Interviews

Blending modern jazz, cinematic composition and electronic texture, Freyja Garbett is an Australian pianist, composer and producer. Drawing on influences from film, contemporary classical and improvisation, her work explores atmosphere, narrative and groove. Matt catches up with Freyja, chatting about her new album 'Sowden House', where her worlds of jazz, cinema, and video-game storytelling collide.

From singer-songwriter at the 1980 Daylesford Folk Festival supporting Ralph McTell, to solo techno at The Big Day Out; from a marathon 12-hour synth improv for Melbourne Fringe Festival to an episode on ABC Compass about his music therapy work with Dementia sufferers, Michael’s musical career has taken as many turns as the instruments he has picked up on the way. Tune in to Southern Style as Michael brings his guitar and mountain dulcimer into the studio for an exclusive live performance. 

Coming in to Roots of Rhythm this morning to join Helen Jennings in the studio, is multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Daryl Roberts. His band Hey Gringo have eight funky blues albums of original music, which have charted up to No. 2 on 'The Oz Blues & Roots Airplay Charts', and they are about to drop their ninth album 'Adios Amigos'. Tune in to hear about the bands upcoming shows, along with tracks from the new record.

The Echuca Moama Winter Blues festival is running from July 23 - 26, and on the line up is award-winning artist, powerhouse bassist, and soulful vocalist Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones. Since forming the band in 1999, Sweet Felicia has shared stages with legends including BB King and Ron Wood, and in 2010 represented Melbourne as a semi-finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Listen in to Roots of Rhythm to hear more about Sweet Felicia's extensive musical career.

This morning on The Breakfast Spread, presented by Stone Love’s one and only Richie 1250, proud Yorta Yorta man Jason Tamiru will be joining the show. Passionate about supporting his people’s creativity, Jason has worked with many of Naarm’s most iconic performing arts companies, and is the Creative Director of Yalinguth. Tune in for sounds and stories woven together by Jason with the yidaki and clapsticks, and to hear about the Yalinguth Archives event on July 22 at the Builders Arms Hotel.

'Under The Under' is the new sophomore album from local band Growth. Starting as a reflective space to explore the sorrows and sharp angles that come attendant with a lifelong diagnosis, Growth has found meaningful ways to channel the ugliest and most jarring fragments of the self. Opening for Rivers of Nihil at Max Watt's on August 15, tune in to Tyrannocoreus as Ryan catches up with the band ahead of their show with the US death metal group.

This week on Tyrannocoreus, Ryan catches up with George Clarke, vocalist for US black-metal trailblazers Deafheaven. Coming over to Australia for a bunch of shows, their 2025 album 'Lonely People With Power' is their sixth album, and embraces the band’s full identity after years of evolution. The record captures Deafheaven’s innate ability to mix and merge melody with brutality, and pain with poetry. Tune in to hear about their show at The Forum on July 9.

The music of Wybie has an odd magic, blurring the borders between folk storytelling, art-rock and experimental production meet. Starting out in 2019 as the brainchild of guitarist, producer and songwriter Kyle Muir, Wybie are putting together a farewell show at Northcote Social Club on July 11, with special guests Captain Beep Boop and Moby Beefheart. Tune in to the show as Kyle joins Jordan for some live music and some chats.

This morning on Mystic Brew, Iwuda, the solo project of First Nations bassist Davin Ojala, will join Mike Gurrieri on the program. Named after the Anaiwan word for echidna, Iwuda draws on jazz, groove, and a wide range of musical traditions to arrive somewhere distinctly its own: bass-forward modern jazz with a searching, restless quality at its core. Tune in to hear about 'Music for Iwuda', the upcoming debut album from Davin Ojala.

Joining Claire Dickson this morning for a special, Tuesday guest mix is PBS announcer Bridget Small. With a selection of tunes that reflect a deeply thoughtful ear and an intuitive approach to programming, her sets favour leftfield chuggy downtempo, homespun DIY guitar music and long-lost gems uncovered through close listening and curiosity. Find out about her upcoming DJ set at 'HIGH GROUND: IN MOTION' on July 18 at The Evelyn Hotel, as part of Leaps and Bounds.

