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.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kryzjhinn has hit the scene with her debut single Break Your Heart, and r.i.p to whoever broke this kid’s heart.

Music has always been a family affair for Micah Acosta (@micahacostarr). Over the course of his career, the artist has turned to those closest to him to both strengthen and support his pursuits, and his latest EP is no exception.

Aless Arias (@alessarixs) has returned to the scene with her second single 45 Hours, and friend, it looks like sad hours aren’t done with us just yet. The track is a moody reflection of her time in lockdown, and girl, same.

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”.

Dripping with melancholy, the new Xaysha (@xayshamusic) track falls somewhere between Travis Scott’s Skyfall instrumental and Jhene Aiko’s ethereal vocals. Her is a sombre offering from the r&b artist, who sings about wanting to be the object of another’s desire.

Western Sydney based electro-soul singer-songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist Clarissa Mei has released her new single ‘Swipe Right’, the track explores the artist's journey navigating through dating apps during isolation. During the lockdown we experienced an intense level of loneliness and the challenge of connecting with others. Clarissa opens up about her experience, the apps helped her find connection with others “Being on dating apps during isolation was a great way to connect with people. Being at home got so lonely, being able to chat with so many different people whether it was for fun or to search for love was exciting” stated Clarissa.

I don’t know what I like more about the new Lolli (@lollimusic_) single BAD; the pithy summary she put on her socials (It’s a new single called BAD and it’s about being a bad bitch) or the pure sassiness on the tail end of her rap verse (Apparently I’m too haram to be called halal). Wallah I’m torn.

We are officially less than one week away from the first official SOUND WEST (@soundwestsydney) Conference day happening this week at Commbank Stadium in Parramatta. The busy calendar of pop-up events around Parra culminates in the conference, which is arguably the centrepiece of the week.

Era-blending artist JMAP (@jmapofficial) is back on the scene with his latest offering, The Man. The track is a nostalgic cut, brimming with old-school brilliance and influences from far and wide.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales was set ablaze with the performance of Warrangu; River Story by Dobby (@dobbyau). With a full band and projection mapping to boot, the rapper’s latest offering was conceived in hope of inspiring change to the management of local water systems.

Excited to be out of the confines of the Zoom-iverse, 4ESydney’s Hip-Hop Festival and Conference (@4esydney) is back in the flesh this coming weekend (June 24th and 25th). With a star-studded lineup of artists and community leaders alike, this year’s program promises to be a thoroughly informative and eye-opening experience.

With the inaugural for the lover in you event approaching soon, we spoke to members of the homegrown supergroup Full Circle about their inspiration and direction.

You know that feeling when you get a window seat on the train home from work while the rain is pouring outside, and you briefly trace back the steps in your life and wonder how you ended up where you are now? That’s the feeling behind the debut single from independent artist Aless Arias (@alessarixs), Evolve. The pulsating track is an indie-pop reflection of the artist’s yearning for transformation.

Entry into the program is simple. Artists can submit three pieces of work each, from which ten finalists will be chosen. These finalists will be invited to attend SOUND WEST on Thursday the 25th of August where they will receive mentorship from Sony Music Australia’s Senior Director of A&R and Creative Development Alexander Franco. Also included is a 30-minute listening and A&R session with Sony Music experts and an A&R creative and business session.

It seems like only yesterday Chainmail the label launched their first collection back in 2018 at the Down Unders Space. Western Sydney’s fashion label is now celebrating their fifth anniversary alongside launching their third collection.

Championing authenticity and honesty in her sophomore release Same Shit!, Western Sydney artist Gemma Navarrete (@gemmasjams) returns to the airwaves with a bildungsroman bop. Despite sounding worlds away from her previous release, Navarrete dives deeper into her examination of maturity with the same vigor as Older.