Interviews

Throughout August, the NGV will host three Friday Night after-hours events curated by PBS's very own Stani Goma. Across these three Fridays, The Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble, Fem Belling, and Kunjani Heita Afrika will perform live music alongside Music in Exile guest DJs, including Shah Sharafi, Aysu and Kgomotso Sekhu. To tell us about this program, Fem Belling - herself a beloved PBS fill-in announcer - chats with Milo on Breakfast. Tune in on Tuesday morning to hear more.

This week on Mystic Brew, Mike Gurrieri takes a deep dive into the Adelaide music scene. Tune in as he explores the city’s music and brings on a variety of special guests.

PBS Presents AROCKALYPSE NOW, an evening of bands, beers, and big bad riffs in San Remo. Melbourne garage rock band Foggy Notion will be there, unleashing their driving rhythms and blunt lyrics to the crowd at Westernport Hotel. Tune in to Firewater as Claire is joined by Foggy Notion as they share what to anticipate on the night.

For the past 25 years, Japanese band MONO has explored themes ranging from darkness to light, hope in the face of disaster, and the duality of birth and death. Exploding with orchestral sunsets and instrumental rock breaks, their 12th album, 'OATH', was recorded with their longtime friend and collaborator Steve Albini. Band leader Takaakira, aka Taka, drops by Pojama People to chat with Chris about their latest album.

Exactly one decade ago, Shellac frontman and recording engineer Steve Albini spoke in Melbourne at the Face the Music conference. In his keynote address, the author of seminal 1993 essay, The Problem with Music, talked about the advantages of the internet, the death of the major label system, and copyright law. During Albini's Melbourne visit, Chris Pearson was lucky enough to explore these subjects with him on PBS. Tune in to Pojama People on Tuesday night to revisit their conversation in full.

Since the band formed in Ohio in 2005, The Devil Wears Prada have been making metalcore music, releasing their 8th studio album in 2022. This August, the band return to Australian shores for the first time in six years, to support touring band Alpha Wolf. The guitarist of the band, Jeremy DePoyster, pops by Tyrannocoreus to chat with Ryan about their upcoming tour and their plans to drip feed new material throughout the year ahead.

Gravemind are a death-core band hailing from Melbourne. Their debut album ‘Conduit’ is about dissociation, exhaustion and confusion, and they’re about to drop their sophomore album ‘Introsphere’ this August. Tune into Tyrannocoreus as Ryan chats with lead vocalist Bailey Schembri about his experience as the lead singer for the last two years, and what to expect from the band once their album has been released.

Way Dynamic is the namesake of Dylan Young, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter from Melbourne. His sophomore LP ‘Duck’ is a folk-rock odyssey, with nods to the Beach Boys, crafted with beautiful melodies and textures. Way Dynamic come into the Breakfast Spread for a Studio 5 live performance, and to chat with Milo about the latest record.

The making of The Vovos was a star crossed, comically predetermined event. Forming at one of the first Girls Rock! Melbourne Camps in 2017, the five piece are known and loved for their punk rock, DIY attitude. The band comes into Stone Love for a Studio 5 performance and to chat about their sophomore album ‘Lilla Gubben’, set to release on March 1 next year.

Four piece, honky-tonk/ rockabilly band Rhiz and the Sugar Plums have revived 1950s music in their original songs. Their self-titled debut album captures this nostalgic sound across all 12 album tracks. Tune in to 5ft High and Rising as the band performs live and chats with Myles about their upcoming shows at Moon Dog Wild West and Brunswick’s Retreat Hotel on August 3rd and 4th.

Led by Persian-Australian tar player and composer Hamed Sadeghi, Eishan Ensemble is an ARIA nominated group who draws on contemporary and classical music traditions of both the East and West. Eishan’s repertoire consists predominantly of Sadeghi’s original compositions with diverse improvisatory idioms featured powerfully. Hamed joins Roger on Global Village for a unique tar performance, and to chat about an upcoming show at The Bird’s Basement on August 17.

The music of trans folk artist and poet Sunny Morris has an air of familiarity and warmth while retaining its own distinctive contemporary flavour. Her lyrics meander through themes of gender, family, and love over layers of sparkling guitars and leisurely percussion. Tune into Homebrew as Brooke chats with Sunny about her upcoming album release, 'You’re a Liar, Girl,' out this August.

