Fresh Finds: Class Of 2025 – Aussie Acts To Add To Your Playlist

Doug Wallen, Journalist

Doug Wallen

Doug Wallen is a journalist, broadcaster and band booker based in Beechworth, Victoria.

Features / Music
Hoodoo Gurus
'It’s Dream-Come-True Stuff': Hoodoo Gurus Team Up With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
More than 40 years into their career, the Sydney rock legends are inviting almost 90 new players to reimagine their catalogue for a single orchestral concert.
Features / Music
Georgia Knight
‘I’m Not Trying To Slide Between Things With Ease’: Georgia Knight Is Embracing Incongruity On ‘Beanpole’
As Georgia Knight prepares to launch her stellar debut album 'Beanpole,' the acclaimed artist discusses her musical journey and love of exploring new sounds.
Features / Music
The Southern River Band, Oscar The Wild, & The Casanovas
AC/DC's Tour Is Giving Emerging Aussie Acts A Massive Leg Up: Here's Why It's So Important
"It’s great having local supports and supporting local bands in their market. And giving them a really good springboard into a much bigger audience.”
Features / Music
The Belair Lip Bombs
‘A Well-Oiled Machine’: The Belair Lip Bombs Reach New Heights Once More With ‘Again’
As The Belair Lip Bombs release their new album, 'Again,' a highly-enviable record deal and big touring plans see them in the best position of their career.
Features / Music
Liz Stringer
‘It Will Make A Meaningful Difference’: Liz Stringer Pairs Live Music And Charity For Her ‘To Survive’ Tour
As Liz Stringer readies the launch of her To Survive tour, the acclaimed artist talks charitable inspirations, her latest record, and a return to the piano.
Features / Music
Mouseatouille
‘Like Going Through An Old Photo Album’: Melbourne’s Mouseatouille Foster Communal Creativity For New Album, ‘DJ Set’
"That was the thing I’d been chasing… this idea of a community of musicians," says Mouseatouille’s Harry Green. "It felt like I was forcing that before, and now it feels like an actual community.”
Features / Music
No Band Is An Island
“We’ve kind of felt our way through the process... I’m a guitar player who became a bassist. Sam’s roots are in hip hop and now he’s like a pop singer. And Garrett’s a metal dude who’s now a sick keyboard player.”
Features / Music
Split Seconds
Straight To The Top Floor
"I wasn’t at risk of offending anybody by them thinking the whole record’s about them..."
Features / Music
Sarah Mary Chadwick
Off The Bat
"I have been a huge Elliott Smith fan in my time... and that’s kind of what he does: have two identical parts but in two separate takes, over the top of each other. It adds quite a lot without adding too much."
Features / Music
Mann Alive
“I tried to make sure it wasn’t coming across as a cynical, ironic sentiment. I was imagining myself as a guitar hero when I was doing it.”
Features / Music
Death By Bubblegum
“It’s a bit corny, but sometimes you need to be corny to help a person out.”
Features / Music
Prefect Timing
"All our songs, they’re just improvised lyrics. All my friends seemed to be going away to America. It was more a cheeky little poke at that, and maybe a jealous poke."
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