We listen to a lot of music here at Tone Deaf HQ, and we’re the first to admit we’re perhaps a little biased towards sounds of the Australian variety. We do make the best music in the world, after all.

In honouring our favourite Aussies, we’ve once again compiled a list of the most outstanding local releases you should be listening to right now – whether they’re smaller indies acts or big-name essentials, these are the newest Australian records you should be adding to your ‘must-listen’ list.

Let’s get started.

Andrei Eremin – Pale Blue (Independent)


Even if you haven’t heard of Andrei Eremin, there’s a pretty good chance you have heard his work. The Melbourne based producer extraordinaire has worked with some of the most exciting acts comoign out of this country right now including Chet Faker, Oscar Key Sung, I’lls, Japanese Wallpaper, Milwaukee Banks, Naysayer & Gilsun, and Banoffee just to name drop a little.

Having spent most of his musical career behind the mixing desks and mentioned in the liner notes, the taste-making producer released his first EP Earlier this year. Titled Recycling (2013-2015) the EP was a bundle of remixes to be released free of charge via Bandcamp.

Now, because he wasn’t busy enough shaping the sound of Australia’s most exciting new talent, he’s also produced a new EP of his own original work titled Pale Blue. This EP is clearly a perfectionist at work. With tracks like ‘Anhedoniac’ (his collaboration with Kučka) traversing through sonic landscapes both vibrant and moody, Eremin manages to cut through the influx of up-and-coming producers to truly be thought-provoking and exciting new talent. Check out the entire EP below and pop by his Bandcamp to pick it up (for a name-your-price fee).

I Know Leopard – Another Life (Independent)


Following the release of their debut EP, Illumina, ’70s-inspired dream pop four-piece I Know Leopard aren’t wasting any time in getting to work on a follow-up, gearing up to release their brand new EP Another Life.

The EP bears all the trademark characteristics of the distinct I Know Leopard sound. Four tracks awashed with strings, celestial vocals, and an ever-building melody, which all combine to create something both emotional and addictive.

Proving to be a band that grows with every release, I Know Leopard’s sophomore EP is a stunning local release from Sydney’s dream-pop architects.

Sampa The Great – The Great Mixtape (Wondercore Island)

Wow, what a quiet achiever this independently released mixtape is proving Sampa The Great to be. Sampa The Great, aka Sampa Tembo, is a the Zambian-born, Botswana-raised, and now Sydney-based vocalist, rapper and potentially one of the most exciting talents to come out of Australia this year.

Having dropped this mixtape on the taste-making Wondercore Island Bandcamp and Soundcloud pages The Great Mixtape traverses neo-soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop and everything in-between with an undeniable fluidity and ease.

Sampa’s lyrical prowess is beyond what we’ve possibly ever heard from any upcoming local artists, seeing her weaves dense lyrical mazes with her verses, drawing listeners into a lush, imaginative world. Think Lauryn Hill with the modern and futuristic ideologies of THEESatisfaction. With the release of her new mixtape, Sampa The Great definitely promises to be nothing less.

Regurgitator – Nothing Less Than Cheap Imitations (Valve/MGM)

Verging on 22 years since their incarnation, Aussie music icons Regurgitator have just released their debut live album titled Nothing Less Than Cheap Imitations, and it’s the much loved band at their most ridiculously fun and rawest. 

Forming late 1993 and playing their first public performance early 1994, Regurgitator have always been at the forefront of keeping Australian rock fresh and interesting. They’ve always embraced their flaws, their limits, fucked with technology, genre… the entire twisted process. They’ve worked it as hard as they could, pushed all over the place in the quest for bettering themselves, shifted farther and faster than could stay on their feet, and fans have loved them for it.

Captured live over two crazy nights at The HiFi Melbourne Oct 2012, Less Than Cheap Imitations sees the band embrace their flaws and manage to do what is almost impossible with most live recordings and that’s stay true to the sonic world the guys created on that night. Featuring some newbies, some older tracks and the ‘classics’ (if you can call them that) Less Than Cheap Imitations is a must own for any Aussie rock fans.

Blank Realm – Illegals In Heaven (Bedroom Suck)

Last year Brisbane legends Blank Realm released Grassed In, an album that became nothing short of a cult-favourite. In fact we called it one of the greatest records of last year.

The record saw them produce “their most accessible and arguably best release to date. Pertaining to their familiar off-kilter sound, Grassed In drowns in mythical synths and sumptuous yet slacker guitars that set the scene for the incredibly infectious pop hits such as ‘Falling Down The Stairs’ and ‘Reach On The Phone’.”

Deciding not to waste any time they’ve now followed up Grassed In with an admirable brand new full-length titled Illegals In Heaven. Reliable in their unpredictability, Illegals In Heaven sees the band trade in their psychedelic jams for a more ‘true to the live experience’ recording. Featuring the immediately recognisable single ‘River Of Longing’  this LP is melange of classic influences like Wire, The Triffids, and Devo with more modern, progressive songwriting.

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