Unless you’ve been holed up since the beginning the year, you’d be aware that 2018 has been a stellar year for Australian dance music from the irresistibly catchy yet club friendly full length records from Cosmo’s Midnight and The Presets, to the broken, blissed out grooves produced by the likes Dugong Jr and Kllo.
As we are now past the mid-point 2018, we decided to get talking in the fice and we’ve compiled a list all the Aussie dance cuts we’ve been feeling throughout the course the year so far. Dive into the list below, and let us know your favourites.
Rebel Yell – Next Exit
Brisbane-based producer Grace Stephenson has spent over 4 years cultivating her very own style dance music, which shines through on her latest club fering Next Exit an onslaught acid techno with a driving rhythm that violently tears through the mix. This track has a strange way feeling raw and aggressive without sacrificing clarity, making for a hard hitting club heater. Take a listen for yourself below
Mickey Kojak – Get Out
Mickey Kojak has solidified himself as a solo project as well as the lead vocalist The Tapes, so it’s no surprise that his latest track Get Out has landed itself on our mid-year list Aussie dance tracks. Bearing a retro-futuristic balance analogue synth stylings and modern chord progressions, Get Out is an infectiously catchy track that serves to be just as appropriate for lazy weekends as summer festivals. Bearing a sonic resemblance to the more laid-back cuts from the likes Van She and Miami Horror, Mickey Kojak has come through with a sound that is undeniably Australian.
Willaris. K – Risen
After returning with the chrome plated Alchemy EP about a month ago, young talent Willaris. K is certainly breaking new heights as late, after headlining the oxford art factory among other shows, the visionary producer has proven himself to be one the most hard working artists in the current club landscape. Risen is a raging club track that somehow filters brooding cinematic orchestrations through the lens a pounding techno groove. Willaris K’s ability to balance light and dark in this track is unmatched, with a roaring bassline paired directly with delicate swelling melodies. Listen to Risen below, and be sure to check out the rest this EP
ALTA – Now You Want Me
Sydney-based two piece ALTA have been at it for a while, combining elements pop, garage and house into a style blissed out yet incredible dance music. Their seductive new single Now You Want Me filters all their skills into one irresistibly catchy track, with a bumpy groove that reminisces on UK garage tracks decades passed whilst launching their unique brand dance music into the future. After a succession stellar releases from the duo, we’re more than keen to see what these two come up with next.
Jack Grace – Downstate
Singer, Songwriter and producer Jack Grace has been crafting his very own style emotive downtempo for a while, however his latest fering shows his skills in full swing. Downstate seems to invoke as much melancholy as it does euphoria, a strange palette emotions for sure, but thats what puts the young talent on our list.
Perto – What U Need
If you’re a sucker for anything bass-heavy, there’s a high chance you’ve stumbled across the name Perto, this 16 year old prodigy has been active as a producer for just under a year, in that time his bombastic club heaters have garnered the attention names such as Diplo, Enschway and more. His most recent fering What U Need showcases the young producers talents in full overdrive, featuring vocals from All Damn Day. With such a colossal track under his belt at just 16, a promising future lies ahead for Perto.
Roza Terenzi – Weakest Link
Melbourne Perth club staple Roza Terenzi has been a prime figure in the Australian underground for a while, serving as the support act for names such as Avalon Emerson, Jayda G and Legowelt in addition to landing spots on several festival lineups. Her unique brand quirky, whimsical techno has allowed her to carve her very own spot in the realm Australian dance music, that’s why we’ve decided to put one her latest tracks Weakest Link on this list. Consisting a lo-fi breakbeat groove carrying a myriad chord progressions and industrial percussive hits, this track keeps it cryptic.
Cosmo’s Midnight – Montego
Cosmo’s Midnight are certainly veterans at this point, boasting 2 EP’s, a myriad singles and now a full length album under their belt that effortlessly blend elements R&B, Pop and Hip Hop. Their debut album has certainly created a ripple, receiving generous airplay in Australia and abroad. We’ve chosen Montego for our list because it showcases everything good about their brand new musical direction.
