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.

Reviews / Live
Live Review: Swervedriver, Ulta Material, Kellie Lloyd
"A rare band that stand with one foot in the old world and one in the new, and both worlds are worth a visit."
Features / Music
Why case/lang/veirs Are A True Democracy
"I think we're all bosses in our own rights and in our own careers."
Features / Film & TV
Tickled
The Disturbing Reality Of Competitive Endurance Tickling
"They were so homophobic and then they went into almost weirdly racist territory."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Radio Birdman, Velociraptor
"The years seem to visibly strip away from members of the crowd as they dance and writhe delightedly, reliving their chequered pasts with relish."
Features / Music
Don't Think About Swervedriver's Legacy
"The biggest fear would be doing something that ruins the legacy."
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Whitney - Light Upon The Lake
"Whitney nonetheless find their own voice from the outset, placing reflective, ruminative lyrics over crisp, mostly upbeat country-rock..."
Features / Arts
Maniscalo's Comedy Sweat Is Paying Off
"You gotta be patient in any business to get your shot: you don't become a bodybuilder the first day you walk into the gym, it takes some work."
Features / Music
Lush, Organic Sounds & The Pursuit Of Sincerity
"I was looking to go a bit more sincere, or to try not to mix things up so much metaphorically or mask the words so much."
Features / Music
On People Thinking Pop Music Is Dumb Or Vapid
"I think sometimes with pop production people can easily write you off, like, 'Ugh, this music is dumb, there isn't 43 guitar tracks..."
Features / Music
From Tiny To The Opera House
"I think it's a nice idea to go from the smallest venue that you started out in to the Sydney Opera House the next night."
Features / Music
How Kristin Welchez "Kind Of Outgrew" Dum Dum Girls
"I wanted to have the freedom to do whatever it was I felt like doing..."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Violent Soho, DZ Deathrays, Dune Rats, The Gooch Palms
"Someone from the mosh throws him a goon bag in perfect synchronicity, which he catches, skulls and passes around his band."