Sydney based Alt Metal outfit Dirt City are back at it again with the release of their soaring new single ‘Envy’, which premiered exclusively via Metal Roos.
Dirt City employ a synth-heavy, industrial-like futurism to their music rarely found in heavy rock. There are moments of ambience found beneath the drum-heavy breakdowns, thunderous riffage, and melodic vocals that give the listener moments to appreciate the true soul that makes Dirt City’s exposition of alternative metal especially captivating.
The band entered the studio in late 2024 to record a run of new singles set for release over the course of this year. The tracks were produced by Nathan Sheehy (DZ Deathrays, Birds of Tokyo) and mastered by Klaus Hill (PNAU, LDRU).
Dirt City kicked off 2025 with the release of their blistering single ‘Scratched’, which premiered exclusively via AAA Backstageand received positive coverage from The Point Music News, HEAVY Mag, AMNplify, Good Call Live and Metal Roos.
They quickly followed-up with their heart-wrenching single ‘Barely Human’. The single premiered exclusively via The Point Music News and gained airplay on over 100 radio stations worldwide.
New single ‘Envy’ is available on all major online streaming services.
Toronto indie/pop singer-songwriter and producer ARK IDENTITY returns with his latest single, “Still In Love”—a hypnotic track that explores the emotional limbo of heartbreak that refuses to fully fade.
“Still In Love” is the latest taste of ARK IDENTITY’s just-announced second EP, Deluxe Nightmare, a collection of dynamic, genre-bending indie pop songs slated for release on October 24th.
The song itself takes you on a journey, blending dream pop textures with indie sensibilities, hints of alt-R&B, culminating in a psychedelic finale. The song pulls listeners into a dreamy, otherworldly space where the past and present blur. “This song came from that weird space between holding on and letting go,” says Noah Mroueh, the artist behind ARK IDENTITY.
“It’s about still being in love with someone who’s already moved on—feeling pulled back into their orbit even though you know it’s not good for you.”
Melbourne based artist Duxie Franklin has just released her new single called ‘Wasting Time’, which premiered exclusively via The AU Review.
“How often do we get told to ‘stop wasting time’? But what really is ‘wasting time’? Who gets to decide what is valuable to do and what is not? My new single is about celebrating the joys of time well spent, in whatever way we choose, even if that means doing nothing. It’s an anthem for everyone that just wants to exist and revel in the amazingness that is simply being!”
The single is taken from her forthcoming EP called ‘In The Pool, Wasting Time’. The EP is set for release 18 July 2025. Duxie Franklin has also announced that she will be playing an EP launch show on 25 July at George Lane St Kilda.
Duxie Franklin effortlessly combines elements of Pop, Indie, Alternative and Folk to create her endearing sound. Her unique and catchy melodies draw frequent comparisons to legends such as Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Björk and Gillian Welch. Late 2024 saw the release of her Surf-Rock inspired single called ‘Chlorine’, which was the first offering from her upcoming EP release.
“Chlorine captures the carefree bliss of diving into the deep end, embracing the freedom and peace of underwater life. The track blends bright, upbeat instrumentals with Duxie’s signature quirky delivery, making it an instant earworm. The playful, fun energy in Chlorine is a breath of fresh air, offering a perfect escape from the everyday.”
AAA Backstage
New single ‘Wasting Time’ is available on all online streaming services.
DUXIE FRANKLIN EP LAUNCH SHOW
July 25 – George Lane St Kilda, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets available at door | 18+ only
With a groove-laced pulse and evocative lyrical abstraction, “Belladonna” marks a transportive new chapter for artist and songwriter Ev. G. Taken from his debut album, And Then I Go Up (out September 23rd), the avant-pop track merges asymmetrical rhythms with ethereal textures and subtle hip hop swagger to conjure a lush, hallucinatory atmosphere. Fittingly named after the infamous poisonous plant, “Belladonna” leads listeners down a curiously oblique path – somewhere between dream and distortion, clarity and mystery.
The single began with a simple piano loop and drum pattern from producer Brock Geiger, which later inspired a mumble-vocal demo from Ev. G. That raw seed evolved into a fully immersive sonic world shaped by Geiger, Will Maclellan, and a cast of standout musicians, including Gabe Noel (bass), Kane Ritchotte (drums), Ethan Gruska (ambient loops), and Clea Anaïs (cello). A vocoder-style vocal layer, first introduced by Maclellan, brought unexpected texture and set the tone for the rest of the track’s evolution.
“It deals with some of the feelings you get when things are still just unfolding in those early stages of a relationship,” shares Ev. G. “That strange awareness of all the uncertainty, and the excitement that comes with it.” Inspired equally by emotional ambiguity and the layered history of the belladonna plant – from ancient witchcraft to Renaissance-era cosmetics – the track explores dualities of danger and beauty, hope and delusion. “We rarely live in absolutes,” Ev. G notes. “Except my cat, Pinot. He absolutely rules.”
