What do you get when you mix a bluesy instrumental surf rock band with one of Australia's most charismatic frontmen? The Cruel Sea.

Tex Perkins was working as the band's lighting technician when he was invited to write and sing with the group. He joined full-time for their mainstream breakthrough third album The Honeymoon Is Over, which turns 30 this month.

Fusing surf pop with dirty blues, dub and reggae rhythms and a good wallop of rock ‘n’ roll, this Sydney band quickly earned a reputation as one of Australia’s best and most energetic live acts, playing both the smallest pubs and the biggest festivals.

Dive into this episode of The J Files for the stories behind making their six studio albums, raucous live shows, stolen ARIA trophies, troubled relationships with mainstream success and good old fashioned rock 'n' roll.

The Cruel Sea

The J Files is Double J's music doco show bringing together artists and fans to share and explore the stories behind the music you love. Each week the Double J radio program and online feature dig through archives, rarities and your experiences to create an in-depth profile of an artist, album or idea. It's your ticket to music discovery.

Music

2023 had moments for huge celebrations - we were gripped by Matildas fever, celebrated the 50th anniversary since hip hop began its ascent to dominance, saw technology make the impossible possible and heard more great albums than we can count. 

And music has been there through the hard times too - with devastating global conflicts, a referendum defeat and escalating cost of living pressures.

Join Caz Tran as she reflects on some of the year’s biggest music and cultural moments, tracks that got us pumped as well as a whole heap to get excited for in 2024.

2023: The Year That Was

DJ Shadow (Josh Davis) changed the game of instrumental hip hop in the 1990s. An early signee of British label Mo' Wax, his debut album Endtroducing….. blew minds with its fusion of electronic music and hip hop beats and it was entirely composed using samples. 

But he's not been content to peddle more of the same. Keeping us guessing, pushing himself and the music forward with each release he's experimented with composing, bringing collaborators onboard (like Run The Jewels) and finding new ways of sourcing samples. 

DJ Shadow recently released his seventh studio album Action Adventure and it’s the perfect time for us to follow him into the studio, backstage at some of the biggest festivals and into crate-filled basements of record stores to understand how he makes his music.

In this episode we also hear how Australian producers, musicians and DJs Katalyst, Joelistics and Beatrice Lewis rate DJ Shadow.

DJ Shadow

Olivia Newton-John is one of the best selling artists of all time. Across a six-decade career that spanned music, stage, screen and health advocacy, she firmly embedded herself in our hearts.

Before the huge success of Grease she’d already made her name as a recording artist, earning Grammys, Country Music Awards and a swathe of hit singles.

The story of Olivia Newton-John is full of interesting bumps and swerves. She came first in a TV talent contest as a teenager that won her a trip to England where her career first took off. She went from starring in a 1970s sci-fi film that flopped to being cast as a lead in Grease after a chance meeting at a dinner party at Helen Reddy's house. And she nearly didn't release her hit song Physical because she felt it was too risqué!

For the final episode of Aus Music Month get to know this legendary singer, performer and advocate who died last year at the age of 73.

Olivia Newton-John

We’re handing the mic to Yorta Yorta rapper and Double J's Australian Artist of the Year winner Briggs.

Adam Briggs has carved out such an important legacy in Australian music. From his early days in Shepparton, supporting artists like MC Reason, Funkoars and The Hilltop Hoods to teaming up with Trials in A.B. Original, building his own label Bad Apples Music, and mentoring the next crop of rappers. 

The J Files celebrates this legend with archive and reflections from Trials, Reason, The Hilltop Hoods, Nooky, BARKAA, DJ Jaytee and more.

Briggs

He may not be a household name, but Ron S. Peno had all the makings of a star.

From his smalltown regional NSW upbringing to his early glam and punk groups in Brisbane and Sydney, to wowing audiences overseas and being splashed across the coolest music mags, his life and legacy is as colourful and chaotic as it has been artistic and influential.

He was a singer, a songwriter, keen collaborator and dynamic frontman for many different bands, most notably Died Pretty—with albums like Doughboy Hollow, Free Dirt, Every Brilliant Eye remaining on high rotation with music lovers to this day.

After Died Pretty, Peno continued performing and recording music, forming alt-country duo The Darling Downs with Kim Salmon and Ron S. Peno and The Superstitions with Cam Butler.

His presence and contribution to Australian alternative rock over nearly 50 years has been immense. The J Files is paying tribute to this charismatic, unique and bold singer who died in August this year at the age of 68.

The Cruel Sea

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