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ADELAIDE | MELBOURNE | BRISBANE | SYDNEY & MORE!
Presale available from 12pm local time Friday 14 February
Tickets on sale to the general public from 12pm local time Monday 17 February
Since they emerged as leading lights of the late-‘00s indie rock scene with 2007 debut A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, frontman Murph, bassist Tord Øverland Knudsen and drummer Dan Haggis have maintained an incredible upward momentum. 2011’s electro-flecked second album This Modern Glitch made them Top Ten regulars; 2015’s third Glitterbug saw them embraced by the TikTok generation, with ‘Greek Tragedy’ a viral hit several times over. By 2018’s Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life they’d stepped up to arenas and 2022’s Fix Yourself, Not the World consolidated their unstoppable rise with the band’s first #1 album, seeing them reach over 2.5 billion streams. Headline shows at Crystal Palace and The O2 followed amid the band’s biggest touring cycle so far, taking in arenas across the globe and culminating at Reading 2024, where the band headlined a rammed Radio One tent overspilling with crowds of 18-24-year-olds that remain their core audience twenty years into their career.
The Wombats’ forthcoming album Oh! The Ocean trembles with the confessional emotional honesty that makes the Liverpool band’s music as cathartic and relatable as it is catchy and playful, to their continuously growing young fanbase. The latest single taken from the record, ‘Can’t Say No’ examines the human need to throw ourselves into wild, often self-destructive experiences in order to distract ourselves from our inner anguish. “We’d rather run away than feel at all”, Murph sings of in-song escapades, including car theft, vandalism, far eastern voyages and demon worship.
Oh! The Ocean is the band’s most sonically adventurous albums yet and is the result of the three-piece taking 50 new songs to Echo Park, LA, in July 2024 for six weeks of sessions with new producer John Congleton (St Vincent, Wallows, Death Cab for Cutie). The title is inspired by a revelatory trip to the beach Murph took on a family holiday. With Murph now feeling the benefits of his fresh perspective, Oh! The Ocean represents a line in the sand from which The Wombats are sprinting onwards into a mature new phase.
In celebration, the trio will be setting out on their biggest UK tour a month after the album release, colouring arenas in Nottingham, London, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds before bringing their electrifying performance down under.
Warming up the crowds in Brisbane and throughout the SummerSalt Series is Del Water Gap, while Bea and her Business and Ra Ra Viper will join the UK band for each stop on the tour. Don’t miss The Wombats’ new era when they hit a city near you this spring. Tickets to the tour will go on sale from 12pm local time Monday 17 February. Fans can sign up to presale access now via secretsounds.com.
WITH DEL WATER GAP^ | BEA AND HER BUSINESS* | RA RA VIPER*
Saturday 20 September – SummerSalt Series, Torquay Common, Torquay^*
Sunday 21 September – AEC Theatre, Adelaide*
Wednesday 24 September – Festival Hall, Melbourne*
Friday 26 September – Riverstage, Brisbane^*
Saturday 27 September – SummerSalt Series, Woodstock Farm, Tamborine^*
Sunday 28 September – SummerSalt Series, Speers Point Park, Lake Macquarie^*
Wednesday 01 October – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney*
Saturday 04 October – SummerSalt Series, Esplanade Park, Fremantle^*
^Riverstage, Brisbane & all SummerSalt Series
*All dates (including SummerSalt Series)TICKETS
Tickets on sale to the general public from 12pm local time Monday 17 February
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Your new album Lessons In Love dives deep into themes of courage, conflict, and connection. Can you share how your personal experiences influenced the storytelling on this record?
This album is a journal for me. Everything I’ve written about is something I’ve experienced or have put someone through. Listening back with new ears as I’d moved out of the situation I was writing about gave me the kind of perspective of how to be better. It was quite cathartic and yes, there were moments I crashed out during the sessions (bawling uncontrollably after recording Holding On) It’s been incredible gaining the courage to love again after everything I had been through, and this record is evidence of that.
The album features the voices of the HALO Vocal Ensemble on several tracks. What did their contribution bring to the overall sound and feel of the album?
Who doesn’t love an angelic choir to set the tone for vulnerability? I was so lucky to work with HALO on this record because they added the very thing this record needed to feel real. Every singer in that session resonated with the music in a personal way and you can feel it when you’re listening to it. It’s Truth.
You’ve spoken about the risk and mystery of love, especially in tracks like “Ocean Floor Pt. 1 and Pt. 2.” How did you approach writing these songs, and how do they reflect your own experiences with love?
I likened the risk of falling in love to that of wading out too deep in the ocean. It’s terrifying navigating uncharted waters, especially if you’re not sure of your capacity to survive it. It’s about trusting the process, listening to your intuition and being hopeful it will be a beautiful experience, no matter how it ends.
I sat at the piano and expressed what I was feeling at the time. I was freshly out of a decade-long relationship which I thought was my be all and end all, developed a crush but shied away from my feelings. Until I wrote them down and realized as long as it felt safe for my heart to do so, I could go further into the deep.
With tracks like “Along The Way” and “Holding On,” there seems to be a lot of reflection on life’s challenges. How do you stay motivated to create music during tough times?
My authenticity has always kept me inspired creatively. My audiences have come to know me as a no nonsense straight no chaser kind of artist. I’m not scared to bare the ugliest parts of myself for public consumption because I believe they can see some of themselves in me. It humanizes them and helps them feel seen. As long as I remain brave enough to bare those parts of myself in my music instead of trying to be a perfectly manufactured politically correct artist, I feel I’ll never fall short in my process.
Your vocals have a unique way of conveying both strength and vulnerability. What’s your process for ensuring your vocal performance matches the emotional depth of each song?
I never go to the studio with a deadline. I allow myself the space to really connect with what I’m singing about. I have had a hard time with some of the content as it’s not relevant to my current circumstances but it’s something I lived so I have to put those shoes on again and tell the story.
You’ve been performing at some of Australia’s most iconic festivals and supported artists like Leon Bridges and Odette. How have these experiences shaped your music and performance style?
I’ve been really lucky in my career to have had those opportunities. It’s incredibly special to know there are other artists with a platform that believe in what I’m doing enough to bring me into their space in that way. More than anything, those experiences solidify what I’ve always believed. If you have a story to tell, and you tell the whole truth, people will listen. It’s not important what stages I’m on to do it, what matters is that I mean what I’m singing.
The album’s title suggests there are lessons to be learned in love. What’s one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned from both the highs and lows of love?
The greatest love of your life is you.
You’ll be celebrating the album release with a special Valentine’s Day show at Melbourne’s JazzLab. How are you preparing for such an intimate performance, and what can fans expect from the night?
I’m very excited for this show. I think people should expect to be serenaded with love ballads, reflect on heartbreak and if they’re on a date…whatever comes after.
In your track “Another Day,” you reflect on the challenges of balancing motherhood, work, and relationships. How do you navigate these responsibilities, and how do they inform your creative process?
