If you’re a fan of Southern Hip-Hop, you’ll love ‘04, the debut offering from Sydney rap-scene heavyweights AZTEC FLOW and Ruu.

Fall is the latest single from synth-pop savant MKMGA, who bridges the raw nostalgia of 80’s new wave with wistful, lush vocal performance. The single is organic; growing and layering hypnotically with a thumping backbeat to drive the track.

Take me to the future is exactly the kind of opening line you’d expect from recently reincarnated r&b powerhouse PA777IENCE.

We sit down with one of Sydney’s hidden gems before the release of his debut single ‘Some Are’.

Let Me Come Over sounds exactly like the cover artwork looks: a neon drenched fever dream with grit and poise.

After an extended hiatus, Sydney artist MAMI is back with her first single in over a year. How Many Nights is melancholy yet triumphant; a fitting return to the r&b scene for the singer, whose efforts to expand her sound are evident in the track’s construction.

Have you been looking for an excuse to wear your pants a little lower lately? Is your oversized gold chain collecting dust in your closet? Maybe your Yankees fitted cap is due for another spin. If you answered yes to any of the above, Renessey and MaliRuu’s latest tune What Else is the answer to your prayers.

Artists aren’t taught to get their timing right. With focus often given to the perpetual motion machine of TikTok and other social media, it is common for creatives to invest their energy into the wrong aspect of their brand. Yung Picasso (YP) [@off_yung_picasso] dismisses this notion.

With the most impeccable of timing, Madelaine De Leon (@madelaine.deleon) closes out summer with her aptly titled dreamy bop Autumn, Still. A trance-like ode to seasonal change (Keats who?) the debut single is a delicately crafted testament to de Leon’s artistry. The track was produced by Kyoga (@kyogamusic) and mixed/mastered by Deja Miru (@dejamiru). 

Chrissy Mae Valentine (@chrissymaevalentine) is back with Do Better, a feel-good release with that 90’s-tinged funky house flair.

Ashli’s (@ashli.tv) EP has been out for quite some time now, so it’s only right that we gave it a head-to-toe shakedown after the hype of release.

I think The FITZTWINZ (@official.fitztwinz) have set the standard for music video excitement: standing on the wing on an abandoned airplane in a full Dior outfit. Add that to the vibrant animation and time-warped concept and you have a future classic music video with panache. The Twinz are back for their sophomore single Search Thru Time and the music video has to be one of the wildest accompanying visuals to come out of South West Sydney.

@derek.madrid is not yet a household name in Australian music, but his debut single I’m Missing You makes a strong case for it. Spanning ambient R&B and Jack ü style EDM, the track is a bold and daring statement for a debut. The lyrics touch on the heartbreak of a broken relationship, perfectly complementing the fragmented hook section.

When Nicole Issa (@nicoleissa) first told me the backstory behind her newest single Notes in My Car, I was struck by how similar her explanation was to the lyrics of the track. As if written in a hazy, stream of consciousness-style episode, the latest offering from the songstress is pure authenticity.

Delving into heartache and longing, Chidiac’s latest offering is a smooth R&B cut that exhibits newfound maturity after the artist’s explosive debut Need to Know. With local legend Pax (@paxonthebeat) covering production, Chidiac set out to “create a smooth ambience and evoke vulnerability”.

Local creative Esky pens a loving letter to his latest release Into We, a track that draws inspiration from your Tito and Tita’s favourite song, ‘Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko’.

Erin and Tabitha double team this feature with up-and-coming duo Marneaux. The brothers premiere their debut track right here on The Western. Check it out!

You read it right - up and coming artist XNYWOLF first showcased his DJ skills at Trill Sydney, where the crowd went crazy for his ability to add new flavour to the club scene - and it hasn’t taken him long to impress the whole of Sydney. Now, XNYWOLF is one of Sydney’s hottest and most unique DJ’s.

opnsrc.co presents ‘culture: knockout’, a three-part tournament consisting of all-styles dance, beatboxing, and breaking. in collaboration with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, as part of their ‘CPAC Live’ series, we aim to unify the culture and communities within Western Sydney and gear it.