Kult Kyss – Chi Cup
If you think you’ve heard it all, consider yourself mistaken. Kult Kyss orchestrate alienatingly futuristic dance tracks that find a meeting point between top 40 chart hits and twisted electronic experiments. Their latest track Chi Cup consists a stomping four to the floor beat contrasted with high pitched vocals. Take a listen to Chi Cup below.
Kllo – Potential
This Melbourne outfit have been on our radar for a while now, firstly turning heads back in 2016 with the stellar EP Well Worn, a project that laid the foundation for their debut album Backwater that came last year. Their first and only single 2018 come sin the form Potential, a personal, moving single about love that is paired with a captivating and intimate music video.
Dugong Jr – Voyager
If dreamy electronica is your thing, Melbourne’s Dugong Jr is the pinnacle. His track Voyager is as experimental as it is visceral, and is the result several years dedicated to honing his craft that has led to some his best music yet. This eloquent single includes the lush vocals Ruby Chase, that Dugong twists and tweaks throughout the instrumental. A definite addition to the chill-out playlist.
The Presets – Martini
No messing around from The Presets, they simply know how to make a banger and have been doing so for years. Martini comes from their new album HI VIZ, and is easily a favourite from the dance-heavy record. There is just something about Julian’s vocals and a techno piece production that revs you up!
Nite Fleit – Scram
Nite Fleit has been churning out the club heaters for a minute, and her latest project is no exception to the trend. The track Scram is dark, brooding dance-floor anthem that continually builds atop a heavy kick and drum arrangement. This track is not for the light hearted, easy listeners. It is purely constructed for the club.
Waak Waak Djungi – White Cockatoo
This is a beautiful piece Aboriginal music released Stamp The Wax, from Waak Waak Djungi. White Cockatoo is a dreamy, emotive piece music that is vibrant with positive energy. You cannot help but feel a sense happiness upon listening to this moving song.
Bad Computer – Disarray
The dark horse the Aussie electronic music scene, Bad Computer has quickly become a global phenomena with his electro-heavy cuts. Released Monstercat, Disarray is quirky dance tune that gives f an early Deadmau5 vibe. The drop in this track is really unlike anything we’ve heard late, which is extremely exciting.
Angophora – Scenes
Ken Oath Records have been dishing up excellent music for a while, and the debut album from Angophora is a stand-out release for us this year. The title track Scenes is a lush, nostalgic slow-jam that that is ripe with an 80s feels. It might not get you dancing, but it’s certainly a unique piece electronica out Australia that is well worth a rinse.
Freda – Mad Dancer
Moonshoe is fairly young imprint out Sydney, but the collective can boast a 100% strike rate on releases, with co-founder Freda being behind one our stand-out tracks the year thus far with Mad Dancer. Loaded with groove-centric instrumentation and samples, this feel-good house tune perfectly represents the ethos Moonshoe Records to a T.
Hugh B – Floating On A Trippy Biscuit
As one the longer running tracks on the list, Hugh B’s eclectic fering is a dream to listen to. Aptly titled Floating On A Trippy Biscuit, this track is an extra-terrestrial dance tune showcasing a plethora catchy, f-beat instrumentation that all work on top an atmospheric, luscious chord range. Keep eyes on Outer Time Inner Space for more tracks with this kinda soundscape.
Air Max ’97 – LET ME LUV U (AM’97 LIQUID DNG EDIT)
Another Melbourne producer on the list, Air Max ’97 has been consistently pushed the barriers electronic music with his production. His latest edit, LET ME LUV U was released last month is another eclectic, fast-paced club track to the catalogue, boasting large-scale, industrial production that effortlessly clashes and bangs from start to finish.
Nardean – Nothing Matters
This artist has only recently crossed our path, but we’re so happy she has done so. We stumbled upon Nothing Matters two months ago on Unearthed, and have been enjoying it ever since. The track – cut from her debut album Creatress – starts with this glitchy, video game style string instrumentation that eventually leads to a more stable foundation that Nardean flexes her lyrical skills upon. Definitely someone to keeps tabs on in the future.
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All songs in this list have been selected by the Stoney Roads contributor team to reflect the wide range music we are all into. If we missed any bug tracks from January to June, please be sure to let us know! Hopefully you all enjoyed selections ?