years of her life. Blending soft intimacy with dramatic bursts of energy, she brings in her acoustic guitar for a special stripped-back performance on The Breakfast Spread. Immerse yourself in the sounds of Chitra this Wednesday, August 13.

Chicago-based progressive metalcore band Born of Osiris have just released their new album 'Through Shadows', their first release since the 2021 album 'Angel or Alien'. Vocalist Ronnie Canizaro chats with Ryan on Tyrannocoreus about the state of the band following a major lineup change, tune in to find out when we can expect to see Born of Osiris on Australian shores.

This week on Tyrannocoreus, Ryan chats with Yannick Lehmann, guitarist for Swiss deathcore/beatdown band Paleface Swiss. They’ll talk about their latest album 'Cursed', which dropped in January, and reflect on their experience touring Australia last year with In Hearts Wake. Tune in to find out when you can next catch Paleface Swiss live in Melbourne.

USA-based band Pig Destroyer are coming back to Melbourne on September 5 to perform their bone-razor-sharp guitar and percussive pummelling grindcore at Max Watt's Melbourne. With lyrics that paint loathsome, frightening images of pitch-black self-hatred and the frailty of the human experience, tune in to Burning Bitumen to hear Kene chat with the band ahead of their Australian tour. 

Northcote Social Club is turning 20! Join us for a night of dark synths on August 28 with The Night Terrors and many other special acts. Featuring Miles Brown on haunting theremin melodies, and Sarah Lim blasting danceable darkness on vintage synthesisers, they’ve built a reputation as one of the country’s most original acts. See the band roar through material from all their albums with special guest Mitch McGregor on live drums. Miles visits Pojama People to chat about what to expect.

It's Claire meets Claire on this edition of Firewater. Ahead of her show at the Northcote Social Club on August 28, Claire Birchall drops into the studio to chat about her upcoming set. From stunningly raw confessions to big-time rock to pop songs lavished with fuzzed out guitar, Casio and loops, Claire continues to find new ways to present her material to audiences. Come raise a glass to celebrate 20 years of great gigs and good yarns at NSC with all your PBS favourites.

'Dragnet Reigns!' is the latest album from local punk-rockers Dragnet, their first release in a few years. Thematically, this album draws as heavily from the Cold War as it does from 2000s indie rock, whilst tiptoeing around the post-punk and egg punk labels, and trying to avoid the current rock'n'roll resurgence. Coming in to Underground Love to chat with David about the new album, which comes out on August 15, tune in to hear from Dragnet's Jack Reigns.