Forget your winter blues, we have the summer mixtape to spice it up. Straight from Down Under, these songs will have you dancing, dreaming, and road-tripping your sorrows away. Even better, you’ll be able to tell your friends you knew these Australian artists “before they were cool.”
If you’re looking for the next “Call Me Maybe”, you’re not going to find it on here. This is by no means a comprehensive list of Australian bands or artists – but we have given you a taste of Australian indie, folk, rock, funk and hip-hop. If you’re interested in Australian music, we suggest you check out Triple J, an Australian national radio station with a huge dedication to showcasing Australian bands. Best of all, they let you legally download a lot of this music free of charge at Triple J Unearthed.
Tinpan Orange
Let’s kick it off with something sweet and sultry. Tinpan Orange’s dreamy songs will have you planning garden picnics and decorating your face with glitter, at the very minimum. Think lazy days on the beach under a hot sun. This is Australia’s answer to Florence Welch meets an indie boy with a guitar (and a string section), let them help you dream your days away.
Song we love: “Barcelona”
360 ft Gossling
Two of our favourite Australian artists combined? It doesn’t get a whole lot better than this. This song went three times platinum in Australia so it certainly did something right. For us it ticks all the right boxes, hip hop, a catchy riff and Gossling’s amazing chorus (yes, it’s her real voice, yes, she speaks like that too). Once you’ve played this on repeat for an hour, make sure to check out their solo music, as both are amazing musicians in their own right.
Songs we love: “Ancient Love” (by Gossling) and “Child” (by 360)
Gypsy and the Cat
To inject a little bit of pop into our list, we have gone for the indie-pop DJ duo that is Gypsy and the Cat. Try out their sun-soaked harmonies and lashings of synth, you won’t be disappointed. We’ll be surprised if their songs don’t become firmly entrenched in your mind, after one listen you’ll find yourself breaking out into their distinctive riffs for days.
Song we love: “The Piper’s Song”
Ball Park Music
Crazy summer riffs, the best film clips you’ll probably ever see, and a band with an endless amount of energy. And as this writer can attest, their shows are completely amazing. You will never dance so hard in your life, as at a Ball Park Music show, but do the best you can and play their album at full blast in your bedroom. Honestly, it’s a better workout than Zumba.
Song we love: “All I Want Is You”
Saskwatch
Keep on dancing with this up-and-coming funk-soul band, a real testament to what musicians can do without the aid of autotune. If you ever get the chance to see these guys live, you’d be a fool to pass it up. Stalwarts of the Australian festival scene, they have even performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This is the kind of band to put on at 1am and play until the sun comes up.
Song we love: “I Could Be Wrong”
San Cisco
Singing about a stalker has never been quite as much fun. San Cisco is a playful indie band who, despite many attempts, we just can’t pin down to one sound or genre. Their hipster credentials are stamped all over their film clips, and we aren’t complaining. Sometimes music should just be fun. Each song they give us is new, exciting, and not to mention catchy as hell.
Song we love: “Wild Things”
Boy and Bear
Nothing says summer quite like soaring layered harmonies. Often called Australia’s answer to Mumford and Sons (who they have toured with), you can’t go past the gorgeous husky voice of frontman Dave Hosking. While we’d absolutely recommend you catch them live, their recordings do capture the energy and essence of their music as truly as possible. Simply, this is prime Australian indie folk, perfect for hot summer nights with friends.
Song we love: “Feeding Line”
Big Scary
To wrap our mixtape up we have gone for something slightly mellow. Still, take note: we might have chosen a piano ballad (because man, we just love this song), but Big Scary is one of the most versatile bands on this list. Each of their songs is nothing like the ones before, experimenting with different instruments and genres, despite being a two person band. Whether you feel like chilling out, or jumping up, this Australian duo will have you covered.
Song we love: “Bad Friends”
Honourable Mention: Little Red
This one is kind of cheating, so we’ve made it an honourable mention because of the heart-breaking fact that this band split up earlier this year. Still, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the two albums they did release. Nothing will make you get up and dance like this song. Scratchy rock and roll and skinny jeans have their very finest moment in this Australian summer classic.
If you like what you hear, find the members of Little Red at their new projects: New Gods, Major Tom & The Atoms, Naked Bodies and The Hondas.
Mixtape B-Side
Because it was too difficult to narrow it down to nine bands (and one honourable mention), here are a few more suggestions to sink your teeth into, just click on any album covers that take your fancy (disclaimer: Kimbra is a fabulous New Zealand artist who is now based in Australia):
