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Aotearoa/New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman envelopes us in a shimmering veil of dreamy pop in his sophomore album ‘World Within’. – Backseat Mafia
There is a dreamy heartbreakingly beautiful shimmer to the new album from Aotearoa/New Zealand artist Nik Brinkman that glows like the stars over the expansive southern hemisphere skies. Brinkman last blew us away here at Backseat Mafia back in 2021 with his debut album ‘Secret Stairs’ (see my review here) and in the intervening time has been utilising his skills with other artists as well as moving to a new town and reinvigorating his music writing and recording process. Brinkman says of the new material: I wanted to escape the world of modern music tools for this album and make a record with no MIDI and also an album I could…
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Beddy Rays, ‘Red Lights’ Spaghetti Western and Upcoming Sophomore Album ‘Do What Ya Wanna’! – Backseat Mafia
Beddy Rays are back and the Meanjin/Brisbane four-piece have just announced their sophomore album, ‘Do What Ya Wanna’, set to drop in April 2025. Alongside the news, they’ve shared the lead single ‘Red Lights‘, complete with some prime spaghetti-o western cinematography. If you’ve been keeping up with Beddy Rays for any amount of time, you’ll recognise the sound. ‘Red Lights’ nails that high-voltage, larrikin-punk vibe they’re known for. Lyrically, the track digs into themes of otherness, self-discovery, and giving yourself the space to figure things out. “It’s about overcoming adversity, going through tough times but remaining positive and growing from those moments”, the band explains. “Hoping it will resonate with…
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Alffa Release Sophomore Album ‘O’r Lludw / From Ashes’ – Backseat Mafia
North Welsh duo Alffa release hotly anticipated second album, O’r Lludw / From Ashes. A rich an dynamic genre-defying sound, the duo of Dion Wyn Jones and Sion Eifion Land create punching post-punk. Following their groundbreaking debut, Rhyddid o’r Cysgodion Gwenwynig (Freedom from the Poisonous Shadows) in 2019, Alffa faced a perfect storm of personal and global challenges. The pandemic threatened to silence their voice, but instead, it forged their resolve. Emerging from the shadows like a phoenix, the band funneled their hardships into O’r Lludw, a defiant testament to their survival and evolution. Produced by Gethin Pearson, the album delivers an incendiary mix of punk and hard rock that…
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A. Swayze & The Ghosts plead ‘Let’s Live A Life Better Than This’ in a brilliant sophomore album that cements their place in the pantheon of antipodean greats. – Backseat Mafia
Album Review: A. Swayze & The Ghosts plead ‘Let’s Live A Life Better Than This’ in a brilliant sophomore album that cements their place in the pantheon of antipodean greats. – Backseat Mafia More Stories #Swayze #Ghosts #plead #Lets #Live #Life #brilliant #sophomore #album #cements #place #pantheon #antipodean #greats #Backseat #Mafia
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Empathy Return With Boisterous Sophomore Single ‘A Dying Breed’ – Backseat Mafia
Dublin alt-rock band Empathy are back with their second single ‘A Dying Breed’. Building on the intensity of their debut, the new single offers a sharp, alt-rock sound, bringing some excellent guitar riffs and infectious melodic vocals. The track builds tension from the start from the start with a tightly locked guitar diff and beat that gradually builds to an explosive chorus. Led by effortlessly infectious vocals, delivering biting social message through a smokey and pleasingly controlled tone, the track is at once catchy and musically intriguing. A striking example of the bands ability both as writers and performers, the track is as comparable to Queens Of The Stages as…
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lutruwita’s brilliant A. Swayze & The Ghosts claim ‘He Is Dead’ in another raucous punk blast of Antarctic chill, on announcement of sophomore album ‘Let’s Live a Life Better Than This’ – Backseat Mafia
Favourites here at the southern outpost of Backseat Mafia, A. Swayze & The Ghosts are back with a renewed fervor following their come back single earlier this year ‘Cool Cucumber’. ‘He Is Dead’ confirms that the band’s palette is filled with many colours as they explore new territories beyond their punk origins – a dash of new wave post punk pizazz layered on top of a dead pan delivery and threaded with a sense of humour. The band has a swagger, a confidence and an attitude – the song is a cathartic blast of studied cool. ‘He Is Dead’ wrestles with ideas of false idols, consumerism, a fear of the future…
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Naarm/Melbourne Artist Kaiyah Mercedes Unleashes Sparkling Sophomore Album ‘Trying to Hate You’ – Backseat Mafia
Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Kaiyah Mercedes unveils her latest album, ‘Trying To Hate You‘, in an exclusive premiere with Backseat Mafia today! This sparkling and intimate album, produced by Seetali Mack and mixed by Garrett Kato, offers a sweetly captivating exploration of unrequited love. “‘Trying To Hate You’ is about unrequited love at its simplest level. Each track explores a new perspective and a new situation when it comes to loving someone who doesn’t love you back. The album is a journey of the emotions that come with this situation, from professions of “trying to hate” this other person to the acceptance of the beauty of love despite its unrequited nature”, explains…
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STUMPS Embarks on Nationwide Tour, Celebrating Sophomore Album ‘Arcadia’ – Factory Theatre, Gadigal/Sydney 20.04.24 – Backseat Mafia
Eora/Sydney’s indie rock trio, STUMPS, continues to blaze a trail across the nation on their much-anticipated national tour, celebrating the release of their sophomore album, ‘Arcadia‘. In a testament to their burgeoning success, ‘Arcadia’ held a coveted spot in the Top 4 on the Australian ARIA Album chart, nestled alongside the likes of renowned icons Troye Sivan and Cold Chisel. If that isn’t a resounding testament to their trajectory, then what is? Comprising the formidable talents of Kyle Fisher, Merrick Powell, and Jonny Dolan, STUMPS boasts a distinctive amalgamation of indie, dance, pop, and rock vibes. Yet, at its core, their music resonates as the epitome of melancholic indie rock,…
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1000 Beasts Returns with Highly Anticipated Sophomore Album ‘Burning Flower’ – Backseat Mafia
1000 Beasts Releases the hotly anticipated sophomore album, ‘Burning Flower’. The project promises to deliver a seamless blend of sleek production and soulful melodies across ten tracks, featuring collaborations with acclaimed artists such as Malaki, Paco Versailles, Rachel Mae Hannon, Toucan, and the acclaimed single ‘Cherry Delight’ featuring the honey-soaked vocals of Tomike. Reflecting on the creative process behind ‘Burning Flower’, 1000 Beasts shares, “The album came together immediately after the release of Naruda. I just kept making music without pause, and before I knew it, I had another album’s worth of material ready to go. The lockdown changed the way music could be made, leading to a more collaborative…
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Gretta Ray Gifts Us With ‘Roses’ with the deluxe edition of her sophomore album ‘Positive Spin +’ – Backseat Mafia
Track/Video: Gretta Ray Gifts Us With ‘Roses’ with the deluxe edition of her sophomore album ‘Positive Spin +’ – Backseat Mafia .. #Gretta #Ray #Gifts #Roses #deluxe #edition #sophomore #album #Positive #Spin #Backseat #Mafia
