Our guest this week on the podcast is Jay Som, the musical project of LA–based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Melina Duterte. After three beloved albums and early tours with the likes of Paramore and Mitski, Melina stepped back from Jay Som in 2020, spending the past six years honing her craft behind the scenes and producing major indie records, including boygenius’ the record and Lucy Dacus’ Forever Is a Feeling. Last month, she returned with Belong, her fourth Jay Som album - a glowing evolution that pushes her sound from lo-fi beginnings into expansive indie rock, and features guest appearances from Jim Adkins and Hayley Williams. On today’s episode, we talk about the influence of 2000s indie rock, share some gentle Death Cab for Cutie fandom, and dive into how the Hayley Williams collaboration came together. 

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Our guest this week is rising pop singer, songwriter, and actor Ayesha Madon. Before becoming a household name through Netflix’s Heartbreak High, music was already at the core of her creative identity - she’s been writing songs since the age of six or seven. Earlier this year, she released her debut EP The Unanticipated Prequel, a shimmering, confident blend of pop, indie, and synth-pop that firmly establishes her as one of Australia’s most exciting new voices. In today’s episode, we chat with Ayesha about her journey toward The Unanticipated Prequel, the crossover between acting and songwriting, and how vulnerability shapes her creative process. We also dive into a special track she co-wrote with one of her Heartbreak High co-stars.

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Our guest this week is singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly. Known for her sharp lyricism and wit, the AIR Award winner has become one of Australia’s most distinctive voices with her acclaimed albums Beware of the Dogs and Flood. After taking time off to reflect on her relationship with music, Stella returns with her third record, Love & Fortune - a deeply introspective and emotionally rich collection. In today’s episode, we chat about the renewal that shaped the album, her evolving songwriting process, and taking these new songs on tour.

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Our guests this week are Melbourne indie rock four-piece The Belair Lip Bombs. Formed in high school, the band fuse classic rock influences with a modern indie sound, earning acclaim for their 2023 debut Lush Life - a record that led to them becoming the first Australian act signed to Jack White’s iconic Third Man Records. This week, they return with their sophomore album Again, a bold evolution that stays true to their DIY roots. In today’s episode, guitarist Mike Bradvica and drummer Dan 'Dev' Devlin join us to chat about the making of Again, the story behind closing track Price of a Man, and what it’s like joining the Third Man family as they prepare for global touring.

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Our guest today on the podcast is the legendary UK artist M.I.A. — a Grammy, Academy, and Mercury Prize-nominated musician who first burst onto the scene in 2005 with her groundbreaking debut Arular. This very special bonus episode was recorded live at Harvest Rock Festival in Adelaide. Over the past two decades, M.I.A. has released six genre-defying records that blend politics, identity, and personal truth, performed at the Super Bowl, and created one of the most defining songs of the 21st century, Paper Planes. Back in Australia for the first time since 2019, she’s performing at Harvest Rock and a handful of headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney. In this episode, recorded backstage at the festival, we chat with M.I.A. about her lasting influence on global music, the return of indie sleaze, the energy of festival crowds versus headline shows, and how she first discovered her passion for songwriting.

M.I.A. : Instagram / Spotify

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Our guest this week on the podcast is Canadian rapper and global hitmaker BBNO$. Known for his signature mix of humour, clever wordplay, and high-energy performances, BBNO$ has built a massive following with viral hits like edamame, lalala, and his collaborative project with Yung Gravy, Baby Gravy. Last week, he dropped his latest record — a self-titled album that perfectly captures his unpredictable, genre-blending sound and undeniable charisma. In today’s episode, we catch up with BBNO$ to talk all about the making of the new album, how he continues to stay ahead of internet culture, and his love of Aussie slang. We also chat about his upcoming Australian tour, which kicks off next week in Sydney.

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Our guests this week on the podcast are one of the UK’s most exciting indie-rock bands - The Last Dinner Party. The all-female five-piece have quickly become one of the most talked-about new acts in the world, known for their baroque, theatrical take on indie rock. Following the BRIT Award-winning success of their debut Prelude To Ecstasy and a year of sold-out shows across the globe, they’re back with their second album From The Pyre, out today. Produced by Markus Dravs (Björk, Wolf Alice), it’s a bold, expansive record that captures a looser, more playful side of the band. In today’s episode, we’re joined by guitarist Emily Roberts and bassist Georgia Davies to chat about the whirlwind between albums, the impact of touring, the vivid storytelling behind their lyrics, and what fans can expect from their upcoming Australian tour in January 2026.

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Our guest this week on the podcast is beloved Australian popstar Ruel. Known for his smooth blend of pop, soul, and R&B, Ruel has been a fixture of Australian music since his teens and has built an impressive global following along the way. Following his 2023 debut 4th Wall and the world tour that took him across multiple continents, he now returns with his highly anticipated sophomore album, Kicking My Feet - a bold, emotionally open record that pushes his sound and lyricism into new territory. In today’s episode, we chat with Ruel about embracing vulnerability in his songwriting, the difficulty in being sincere within music, and how moving to LA has shaped his creativity. We also talk about the story behind one track his mum thought was written for her, and what fans can expect from his upcoming live shows.

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Our guests today on the podcast is the soulful indie pop duo Electric Guest. Made up of Asa Taccone and Matthew Compton, the pair have been crafting irresistibly catchy, genre-blurring music since the early 2010s, amassing over half a billion streams along the way. Outside of the band, both have impressive creative backgrounds: Asa as a Grammy-winning songwriter and Matthew as a film and TV composer. This week, Electric Guest return with 10k, their first album in over six years - a vibrant, sonically adventurous record shaped with a close circle of friends and collaborators, including Carly Rae Jepsen, The Weeknd, and mentor Danger Mouse. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Asa Taccone to chat about the making of 10k, its eclectic influences (including a nod to Daft Punk), and how his friendship with Danger Mouse helped guide the direction of the record. We also talk about working with artists like Kacy Hill and Emmet Kai, and why this new chapter feels like their most creatively free yet.

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Our guest today on the podcast is acclaimed indie singer-songwriter Neko Case. For over two decades, she’s built a remarkable career as both a solo artist and a member of Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers, and earlier this year became a New York Times bestselling author with her memoir The Harder I Fight The More I Love You. After seven years away from solo work, Neko returns with her eighth album Neon Grey Midnight Green, a sweeping record that blends her folk-rock roots with lush arrangements and her unmistakable lyricism. In today’s episode, we talk with Neko about creating the album in her own studio and the difference between creating music collaboratively in a room versus through digital or AI tools. We talk about her journey into songwriting, how lyrics can sometimes take shape like literary pieces of prose, and we also dive in to her unexpected project of writing music for a Thelma & Louise Broadway musical.

Neko Case : Instagram / Spotify

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