TALENT ON TAP // NEW MUSIC FOR SUMMER
BROUGHT TO YOU BY BURLEIGH BREWING CO.
Words by Emily Halloran
Summer is here, and with it comes a sizzling lineup of Gold Coast talent delivering new music to soundtrack the sweltering sunny days.
From introspective indie rock to powerful heavy anthems, infectious pop, and more, this bumper Summer Edition of Talent On Tap is your guide to what’s hot this season, proudly brought to you by Burleigh Brewing Co.
Our final music column for 2024, we bring to you a bumper wrap-up of all the new music that’s just launched or being released in the new year. Get your headphones ready – this one’s a scorcher.
NEW ALBUMS
SUMMER SPOTLIGHT: LUNAR SYRUP’S DREAM STATE WAR
Indie-psych rockers Lunar Syrup have had a very busy 2024, releasing a bunch of new singles throughout the year, but it’s their latest album Dream State War that has caught our attention.
Dream State War is the second coming album from Lunar Syrup since forming in 2019. It follows the concept of duality, the push and pull of dark and light, highlighting the darker sides of life and how we can eventually find understanding and peace within the chaos.
Featuring eight tracks oozing with pop and dreamy rock, our top picks are Always and Dark Rainbows but we recommend taking the journey and listening to the album in order from start to finish.
HABA DUDES – AUSSIE TELEFONE
The Haba Dudes are back with a fresh new album that makes a perfect soundtrack for summer. A seventh album release for the band, Aussie Telefóne is packed with 11 tracks of laidback, upbeat, feel-good tunes. Mostly a solo effort by frontman Mark Boulle, this album was produced with long-time Haba Dudes collaborator Andy Woollard (aka. Billy-Joel remarkable) on drums for tracks 2, 4, and 6, with backing vocals from Mark’s daughter Ruby on tracks 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 & 11. We recommend giving Love Me So and Low Down a spin.
WILDHEART RELEASE NEW ALBUM
Gold Coast heavy hitters Wildheart have newly released an eight-track ‘Metalcore’ sophomore album, Searching For Life Beyond Tragedy. Exploring sadness, grief and anger, this album highlights the inaction on the very things threatening the planet, including war, climate change, corporate greed, discrimination and global catastrophes. Raw, heavy, and unapologetically bold, Wildheart have cemented their place as advocates of hope and empowerment in the music scene.
TRILLA BRINGS THE FEELS AGAIN
TRILLA is back with her seventh release of 2024, delivering yet another powerful and soul-stirring new track. The release, Tethers, is a new addition to the EP Tethers. Featuring four tracks, this EP is nothing short of heartfelt anthems with themes of surrendering, embracing change, and finding balance in slowing down. Tethers (song) is packed with raw emotion and presence. This song is both healing and a reminder of the strength in transformation.
THE DROPICS LUCK OUT WITH NEW EP
A fresh band to the Gold Coast music scene, Dropics have released their first EP, Lucked Out. Having formed in 2023, the five-piece alt/indie-rock band draw inspiration for their original music from the likes of Ocean Alley, Paramore and The Backseat Lovers. The EP bounces between raw hard rock (Supersonic Missile) and catchy indie (Picture Frame). Throughout the past year, Dropics have released a bunch of singles and we expect a huge year from them in 2025.
NEW RELEASES
POP PERFECTION: CHLOE BEHRENS – NOT YOURS
Emerging Gold Coast singer and songwriter Chloe Behrens has taken a step into the world of pop, releasing a new track Not Yours. Infused with nostalgic melodies and empowering lyrics, the track is a playful, yet heartfelt anthem inspired by personal experiences.
ELECTRIFYING BRAND NEW CHAVEZ CARTEL
Gold Coast rockers Chavez Cartel has released a brooding new single All I Know. This track features familiar sounds of the Velvet Underground and The Cure, with a hazy and gritty punk soundscape. All I Know showcases Chavez Cartel’s trademark intensity and evocative lyrics.
MEET SATELLITE MILE
Satellite Mile steps onto the scene with their debut single Recurring Dreams. Fronted by Ben Love, this brand-new project takes listeners on a genre-bending journey, blending atmospheric guitar, analogue synths, and haunting vocals into a lush, cinematic soundscape. Produced with Peet Gardner at Brisbane’s So Soap Studios and mixed by the legendary Paul Gomersall (Kate Bush, Genesis, George Michael), Recurring Dreams is the first taste of Satellite Mile’s upcoming debut album The Waters Edge.
