Words by Kate Johnson

ALLDAY – ‘ACCESS’

Who makes soft rap? Allday does. Raised in Blackwood, Allday has a chilled Adelaide Hills attitude which shines through in his effortless spoken rap. He’s been dropping tracks since 2011, and has stayed true to his style. He’s cheeky, confident, and pure (though, he adopts modern hip-hop trends for the kids who say ‘sheesh’…). And he’s quite funny, too: “You got a black dress – it’s backless. You got the assets – front and back sets.” ‘Access’ never slumps and it’s littered with contemporary, Australian references, so while there’s a lot of hype about international rappers, we can always claim Allday as one of ours.

Listen here.

TUSHAR – ‘PEACHES AND WINE’

Did you hear that indie artists generated ‘about half’ of Spotify’s revenue last year? TUSHAR fits the mould, and I bet the average indie listener would add this to their playlist – especially when the ‘lalalalalala’ hits. ‘Peaches and Wine’ discusses a fraud, fake or manipulator and TUSHAR gets you thinking about ‘that person’. Do you know a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman with blood on her hands that still has time to dance? Then this song might ‘Hit Different’.

Listen here.

TYCARNI – ‘FAKE CRY’

tycarni has matched the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack, only with mellow vibe. And quite right too, after all, this is Adelaide, not Seattle. If you know the phrase ‘uwu’, that’s what we’re hearing here. ‘fake cry’ is sad girl with cool distorted drums, deep bass, and angelic backups. And yes, it’s all spelt in lowercase, just like any e-girl would.

Listen here.

NORMAL BEHAVIOUR – ‘ANIMAL’

‘I just want to be happier than you,’ they say. ‘Animal’ is a product of an obsessive, romantic, co-dependent relationship. It’s insightful and educational – treat it how you please. Despite the individualist subject matter, NORMAL BEHAVIOUR has made a mint-sounding song. An acoustic guitar is joined by echoes and piano, then drums lead to a soaring chorus. His mind is crazy, the music is clear and the tambourine is a nice touch. NORMAL BEHAVIOUR got me thinking what normal behaviour is. Well done.

Listen here.

HEAD IN THE OVEN – ‘DELUGE’

Are you someone who remains calm under pressure? Then this chaotic song will get you solving problems right now. ‘Deluge’ is a screamo track with consistent, fast-paced instruments. Head in the Oven are a 5-piece creating originals in a ‘studio connected to a garage’, and they sound like Rage, Nirvana or Mudhoney. ‘Deluge’ is here for you to indulge in. Scream on! Attendee panel closed.

Listen here.