The 10 Best Tunes of the Week | 2024 Week 14

With so much new music coming out each and every day, it can be hard to listen to everything, but we'll be damned if we don't try. Here are our favourite tunes from the week that was from the likes of Alter Boy, AWOL, DICE, Dirty Three, Emily Wurramarra, Fucked Up, Juno Mamba, La Luz, Porij and smol fish!

Alter Boy - Life Finds A Way

West Aussie indie-electro-pop trailblazers open their 2024 account with a pulsating, propulsive new single that sees lead singer Molly Priest’s entrancing vocals cut through the mix of beats and synths, with lyrics speaking on “the evaporating age of men taking credit for a woman’s work. Chien-Shiung Wu, Sophia Tolstoyer, Elsa Einstein, Willie Mae Thornton-all women throughout history who have stood behind great men, carrying out the tactical and emotional labour which allowed these men to embellish themselves in solitude. These women are now being recognised for their labours and located within the works of legendary artists and scholars.”

AWOL - AWOL

Coming in hot and heavy with their namesake track as the latest single from their imminent new album, Naarm/Melbourne hardcore quintet’s new one is an intense and relentless cut of weighty goodness, taking cues from the NYCH masters of the late 80s and early 90s. AWOL’s new album Tear ‘Em To Bits is out April 26 via Flatspot Records.

DICE - Quick To Judge

Perth indie rockers continue their ascent with intimate-yet-anthemic new single Quick To Judge pairing hard hitting, singalong inducing choruses with mellow verses while lyrically exploring the relatable internal struggle of balancing social pressures with the need for self-care. Out now via Tone City Recordings.

Dirty Three - Love Changes Everything I

Over 30 years since forming in Melbourne, the legendary Dirty Three are finally back after over a decade, releasing their first new music since 2012’s Toward the Low Sun LP. The phenomenally talented trio of Warren Ellis, Mick Turner and Jim White announced their ninth album with its hypnotic, psychedelic and experimental first single that showcases the band’s unique usage of their weapons of choice - violin, drums and electric guitar respectively. Dirty Three’s new album Love Changes Everything is out physically June 14 and digitally June 28 via Anchor & Hope / Remote Control Records.

Emily Wurramarra - Midnight Blues

Nipaluna/Hobart-based artist and proud Warnindhilyagwa woman Emily Wurramarra continues her purple patch (that’s recently seen her release single Magic Woman Dancing, feature on PNAU's Hyperbolic album alongside the likes of Troye Sivan, Ladyhawke and Khalid, and selling out a headline gig on Larrakia Country/Darwin) with a wistful and cathartic new cut. Taking cues from its namesake’s genre, Midnight Blues pairs big guitar strums and a steady rhythm section with Wurramara's stunning & emotional vocals. Out now via ABC Music.

Juno Mamba - Together

Following up his previous single of melodic future garage vibes is Filipino, Naarm-based producer Juno Mamba, this time taking us into cinematic trancey, proggy, techy house sounds, with the track inspired by “being surrounded by your closest friends and enjoying the moment.” Out now via Soothsayer.

La Luz - Poppies

The Shana Cleveland-led La Luz deliver the second single from their forthcoming fifth studio album in the form of Poppies, a charming, kaleidoscopic cut of baroque pop, taking cues from Peppers era Beatles. Cleveland explains “Poppies is about the surreal feeling of going through the horror and isolation of a cancer diagnosis and treatment and then suddenly being out in the bright world again, trying to make sense of it all, feeling like I’m walking through a waking dream, seeing the first wildflowers come out and feeling a similar sense of rebirth.” La Luz’s new album News of the Universe is out May 24 via Sub Pop.

Porij - Ghost

A few years since we first met them and with their eagerly anticipated debut album out at the end of the month, British four-piece Porij deliver the record’s final single in the form of Ghost, perfectly combining UK Garage production and indie rock instrumentation, with vocalist Scout Moore a.k.a. Egg’s soaring vocals tying it all together as the track builds to an epic, dance-inducing conclusion. Porij’s debut album Teething is out April 26 via PIAS.

smol fish - If Only

Another West Aussive fave making their return for 2024 this week was smol fish, fresh off supporting Alex G and packing out two massive tour fundraisers with a fuzzed out, rocking new single. Vocalist and guitarist Hannah Coakley explains “‘If Only’ is about relying on crushes to avoid having to interrogate who you are when you’re alone. As a self proclaimed “lover not a fighter” my romantic nature opens me up to a lot of hurt but also a lot of fun. ‘If Only’ is a very honest and at times laughable reflection on dating in your 20s.” Their new single drops during exciting times for the band, with the single being released by PIAS Australia internationally ahead of the band’s upcoming UK/EU tour.

Wallace - Backwaters

British producer & DJ Jimmy Wallace follows up his massive 2023 Rhythm Section debut Ripples with a new EP for the iconic label, featuring the massive record closer, Backwaters. Pairing a wobbly, speed garage style bass line with a commanding lead synth, cosmic pads and driving drums, dub techno chords soon enter the mix alongside spacey synth arpeggios. Wallace’s new EP Papertrip is out now via Rhythm Section.

Enjoy all these tunes as well as a stack of other new music we've been feeling in our Spotify playlist.