This Month In New Music: The Tracks You Need To Hear Before September Is Out

Zig Zag - I Care About You

Picked by: Andrew Mast

It’s been a long lockdown for parts of this country, and a good song to scream along too is just what’s needed. So, after you’ve finished yelling along with the Amyl & The Sniffers’ new album, jump on to this screeching guitar rocker and its shouty refrains. It’s a loud love song, out of Melbourne, written for these times: “It feels like every single time we get up / We’re getting kicked in the guts.” Open a window, blare it out and randomly yell “I CARE ABOUT YOU” to a loved one, a pet, a neighbour in lockdown, the planet, etc… It feels good.

Ngaiire - 3

Picked by: Jessica Dale

The first thing that strikes you with Ngaiire's 3 is its overwhelming beauty. Coming in at just 1.38, the track opens the album of the same name and sets an incredible tone for the release. The album is described as "an exploration Ngaiire's roots and is her most personal yet" and is easily one of the strongest, most important albums of 2021. Get it in your ears ASAP.

Twelve Foot Ninja - Over & Out feat. Tatiana Shmayluk

Picked by: Tiana Speter

Adding some Jinjer spice into proceedings, Melbourne heavy fusion bunch Twelve Foot Ninja take a bold step closer to their impending new album Vengeance due out next month, teaming up with the utter powerhouse Tatiana Shmayluk from Ukrainian metallers Jinjer on their latest track Over & Out. With plenty of theatrical flourishes and some mouth-watering harmonies between Shmayluk and Twelve Foot frontman Kin Etik, the croon-factor is high on Over & Out amid the trademark fuzz, stomp and percolating rhythmics. Shmayluk’s vocals err on the cleaner side for the majority of her stint in Twelve Foot Ninja territory, but there’s no denying Twelve Foot have found an elegant way to unite themes of morality with their own unique twist. Are Twelve Foot Ninja a prog, djent or funked-up metal band? Not knowing is half the fun, and Over & Out proves that in spades.

Birds Of Tokyo - Superglue feat. Bonnie Fraser

Picked by: Dan Cribb

File this under ‘Collaborations We Didn’t Know We Needed’. Superglue sees WA rockers Birds Of Tokyo enlist Stand Atlantic’s Bonnie Fraser for guest vocals. On collaborating with Fraser, guitarist/songwriter/producer Adam Spark said that she was “the first name on our list”. And it sounds like they’re hoping to play the song live together soon! Superglue is the first taste of more new music to come from the band and is accompanied by an awesome video from long-time collaborator, director Zac Lynch-Woodlock.

Halsey - You asked for this

Picked by: Jessica Dale

Halsey's If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power has been out for a few weeks now and quite frankly, we're still not over it (though we doubt we ever will be). The latest evolution of the US artist, Halsey has delivered another stunning addition to their already impressive back catalogue. On You asked for this, Halsey brings together a trio of powerhouse collaborators - Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and producer and songwriter Greg Kurstin (known for his work with artists like Adele, Lily Allen, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney and more) - and it's everything you could hope for and more. 

ABBA - I Still Have Faith In You

Picked by: Andrew Mast

An instant classic. A perfectly produced ballad that begins with a tinge of sadness and ends with a big, uplifting hug of hope and harmonies. The reunion of this Swedish pop quartet could have gone all kinds of wrong but when their virtual comeback concert finds them collaborating with the likes of Little Boots, James Righton (Klaxons) and Baillie Walsh, you know they still understand an Important Pop Moment. There is dramatic piano, strings upon strings, chimes, soaring guitar and HUGE DRUMS. But, most importantly there are Benny and Bjorn’s hooks with Anna and Frida’s voices. This was never meant to happen but it has and it’s all very overwhelming. 

Blood Command - The End Is Her

Picked by: Tiana Speter

If you needed a song to make life feel OK right now (and frankly, who doesn’t?), the brand new track from Norwegian rockers Blood Command is an anthem for turning chaos into beauty - with an unexpected nostalgic pop punk twist. Armed with new vocalist, Aussie Nikki Brumen of Pagan fame, The End Is Her takes a huge swerve away from the band’s previous release, the acidic party-starter A Villain’s Monologue, which also marked Brumen’s first foray in the Blood Command world. The End Is Her has far more sugar than spice overall than its predecessor, momentarily and entirely unexpectedly plunging you back to the early days of Paramore (a sentence which will likely bewilder Blood Command diehard fans, but in 2021 - anything goes). The end may be her on this latest track, but the future is Blood Command’s for the taking.

Frank Turner - Haven’t Been Doing So Well

Picked by: Dan Cribb 

Frank Turner always hits the mark when it comes to relatability. Despite the song's somewhat sombre lyrics, Haven’t Been Doing So Well feels like another uplifting anthem from the UK singer-songwriter. It’s raw, emotional and damn catchy.

Johnny Hunter - Life

Picked by: Jessica Dale

We've been big fans of Johnny Hunter for a while now (read: this glowing review from BIGSOUND 2019) and so it's no surprise that their single, Life, is already a firm favourite for us, despite only being released yesterday. "The sun is shining, it's time for change, appreciate what you have, know who you are and lose yourself in Life," said frontman Nick Hutt of the track. "Inspired by the moral dilemma I faced pulling beers for alcoholics to sustain a week to week pay cheque that was almost always whimsically spent on alcohol for myself. These people were dying right in front of my eyes (some did die) and I was joining them." Life is just another stellar example of why Johnny Hunter are one of the country's most promising bands.