I have to set aside time for me. It would be irresponsible to say my child is the primary priority in my day-to-day life because that’s simply not the case for me. She didn’t ask to come into this world, and everything I do is for her. But part of that is pouring into my own cup so I can nurture her. I would be pretty useless as a mother if I wasn’t inspired by the world around me to be a better person and lead by example. I want her to have happy parents, however, that looks for us and right now it’s running two households on the foundation of respect, respite and love for our daughter.
You’ve recently performed at some exciting events, including the National Multicultural Festival and Midsumma Pride Party. What does performing in these spaces mean to you, and how do you connect with your audience at these events?
Coming back to my hometown for the NMF is incredibly special because it reminds me of where I’ve come from and how much I’ve grown. And the Midsumma Pride Party is incredibly special because I get to celebrate with Melbourne’s Queer community and share the kindness and acceptance I’ve been welcomed into since coming out publically.
And the way I connect is very simple. I’m just real.
Thndo Upcoming Shows:
Saturday 22 February
Under the Stars
Carnegie, VIC
Tickets
Wednesday 16 April
Supporting BJ: The Chicago Kidd
Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
Tickets
Thursday 17 April
Supporting BJ: The Chicago Kidd
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets
Friday 27 June
Karralyka Theatre
Ringwood, VIC
Tickets
Lessons in Love out Friday 14 February
via Ditto: https://ditto.fm/lessons-in-love-thndo + Bandcamp: https://thndo.bandcamp.com/
Australia has fallen in love with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Max McNown who has released his sophomore album Night Diving via Fugitive Recordings x The Orchard alongside the release of his introspective single “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes) with the track receiving instant adds at Australian radio.
The new single boasts earnest lyrics that offer a personal reflection on rising to the occasion for a once-in-a-lifetime love. The song’s protagonist has just met the girl of his dreams, “but it’s more than just her alluring brown eyes that captivate him,” shares Max. “She imbues goodness and, above all, has a “heart of gold.”
The single is part of the stunning Night Diving LP, which is McNown’s promising follow-up to his critically-acclaimed debut album Wandering. Produced by Jamie Kenney (Colbie Caillat, Laci Kaye Booth), Night Diving is a body of work that explores new and daring sonic terrain while fully affirming McNown’s extraordinary capacity to ease the mind and strengthen the soul.
In an exclusive feature revealing McNown as Country Rookie of the Month, Billboard says, ”The new music centers on his poetic, observational writing style, while adding polish to his personally-crafted songs.” Read the full interview here.
McNown was also featured as CMT’s Next Up Now featured artist as we saw the release of his Willfully Blind EP, which landed as the Oregon-born artist made his Americana Fest debut, and as we saw another major resurgence of his breakout hit single “A Lot More Free” after this TikTok celebrating the track’s one year anniversary went viral (14.7M views and counting). Since the single’s release it has amassed over 80M+ streams, earned McNown a top spot as #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, peaked at #1 on the iTunes singles chart and #1 on the TikTok Breakthrough USA chart, climbed the Canadian Hot 100 chart, and was placed on Spotify’s Hot Country and Viral 50 global playlists.
At 23, McNown has already been on a storied musical journey. Taking control of his future, overcoming personal challenges, and drawing inspiration from his brother who was bravely fighting cancer, McNown packed his bags and drove from remote Oregon to Southern California. From there, videos of him busking on a pier made an impact online and eventually grew into a legion of supporters on TikTok (currently has 1.9M followers). After attracting interest from major TV talent shows, McNown auditioned for one and then decided it wasn’t for him and gracefully turned them down as he knew he needed to walk his own path.
The rising singer-songwriter’s debut headline tour kicks off in January 2025 in the U.S. and has already sold out stops in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and cities across Australia.
Due to incredible demand for the rising country star’s debut, Frontier Touring is thrilled to announce a second show in Sydney and a brand-new show in Perth have been added to his upcoming A Lot More Free Tour, heading to Australia and New Zealand this May!
Making his way down under for the first time, McNown will stop at Auckland’s Powerstation on Sunday 4 May, before heading over to Australia for seven shows at The Tivoli, Brisbane on Tuesday 6 May and Wednesday 7 May, Roundhouse, Sydney on Sunday 11 May and now on Monday 12 May (just added!) Forum, Melbourne on Tuesday 13 May and Wednesday 14 May and now a final show at Metro City, Perth on Friday 16 May.
Stream Night Diving album HERE
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Sónar 2025 completes its musical programme, with over 50 new additions to a diverse, original line up in Barcelona this June |
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Today’s 51 confirmations bring the total number of live shows, DJ sets and multidisciplinary performances to 117, taking place on 10 stages across Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night in Barcelona this June. These new additions reflect the breadth of creativity of the global scene with live shows from Pa Salieu, Sega Bodega, Dengue Dengue Dengue, Josh Caffé and Herbert & Momoko, DJ sets from Dixon, Actress b2b Skee Mask, Dee Diggs and 90’s legend Ultra Naté, and a moving tribute to the much-missed Ryuichi Sakamoto by close collaborators and electronic music icons Alva Noto and Fennez. Elsewhere, the lineup continues to blur boundaries, with Nathy Peluso presenting her upcoming remix album Club Grasa and genre-breaking artists such as Safety Trance, WOST, Emma dj, SICARIA, DJ SOSA RD, Animistic Beliefs & Jeisson Drenth, Lua de Santana, plus many more.
