New Music Discoveries 5th September: Fanny Lumsden, The Rions, Austra, and more

It’s the first week of Spring and we have ten more tracks to add to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Fresh from a successful jaunt touring across Europe, Fanny Lumsden takes home our Track of the Week with her new single “Look At Me Now”.

“Look At Me Now”, recorded on the road in Europe, is a reflection on Lumsden’s musical journey up to this point. Featuring her live band, The Prawn Stars, the song is described by Lumsden as a “love letter to my younger self”. Upbeat, dynamic and full of brightness and charm, “Look At Me Now” is a twangy, joyful celebration of life as an independent touring musician, including the ups and the downs.

You can currently catch Lumsden opening for Paul Kelly on his current Antipodean arena tour with Lucinda Williams, which draws to a close this weekend in Melbourne. Final tickets for Sunday’s show are available HERE.

“Something More” is the new single from Gippsland duo Ally Row, and the title track from their forthcoming debut album (Out September 19th). Blending distorted electric banjo, punchy percussion, and strong vocals, “Something More” is an energetic slice of punk inflected alt-country, and is a bit of a change from the duo’s usual more introspective oeuvre. You can catch Ally Row at shows across NSW and ACT this month, kicking off at Folk by the Sea at Kiama next week. For more information and the rest of the dates head HERE.

Sydney indie-rock outfit The Rions are counting down to the release of their debut album, Everything Every Single Day, which drops on October 3rd. “Cry” is the latest single, showing them opening up their heart to the corrosive nature of chest-beating masculinity. “We wrote Cry about the dangerous and very real cycle of ‘attitude’ passed from father to son,” the band explain. “Young men need to be taught to take accountability for our actions, now more than ever. There’s no more room for excuses. Pull up your friends, do better.” The track showcases an empowering maturity that highlights the band’s strength and diverse sides. From banging surf-rock to tender moments, they are constantly evolving. They also have a national tour in October – head HERE for tickets.

Following hot on the heels of their surprise summer EP uLu Selects Vol #2, Portland-based indie favourites Portugal. The Man are back this week with new single “Denali”. Named for the renowned Alaskan mountain, the single is a glorious mash of thick distorted synth, and grungy guitar, providing the perfect psych fuzz backdrop for frontman John Gourley’s distinctively slick vocals.

Matty Groves is a psychedelic-folk/prog-art-rock artist based in Naarm. He is giving off some Nick Drake vibes in “Big City Blues” from his latest album, The Magical Speckled Band, which was released this week. You can catch him at the Cactus Room in Thornbury on September 26th. Tickets HERE.

Austra, the pop project of Canadian vocalist and composer Katie Stelmanis, has unleashed a cathartic gem in “Math Equation”. Dreamy vocals, a moody bassline, and lyrics that standout – “You said I needed my own friends / So I found them / Then you fucked them.” – keeps the listener well-focused. Her new album, Chin Up Buttercup, is due out November 14th .

“I Remember I Forget بنسى وبتذكر” is the latest single from Arabic indie electronic pop trailblazer Yasmine Hamdan. It’s the title track from Hamdan’s new album (Out Sept 19th) and is described as an “ode to the absurd times we are living in”. It’s a quietly powerful track, one that blurs the lines between the traditional and the modern, and just captivates the listener. It’s also undoubtedly poignant and speaks to the world as it is now. Accompanying the track is a striking video, written and directed by Hamdan, which you can find HERE.

Also added is “Payphone Man”, the first release in over a year from Melbourne’s The Slingers. It’s evocative, driving and a welcome return from a much-loved outfit. Joining them on the playlist is Dublin rising stars SPRINTS with their visceral new single “Better”. The track is from their new album All That Is Over, which is out at the end of the month. Finally, we have added “Little Wars” from LA based songwriter/guitarist Alex E.T..

Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:

and on Spotify:

Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:

Fanny Lumsden “Look At Me Now”
Ally Row “Something More”
The Rions “Cry”
Portugal. The Man “Denali”
SPRINTS “Better”
Matty Groves “Big City Blues”
Austra “Math Equation”
Yasmine Hamdan “I Remember I Forget بنسى وبتذكر”
The Slingers “Payphone Man”
Alex E.T. “Little Wars”