Interviews

James Hullick is one of Melbourne's most well-known and adventurous musical and cross-media mavericks, involved in a huge range of projects, particularly through Jolted Arts, which open up new music/art experiences to ever-widening ideas, performers, and audiences. This week on The Sound Barrier James drops in to chat to Ian about his May 27 gig at Northcote Social Club with the Amplified Elephants, an ensemble of musicians with neurodiversities, and avant-garde ensemble I Hold the Lion's Paw.

Gene Tree is a new project from composer/percussionist Elissa Goodrich. Inspired by climate science and DNA modelling, the compositions take stories from our genetic maps of adaption, resilience, extinction; the genetic story of the peppered moth and the migratory monarch butterfly; and, musical interpretations of DNA and its patterns. This Sunday, Elissa and her ensemble join Greg for an interview and intimate in-studio live performance.

In this Global Village special, Roger is joined by a line-up of musicians to pay tribute to the late Achilles Yiangoulli. Tune in from 5pm, as they come together in the studio to commemorate the life of Achilles through their memories and shared love of his music. This special will air ahead of The Live Tribute Concert on May 21 at the Brunswick Ballroom, an evening to celebrate Achilles’ music, spirit, and enduring influence.

Mumbai-based band The Yellow Diary touch down in Australia bringing their fresh sonic identity to the Corner Hotel on Sunday May 17th. Charged with a blend of Hindi poetry and modern alt-rock & pop, their compositions are at times highly reflective and deeply personal, as compared to the pages of a diary.  Tune in as Pradip catches up with the band ahead of their Australian tour and to chat more about the release of their debut album, "In Case We Forget". 

On May 9 at 2pm at Shotkickers, Evvy George will launch not only his debut single 'Sweet Victoria', but also an extended, all-star lineup of musicians known as "The Big Bird Band". Evvy George’s songs, peppered with bird references, explore themes ranging from interpersonal neurobiology to Aussie rules football and beyond. Ahead of the release show, Evvy will join Myles on 5ft High and Rising to chat about his new single and his recent tour experience with M. Ward.

Earlier this week experimental post-punk multi-instrumentalist Julie Montan, known to many by her stage name Princess Liar, returned to Melbourne to catch up with old friends and swing by PBS for an intimate studio recording. Tune in this week to hear the session, and find out what's coming up for Princess Liar.

Prepare yourself this week on Burning Bitumen as Kene is joined by sludge doom monsters Whitehorse. Delivering pulverising, churning, crushing, and devastating sludgy doom, their new collaborative album 'The Dissolution of Eternity' with UBOA is heavy with chest-bursting intensity. Tune in to hear about their upcoming shows and to catch tracks from the new record.

Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Martha Spencer returns to our shores to once again woo audiences with her voice, instruments, and flat foot dancing. Joined by local crooner Archer, Martha drops in to PBS for a chat on Swinging Doors and to play a song or two ahead of their Brunswick Ballroom show tonight.

Multi-award-winning Naarm/Melbourne-via-Belgium indie musician Romanie will launch her sophomore LP 'It's Not That Funny' at the Railway Hotel this May 16. Moving between chaos and calm, anguish and optimism, the record explores trauma, healing and growth with raw lyricism and a growing grit in her sound. Crispi catches up with Romanie on Radio City, listen in to hear tracks from her new record, which builds on the candid storytelling that defined her debut record.

The latest album 'House Of Cards’ from Queensland metalcore band The Amity Affliction takes listeners back into a personal memory Joel Birch found himself revisiting during the songwriting process. The impact of trauma experienced as a young person, the way it can shape us in good ways and bad; ultimately, the choices people make in navigating their way through such times in pursuit of peace. Ryan catches up with vocalist Joel about the new record, tune in to hear about their tour plans.

