Hello and welcome to our fortnightly indie artists column. Head here if you missed the previous instalment, featuring Gordon Koang, Emma Russack and Delivery.
Every fortnight, we round up the best new Victorian bands and artists making waves online, underground and on the airwaves.
For those looking to keep an ear to the ground with the best emerging acts, this column will have you covered every two weeks with Victoria’s finest.
This fortnight, we’ve been digging the brand new single and accompanying remixes from 30/70, the welcome return of Melbourne indie rock legends Snowy Band, and the brilliant Parvyn, who fuses eastern and western sounds on her debut single.
Keep up with the latest music interviews, news and reviews here.
30/70
Melbourne jazz-funk legends 30/70 recently released ‘Tastes Like Freedom’, a nine-minute head-nodder that’s actually one of their most directly danceable songs to date. Driven by the lush sax notes of Josh Kelly and the pristine vocals of Allysha Joy, it’s a well-earned cathartic release after a year spent mostly inside.
Now, UK label Rhythm Section is releasing a special remix collection on 12” that features Melbourne production royalty Tornado Wallace (who’s now based in Berlin, but will always be a Melburnian at heart). Described as a “hot pink sunset”, it promises to transport us to the “long lost festival floor” and by the sounds of things, sees Wallace getting back to his Balaeric best.
Kiwis Chaos in the CBD, Yu Su and Carista also provide takes on the track. We’ll have to wait until Friday August 13 to hear Tornado’s take, but for now the original has us longing for brighter Melbourne days.
Tastes Like Freedom: Remixed is out Friday August 13 via Rhythm Section.
Snowy Band
It wouldn’t be a lockdown without a new Snowy Band album. The ever-prolific and dearly-beloved four-piece released their last album Audio Commentary when the world ended in March 2020, and now they’re back with its follow-up just in the wake of #LockdownNo5.
Two tracks are currently available from Alternate Endings: the dreamy and delicate ‘Whatever You Want’ – which has shades of Spiritualized’s Lazer Guided Melodies about it – and ‘Living With Myself’, which sports more of that classic Snowy Band soft-rock sound with the melodic firepower of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.
Both are equally as cosy as each other, and provide the perfect winter warming hug during these increasingly trying times.
Alternate Endings is out Friday August 27 via Bandcamp.
Parvyn
Best known for her work with the cult psychedelic band The Bombay Royale, Melbourne-based singer, dancer and musician Parvyn Singh is launching a solo career with her debut single ‘What You See’ – a gloriously wicked tune that packs a UK garage bounce in with deep bass, eastern strings and sticky-sweet R&B vocals.
It’s produced by Joelistics, who’s a member of Melbourne hip hop crew TZU and also a solo artist in his own right. The bringing together of eastern and western sounds is brilliantly done and totally moreish, so here’s hoping there’s more on the way from this rising star.
‘What You See’ is out now via Bandcamp.
Keen on another fun read? Check out the latest instalment of our singles column.