Five-piece rock band Rockafella came together inspired by the likes of Radio Birdman, AC/DC, and The Saints. Their sound reflects these influences but with their own rock'n'roll flavour. Band member Mick joins Chris on Pojama People to talk about the band’s new album and their upcoming tour.

Bernadette Novembre is the Melbourne musician making music that draws inspiration from 1960s rock, but with an avant-indie, dreamscape twist. ‘Another View from Dystopia’ is her latest single, and she’ll be joined by a lively 10-piece orchestra at The Night Cat to launch it. Bernadette drops into Radio City to chat with Crispi about her music and the single launch taking place on August 15.

Based in Eora, producer Gi masterfully integrates sampled phone videos that capture everyday moments and personal reflections on their debut album ‘Orange Chorus Blonde Reveal’. Drawing influence from IDM, shoegaze, and techno, Gi's music creates a unique blend that is both introspective and innovative. Tune into Passing Notes as Penny chats with Gi about their debut album.

Renowned for their boundary-defying compositions and instrumental virtuosity, Koi Kingdom’s third and most ambitious self-titled album is a tale of transformation and resilience. This latest release delves into themes of friendship, loss, grief, rebirth, and joy, showcasing the special musical connection and shared creative vision they have nurtured over years of collaboration. Tune in to hear the band perform a memorable Studio 5 session, and a chat with Gerry about their latest album.

Heavy metal band Aardvark have been rocking the Melbourne stages since they formed in 2021. ‘Tough Love’ is the name of their latest guitar heavy album, and the band are playing at The GEM on August 17 for a special charity show, along side Fly! and Loathario. The band come in to play a Studio 3 session on Pojama People.

Local band Vault Hill produces heavy, thrash music laced with menacing, metal-core intensity. Lead guitarist Adrian O’Brien stops by Tyrannocoreus to chat with Ryan about the band’s latest single, 'Break the Silence,' and what we can expect to see from Vault Hill later this year.

Byron Bay band In Hearts Wake have been in the metalcore music scene since 2006. With five studio albums in tow, their lyrics tackle topics such as environmental justice, global warming, and other social issues. Vocalist Jake Taylor stops by Tyrannocoreus to chat with Ryan about the band’s latest album, ‘Incarnation,’ and their Australian tour with support from Paleface Swiss, King 810, and Gravemind.

Garagee (pronounced Gar-Adji(Y)) is the solo project of Melbourne multi-instrumentalist Rob McPherson. Garagee seeks to capture the full expanse of human experience through atmospheric recordings, bridging several genres, from electronic to post-rock. Rob stops by Radio City to chat with Crispi about his new album 'Garage III' which comes out on August 16th.

Adelaide rock’n’roll band The Trafalgars released their debut album ‘About Time’ earlier this year. The album is influenced by retro 60s, 70s and 80s sounds, and is their first release in 20 years since their EP 'Sit With Me/Sunnyside Drive' came out in 2004. Vocalist and guitarist, Rhys Bowkett comes into Radio City to chat with Crispi about their album release and their upcoming show at the Union Hotel in Brunswick on August 24th.

Think About You are a Naarm, art-rock outfit who started making music in a Carlton share house. Four years on, and the band are about to release their sophomore album ‘Don’t Die On Me’ which features a blend of Celtic folk and Aussie garage punk. Tune into Homebrew as Brooke chats with the band about their latest single ‘Never Never Creek’ and the release of their album on August 16.

Metalcore band Bury Tomorrow formed in Hampshire, England, in 2006. Since then, the band has released seven studio albums, with plans for new material in the near future. Lead guitarist Kris Dawson chats with Ryan about the band’s return to Australia this August to tour with Perth band Make Them Suffer.

Blending together jazz, fusion and progressive metal, Wallet Inspector are about to release their debut album ‘Ephemeris,’ an album that’s taken 15 years to make. Songwriter and guitarist of the band, Matt William, chats with Ryan about their album release and their first overseas shows taking place in New Zealand.

Perth band The Stems have been creating garage rock music since they formed in 1983. Known for their jangly guitars and catchy melodies, the band will be playing a 40-year anniversary show at The Corner Hotel this August 24. Tune in for a Radio City exclusive as Crispi chats with band members Dom Mariani and Ash Naylor.