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LINE UP SÓNAR 2025 NEW ADDITIONS 06/02/2025
15 15 | ABADIR | Actress & Suzanne Ciani present ‘Concrète Waves’ | Akyute & Alice Sparkly Kat | Alinka b2b Shaun J. Wright | Alizzz presents ‘Conducción Temeraria’ | Alva Noto & Fennesz present ‘Continuum’ | Amantra | ANCIENT PLEASURE | Anderson Do Paraíso | Andres Campo | Andy Martin | Animistic Beliefs & Jeisson Drenth present ‘Thức Tỉnh’ AV | ARCA | Armin van Buuren b2b Indira Paganotto | ASIA presents ‘ASIA X’ | Baldman | Barry Can’t Swim DJ set | BICEP present CHROMA AV/DJ set | Blawan live | Branko live | Chano Domínguez & Bronquio present ‘Calle Barcelona’ | Chris Watson & Izabella Dłużyk present ‘Białowieża’ | Cora Novoa presents ‘Mental Diary Act III’ live AV | Daito Manabe | Dania + Mau Morgó present ‘replica — relic’ | Dee Diggs b2b Ultra Naté | Dengue Dengue Dengue | dirtilarita | Dixon | DjSport | Elkka | Emerald | Emma dj | Eric Prydz | EYRA | Fafi Abdel Nour b2b Jennifer Loveless | Flore b2b Peder Mannerfelt | Forensis (Forensic Architecture) & Bill Kouligas present ‘The Drum and The Bird’ | Four Tet | dj g2g | Grand River and Abul Mogard present ‘In uno spazio immenso’ | Hamdi | DJ HEARTSTRING | Heith, James K and Günseli Yalcinkaya present ‘The Talk’ live AV | Helena Hauff | Hello Sasy | Herbert & Momoko | Hiroko Yamamura | Honey Dijon | Interplanetary Criminal | Jayda G | Josh Caffé live | Juliana Huxtable | KEBRA | L’Miranda b2b Candadismo | Le Motel | Lord Spikeheart | Lua de Santana | Maria Arnal presents ‘Ama’ | Maria Latina | Max Cooper presents ‘Lattice 3D/AV’ | MCR-T live | MOCHAKK | Mushka | NAGUIYAMI | Nahoomi |
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LINE UP BY DAY AND NIGHT Thursday 12th June Sónar by Day | 15:00 – 00:00 15 15 | Alizzz presents ‘Conducción Temeraria’ | Blawan live | Chano Domínguez & Bronquio present ‘Calle Barcelona’ | Chris Watson & Izabella Dłużyk present ‘Białowieża’ | DjSport | Emma dj | Fafi Abdel Nour b2b Jennifer Loveless | Grand River and Abul Mogard present ‘In uno spazio immenso’ | Le Motel | MCR-T live | MOCHAKK | Nahoomie | Nina Emocional presents ‘FDM’ | Ouineta | Paquita Gordon | Saint Abdullah, Eomac & Rebecca Salvadori present ‘A Forbidden Distance’ | Sarra Wild | TRISTÁN! & The Jazz Band Air | Ville Haimala presents ‘Hyporeal’ | YESSi PERSE & laSADCUM present ‘CYBERMEDIEVAL’ Friday 13th June Sónar by Day | 15:00 – 23:00 ABADIR | Alva Noto & Fennesz present ‘Continuum’ | Amantra | ANCIENT PLEASURE | ASIA presents ‘ASIA X’ | Baldman | Branko live | Dania + Mau Morgó present ‘replica — relic’ | Forensis (Forensic Architecture) & Bill Kouligas present ‘The Drum and The Bird’ | Heith, James K and Günseli Yalcinkaya present ‘The Talk’ live AV | Honey Dijon | Josh Caffé live | KEBRA | Maria Arnal presents ‘Ama’ | NEW YORK | Niilas | Raül Refree + Niño de Elche present ‘cru+es’ | Sama’ Abdulhadi | Shapednoise & Sevi Iko Dømochevsky present ‘Absurd Matter: Continuum’ | Tarta Relena present ‘És pregunta’ | TETO PRETO Sónar by Night | 20:30 – 07:00 Andy Martin | ARCA | Barry Can’t Swim DJ set | BICEP present CHROMA AV/DJ set | Daito Manabe | Dengue Dengue Dengue | Elkka | Flore b2b Peder Mannerfelt | Four Tet | Hamdi | Helena Hauff | Interplanetary Criminal | Jayda G | L’Miranda b2b Candadismo | Lua de Santana | Max Cooper presents ‘Lattice 3D/AV’ | NAGUIYAMI | Pa Salieu | DJ Paca | Peggy Gou | People You May Know AV/live | Plastikman | SICARIA | DJ SOSA RD | Tim Reaper | Tiyumii Saturday 14th June Sónar by Day | 15:00 – 23:00 Actress & Suzanne Ciani present ‘Concrète Waves’ | Akyute & Alice Sparkly Kat | Alinka b2b Shaun J. Wright | Animistic Beliefs & Jeisson Drenth present ‘Thức Tỉnh’ AV | dj g2g | DJ HEARTSTRING | Hello Sasy | Herbert & Momoko | Juliana Huxtable | Lord Spikeheart | Maria Latina | Mushka | Nexus (B4mba & Mooki6) | Overmono | patten | R-010 & Venerandi present ‘Phenomena’ | Safety Trance | Samantha Hudson presents ‘Música para Muñecas’ | Sara Persico & Mika Oki present ‘Sphaîra’ | Shannen SP | Sofia | Vica Pacheco presents ‘ITA’ AV | Yerai Cortés presents ‘Guitarra Coral’ Sónar by Night | 20:30 – 07:00 Anderson Do Paraíso | Andres Campo | Armin van Buuren b2b Indira Paganotto | Cora Novoa presents ‘Mental Diary Act III’ live AV | Dee Diggs b2b Ultra Naté | dirtilarita | Dixon | Emerald | Eric Prydz | EYRA | Hiroko Yamamura | Nathy Peluso | Nathy Peluso presents ‘Club Grasa’ | nusar3000 live | oma totem | Paula Tape | Polo & Pan | Rone x (LA)HORDE with Ballet National de Marseille present ‘Room With A View’ | Saoirse b2b Ryan Elliott | Sega Bodega | Six Sex | Skee Mask b2b Actress | Skrillex b2b Blawan | T.Modet & Carlotto Rose present ‘Natura aeterna’ | Vintage Culture | WOST
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AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS: a bridge between AI and music creation As part of Sónar+D, for the third consecutive year, the AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS programme reaffirms the festival’s commitment to European culture, supporting artistic projects, creative proposals and scientific research focused on the links between Artificial Intelligence and musical creation. Within this framework, Ville Haimala (half of the duo Amnesia Scanner) will join the lineup to present his new solo album ‘Hyporeal’. Also presenting a new album will be British experimental musician and audiovisual artist patten (pseudonym of Damien Roach), as well as Madrid-based artist R-010 and vocalist Venerandi, who, in their live show ‘Phenomena’, will experiment with sound using digital neural networks and the human voice. These newly announced artists join the highly anticipated show ‘Ama’ by Maria Arnal, who is working on a project with more than 14,000 voices that are training an AI which will be integrated into the show,, as well as in her album of the same name (co-produced, by the way, by Alizzz, also present at the festival). Co-productions and co-curations with 10 European Festivals through TIMES Sónar is also part of the cooperative project TIMES (The Independent Movement for the Electronic Scenes), co-founded by the European Union. This initiative brings together 10 cutting-edge European festivals to produce original new performances that combine music and visual arts, as well as to co-curate a series of shows. In this edition, Sónar has collaborated with Insomnia (Tromsø), Terraf Together with Insomnia, Sónar announces Norwegian DJ Niilas, who brings a dreamy and melancholic vision to club music. He joins the previously announced ABADIR, hailed as the new sensation in Arab-origin electronic music. Alongside Terraforma, the festival will feature Catalan violinist Asia, who continues to push the boundaries beyond classical music, and the impeccable, eclectic selector Paquita Gordon. Curated alongside Semibreve, Grand River and Abul Mogard will perform their ambient-drone collaborative album In uno spazio immenso. Additionally, as part of the project, the first two artistic residencies have been developed. The first has resulted in two unique audiovisual shows. Saint Abdullah, Eomac & Rebecca Salvadori will present A Forbidden Distance, a multidisciplinary collaboration between three electronic musicians and a filmmaker exploring the impact of migration on identity. Meanwhile, Chris Watson & Izabela Dłużyk will present Białowieża, a poignant field recording work from the last primeval forest in Europe, Puszcza Białowiesża, on the Poland-Belarus border—a site that has become a symbol of broader geopolitical tensions. Both projects have been co-created with the festivals Berlin Atonal, Semibreve, and Unsound. The second artistic residency of the project features Heith, James K, and Günseli Yalcinkaya, who will present The Talk, an