Curated New Song Selections
A Kiwi group: finally.
For some reason Spotify does not publish it's "Australian and New Zealand" New Release Friday category anymore.
In fact, Spotify seems to be doing it's best to make it harder and harder to find country or region specific new releases by genre or type.
Which is a big pain.
Anyway.
This is the new single by the New Zealand group, The Response, who originally joined up in Vancouver, Canada and then 'moved back' to Christchurch, New Zealand (hard to find out exactly what that means).
More, anyway.
Some label them as 'Indie Pop', only I find this song closer to Indie Rock, which is why it's featured here.
A single released 19 March 2025.
Yes, more Aussies.
These guys are from The Northern Beaches, New South Wales - which is all those beaches going up from Manly to Palm Beach (yes, there's one there as well, only fortunately no lake).
I have been listening to this group on and off since their 'Minivan' EP come out in 2023 - check out Talking to Walls - and they are one of the groups that make me say I still think the best Indie and Indie Rock music comes from Australia.
Released 14 March 2025 as a single.
First time here for this group from Swensea in South Wales.
Their Spotify blurb calls them alt indie rock, which figures.
Great song.
A single released on 7 March 2025.
This song is frankly different from their recent releases.
I understand that the beat is harking back to the 80's, and that's great. What is also great is that sax is back in the mix.
Interesting song.
Released as a single on 26 February 2025, from his upcoming album, "Dream Into It", as yet unreleased on Spotify.
Hard to believe: he's back!
And how.
Classic Idol, with the voice, the punch and that fantastic guitar work by Steve Stevens, yep, same guy who blow us all away with it on Rebel Yell way back in 1983.
This album is touted as his first in 11 years.
Only don't miss out on his really great single, Bitter Taste, released on 11 August 2021, and probably one of the best romantic rock songs in a long, long while.
Single released 21 February 2025.
More Aussies.
This time by the Byron Bay/Northern Rivers band (North New South Wales to everyone else).
Liked 'Let Me Go' when it came out in November 2023.
Check them out, there's many more
'Unaware' by Maia Toakley from her new EP BEFORE I LET GO
Released 21 February 2025.
Another Toakley favourite of mine is 'Eye To Eye' from her 2023 EP 'Reverie'.
Maia Toakley is from Sydney.
'Feeling Blue' by The Bracknall released 7 February 2025, from their new album 'Falling Out Of View'
First came across this British rock group with the release of the single 'I Don't Understand It' in February 2021.
This new album has 12 songs on it, so lots of others to listen and like.
'Feeling Blue' is just my choice.
Released as a single 12 February 2025.
Another great song from this indie rock group from Perth, Western Australia.
Sucker by Chloe Slater
From her new EP 'Love Me Please'
Released 4 February 2025
My pick from the EP, and just getting into this one, and yes, Fig Tree is cool too.
Hell, listen to the whole EP.
Released 7 February 2025
Been following these guys, like, forever.
Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't click with their new releases. And thought with the opening bars that I would not with this one.
Ha!
This is a cool, mellow song, one for a cold winter evening in the warm.
Give it time, and on top of it all it's a got a sax.
Released as a single on 31 January 2025.
Not sure why, only thought I had come across this group a while back, pre-covid.
Turns out I'm dreaming, as they only formed in 2023, so must have been having premonitions!
Also check out "Never Be The Same Again".
Released as a single on 15 January 2025.
What not to say about Bilk?
An English Indie rock band from Chelmsford in Essex who I have been following ever since the release of the intriguing named 'I Got Knocked out the Same Night England did' on 20 May 2020.
Still think they are the most underappreciated current UK rock band.
From the Album 'The Child'
Released 17 January 2025
Geowulf used to be Star Kendrick and Toma Banjanin, originally from the 'Sunny' or Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
First came across their 2018 album “Great Big Blue”, released in February that year, with many 'liked' songs on that, and personal favorite 'Greatest Fool'.
Used to be, as this latest album is Kendrick going solo.
Released 3 January 2025
Originally came across this artist with the release of her 2018 EP album, simply named 'Ariel Beesley', with “Chase Me Around” hitting my repeat play list at the time.
No idea why she became Tender Misfit, not that it changes anything, as it's always a pleasure to listen to her new releases.
Fantastic dual guitar work in this great song from this rock band from Chicago.
Song released as a single on 20 December 2025.
