Much like July, August was a robust month for Australian music. We witnessed Babyface Mal and Ay Huncho pay homage to their Middle Eastern roots on respective tracks, KYE tap into a new sound, and the release of ThatKidMaz’s long-awaited EP. The scene made sweeping strides last month, and if you weren’t tuned in prior, this month will undoubtedly be the one that makes you adjust your set. With that out of the way, here’s the best new local music from the month of August.
Babyface Mal, “Ya Rab”
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Easily one of the fastest growing names in the Australian music scene—Babyface Mal—put out a vivacious, bilingual record with “Ya Rab” (“Dear God”, in English). The track features oud riffs and Arabic instrumentation, and the video is laced with various cultural practices and pop culture references, such as the Middle Eastern film “Sinbad”. The video in particular portrays Mal’s connection to his Egyptian and Turkish heritage, positioning the listener at the centre of his worldview. Also on full display is Mal’s linguistic versatility, as he switches effortlessly between Arabic and English— but fear not, you won’t be required to understand Arabic to enjoy this energetic release.
Mulalo, “Tracy Grimshaw”
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Mulalo showcases her prowess and sharp delivery on “Tracy Grimshaw”, her first single of the year. It may be her first release this year—but make no mistake—Mulalo has not been sitting idle. After serving up a verse on Tripple One’s “MR WHIPPY” earlier this year, she’s been busy touring the country ever since. While she kept fans waiting for this one, the wait paid off in the form of a track that’s expertly crafted and polished, with an accompanying video directed by Caitlin Wong. “Tracy Grimshaw” invokes a sense of nostalgia with numerous references to Australian icons, and remains current with production by 18YOMAN. Mulalo’s personality and likeable character shine through on every release, and “TRACY GRIMSHAW” is no exception.
Ay Huncho ft. NASA NOVA, “Dabke”
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After a release with Sacramento steamroller Mozzy earlier in August, Ay Huncho doubled down and served up another release with Proper60 collaborator NASA NOVA on “Dabke”. Dabke is a traditional Middle Eastern dance, and across the track Huncho proclaims “I did my Dabke on their block.” Huncho spits graphic bars across the fast-paced track, and his braggadocious nature is on full display. The track ends with an outro that features a Tabla drum—an ode to his Lebanese heritage.
Webby, “Pressure”
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Webby, a longstanding performer and distinct voice in the Melbourne scene, released a joint project with producer and frequent collaborator Yugen9K, titled “OT”. The release showcases the evolution of his sound, and “Pressure” is a standout from the project that’s unlike anything else coming out of the country. “Pressure” features thoughtful, layered production with pitch-corrected vocals, and is coupled with an optics-heavy video by Zac Harris. Webby’s cult following can look forward to a show on the 24th of September alongside his counterparts from the recently formed group, “SO UNDA BOYS”.
KYE, “Bossin”
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KYE’s garage-infused R&B single “Bossin” is a lively release filled with replay value. The UK-raised artist transports us to West London with this single, pulling inspiration from the golden era of female garage-infused Pop and R&B. In line with the common theme across this month’s releases, KYE also pays homage to her Zimbabwean heritage and the Shona language, with lyrics like “Mumma speaking in Shona.” The release is reminiscent of UK girl group Mis-Teeq’s sound from the early 2000s, but KYE has produced a refreshing take on a genre that’s rarely experimented with in Australia. “Bossin” is the perfect follow up to her 2021 EP “Good Company”, and KYE’s soothing vocals and enchanting chorus on this track serve to differentiate her from the pack.
ThatKidMaz ft. Elysia, “Backyard Vengeance”
“Backyard Vengeance” is a vulnerable release from ThatKidMaz, imbued with soulful backing vocals from Elysia. ThatKidMaz out of Melbourne’s south east has a pen game that’s up there with the best of them. On “Backyard Vengeance”, he lays bare his emotions and explores his struggles dealing with self-doubt and instability. The ad libs layered over the tyre screech in the outro help contextualise the emotional crossroad he’s found himself in. Elysia’s touch via subtle ad libs adds an element to the track that invokes reflection when coupled with Maz’s cogent delivery. His graceful flow on “Backyard Vengeance” can be found in every track on his EP titled “Lil Eritrean Boy”—where he challenges conventions of race and explores matters of the heart.
PANIA, "My Crew"
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One of the leading emerging acts coming out of Aus this year is R&B princess PANIA. Having dabbled in Afroswing with her recent hit “tiki”, in “My Crew”, PANIA takes her sound yet again in another direction. Crafted by a medley of producers, “My Crew” is an ode to PANIA’s friends and wider support network, and has an accompanying video directed by Connor Pritchard. PANIA has been a reoccurring name across the year’s releases, and this record cements her ability to dabble in different pockets of sound and delivery. Her distinctive voice—vaguely coarse yet honeyed—sets her apart from other voices on the scene. PANIA’s consistency when it comes to pushing out refined releases is setting her up to close out this year strong.
JK-47 ft. Jay Orient & Nate G, “At One”
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JK-47 out of Tweed Heads, NSW, enlists Jay Orient and Nate G on this passionate record. Filled with hard-hitting bars and verses delivered back-to-back, this release is redolent of early 90s rap. The track’s instrumental is minimalistic to emphasise the thought provoking and profound verses. The Bundjalung rapper’s song touches on deep-rooted burdens he’s experienced throughout his life, and the synergy of the 3 MCs makes for a consummate release.
Day1, "Dubai"
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Day1 has come a long way since his 2019 release, “BOSS”—shooting his latest single “Dubai”. With lines like “I started in hell,” contrasted by him revelling in luxury in the music video—Day1 tells his rags to riches story, and reflects on times when it wasn’t all designer and extravagance. “Dubai” is an infectious, bouncy release with eye-catching visuals of the Dubai city skyline, posing a stark juxtaposition to the rapper’s humble origins in South Brisbane. Day1 shows no signs of letting up, recently announcing that he’ll be accompanying New York rapper Dave East on his Australia and New Zealand tour at the end of the year.