experimental project incorporating different formats such as discussion, audiovisual projection, and, of course, live performance. Sónar Week 2025 – Agenda Tuesday 10th June · +RAIN Film Festival | Campus Poblenou-UPF · RÜFÜS DU SOL x OFFSónar | Poble Espanyol | SOLD-OUT Wednesday 11th June · +RAIN Film Festival | Campus Poblenou-UPF · RÜFÜS DU SOL x OFFSónar | Poble Espanyol | SOLD-OUT Thursday 12th June · Sónar de Día | Fira Montjuïc · Frames Percussion, Espigolé & Otero Correa pres. Reich y García-Tomás | Palau de la Música Catalana · +RAIN Film Festival | Fira Montjuïc · ‘X’ by Adriatique x OFFSónar | Poble Espanyol Friday 13th June · Sónar de Día | Fira Montjuïc · Sónar de Noche | Fira Gran Via · +RAIN Film Festival | Fira Montjuïc · Solid Grooves x OFFSónar | Poble Espanyol | SOLD-OUT Saturday 14th June · Sónar de Día | Fira Montjuïc · Sónar de Noche | Fira Gran Via · Sónar+D | Fira Montjuïc · FUSE x OFFSónar | Poble Espanyol | SOLD-OUT · &ME and Adam Port x OFFSónar | Poble Espanyol | SOLD-OUT Sunday 15th June · elrow x OFFSónar | Poble Espanyol Sónar Around the World Once again, Sónar kicks off its international adventure in the capital of Portugal. Sónar Lisboa returns to the heart of the city on April 11, 12, and 13, with Pavilhão Carlos Lopes hosting a lineup that brings the best of the world to Lisbon—and showcases the best of Lisbon to the world. The event will feature takeovers from local labels and collectives such as Enchufada, Dengo Club, and Príncipe x TraTraTrax, alongside global stars including Underworld, Nina Kraviz, Richie Hawtin with his DEX EFX X0X show, Anetha with her new AV show ‘EXHIBIT’, Modeselektor DJ set, Marcel Dettmann with his new live show ‘My Own Shadow’, JASSS, Max Cooper with ‘Lattice 3D/AV’, and many more. More information and tickets at sonarlisboa.pt. Shortly after, on May 9 and 10, it will be Sónar Istanbul’s turn, celebrating its 9th consecutive edition at Zorlu PSM. Among the first 21 names announced, highlights include a special DJ set by The Chemical Brothers, along with Richie Hawtin DEX EFX X0X, Modeselektor DJ set, Aïsha Devi + Emmanuel Biard }§{, and BASHKKA. More information and tickets at sonaristanbul.com. |
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Institutions, Partners, and Sponsors Sónar 2025 is an initiative by Advanced Music, in collaboration with the Departament de Cultura de la Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ajuntament de Barcelona, with the support of the Ministerio de Cultura, the Ajuntament de L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, and the S+T+ARTS initiative of the European Commission. The collaborating entities of Sónar 2025 include TIMES (The Independent Movement for Electronic Scenes), Boiler Room, Printworks, New Art Foundation, Tabakalera, Univer Sónar 2025 is proudly sponsored by Estrella Damm as the main sponsor, alongside LACOSTE, Nissan, SEI |
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About Sónar True to its name, Sónar acts as a detector,, scanning and amplifying the present and future of the music scene. It globally showcases the most influential artistic proposals of the moment, serving as a space for discovering emerging trends in music, arts, science, technology, and society. Since its first edition in 1994, Sónar has reflected the evolution and expansion of digital and electronic culture through its festivals in Barcelona and around the world. Year after year, Sónar becomes the epicenter of cutting-edge music and arts, attracting audiences, artists, and professionals from across the globe, drawn by its innovative content, formats, and unique venues. About Sónar+D Sónar+D goes beyond music, exploring the intersections between creative industries, innovation, and technology. This three-day programme, fully integrated into Sónar by Day, features talks, panel discussions, radical performances, and an interactive exhibition space. An unparalleled experience, Sónar+D combines unique content, formats, and an inspiring atmosphere, providing the perfect space for interaction and exchange between artists, thinkers, professionals, and curious audiences. About AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS AI & Music powered by S+T+ARTS, an initiative by the European Commission, presents performances, talks, masterclasses, and workshops showcasing artistic projects, creative proposals, and research focused on the relationship between machine learning and music creation. For three years, Sónar has dedicated a core part of its programming to exploring innovations in this rapidly evolving field, building on past editions of SónarCCCB and Ars Electronica. The initiative delves into the impact of AI on the music industry, creativity, and the arts. About TIMES (The Independent Movement for Electronic Scenes) TIMES is a cooperative project that brings together 10 leading European festivals to create original performances combining music and visual arts. Beyond programming shared artists and original creations, TIMES aims to support, promote, and enhance diversity and sustainability within the music industry. TIMES is a collaboration between: Arty Farty/Nuits sonores (France), Berlin Atonal (Germany), Elevate (Austria), Insomnia (Norway), Le Guess Who? (Netherlands), Reworks (Greece), Semibreve (Portugal), Sónar (Spain), Terraforma (Italy), Unsound (Poland). This project succeeds We Are Europe (2015-2022) and is co-funded by the European Union. |
The award-winning film composer returns to Australia this April for the first time in six years
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Tickets on sale Wednesday 12 February at 12pm (local time)
Award winning film composer Hans Zimmer today announces his first live dates in Australia since 2019, the multiple Academy Award® and Grammy winner bringing his smash-hit tour Hans Zimmer Live to arenas in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in April 2025.
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A groundbreaking audio and visual show, Zimmer’s upcoming tour marks the Down Under return of the legendary composer, who rocked Coachella in 2017 and sold out over 20 shows across 17 cities across the US and Canada in 2024. With the support of his outstanding 19-piece live band and a full orchestra, Australian fans will be swept away from the sound of the first note and journey through a selection of the composer’s well-loved scores from some of cinema’s biggest films. Joining Zimmer onstage as part of the Hans Zimmer Live tour is acclaimed Australian singer Lisa Gerrard, who will perform a selection of the most popular songs she co-wrote with Zimmer, such as Mission: Impossible, King Arthur, Black Hawk Down, Tears of the Sun and Gladiator – which won her a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination.
The newly arranged concert suites include music from Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, The Lion King, The Last Samurai and Dune, for which Zimmer received his second Academy Award®.
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Hans Zimmer’s extraordinary melodies and modern compositions captivate a huge worldwide fanbase across generations. He has already energized countless international cinema blockbusters, in addition to the above: James Bond – No Time to Die, Inception, Dunkirk, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight trilogy, Wonder Woman, Kung Fu Panda, 12 Years A Slave, Top Gun: Maverick, and Dune: Part Two.
Hans Zimmer has scored more than 500 projects across all mediums, which combined have grossed more than $28 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Zimmer has been honored with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, five Grammys, an American Music Award, and a Tony Award.
