backseat downunder
Live Review and Gallery: Surf’s Up and Psych-Rock as Allah-Las Returns to Australia With Their Latest Album ‘Zuma 85’ – 07.12.23, Eora/Sydney
If there’s one word that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Allah-Las, it’s undoubtedly “cool”. This sentiment reverberated through the Metro Theatre in Eora/Sydney on Thursday night as the California-based band took the stage. Renowned for their distinctive fusion of surf rock, folk rock, and classic rock elements, Allah-Las has been making a splash for the …
News: Royel Otis are full of whimsy and ‘Heading for The Door’ with their new single, album and tour news.
The indefatigable Royel Otis are continuing their rapid ascent into the firmament with their new single ‘Heading For The Door’ and news of a massive Australian, US and EU tour. All this will be bolstered by their forthcoming album ‘Pratts & Pain’, being released through OURNESS on 16 February 2024 We here at the antipodean …
Premiere: Bryan Estepa delivers a powerful romantic epic in ‘That Was The Day’.
Philippine-born Australian resident Bryan Estepa is a powerful songwriter and musician whose work is greatly admired here at the antipodean headquarters of Backseat Mafia, and we are very honoured to premiere his new single ‘That Was The Day’. The track is in fact a cover of a track originally written and recorded as a solo …
Track: Alice Ivy Unleashes ‘Wildlife’ Single Ahead of Highly Anticipated Album ‘Do What Makes You Happy’
Alice Ivy, the acclaimed Australian producer and songwriter, has unveiled her latest single, ‘Wildlife‘, a captivating sneak peek into her highly anticipated third studio album, ‘Do What Makes You Happy’, which is scheduled for release in 2024 under Helix Records. Collaborating with Pip Norman and multi-platinum Dutch singer-songwriter Dotan, ‘Wildlife’ is a significant moment in …
Track: The fabulous HighSchool is out with haunting, atmospheric new track ‘August 19’, on news of signing to [PIAS]
London-based Melbourne trio HighSchool are back with another shimmering sparkling and enigmatic track, ‘August 19’, out now through the esteemed [PIAS] with whom they recently signed. With a more organic feel than their last single, there is a ambulatory liquidity about this track with its distant louche vocals and shining and chiming guitars, confirming their …
Live Review + Photo Gallery: The Silversound’s FuzzBoxGirl EP launch at The Brunswick Ballroom 03.11.2023
On a lazy Sunday afternoon in sunny Melbourne, The Silversound came to show their latest wares with the launch of their new EP, FuzzBoxGirl (available via Cheersquad Records). In an early surprise, the band initially took to the stage minus their rhythm section of Stu Thomas and Leroy Cope. The two guitar players of the …
Album Review: Navigating the Melodic Maze of Pop Filter’s Latest Album ‘CONO’ + Tour Dates!
From Australia comes the indie collective Pop Filter, featuring members from The Ocean Party, Cool Sounds, and Snowy Band. Their latest musical masterpiece, ‘CONO,’ is a testament to spontaneity, charm, and absolute understated brilliance. ‘CONO’, their third album, emerges three years after the release of ‘Donkey Gully Road’. The album came to life through weekly …
Track: Middle Kids Unveil Latest Single ‘Bend’, Upcoming Album ‘Faith Crisis Pt 1’ and Tour Dates!
Middle Kids recently dropped their latest single, ‘Bend‘, providing a sneak peek into their upcoming album, ‘Faith Crisis Pt 1‘, scheduled for release on February 16, 2024. The trio, comprising Hannah Joy, Tim Fitz, and Harry Day, first made waves in 2017 with their debut single ‘Edge Of Town‘. Since then, they’ve maintained an upward …
Track: ‘January Makes Me Sad’ – Anna Smyrk unveils reflective new single and US tour news
Following up from her EP ‘Cortisol and Blue Light’ earlier this year (read my review here), long time favourite here at Backseat Mafia, Melbourne artist Anna Smyrk, has unveiled her new single ‘January Makes Me Sad’ ahead of news of an extensive 13 date US tour. ‘January Makes Me Sad’ has that signature Smyrk tone: a self …
Premiere: We get an exclusive look at the stunning new video for Samuel Gaskin’s evocative single ‘PRESSŪRE’.
Earlier this month we reviewed the beautiful new single ‘PRESSŪRE’ from Melbourne based queer Māori musician Samuel Gaskin, and we are honoured to bring you a first look at the stunning video for this shimmering track Immediately, Gaskin confronts the viewer with shocking epithets over the face of a young child that contrast with the gentle …