Seminal Punk Rockers, Frenzal Rhomb, are celebrating the 23rd anniversary of their 2003 album Sans Souci with an exciting announcement on-air. Tune in from 10pm to Tyrannocoreus, where the band's guitarist Lindsay McDougall, AKA 'The Doctor', shares some news on upcoming shows they have planned for the year. Don't miss it!

Stepping into Pojama People this Tuesday to celebrate their debut album is Junkyard Wizards. With a wonderful night of music; cosmic, wacky, psychedelic and otherwise, playing along side the wizards at their album launch at Cactus Room on May 8 are interstellar synth-jam pioneers Sweet Nothing and the irresitibly unhinged psych-rockers Black Wattle Witches. Tune in to hear tracks from Junkyard Wizards' new album 'The Sky As We Know It’.

Across May, Seedy Jeezus will take over Nighthawks each Saturday night for a run of European tour warm-up shows - each week diving into a different side of the band. The 60s psychedelic/ 70s rock group found its feet in 2015, and now boasts numerous studio albums, records, and EPs. Catch the band on Pojama People with Chris Pearson ahead of their European tour. 

Naarm/Melbourne musician and label head Nat Pavlovic has released her new album 'Big Heart' on her own label, Blossom Rot Records. Nat shares, “Big Heart is really the heart of the album. It’s about not wanting to feel one way, then say another; a big heart doesn’t mean anything if I’ve got a fake tongue.” Ahead of her album release show at Bell City Takeaway on May 8, Nat Pavlovic joins David Pisker on Underground Love for a special, stripped-back live performance.

LA-based, alt-R&B and soul artist Rochelle Jordan is bringing her genre-defying sound to 170 Russell on May 28, showing audiences what it means to be a pop artist today. Her third album 'Through The Wall' is a rich, emotionally charged blend of polished house, alt-R&B and pop, underscored by a clear sense of personal resilience and artistic growth. Dropping in to Headhunters to chat with Elle Young about her upcoming Australian tour, tune in to hear from the London-born, Toronto-raised artist. 

Tune in on May 4 from 3pm for a special Studio 5 Live performance from Steady Weather, followed by an interview with Homebrew host Brooke Kymberley. The Fitzroy group has a new single ‘Best One’, taken from the forthcoming EP 'Golden Child'. Delivering a fresh take on the disco sound, Steady Weather fuse contemporary club sounds in a live setting with jazz sensibility, capturing the unique essence of the local club scene. Find out when they’ll next be performing live in the city.

After their crushing Studio 5 Live performance, Kene will be catching up with local band Carcinoid. Embodying suffocating doom elements while forging their sound by incorporating a plethora of sludge, punk and hardcore stylistic influences, Carcinoid is known for bringing intensity to all of their performances. They'll be playing at the Burning Bitumen Birthday Bonaza, '25 Years of Evil' show, tune in to hear about the celebrations going down on May 9 at the Bergy Bandroom.

The legendary Sacred Cowboys return with their first new release since 2007. Founder and lead singer-songwriter Garry Gray catches up with Phil about their sixth studio album "In The Manifesto" and where you can catch them live next. Don't miss out as they tear up The Old Bar on May 8th, for their last show before they head off on their European tour. 

On May 8, Chicago post-punk trio FACS will play their debut Naarm/Melbourne show at Northcote Social Club. Their sixth studio album 'Wish Defense (Trouble In Mind)’, is the final album recorded by the late Steve Albini, and sees Brian Case and Noah Leger explore themes of identity, duality and introspection through stark rhythms and haunting melodies, energised by the return of original member Jonathan Van Herik. Ahead of their Australian tour, Michael Mulholland catches up with Brian Case.

The new album 'The Singer' from local artist DC Maxwell comes out on May 22, and Crispi will be catching up with DC on April 30 to chat about the new record. A sharp songwriter and a wild live performer, 'The Singer' is a collection of songs about singing and dancing while the foundations of the world tremble. Tune in to find out where you can next catch DC Maxwell perform live.