Frontier Members can get early access to tickets via their presale starting Tuesday 11 February at 11am (local time) – see website for information. Tickets for all cities will go on sale Wednesday 12 February at 12pm (local time) via HansZimmerLive.com or frontiertouring/hanszimmerlive
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About Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer has scored more than 500 projects across all mediums, which combined, have grossed more than 28 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Zimmer has been honored with two Academy Awards®, three Golden Globes®, four Grammys, an American Music Award, and a Tony® Award. His work highlights include Dune: Part One, Top Gun: Maverick, No Time to Die, Gladiator, The Thin Red Line, As Good as It Gets, Rain Man, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Thelma and Louise, The Last Samurai, 12 Years A Slave, Blade Runner 2049 (co-scored w/ Benjamin Wallfisch) and Dunkirk, as well as David Attenborough’s Prehistoric Planet, and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, the follow-up to his Academy Award®-winning score for Dune: Part One. Zimmer most recently created the score for Steve McQueen’s Blitz, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival. Starring Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson, the film released in theaters on November 1, 2024. Upcoming, he scored Joseph Kosinski’s F1, which is set to premiere on June 27 from Warner Bros. Beyond his award-winning compositions, Zimmer is a remarkably successful touring artist, having recently concluded his first North American “Hans Zimmer Live” tour, after the tour’s second round in Europe. He has also performed in the Middle East at Dubai’s renowned Coca-Cola Arena for two consecutive nights as well as Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix.
HANS ZIMMER LIVE
AUSTRALIA
APRIL 2025
Presented by Frontier Touring, Semmel Concerts and RCI Global
HANS ZIMMER + FRONTIER MEMBER PRESALE
via frontiertouring/hanszimmerlive
Runs 24 hours from: Tuesday 11 February, 11am (local time)
or until pre-sale allocation exhausted
TICKETS ON SALE
Begins: Wednesday 12 February, 12pm (local time)
ALL SHOWS ALL AGES
Thursday 24 April
Brisbane Entertainment Centre | Brisbane, QLD
ticketek.com.au
Saturday 26 April
Qudos Bank Arena | Sydney, NSW
ticketek.com.au
Tuesday 29 April
Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne, VIC
ticketek.com.au
FOLLOW HANS ZIMMER LIVE:
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Always wanted to take a sneak peek behind the walls at Bakehouse? Here’s your chance. On Saturday 22nd of February 2025, Bakehouse Studios will open its doors for a special studio-wide Open Day event, running from 10am to 2pm.
With live music performances from Miss Kaninna, Kutcha Edwards & Friends, Rudely Interrupted and Magnets, the event will celebrate the success of Bakehouse’s 2024 inclusivity upgrades, including the installation of a studio elevator, ramped stage and other accessible facilities. It will also celebrate the completion of the 2024 First Nations Artist Residencies, and launch a new round of inaugural studio residencies to support artists living with disabilities, to take place throughout 2025. Proudly co-funding these endeavours, Bakehouse thanks Creative Victoria, Office for the Arts, Greater Western Water, Position Inc, Arts Access Victoria and The Push for their commitment to supporting equal opportunities in local music.
Featuring a luscious courtyard oasis, historic architectural features, and semi-permanent installations in art-filled studios, this a rare opportunity for a self-guided walkthrough of the unique inner city sanctuary.
Accompanying the gig will be local vendors with fresh banh mi & coffee, merch desks with goods by your favourite local artists, and stalls presented by community organisations.
The Bakehouse open day is free entry, with donation options & door prizes to be won.
“For many years one of our senior Songmen couldn’t access the upstairs rehearsal spaces. When I was asked to support & advocate for a new lift so that everyone had the opportunity to be in all the beautiful rehearsal rooms at Bakehouse, I was more than happy to do so. Now the lift is in, it’s time to celebrate inclusion for all.” – Uncle Kutcha Edwards
“Bakehouse Studios is creating access to a vital development and showcase space at the centre of the Australian Music scene. They have taken this significant step to ensure no one is left behind. We couldn’t be prouder to bear witness to their commitment and dedication to equity. Bakehouse shows us the true power music has in connecting us all.” – Nikki Zerella, Deputy CEO, Arts Access Victoria
RSVP through the Humantix link: https://events.humanitix.com/
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Hideout is Croatia’s original and best festival experience and today the complete line-up and beach party details are revealed for their unmissable 15th anniversary edition. Taking place from 22nd – 26th June 2025, Hideout is five days of non-stop musical action, adventure and holiday escapism on Zrce Beach. Tickets are on sale now at https://go.kaboodle.co.uk/HO25
Every year, Hideout gets underway with a bang with the legendary opening beach party and in 2025 it will again be in association with BBC Radio 1 Dance X for the second year. It’s the only way to get your summer started and will feature Chloé Caillet, Chris Stussy, Danny Howard, Eliza Rose b2b Sarah Story, LP Rhythm and Paige Tomlinson who will all provide an electrifying mix of house, tech and garage sounds.
The final additions to this year’s main line up are Ama, Ben Hemsley, Doorly, Denny, DJ Gigola, Jess Bays, Lady Shaka, LF System, Murphy’s Law, Kyle Starkey, Nyra, Oden & Fatzo, Sam Divine and Tommy Holohan with residents and partners Big Reg, Devote, MC AD, Nicola Bear, North Base and Sisu Crew also joining the fun.
Hideout is famed for being the most energetic summer festival of all. It has a close-knit community of music loving party people who come from all over Europe to soak up the diverse electronic sounds which are served up across five clubs Noa, Papaya, Kalypso, Aquarius and Euphoria as well as boat and pool parties.
More than just music, Hideout also offers an endless array of activities such as high octane water sports, banana boats, jet skis, pedalos and the famous bungee jump as well as massages, cocktails, and sushi on Zrce Beach.
All of these latest names come on top of previously announced stars including Alan Fitzpatrick, AK Sports, Azyr, Benga, Bou, Bubble Love (Ross From Friends), Camo & Krooked, Charlie Sparks, Danny Howard, Darius Syrossian, Diffrent, Djammin, Dr Dubplate, East End Dubs, Eats Everything, Eliza Rose, Elliot Schooling & Liam Palmer, Enzo Is Burning, Enzo Siragusa, Fish56 Octagon, Gaskin, Girls Don’t Sync, Hannah Laing, Hedex, Hitty, Hybrid Minds, Interplanetary Criminal, [IVY], Jakkob, Josh Baker, K Motionz, Kettama, Ki/Ki, L.P. Rhythm, Notion, Olive F, Oppidan, Overmono (DJ), Paige Tomlinson, Patrick Topping, Paul Woolford, Sammy Virji, Sarah Story, Skream, Solardo, Sosa and Special Request.
The best way to secure your place at Hideout is to book accommodation (which ranges from affordable to luxury) and flight packages directly through the festival for a deposit of £149. These packages offer huge discounts, monthly payment plans and other benefits like early access to boat party tickets – take the hassle out of booking a group holiday and plan this most essential summer experience now.
The countdown is now on to this historic 15th edition of Hideout. Tickets are selling fast so don’t miss out on this year’s adventure and get yours now.
