Here you can find all feature interviews and articles.
Words: James Frostick
Band image: Chris Cornale
After several years in the wilderness, wickedly wayward Sydney rock-and-roll legends Circle Pit are back with a new-old EP. Wicked Wicked Time is comprised of four tracks written in the early stages of the band’s career, encapsulating them at a reckless, destructive, enlivening and entertaining part of their existence. Continue reading Premiere: CIRCLE PIT – WICKED WICKED TIME (DERO ARCADE, 2020)
Words: James Frostick
Image: Jonno Revanche
Meatspin records has been responsible for putting out some of the most exciting sounds emanating from Sydney’s underground music scene. Ahead of a flurry of new releases, we chatted with Meatspin’s head honcho (and music journalist / musician of note) Max Easton about the label’s genesis, its creative ethos and how small-scale labels remain the lifeblood of Australia’s fringe music industry.
Words: James Frostick
Artist image: Liz Ham
It’s been just over a month since heralded darkwave artist V released their grief-saturated opus So Pure, and its reverberations are still being felt across the scene. We are looping back to chat to V about the record, its inspirations and the idea of confronting loss through music.
Words: James Frostick
Band image: Danielle Hakim
It’s been almost three years since Ausmuteants gifted the world with new music, but now the Melbourne-based rabble-rousers are back with a particularly idiosyncratic new record. Ausmuteants … Presents The World In Handcuffs is the brainchild of guitarist Shaun Connor, a collection of tracks that explores the mind of an unhinged police officer.
Words: James Frostick
Band Photo: Kim Walls
It’s a big day for Tasmanian trio All The Weathers. The exciting, electric and eclectic band is releasing its brand-new record ... For the Worms today through Rough Skies Records. The record is a lively and nuanced album of off-beat and rollicking art punk – urgent in parts, sombre in others. … For the Worms see’s the band make full use of each member’s talents – it showcases a musical versatility and creative knack for conveying sentiments in unique ways without lessening the impact of its message.
Continue reading Premiere: ALL THE WEATHERS – …FOR THE WORMS (ROUGH SKIES, 2019)
Words: James Frostick
Melbourne’s Pest is an amalgamation of some of the city’s finest proponents of hardcore punk. The group released an EP at the end of 2018 infused with fiery protest punk – potent, immediate and aggressive. Ahead of the band’s tour of New South Wales this month, we caught up with the group to talk evolution, the efficacy of protest songs in 2019 and how protest factors into the band’s overall ethos.
Continue reading Interview: PEST
Words: James Frostick
Image: Jamie Wdziekonski
Erica Dunn – known to many as the magnetic guitarist and vocalist for bands such as MOD CON and Tropical Fuck Storm – has unplugged and mellowed for her solo guise Palm Springs. Palm Springs & Friends is Erica’s new album, out officially today through Tender Collection. The record is an incredible collection of outsider folk, plumbing the depths of Erica’s mind and offering eight tracks that are startling in their immediacy and lingering in their impact. It’s our pleasure to premiere the album in full, as well as to talk to Erica about the record’s formation and creative intent.
Continue reading Premiere: PALM SPRINGS – PALM SPRINGS & FRIENDS (TENDER COLLECTION, 2018)
Words: James Frostick
Melbourne-via-Bonny Hills trio Dumb Punts are celebrating the release of their new LP The Big One through Pissfart Records. Filled with strong riffs, mongrelised energy and world-weary lyrics, The Big One is a vital entrant into the revitalised and burgeoning Aus-rock scene.
Words: James Frostick
Image: Ella Maximillion
At the end of June, Brisbane’s Rebel Yell released its debut album Hired Muscle through Rice is Nice. The record is filled from top to tail with resonant electro – a mesmerising intersection between vulnerable openness and furious cry of anger. We spoke briefly with Rebel Yell’s Grace Stevenson about the album’s creation and thematic intent.
Words: James Frostick
HTMLflowers banner image: Shannon May Powell
The arrival of Swampland Magazine marked a defining moment in Australian music journalism. An independent publication had been built from scratch, declaring intent to revitalise interest in long-form analysis of music from Australia’s cultural fringe. Four issues on and the magazine is staying true to its founding goal, reigniting a passion for print and the opportunities it can provide.
Continue reading Feature: SWAMPLAND MAGAZINE AND THE FIGHT FOR LONG-FORM