NEW ON THE SCENE: SON JNR
Proud Māori artist Son Jnr brings heartfelt storytelling and soulful melodies with his debut single Stone Cold. The soul and RnB singer/songwriter explores the vulnerability of feeling unseen in a long-term relationship in this song. Stone Cold’s poignant lyrics and emotive delivery make it a standout release, resonating with audiences through themes of connection and healing.
SUPER MASSIVE RETURNS TO CATCH YOU IN THEIR WEB
Genre-bending duo Glenn Abbott and Malina Hamilton-Smith of Super Massive, are back from a four-year release hiatus with new single Caught In A Web. This alternative-pop banger fuses synth-rock, electro-pop, and EDM for an infectious track brimming with energy. Featuring seductive vocals, a massive drop, and dynamic percussion, the song captures the zeitgeist of 2024 – the tangled dance between virtual and real-world connections. With mixing by ARIA-winning engineer Daniel Denholm (Sia, Kylie Minogue) and mastering by Michael Lynch (Midnight Oil), Caught In A Web is a bold, must-hear release.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR MYLES
At just 15 years old, MYLES showcases understanding beyond his years with Jokes on You, a raw and reflective track about overcoming betrayal. With blues and grunge influences, this emotionally charged single highlights MYLES’ talent as a songwriter and guitarist. Produced by Gold Coast’s George Carpenter, featuring Ian Peres (bass) and Paul Blakey (mastering), Jokes on You is a powerful anthem for resilience and growth. This track follows his debut Blame, released earlier this year.
CHARLIE MITCHELL MAKES A DEBUT
Recorded live with a 15-piece Big Band and produced by the legendary Louie Shelton, 18-year-old emerging artist Charlie Mitchell has made his entrance into the music scene with original song, Swing. Inspired by his father once saying ‘we need a bit more swing’, this track celebrates the joy of the Swing era while delivering a fresh twist: delivering infectious rhythm and rich brass arrangements to transport listeners to a bygone era, breathing new life into jazz and swing for modern audiences.
HAMMERS UNLEASH WITH NEW SINGLE
HAMMERS are back, louder and bolder than ever, with their latest single, F*cked Around & Found Out. Having built a solid reputation over the years for pairing chaotic energy with razor-sharp songwriting, and their latest single, F*cked Around & Found Out, is a testament to their evolution. FAAFO marks the start of an exciting new chapter for HAMMERS. With a forthcoming record in the works, fans can expect even more searing riffs, fierce songwriting, and the signature HAMMERS chaos we know and love.
FAKE NEWS CRACK OPEN A NEW SINGLE
Punk-rock agitators Fake News are raising a toast to chaos with their brand-new single Beer, a boisterous anthem that captures the unfiltered energy of their live shows. Blending punchy punk hooks with relentless energy, Fake News says of the 1.25 minute song: ‘it’s about beer because we like beer’. So much so, the band teamed up with Blackflag Brewing to create the Fake News Everyday Warrior lager – the perfect pairing for their brewery-filmed music video.
COMING SOON: NEW AMELA
Indie-folk singer and songwriter Amela has tipped off the GCMN about her latest release, Cycle, set to drop in late January. Produced by George Carpenter, we were given a preview of the release and can confirm the track showcases Amela’s signature ethereal vocals and heartfelt songwriting that we all know and love. Stay tuned for this one.
STREAM THE TALENT ON TAP SUMMER PLAYLIST NOW!
The Gold Coast Music Network’s Talent On Tap is brought to you by Burleigh Brewing.
ARE YOU A GOLD COAST ARTIST WITH NEW MUSIC ON THE HORIZON? WE WANT TO HEAR IT!
We’re taking a brief pause – Talent On Tap will be back in February 2025 with some new year bangers!
If you’ve released new music or have something due for release in December, January or February, shoot us the details for the chance to be considered for the next ‘Talent On Tap’ column. Email our new music guru Sam Morris on newmusic@gcmusicnetwork.com.au with a link to the song (Spotify preferred), an artist press shot and a few words/media release about the track or album being released.