Website: https://hideoutfestival.com/
With the new artist announcement, 130 artists have already been confirmed for 2025, including superstars such as Afrojack, Alok, Amelie Lens, Angerfist, Armin van Buuren, Boris Brejcha, Brennan Heart, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Maddix, Oliver Heldens, Steve Aoki, Timmy Trumpet, Vini Vici, W&W and many more.
The AIRBEAT ONE Festival 2025 is setting new standards! With the announcement of the second line-up phase, the mega event from July 9 to 13, 2025 at the airfield in Neustadt-Glewe is getting even closer. Under this year’s motto “Viva España”, the site is transformed into a small Spanish town and welcomes festival visitors from all over the world. With the new line-up phase, over 130 acts have already been confirmed for the six spectacular stages – including 16 DJs from the renowned DJ Mag Top 100 ranking, such as Afrojack, Alok, Amelie Lens, Armin van Buuren, Boris Brejcha, Deborah de Luca, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Maddix, Oliver Heldens, Steve Aoki, Timmy Trumpet, Vini Vici, W&W and Paul van Dyk.
Six new acts from the DJ Mag Top 100 will be causing a stir on the main stage: Afrojack, Deborah de Luca, Maddix, Oliver Heldens, Steve Aoki, Vini Vici and W&W complete the line-up of the monumental stage. With the superstars around Armin van Buuren, Amelie Lens, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Timmy Trumpet and Boris Brejcha already announced in Phase 1, the Mainstage brings together eleven of the world’s best DJs to date. HBz, AFROKI, Brennan Heart, Will Sparks, Hamburg’s PsyTrance star Neelix and Berlin’s techno artist Alfred Heinrichs will also enrich the Mainstage program.
Charlie Sparks and Eli Brown from the UK are the latest artists to join the Arena Stage line-up. The two are known for their energetic sets and have already played the best clubs in the world. German DJ and producer Clara Cuvé, Munich-born AKKI and Oliver Heldens’ versatile techno alter ego HI-LO will be joining Novah, Schrotthagen and Sim0ne to provide the finest techno music.
There is an impressive update for all lovers of harder styles on the Harder Stage. D-Block & S-te-Fan, Wildstylez and Miss K8, absolute blockbusters of the hardstyle and hardcore scene, who inspire millions of fans worldwide and are also among the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs in the world, will be joining the line-up. The line-up is massively enriched by artists such as Adrenalize, Aftershock, Cryex, Sickmode and Rooler. Harris & Ford, GPF, Lil Texas, Imperatorz, Riot Shift, Mutilator, Bass Shaker and Thyron will also be joining the line-up on the Harder Stage, promising energetic performances that will get the audience shaking.
The Terminal Stage is expanding its artists with a strong focus on electronic diversity and party vibes, particularly from the national scene. New acts include Gestört aber GeiL, Jerome and Lum!x, who will be creating a festival atmosphere with their chart-topping productions. The line-up is complemented by artists such as 2 Engel & Charlie, Anstandslos & Durchgeknallt, Blvck Crowz, Die Gebrüder Brett, Fappe & Bru, Justin Prince, Lexy & K-Paul, KomaCasper, HouseKaspeR and Taktstörer, who will provide a mixture of house, EDM and tech house.
The Second Stage takes festival visitors on a musical journey through the world of psytrance, goa and trance. With artists such as Ace Ventura, Ranji, Rising Dust and Sajanka, some of the best international acts of the genre are coming to Neustadt-Glewe. They will be joined by newcomers such as Alchimyst, Henrique Camacho and Cloud7, who will enrich the stage with their hypnotic beats and spherical sounds. Special highlights include the B2B set by Phaxe and Querox as well as performances by Daora, Ghost Rider, Schrittmacher and C.U.L.T..
The Butterfly Stage, which was added last year, focuses on the classics. Legends such as Aquagen, 4Strings, Charly Lownoise, DJ Quicksilver, Pulsedriver and Ian van Dahl return to the stage with their best dance hits from the 90s and 2000s. Party icons such as Mia Julia and House Rockerz will also ensure the best atmosphere. Line-up phase 2 on this stage will be completed by Bomba, Creekb2b Bamba, The Hitmen and Zyrus 7.
The first acts for the N-JOY Check-In on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 have also been confirmed. Ely Oaks and Krowdexx will get you in the perfect mood for the AIRBEAT ONE Festival 2025 with their fresh sounds.
Tickets for the AIRBEAT ONE Festival are available from myticket in pre-sale phase 2 for 169.99 euros plus fees via the following link: https://airbeat-one.myticket.de. The AIRBEAT ONE Festival is part of the DEAG Group.
AIRBEAT ONE Festival 2025
Line-Up Phase 2
Mainstage
Afrojack
AFROKI
Alfred Heinrichs
Amelie Lens
Armin van Buuren
Boris Brejcha
Brennan Heart
Deborah de Luca
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Hardwell
HBz
Maddix
Neelix
Oliver Heldens
Steve Aoki
Timmy Trumpet
Vini Vici
Will Sparks
W&W
Arena Stage
999999999
AKKI
Basswell
Charlie Sparks
Clara Cuvé
Danny Avila
Eli Brown
HI-LO
I hate models
Klangkuenstler
Kobosil
Lilly Palmer
Mika Heggemann
Novah
Prada2000
Schrotthagen
Sim0ne
Harder Stage
Adrenalize
Aftershock
Angerfist
Barber
Bass Shaker
Coone
Cryex
D-Block & S-te-Fan
Dimitri K
DJ Isaac
Dr. Peacock
D-Sturb
Dual Damage
GPF
Harris & Ford
Imperatorz
Jebroer
Lil Texas
Miss K8
Mutilator
Riot Shift
Rooler
Sickmode
The Dark Horror
Thyron
Wildstylez
Terminal Stage
2 Engel & Charlie
Anstandslos & Durchgeknallt
AVAION
BJones
Blvck Crowz
Cascada
Gestört aber GeiL
Die Gebrüder Brett
Djane Ave
Fappe & Bru
HouseKaspeR
ISO3000
Jerome
Justin Prince
KomaCasper
KXXMA
Le Shuuk
Lexy & K-Paul
Lum!x
Mausio
Noel Holler
Noisetime
OBS
Plastik Funk vs. 2elements
Poltergst
Taktstörer
Second Stage
Ace Ventura
Alchimyst
Aly & Fila
Ch3mi
Cloud7
Cosmic Gate
C.U.L.T.
Daora
Fabio Fusco
Ghost Rider
Hatikwa
Henrique Camacho
LsDirty
Neelix
Omiki
Paul van Dyk
Phaxe b2b Querox
Portal
Ranji
Rising Dust
Sajanka
Schrittmacher
Butterfly Stage
4Strings
Aquagen
Bomba
Brooklyn Bounce DJ
Charly Lownoise
Chris Nitro
Creek b2b Bamba
Da Hool
DJ Falk
DJ Gollum
DJ Lee
DJ Quicksilver
djraw
Frenzy
Groove Coverage
House Rockerz
Ian van Dahl
Mia Julia
Money-G
Pulsedriver
Rocco
Special D
Starsplash
The Hitmen
Zyrus 7
N-Joy Check-In
Ely Oaks
Krowdexx
Links:
First wave of line up is now announced – featuring Partiboi69, Hector Oaks, X-Coast, Miss Bashful & Carla Martinez
The Warehouse Project Australia
Sydney & Melbourne
24th – 25th April 2025
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After an unforgettable debut in 2024, Manchester institution The Warehouse Project, renowned for its cultural impact in the rave scenes, announces it will return to Australia this April.
