Alternative pop artist ROKI started writing and producing music at a young age as a creative outlet, and later headed up multiple bands. After taking a brief hiatus from music to pursue her love of filmmaking, she returned, producing new tracks with Ben Kaplan (Mother Mother) and Winston Hauschild (Wanting Qu). During the process of recording her debut solo album, MOTHER, she experienced the greatest changes and challenges of her life: becoming a mother while losing her own. The latter spun her into a darker state, and unsure how to process her grief she poured herself into her music. 

2024 will herald a new era of sound for ROKI with her Lovable EP – dreamier, brighter, “loved up” and hopeful for new possibilities. With the message of trying to make love work, she was inspired to write “Hand’s Up” following a tiff with her partner. “There’s always going to be ups and downs,” she reflects. “[It’s about] figuring out how to navigate the ebbs and flows with more grace and understanding…sometimes you just have to put your hands up in the air, and say enough” to keep the peace.

Sydney Punk duo Scum Fu have just released their explosive new single called ‘Shannon Lives Next Door’, which was premiered exclusively via
AAA Backstage.

Scum Fu’s bare-bones DIY approach to recording and playing is ever present on their latest single release ‘Shannon Lives Next Door’. The single was recorded and mixed entirely by the band themselves. 

“Shannon Lives Next Door is a chaotic mess of anger and noise written about one of the dirtiest neighbours of all time. With her keen ability to infest an entire apartment block with cockroaches, the tune pays tribute to Shannon’s degenerate lifestyle and tormented neighbours before her untimely eviction.”

Young and angry, Scum Fu have spent the last year bringing their own brand of aggressive genre-bending sludge Punk to every dingy pub humanly possible.

Kicking off in 2022 the bands gig schedule has been relentless. Employing a ‘play anywhere, anytime mentality’, Scum Fuhave found themselves worming their way into Stoner, Doom, Punk, Extreme Metal and Rock scenes across NSW. Infamous for their chaotic and head-splitting live shows, you’d be hard pressed to find a louder 2-piece.

Fellow Camper is a folk duo featuring Lee Watson and Benjamin Roy. They sing in a close, two-part harmony style, drawing inspiration from Canadian folk pioneers who graced the stages of Toronto’s Yorkville music scene in the 60s and 70s. Combine that with a modern sensibility, and you’ve got Fellow Camper.

Ben and Lee met at camp where they each experienced lots of moments laying under the stars next to friends – or someone who maybe could be more than that – and seeing these satellites in the sky. In those moments, you catch yourself thinking about the future and which of these relationships are gonna stick and which ones will end up on different paths where you might not see them again. Their song, “Satellites” (feat. Meredith Moon), is about those missed connections, and what could’ve been if things had been different.

ailing from a small town in the Philippines, HAIDEE‘s passion for music started in karaoke, singing contests, and Sunday worship services. At 16, she moved across the world to reunite with her mom, who had immigrated seven years before. Now based in Edmonton, music remained the only thing familiar to her.

The first three years of HAIDEE’s career made her a household name in the Edmonton music scene, and she independently landed placements with radio stations CKUA, CJSR, and CBC Radio One. 

Her new eight song LP, This Shouldn’t Be Typical, is an honest take from HAIDEE about the good and bad from her life, and her experience growing up as a woman of colour. 

The song “Typical” was inspired by her and her family’s experiences as first-generation immigrants in Canada. HAIDEE watched her parents leave a comfortable life with a supportive community back home in the Philippines, to move to Edmonton and start all over again with next to nothing. Their sacrifices made a thoughtful impact on HAIDEE, who promised to herself to write songs not just for herself, but also for her community. 

HAIDEE further explains, “During the pandemic, there was increased violence against the Asian community. I wanted to uplift our voices and experiences through a song. I wanted it to be a collaboration between another person of colour so I reached out to Josh Sahunta to write a song about this topic.”

Darryl Kissick is a songwriter from Regina, Saskatchewan, releasing his third full-length album. Rather than write about personal experiences, he opted to challenge himself and make each song in Goodbye Patterns about something supernatural or paranormal like werewolves, aliens, spirits, time loops and alternate dimensions.

“Not Myself” was one of the last songs written for the 11-track album, built around the piano chords. This one is loosely about turning into a werewolf at night. Not meant to be taken too seriously, it’s inspired by the desire to escape the mundanity of day-to-day life and let the id take over.

South African/Canadian multidisciplinary CON THE ARTIST bleeds creativity into anything he touches. From scoring films and producing records, to sound design, video direction and recently working with a 34 piece orchestra in Greece, CON has his hands in every aspect of his art. “As a younger person, my favorite artists were like superheroes to me, helping me find a sense of identity through their music. I want my music to provide a sense of ‘home’ or comfort for others who can relate to my lyrics or sound. I hope to never stop growing and evolving musically,” says CON THE ARTIST. 

With a bold approach and an avant garde vision, these infectious bops are ready to set off into the stratosphere. The latest of which is “Life Of The Party,” a cheeky laid-back tune about dating somebody you like… but other people don’t see them in the same light. “All your friends say that your partner is too this or too that… But no one knows them the way that you do when you are alone and in your own space,” CON explains. “They may be ‘boring’ to everyone else, but to you, they are the life of the party.”

Sydney based Alt-Rock artist Sarah Jane has unveiled her sublime new single and music video called ‘Wollongong Road’, which was premiered exclusively via AAA Backstage.

“Wollongong Road delves into my personal experience in a previous unhealthy relationship. Touching on my own journey to self-realisation that maybe I shouldn’t be blaming myself for someone else’s behaviour. The song explores the daunting feeling of knowing I needed to leave and facing the reality of the situation.”

The single is taken from her upcoming album release called ‘Yes, I’ve Been Crying’. The new album set for release on Nov 17. 

Sarah Jane captivates audiences with her unique sound and introspective lyrics. Her music is a captivating fusion of raw, intimate melodies that encapsulate the profound feeling of heartache.

Influenced by the likes of Radiohead, Failure, PJ Harvey, Hayley Williams, and Deftones, her sound resonates with haunting beauty and emotional depth. With mesmerizing vocals, vulnerable lyrics, and an atmospheric blend of alternative rock, she crafts a sonic experience that delves deep into the depths of her emotions.

New single ‘Wollongong Road’ is available on all major online stores and streaming services.