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

Steve Bell, Journalist

Steve Bell

Many, many moons ago Steve Bell was unassumingly writing a small fanzine for the inner-city Brisbane record store where he worked when on one otherwise normal day he was poached into the cutthroat world of street press, embarking on an eye-opening journey interviewing bands and banging on about music for the street press publication Time Off. It's an association that's now existed for well over 20 years - including a decade full-time as the print editor for Time Off/The Music - and one which still provides him with immense enjoyment and satisfaction, even though in recent times it's nestled alongside other music-related vocations such as co-owning a record store and indie label, radio broadcasting and navigating the podcast world.

Features / Music
Music Helps, But Some Things Just Don't Need Singing About In Public
"At one point I realised that I was writing stuff that was not what I should be singing about in public - it just got too graphic of my personal life."
Features / Music
The Secret To Tortoise's Longevity
"I hesitate to say it's a democracy but it's pretty close... There isn't like the wanker frontman getting mad at somebody for being weird."
Features / Music
Why People Will Appreciate Your Honesty If You're Good What You Do
"It's hard when you really love an act to not be subjective at some point."
Features / Music
Band Of Skulls On Working With The Producer Who Soundtracked Their Lives
"He's soundtracked our lives pretty much with all the music he's produced, so it was slightly daunting..."
Features / Film & TV
On Discovering Oasis In Glasgow, Noel & Liam's Relationship & 'Supersonic'
"Noel and Liam's relationship I think it started as comedy, and then it became reality when they became big."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Jim James - Eternally Even
"More zen reflection than firebrand polemic."
Features / Music
From Man To Auto Accessory To Indie Success, Car Seat Headrest Has Come Miles
"Things are definitely different now, mainly in that I have a direction in which I'm going and things are going fairly well."
Features / Music
Why Julien Baker Wants People To Take Away Something Positive From Her 'Selfish' Songs
"I'll think, 'It's not possible that little ol' me wrote a song and you have connected with it on this level!'"
Features / Music
New Horizons & Old Beginnings
"I was just, like, 'Oh fuck, you can be well into your 50s and still getting better'. That's the beauty of it, it's an endless chase to try and keep learning."
Features / Arts
Pop Goddess Colleen Hewett Returns To The Show That Launched Her Career
The Aussie pop icon will appear in 'Godspell Reimagined' as a tribute to the production's four-decade history in Australia.
Features / Music
ITunes Won't Let Xylouris White Name Their Genre 'Goatish'
"It's Cretan and it's 'goatish' - 'goatish' is our chosen genre. We tried using it officially but iTunes wouldn't let us call it that."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen - Death's Dateless Night
"It's a sombre affair without being mired in sadness."
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