On the evening of Thursday 24th April, Sydney will be home to The Warehouse Project for a one-off event, followed by a late-afternoon into nighttime event in Melbourne on Friday 25th April (Anzac Day), showcasing an impressive array of international artists as well as Australian talent.
Since its inception in 2006, The Warehouse Project has continuously pushed boundaries in unique disused spaces around its home city in Manchester, from the early days at Boddingtons Brewery to today’s industrial rave powerhouse, Depot Mayfield. The Warehouse Project will again take over two remarkable venues – returning to the dynamic PICA in Melbourne, and new for this year, Hordern Pavilion located in Moore Park, Sydney. Featuring globally acclaimed artists alongside some of Australia’s freshest talent, Partiboi69 will head up this year’s event, bringing his highly sought after Area69 concept to Sydney and Melbourne. Blending his cutting-edge computer-animated visuals with sounds from Electro Dank, Ghetto Freak, and K-Tech, Partiboi69’s live mixes are technologically advanced and visually stimulating.
Partiboi69 will be joined by one of Europe’s most wanted underground artists, vinyl wizard and high-energy selector Héctor Oaks, alongside Serbian-born, Brooklyn-based multi-genre producer X-Coast, rapper and techno artist Miss Bashful and Sydney-based DJ and creative Carla Martinez.
Sam Kandel, Co-Founder of The Warehouse Project, said: “After the incredible success of last year’s debut, we’re excited to revisit Sydney and Melbourne to build on the magic we created. Once again, we’ll be pulling out all the stops in production and bringing a mix of both international and domestic artists to two special venues. With the special atmosphere the Australian crowd creates, we know this will be an experience that resonates long after the music stops.”
General sale will go live on Wednesday 5 February 11am AEDT.
Sign-up for more information at www.
+++ The Warehouse Project Australia
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Thursday 24th April
Partiboi69 presents Area69 Hector Oaks X-Coast Miss Bashful Carla Martinez
PICA, Melbourne Friday 25th April
Partiboi69 Hector Oaks X-Coast Miss Bashful Carla Martinez |
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Your “Willfire” tour combines your classical training with electronic music. How did your classical background influence your approach to creating “future club” music?
My classical music training probably influenced me in subconscious ways. Whilst I don’t intentionally rely on it when creating club music, I’m sure there are things I take for granted as common knowledge. I think all artists are shaped by the music they were exposed to in their formative years, whether they like it or not.
Can you tell us about the meaning behind “Willfire” and how it relates to both your music and your personal journey as an artist?
I used the term “Willfire” because it’s so powerful! It’s a word that evokes intent as well as energy. As an artist, it’s always important to approach my practice with intention – a disciplined method. Most people think that creativity just happens magically, but there’s a lot of focused preparation involved: from setting up my workspace to having a clear purpose and selecting my tools (whether it’s the plugins I use in my DAW or AI). I find that having this preparation enables greater creative freedom because the intention focuses the creative energy (like a lens) instead of dispersing it. In the end, I think this approach creates a foundation for my passions to shine through my music. And there’s no doubt that my music has PLENTY of energy!
Your live shows are known for their immersive combination of live instrumentation, vocals, and synchronized visuals. What is the creative process like when designing a live performance?
I start with the question “What do I want my audience to experience?” I’ve always been a believer that attending a live show should be a different experience from listening to a recording at home. So I always find ways to bring something more to a live show than a listener would get just from listening to my music from Spotify, for example.
From a technical perspective, it’s a lot of reverse engineering because I write all my music on the computer and I’ve got to figure out what the best way of presenting it live is. There are moments during the preparation for my Willfire Tour where I’m like, “Why did I write such a difficult passage to play on the violin???” haha
In your EP’s deluxe edition, you’ve worked with several cutting-edge producers for remixes. How did you choose these artists, and what did each bring to the table creatively?
These were producers who were doing interesting production, who weren’t necessarily the best known names… yet. I like the idea of being able to present something very underground and niche to my fans. When I got the remixes back, I was blown away by how much transmutation happened – they each turned the tracks into something completely different from the original.
You’ve described your music as a fusion of the organic and electronic. How do you ensure both elements are given space to shine during your live shows?
Obviously, the sonic signature of my music that is heard in the live shows is electronic, but when I perform live… it’s LIVE which means there’s always an element of risk, of the unexpected happening. I create live edits for my shows – so the versions audiences experience at my show sound different to the version they’re used to hearing on Spotify. Again, this goes back to me wanting to bring a live experience that is only possible in a live setting.
For example, I’m going to be mashing up some songs together to create new versions. Centre of the Universe is a track from the Willfire Deluxe EP, and it’s getting a live edit that combines elements of the original track with Lucid Letters’ Remix!
The Willfire tour includes appearances at events like the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Ara Ara Rave by Mirai Nights. What makes these events special for you, and how do they shape your performance?
Okay, I gotta talk about each show because I’ve got something different planned for each city!
First up Sydney, which is going to be held at FBR Cafe, but it’s no ordinary cafe. The cafe is run by FBR ROM who are doing some really cool research and development into reducing waste in the coffee industry. I’m taking over their CUPS & CUTS series, curating a lineup and throwing a daytime rave where coffee and food will be served.
Adelaide Fringe Festival is one where I’m partnering with local game developers, where they’ll premiere a brand new Virtual Reality Game at my show. We’ll be providing VR headsets and controllers so that audiences can play the game while a DJ spins video game soundtracks. This will be a world premiere event… meaning audiences will be the very first in the world to play the game. Oh, and I also wrote some music for the game, so there’s that too!
Then in Brisbane, we have the otaku rave – so there’s gonna be anime, idol performances, a kandi making station, Japanese sweets, a gaming corner… it’s gonna be so much fun.
Finally, the tour will end in Melbourne and I’ve invited my friends Horlin and Mayari to be on the lineup. I went to see Horlin perform live in Brisbane a few years ago and it was one of my favourite performances from a local artist, so I wanted to have him on the lineup. Mayari put out an EP last year that I enjoyed immensely, AND she’s a fellow Asian girlie, so I am so proud to have her on the lineup too.
As a multi-instrumentalist, you often transition between instruments during your sets. Which instrument do you feel the most connected to, and why?
Playing the Erae Touch is sooooo much fun. If you look at my Instagram there’s lots of clips of me playing this light up pad.
You’ve mentioned the concept of “Zhì” (志) and “Zhì Huǒ” (Willfire) as inspirations behind your music. How do these concepts manifest in your tracks or visuals during your live performances?
