Interviews

Praised violinist, artist and songwriter Xani Kolac has released a new single ‘A Cups’. She’ll be performing her prog/ jazz/ rock music at The Tote on Oct 10 as she opens for The Seven Ups, as well as a debut performance at the International Jazz Festival this Oct 21, playing her new work 'Stamina' in quadraphonic sound. Tune into Radio City as Crispi chats with Xani about her upcoming performances.

Naarm R&B artist CD has released her latest single ‘Ish You’. The track features warm nostalgia from female-led 90’s R&B artist, steering CD’s soulful sound into a new direction. Tune into the Breakfast Spread as CD drops by to chat with Milo about the latest single, and for a play on the Musical Chairs.

When Pigs Fly is back for its third New Year’s Eve celebration with a lineup of 20 diverse acts across three stages at Collingwood Children’s Farm. Festival directors Liam Alexander and Benny Rausa chat to Lyndelle Wilkinson about the festival and how they're putting on yet another relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for music lovers to come together and celebrate in a natural, open-air setting. Tune in to The Afterglow to hear more.

Local band The Seven Ups are a melting pot of some very tasty flavours, from Funk to Spiritual Jazz, to Afrobeat and Psychedelia. Their new EP comes out this Sept 27, and the band will be playing a show at The Tote on Oct 10 with guests Xani and Brown Spirits. Guitarist and band leader Trent Sterling pops by The Afterglow to chat with Lyndelle about the upcoming event.

This Wednesday, Helen Jennings celebrates her 75th birthday, joined in the studio by Monique diMattina, Rebecca Barnard, Vika and Linda Bull, and The Teskey Brothers. Tune in to Roots of Rhythm to join the festivities.

Drummer for Philadelphian alternative metal band CKY, Jess Margera talks to Ryan about the band's beginnings alongside his brother Bam of CKY (video series) and Jackass fame, their upcoming new album 'New Reason To Dream' and co-headlined the tour of Australia in February 2025 with Alien Ant Farm.

Local metalcore band Void of Vision have just released their new album ‘What I’ll Leave Behind’. The band’s vocalist Jack Bergin calls into Tyrannocoreus to chat with Ryan about his recent health scare and how this inspired the new album, and the bands upcoming touring plans.

Tune into Burning Bitumen as Kene talks to new, one entity black metal project Khazurvaal about exploring the darkness recesses of existence, whispers of ancient evil, and the malevolent forces that lurk in the shadows all within the new scene changing EP 'Unyielding Shadows'.

Sydney instrumental band Dumbsaint have reformed and will be joining Japanese post-rock band toe on their Australian tour dates this month. Tune in to Pojama People to hear more.

Colossal stout rock band Sordid Ordeal combines folkish story-telling & ballads with blistering, mangy rock and epic anthems. Their new single, Tigress, is a hot-rodded, highway road-trip banger that represents a more stripped back sound. The band drops in for a chat with Chris Pearson to chat about how they weld together the abrasive & heavy with the gentle & intimate. Tune in to Pojama People tonight from 8pm.

For over a decade, Krystel Diola, a.k.a. DIOLA, has been a dynamic force in the local music community. From organising events for emerging electronic soul musicians to her roles in publicity, artist liaison, radio broadcasting, co-founding a record label, community engagement, and teaching music workshops, DIOLA’s contribution has significantly shaped the scene. She joins MzRizk today for a chat and to play some tunes on Boogie Beat Suite.

Ezra Collective's bandleader and drummer Femi Koleoso returns to The Breakfast Spread to tell Milo how his five-piece UK jazz outfit has blossomed into one of Britain’s most eclectic and acclaimed music acts, and how their new album, Dance, No One's Watching, was conceived as an ode to the sacred, yet joyous act of dancing. Tune in early on Tuesday morning to hear more.

Country music artist Gretta Ziller has been in the music scene from 2011. Since playing the violin at age 3, she has a Bachelor of Music from Melbourne University up her sleeve and released her third album ‘All These Walls’ last year, which explores themes of love, self-belief, and self-worth. Tune into Transfigurations as Lucas chats with Gretta.

Bristol-based electronic producer Om Unit has been making cutting-edge bass music since the 1990s. A lover of drum n bass, jungle and dubstep, Om Unit has put out releases on such seminal labels as Metalheadz, and performs live both behind the decks and with live electronics. On October 10th, presented by Modern Hypnosis & Proxemics, Om Unit will perform his critically acclaimed album ‘Acid Dub Studies’ at Howler in Brunswick. Ahead of this show, he drops in to play a guest mix on The Blend.

Music industry consultant Sarah Hamilton has over 15 years experience in the digital side of the music world. She aims to help artists and others navigate the digital space and the rise of streaming. Tune into Homebrew as she stops by to share her knowledge with Brooke.

Folk singer Ailsa Mitchell has a way of transporting you to the picturesque mountains and clear blue waters as seen on her single artwork, through her soft vocals and layered harmonies. You can catch her live at this year’s Strawberry Fields presented by PBS, and she’ll be dropping by The Breakfast Spread to share some of her latest tunes for a live, acoustic performance.

Ash Wednesday has a long history as an adventurous, genre-bending musician both in Australia and internationally. He's been a member of diverse bands such as JAB, Models, and Einstürzende Neubauten as well as being a solo artist, spanning styles including punk, new wave, industrial, and the avant-garde. Ash has released a new album AfterMATH, performing on the Grand Organ of the Melbourne Town Hall. Ash joins Ian to chat about the album and the challenge of living with multiple sclerosis.

Matt Stonehouse is a musician, composer and instrument maker based in St Andrews. He specialises in Arabic and Turkish styles of drumming and is featured on more than forty albums of both local and international artists. Matt pops in to Global Village to illustrate various styles of frame-drumming and to chat about a workshop he's doing at the Ballarat-based Centre for Rare Trades and Forgotten Arts on the weekend of October 18 – 20.

The Bamboos' keyboardist and co-leader of 11-piece Afro-Cuban band La Influencia Daniel Mougerman visits PBS for an intimate chat with Juan Colombo ahead of La Influencia's Fed Square performance on October 18th as part of the very first day of Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Tune in to Fiesta Jazz to hear more.

Acclaimed Nigerian musician Seun Kuti's upcoming album with his Egypt 80 band is titled ‘Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)’ and will hit the streets on October 4th via Milan-based label Record Kicks. Ahead of the release of this much-anticipated album, and the band's performance at Strawberry Fields in November, Seun speaks with DJ Manchild about the new album and how it extends his father Fela Kuti's political and musical legacy. Tune in to The Breakdown on Friday from 3pm.