Tune in to The Blend tonight as Emelyne is joined by SOVBLKPSSY, a Ngarrindjeri DJ, producer and radio host currently based on Gadigal and Wangal land. She has carved out her role in the broader queer community as a DJ who moves within both rhythm and resistance, making a name for herself all across so called Australia. Listen in from 10pm to hear about Rydeen and SOVBLKPSSY's new EP 'DONT TELL ANYONE'.

Fresh off the release of their debut EP 'Sicko', Naarm’s Jeane return to The Tote this July 24, with support from local bands Sonic Reducer and Gloomie. Led by front woman Jazz Johnston, 'Sicko' explores faith, femininity, vulnerability and self-expression through jagged guitars, hook-heavy songwriting and raw, unfiltered storytelling. Jeane stop by PBS, chatting with Brooke on Homebrew about their new EP and the release show.

Tune in to The Breakfast Spread this morning as Remy from local group Crank joins Claire Dickson for a round of Musical Chairs. Conceived by Sam in Briagolong in 2022, Remy will be chatting about the band's new self-titled album, out via Southern Exposure Records on 10 July, and sharing some of the tracks that have inspired the band throughout their musical journey. Listen in as Remy and Claire also chat about Crank's upcoming show at the Lithuanian Club on 11 July.

Also joining Greg on the show tonight is composer and Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) Artistic Director, Aaron Choulai. 'Smoke Between Mountains' is the new work by Aaron Choulai with the AAO, and it will premiere in Naarm/Melbourne as part of the AAO's Sonic City program on July 8. Composed for an ensemble of nine musicians, it traces a dreamlike narrative drawing on Shinto and Australian First Nations ecological thought against an innovative score that plays with the Ghibli sound world.

Sydney quartet Believe return with 'Nature's God': a meditation on the beauty of human existence and the power of the planet we love. This ode to connection is a bold next step for a band exploring what it is to be fully, unabashedly alive in the moment. The powerhouse group combines four of the most inventive improvisers – and composers – in Sydney’s creative music scene. Greg Sher catches up with Clayton Thomas, the bassist from Believe, ahead of their show at Jazz Lab on Sunday, July 12.

Joining Stani today are The Seben Brothers, chatting about 'TO BINA: A Night of Soukous Vibrations Powered by El Gran Mono', a show presented by PBS, Stani Goma, and Leaps and Bounds. Playing highly danceable Congolese rumba and soukous, a fusion of traditional Congolese music and Cuban rumba, The Seben Brothers are known for their complex polyrhythms, intricate guitar riffs, and energetic vocals. Tune in to find out more about this event, happening on Saturday, July 25.

On Electric Sunsets tonight, DJ Ides will be joined by DJ Plead, chatting about his new album 'Please' - the PBS Feature Album of this week. Phone, keys, pills and Tiger Balm, 'Please' is a deeply personal depiction of the everyday that echoes the unhurried emotional resonance of the album's track listing. Tune in to hear DJ Plead chat about the influences and creative process behind his new album.

Dropping into Tomorrowland today is Ridwan, a Jakarta-based DJ, producer, and curator recognised within the city’s underground scene for his selector-driven approach. His sets move across genres, drawing from off-kilter electronic records while maintaining a clear sense of timing and connection with the room. Tune in to hear about the all-Indonesian lineup show featuring Ridwan and Ugomo, taking place at Collingwood Basement on July 4.

Spinning the Wheels of Steel on The Breakfast Spread this morning is Alice Payne. Her new EP 'Evolution' is a three-track EP that weaves between deep house, tech house and dub reggae infusions. Each track focuses on percussive grooves that gradually evolve into uplifting, dreamy energies. Tune in to hear about her upcoming show at 'Riggy Fest' in Bodriggy on July 18, as part of Leaps and Bounds Festival.

Joining the Prince of Darkness on the show this Thursday is Captain Sensible, the guitarist for English rock band The Damned. The band are coming to Melbourne in September as part of their 50th anniversary world tour, and they'll be chatting about 50 years of UK punk, along with their latest album, 'Not Like Everybody Else' - which tributes the late Brian James. Find out more about their show at the Forum on September 13, and how the band has influenced punk over the last 50 years.