Words by Kate Johnson

WEST THEBARTON – ‘HUMBLE HEART’

There was an article in Yewth magazine, back when that was a thing, about West Thebarton. A caption reads: ‘7 members in a band... what were we thinking?’ Today, the now six-piece know exactly what they offer — solid West Thebby pub rock. Yes, they are their own genre and ‘Humble Heart’ is classic them. Lead vocalist Ray has a voice so unique it sounds like he’s being transmitted through AM radio. The chorus chants ‘Love to Love your humble heart’, which is a cute thing to sing, and its totally gig-ready. Many Australian bands have credited West Thebarton as an influence — but there will only be one West Thebarton. Apart from the suburb, of course.

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THE DANGER DOLPHINS – ‘MOTHER’S DAUGHTER, SICK DOG’

Study music! Ambience! Zen! Put this in your playlist for a ‘breather’. But keep those dancing shoes handy, ’cause ‘Mother’s Daughter, Sick Dog’ will soon evolve into wavy experimental rock. This track is simple but ever-changing, with Zac’s voice as smooth as a dolphin’s back. Before you know it, the track is grungy, then angelic, then returns to ambient study music. Lyrically speaking, it’s evocative of The Beatles, but The Danger Dolphins are certainly bringing something new. ‘Mother’s Daughter, Sick Dog’ is streaming now.

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***Image by*** ***@parttimeloversband***

PART TIME LOVERS – ‘LONDON GANGSTER’

This is a cautionary tale to 'leave those bad motherfuckers alone'. You won't survive. You're not a London Gangster. All this is bundled up in a matter-of-fact manner. Not that Part Time Lovers lack swagger: they use heavy bass lines and take advantage of stereo audio. The drums and guitar are symphonic, while male and female vocalists ride a cyclone up to your frontal lobe. 'London Gangster' has metaphors, themes and plenty of cryptics – it could fuel an epic dinner party discussion. Give it a listen.

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BROMHAM – ‘WILLIAM AND GUDULA’

Could this be the folk tale of the season? There's zero mention of a verandah and an old rocking chair, though there’s talk of moving to Kangaroo Valley, 'where there's more wombats than kangaroos'. The story begins in 2022 when Bromham was staying at a lady's place during a folk festival. Her name was Gudula: she watched his set, loving that he played the accordion, just like her late husband, William. From five years old, the accordion was William’s thing. By high school, he was using it to fend off bullies -- folk, disco, rock, you name it, the kids wanted music, so William played. This got him invited to all the parties, and hey, nobody lays hands on the entertainer! The legacy lives on, because William's accordion was gifted to Bromham – which features on the track. Finer details about William and Gudula's love story are on Instagram @bromhammusic.

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ALEKSIAH – ‘24’

Here’s a hack to make your music popular: make the title an age. It's clickbait that’s asking ‘are your early-twenties experiences like mine?’ Local artist aleksiah shares her thoughts through fast-paced production, nostalgic storytelling and a radio-friendly voice. The industry is watching, with Vogue Australia featuring her in an article on six Australian musicians set to take over in 2024.' Go Vogue. Go aleksiah.

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