Australia’s electronic music scene is rich in talent and 2019 has been particularly golden for homegrown releases. In no particular order, here are five rad electronic artists who have released solid gems so far this year.
Midnight Tenderness – Refresco
With a deliciously lush EP that sounds exactly like his name, the other half of Turner Street Sounds (a two-piece with Rings Around Saturn) has given us a grouse four-piece record to suit any kind of mood. Midnight Tenderness can usually be found spreading his good vibes on Skylab Radio, but the magical Refresco EP – released on local label Ken Oath Records – means you can soak up his one-of-a-kind groovy baselines and glistening boogie beats whenever you want.
Hybrid Man – Lyrebird
The talented duo consisting of Julien Huynh and Will Holden have been delighting dancefloors all around town with impressive hardware-based shows. Lyrebird, their new EP released on Paper Cuts, will undoubtedly nourish every last cell in your body. Think ethereal space vibes mixed with fast and deep-shimmering celestial synths.
Nice Girl – HIM006
The Kiwis that make their way over to Melbourne and immerse themselves in the city’s electronic music scene always bring solid vibes and excellent music taste. Nice Girl, also known as Ruby Kerkhofs, goes one big step further with the production of her epic debut release, HIM006, for local label, Houses in Motion. The dreamy floating vocals over intricate percussion create a wide contrast to the ambient synth drones and dark acid flicks and riffs across tracks, resulting in an incredibly diverse record.
Horatio Luna – Print It, Run It, Send It
Horatio Luna is the king of experimental jazz-electronic. You never know what will come out of the sporadic man whose cosmic sound stems from a history of jazz mixed with Detroit house. The bass player of 30/70 – the local band picked up by notorious UK label Rhythm Section – has released an improvisational EP titled Print It, Run It, Send It, with a sound as good as a live gig.
Sui Zhen – ‘Perfect Place’
Sui Zhen has got to be one of the strangest electronic personalities in Australia, but that’s why we love her. Zhen’s music is perfect for when you crave something a bit more obscure, boppy, light and fruity. Her recent single, ‘Perfect Place’, is a fabulous introduction to her upcoming album, Losing, Linda. Zhen’s post-punk sound mixed with indie-synths will be a freshy to the ears.