“Zhì (志)” essentially represents a driven sense of purpose and determination, while “Zhì Huǒ” (Willfire) channels that raw spark of creative energy into tangible action. In my music, this interplay comes through in contrasting sonic textures—otherworldly synth pads woven together with propulsive bass lines, for example. I want listeners to feel that surging momentum that pushes them to keep going, no matter the odds.
Visually, I use fiery color palettes—bursts of red, orange, and gold—across my stage projections and lighting design. These vivid flashes represent that fierce, internal spark igniting everything from the beats to my own performance energy. During more intimate moments of the set (like the verse of ‘Centre of the Universe’, or the beginning of ‘I Need U’), I strip it all back to let the concept of “Zhì” (志) breathe, creating a space where the audience can reflect on their own aspirations. Then, as the bass drops or the tempo shifts upward, we shift gears into the full force of “Zhì Huǒ,” layering eruptive visuals that match the music’s intensity. Ultimately, it’s about immersing everyone in this cycle of reflective stillness and explosive willpower, so they leave feeling inspired to chase their own willfires.
How has the global electronic scene influenced your sound, and what role do you see technology playing in the future of live music experiences?
I love digging through the IDs and tracklists of DJs I love… and go on a rabbit hole from there. Recently I realised that whilst in my head my references are obvious, I think my love for and the influence of underground electronic music in my work has positioned me as an “experimental” artist. I was somewhat confused at first but I’ve come to embrace it. That said, I don’t think “innovation” and “experimental” should be conflated. At the same time, it is exciting to see artists like FKA Twigs gain more recognition for their groundbreaking work.
I’m hoping that there will be technology that allows more accessibility to live music experiences. Whilst being physically present at a show is amazing, the truth is, for so many people living in geographically-distanced places or for folks with a disability, sometimes the only way they get to experience live music is virtually.
I know many artists and even fans don’t like mobile phones at gigs, filming everything. I get where they’re coming from, but as someone who isn’t based in the epicentre of electronic music culture (like Europe or the United States) AND lives with a chronic illness, 90% of the live music I experience is thanks to some hero uploading a recording onto YouTube. Also, due to my physical stature, most of the time when I’m fortunate enough to make it to a live show, I have to use my phone camera to even see past the heads in front of me anyway! So my unpopular opinion is that asking people not to film in live music events is able-ist.
Looking ahead, what’s next for you after the Willfire tour? Do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations that fans can look forward to?
This is my chance to give shout outs to Lonelyspeck and Gaszia (of X&G) because I think people need to check out their music if they haven’t already. Yeah, I’ve been doing collabs with them, but that’s all I’ll say for now.
Willfire Tour Dates 2025
Saturday 8 February
FBR Cafe, Sydney
CUTS and CUPS Takeover
Friday 21 February
Nexus Arts Venue, Adelaide
Adelaide Fringe Festival
Friday 14 March
Wonderland, Brisbane
Ara Ara Rave by Mirai Nights
Thursday 27 March
MISCELLANIA, Melbourne
Supports: Horlin and Mayari
All Tickets are on sale now via lalka.online
Photo Credit: Charlie Hardy
Fresh off the back of nabbing an ARIA #1 Australian Album and ARIA #4 Album placement for their third studio album TOY, Sydney’s Dear Seattle now announces national tour dates to celebrate the record with fans this May.
With the release of TOY, Dear Seattle achieved new heights as a band. Already solidified as one of the country’s best indie rock names, the four-piece broadened songwriting horizons and pushed themselves with the creation of this new album. A striking blend of riffs, melody and matured observations of relationships, growth and evolution, TOY captures Dear Seattle at a brilliant new creative peak.
Featuring singles ‘Evergreen’, ‘Say What You Want’ and ‘Counting Hours’, TOY landed with instant impact – achieving a whopping 50,000 streams on Spotify alone upon release day, TOY expanded their reach exponentially with this album, their first-ever Top 10 appearance in the ARIA Chart making TOY also coming in as the only Australian-made album in the ARIA Top 50 on release week.
Now set to take the album around the country in May, Dear Seattle are primed for their best shows yet, stating, “We’ve been putting in the hard yards to ensure this tour is the absolute best you’ve ever seen [from] DS. We always put in everything, but this time we wanna push the boundaries of what we’ve done in the past and make this album tour the most memorable one yet. We can’t wait to see you there!”
Album Artwork: Josh McKay & Brae Fisher
The Australian tour will see Dear Seattle joined by Cleveland, Ohio punk rock group, Heart Attack Man. Since 2014, the band has been consistently defining their style of music by sharp and poignant lyricism, matched with an urgent and natural sound.
In 2023, the band released their third album, Freak Of Nature, a record that highlighted the chemistry within the band and moreover, a sense of rejuvenation that has permeated throughout their process. This year, Australian fans will finally see Heart Attack Man bring it to life – the anticipation is mutual, says the band, “We’re stoked to be heading to Australia for the first time ever. Hope to see you all there!”
Also joining Dear Seattle on their latest national run will be Adelaide pop-punk duo TOWNS, and Melbourne indie-rock artist, LUCKY.
For TOWNS, their profile has continued to grow impressively since making their debut in 2018 with the track ‘Television’. Blending a love for ‘90s pop and rock, with a refreshing take on fired up songwriting and arrangements, the duo has evolved into a pure force, recently evidenced on sentimental slowdown, their debut album from 2024.
Emerging Melbourne indie force Lucky has been developing a strong local following since the release of her track ‘Never Know’ in 2024. Perfect for fans of artists including beabadoobee and Day Wave, Lucky’s love for this type of music has created excitement around her own original steps forward.
PRAISE
“TOY is a listen which doubles up a body of lighthearted bops and a springboard for change; it shows how we truly grow when being most honest with ourselves.”
KERRANG
“Walking a delicate passage of love, loss, addiction and nostalgia, the album serves as a means of reflection and introspection, the four-piece creating a collection of “relatable anthems” that’ll have you screaming at the top of your lungs at one end, and huddled into a fetal position in the corner of the room at the other.”
THE MUSIC
“…each song ridiculously memorable, short, sweet to the point, an album that’ll shake you to your core and when it feels like the world is swallowing you up maybe it’ll give you the courage to try harder to get back some of that magic you lost. there really is nothing stopping them, star quality through and through.”
METAL-ROOS
DEAR SEATTLE ‘TOY’ ALBUM TOUR DATES
with Heart Attack Man (US)
supported by TOWNS and LUCKY
presented by Destroy All Lines, Select Bookings & Base Level One
Tickets on sale Thursday 6 February @ 11am
Pre-sale sign up via Destroy All Lines
** LUCKY not appearing
Thursday 8 May Rosemount Hotel Perth (18+) **
Friday 9 May Croxton Bandroom Melbourne (18+)
Saturday 10 May Jive Adelaide (Matinee AA)
Saturday 10 May Jive Adelaide (Evening 18+)
Thursday 15 May King St Bandroom Newcastle (18+)
Friday 16 May Manning Bar Sydney (18+)
Saturday 17 May Triffid Brisbane (Lic AA)
DEAR SEATTLE: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Twitter
BMF RETURNS MARCH 2-10, 2025
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