The inbox has been doing its job again.
This week’s Radar moves from Naarm indie and Adelaide hardcore through to left-field pop, R&B and some very good guitar music.
As always, there’s plenty to dig into, so here’s what’s been getting some love at Happy.
Parker – ‘The End of Everything’
There’s been plenty happening around Gold Coast artist Parker lately, and ‘The End of Everything’ shows why. After opening Good Charlotte’s Australian tour earlier this year and signing to Joel and Benji Madden’s MDDN Records, he’s landed on a big-hearted pop-rock track that backs up the momentum nicely.
Mess Is Law – ‘Every Monument Will Fall’
Naarm four-piece Mess Is Law have a good thing going on ‘Every Monument Will Fall’, pairing jangly guitars and analogue synths with a slightly sharper edge underneath. It’s also our first taste of an album due in early 2027, so there’s more coming.
TheBombShelter – ‘Cislunar’
TheBombShelter give us something a little more spacious, letting the track unfold without rushing to get anywhere. Atmospheric, patient and very easy to disappear into for a few minutes.
Kid Fourteen – ‘Hold’
Lebanese musician Khodor Ellaik has spent years moving between pop, electronic music and far stranger territory as Kid Fourteen, and you can hear that history at work here. There’s a great mix of melody and weirdness, with new album Far Away and Well Adjusted landing in October.
Celebration Guns – ‘Maudolin’
Arizona’s Celebration Guns sit in a nice pocket between indie rock, emo and mathier guitar work, without letting the technical stuff take over. ‘Maudolin’ opens their second album What Keeps Us Coming Back, due September 18 after a few years of lineup changes and rebuilding.
Sleep Station – ‘Tattoo’
Sleep Station keep things understated, with the songwriting and mood doing most of the heavy lifting. There’s a warmth to it that feels familiar straight away, and sometimes that’s more than enough.
Ari Allibi – ‘1000DEGREEKNIFE’
Sydney’s Ari Allibi gets wonderfully restless on ‘1000DEGREEKNIFE’, throwing electronic pop, dance music and a healthy dose of digital chaos into the blender. Fans of Sega Bodega, underscores and Dorian Electra should feel right at home.
ear candy – ‘better ways’
ear candy’s ‘better ways’ does exactly what good guitar-pop should: gets in quickly, gives you a hook and leaves you wanting another spin. The band have been steadily dropping singles over the past couple of years, and this feels like a particularly easy one to get behind.
Ellie Harris – ‘Hello Hi’
Ellie Harris’ ‘Hello Hi’ is smooth without feeling too polished, leaving plenty of room for her vocal to carry the track. It’s warm, relaxed R&B and a very nice change of pace in this week’s pile.
Boot Juice – Keeping Out of the Ground
Boot Juice sound like a band who really enjoy being a band, which goes a long way. The Northern California rock outfit released their fourth album Keeping Out of the Ground back in March, bringing guitars, horns and a big live energy along for the ride.
ALL IN – ‘Snakes In The Sanctuary’
Adelaide crew ALL IN have been flying the flag for “hope fuelled hardcore” since 2016, and ‘Snakes In The Sanctuary’ keeps that spirit intact. Fast, loud and straight to the point, with plenty of heart underneath it.
Part Time Trauma – ‘Blood Red Sky’
Queens, NYC outfit Part Time Trauma describe what they do as “soft hard rock”, and to be real, that covers it pretty well. ‘Blood Red Sky’ comes from their debut EP Shattered On The Pavement, released in August, balancing some proper guitar weight with a surprisingly melodic centre.
Chuck New Indie Music: Happy’s Mixtape a follow. Updated every week with emerging indie, rock and alt artists picked by Happy Mag.