Hamilton, Ontario baroque-pop quartet Superstar Crush share their latest single, “They Keep Calling,” a bombastic power ballad rooted in female rage, emotional exhaustion, and mutual care. Tugging at the threads of pop rock melodrama, the track is the latest preview of their debut album, Way Too Much, due August 5th, and a vivid portrait of creative camaraderie and burnout survival.
Written from the perspective of lead singer Marzieh Darling – by her partner and bandmate Sam Hansell – “They Keep Calling” is a love letter in reverse: one that says “I see you,” when no one else does. Inspired by the overwhelming sense of obligation she carried as a confidant, friend, and university Resident Advisor, the song chronicles a descent into psychic static, with Marzieh as its electrified centre. “I didn’t really know how to help,” says Sam. “So I wrote a scenario where she finally stands up and asks to be heard.”
Toronto-based rock and roll revivalists Original Pairs unleash “Star Guitar,” a dark and defiant anthem to DIY spirit and six-string glory. Fueled by a caveman riff and retro-psych energy, the track is equal parts glam rock snarl and garage band grit – a love letter to every barstool shredder with something to prove.
Written in homage to the final days of Toronto’s storied Dakota Tavern, the song captures the bittersweet end of a beloved venue where the band once played regularly. “They stopped giving bands beer, the doorman disappeared, the sound tech ghosted – we knew it was over,” says guitarist/vocalist Andrew Frontini. “But we plugged in anyway. Because the show must go on.”
Recorded live off the floor at Lincoln County Social Club, the band powered through four tracks in one day. Exhausted and unraveling, they built in four silent beats to bridge two takes – only for keyboardist Jon Loewen to forget and play through the pause. That happy accident became the final cut, later crowned by a synth solo tracked in one take on John Dinsmore‘s vintage Moog, giving the song its warped, nostalgic edge.
Billboard-charting pop artist BAYLA is back with a powerful new single, “Anxious.” Known for her anthemic sound and fearless vulnerability, BAYLA continues to inspire fans with music that breaks stigma and speaks truth in and outside of the LGBTQ+ communities. In support of the release, proceeds from “Anxious” will be donated to Canadian mental health organizations, further highlighting the importance of awareness and support.
“Anxious” offers an honest take on the often hidden reality of living with anxiety. Rather than framing it as something sad or shameful, BAYLA infuses the track with upbeat production and quirky energy, crafting a pop anthem that’s more theme song than tragedy. “I didn’t want the song to feel sad in any way,” she shares. “I wanted it to reflect the experience of anxiety in a real, empowering way because even when it’s hard, we’re not alone.”
Alternative rock singer-songwriter Peter Landi returns with “Dandelion” – a shimmering, psychedelic-leaning anthem inspired by summer nostalgia, altered states of consciousness, and the cosmic rhythm of nature. Leaning into classic ‘80s tones with big drums and chorus-drenched guitars, the track delivers a swirling blend of dreamy textures and catchy hooks.
“Dandelion” grew out of a spontaneous moment: Landi picked up a book from a little free library in his Toronto neighbourhood, hoping to spark inspiration. One word – summit – set off a chain reaction. “I started thinking about what you’d see from a summit: mountains, the sky, nature… something bigger than yourself,” he says. “That led me to thinking about actually being high and in an altered state of mind. ‘Dandelion, I miss you all the time,’ was the first thing I sang when I started strumming and it all flowed from there.”
The production mirrors that psychedelic arc. “The song is about a psychedelic experience, so I wanted the final chorus to be the climax of the trip,” says Landi. “Every section of the song is happening all at once – the verse guitar part, the open drums, melodic leads, and the word ‘Dandelion’ all swirling around each other to create this big cosmic moment that abruptly ends.”
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Rosanne Baker Thornley unveils the official music video for her beautifully introspective single, “Her Mother’s Eyes” — a cinematic, heartwarming track inspired by the quiet, emotional power of a single wedding morning photo. Framed through a mother’s gaze, the song pays tribute to the intricate, ever-changing relationship between mothers and daughters.
Drawn from a deeply personal experience, “Her Mother’s Eyes” paints a vivid scene: a daughter on her wedding day, the final touches of makeup being applied, a veil waiting in the stylist’s hand — and a mother witnessing the culmination of years in one fleeting moment. It’s a song that acknowledges the little girl who still lives within the woman standing before her, and the life they’ve shared leading up to this day.
Thornley’s signature vulnerability and lyrical honesty guide the track, giving voice to emotions rarely explored in contemporary folk and singer-songwriter spaces. With cinematic grace and gentle restraint, the song unfolds like memory itself – tender, truthful, and timeless.
