Triple J has revealed its Next Crop, the annual list acts to watch in 2014.
Songwriter Oliver Perry (aka D.D. Dumbo) has made the shortlist along with The Murlocs, featuring Ambrose Smith, son of The Dingoes Broderick Smith.
Up and coming EDM acts The Kite Sting Tangle and Wave Racer were also named in the annual Triple J list.
In previous years Triple J has unveiled Flume, Washington, The Rubens, The Temper Trap, Boy & Bear and Ball Park Music in their Next Crop.
The 20 acts named in the Next Crop 2014 were all acts that made a mark during 2014.
Triple J Next Crop Artists for 2014
Bad//Dreems (SA) Though the local music scene is littered with artists that have made escapes from their hometown surrounds for the metropolitan capitals, the apparent isolation of living in South Australia seems to work for Adelaide’s Bad//Dreems. The band have toured relentlessly over the last 18 months with the likes of Children Collide, Wolf & Cub, The Preatures and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, as well as releasing their debut EP Badlands. Adelaide festival goers will have the pleasure of commencing their 2014 St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival with a Bad//Dreems set with the band having won the triple j Unearthed competition in their state.
The Bennies (VIC) On paper you’d think that a band like The Bennies could never quite work. The Melbourne foursome blend in punk, ska, fizzing synthesizers, a wicked sense of humour and more stoner references than even Dune Rats could handle into the melting pot that is their sound. Somehow, some way, The Bennies make it work. And they make it fun. Released through the enviable Poison City Records, the band’s latest offering Rainbows In Space is spewing-forth with fun, high energy tunes such as triple j favourite ‘Highrider’. They’re a band with an unmistakable knack for a hook and some killer playing which has earned the band a live following around the country and in Asia.
Born Lion (NSW) Wollongong rockers Born Lion are poised for a huge 2014 if their achievements over the last year are anything to go by. The band kick- started 2013 as winners of one of triple j Unearthed’s most coveted competitions – the chance to open the Sydney leg of the Soundwave festival. That win came off the back of one of the band’s first singles, ‘Adolescent Oaths’, that saw Born Lion showcasing an effortlessly hooky take on furious punk rock. “Our guitarist went overseas leaving just three of us to get stuck into the jam room for hours every week just bashing tunes out,” says vocalist John Bowker of the band’s process. “We usually just jam until we find a good idea – something with some cool energy – that we think we can do something with. We go with that and just play for hours on end.”
Cosmo’s Midnight (NSW) It’s a formula for success as old as time: twin brothers from Sydney, who still sleep in the same bedroom at the age of twenty-one, turn their intimate sleeping arrangement into an intricate electronic outfit, begin to produce their own music, and set their sights on world domination. And dominate Cosmo’s Midnight have – dropping their Surge EP in early 2013 and impressing us with cuts like ‘The Dofflin’, ‘Phantasm’ and ‘Surge’. The brothers darted around the country for their first headlining jaunt back in June and July last year, and have also secured festival billings and a support slot with Florida gun XXYYXX in what has been a blockbuster year for them. One part chillwave, one part rave cave, we’re looking forward to hearing more from Cosmo’s Midnight as 2014 gets underway.
The Creases (QLD) 2013 saw Queensland’s The Creases plucked from relative obscurity with just two songs to their name and zoomed over to the UK, after catching the attention of eagle-ear’d scouts at Rough Trade. It was a wild experience for The Creases’ pair of songwriters Jarrod Mahon and Joe Agius who are still pinching themselves now. The charmed run seems to be continuing with the duo recently supporting the likes of The Jungle Giants and Millions. Better yet, the band fielded an 11th hour call from Alex Kapranos to support Franz Ferdinand at their Brisbane show in November last year and will be touring with Drenge over summer.
D.D Dumbo (VIC) D.D Dumbo is another fine export from the gold-rich fields of Victoria’s Castlemaine. Known to his pals as Oliver Perry, the songwriter makes distant, desert blues with a 12-string guitar and a regular stomp on a loop pedal. His debut self-titled EP, led by the hazy ‘Tropical Oceans’, shows off the full range of his talent and features a dark, brooding cover of Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’. Perry ends 2013 with an appearance at the Meredith Music Festival after being called up to replace a crook Vance Joy a few days out from the event.
Dustin Tebbutt (NSW) Hailing from the hills outside of New England, New South Wales is singer songwriter Dustin Tebbutt. After releasing the layered and beautiful single ‘The Breach’ and backing it up with similarly sublime outing ‘Where I Find You’, Tebbutt earned himself a nomination for the J Award for triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year. He also followed Boy & Bear around the country and his debut EP is kicking goals left, right and centre. We’re definitely looking forward to seeing what Tebbutt has up his sleeve for 2014 – and we’re willing to bet that whatever it is, it’s going to be pretty special.
Eves (QLD) In more ways than one, it’s been a busy and transformative 12 months for this Cairns-born, Brisbane-based songwriter. She began 2013 as Hannah Karydas but by the end of the year she’d morphed into Eves, and impressed us with assured tunes like ‘Scrutizine’ and ‘Heavy’ – showcasing her soaring vocals and knack for writing beautiful melodies. Eves’ latest offering is ‘Zen’ and, like all her other songs, it’s accompanied by a video she made herself. With her debut Eves EP coming in 2014, we’re predicting big things from this multitalented Queenslander.
Gang Of Youths (NSW) In their own words, Sydney outfit Gang Of Youths make “emotional-ass concept rock”, and that’s by no means a bad thing. It’s grand, ambitious, wordy and intelligent. Grabbing our attention with cuts like drums-and-piano grower ‘Evangelists’, Gang of Youths have proven themselves to be a band who wear their influences on their sleeve, and wear them well. You can hear shades of Sam’s Town-era Killers, the gushing storytelling that marked Springsteen’s early work and even U2 in the Eighties – all in a way that still sounds cleverly contemporary. The band will be trotting around Australia with Frightened Rabbit and Vampire Weekend this year, kicking off what’s shaping as a massive 2014.
The Kite String Tangle (QLD) Releasing music under this moniker since May of last year, producer Danny Harley has captivated us with his ethereal, ambient, electronic pop songs. They’re thorough and thought out, carried by Harley’s breathy vocals and unfolding production. We’ve loved cuts like ‘Given The Chance’, ‘Commotion’ and ‘Tinder’, and evidently so have you – the Queenslander closed out 2013 with a sold-out Australian tour, and will be opening up the Falls Festival in Byron Bay thanks to triple j Unearthed. We can’t think of a better way to kick off what’s sure to be a stellar 2014 for one of Australia’s brightest up-and-comers.
The Love Junkies (WA) Listening to a Love Junkies song, it feels like everything could fall apart at any moment, as though it’s all being held together by a flimsy guitar string and half-cracked drum stick. This is the sheer energy of the grunge-loving Perth trio. Their debut record Maybelene literally roars out at you, with songs like ‘Baby, Come Home’ and ‘Oxymoron’ exploding with distortion and Mitch McDonald’s in-your-face vocals. The Love Junkies’ live show is even more dangerous. They’ve spent 2013 honing their skills, touring with the likes of British India and playing festivals like Big Day Out and Groovin’ The Moo. Keep an ear out for them in 2014.
Mathas (WA) Mathas has been one of Perth’s best-kept secrets for a while now, but as soon as he dropped his track ‘Nourishment’, he wasn’t going to be a secret for much longer. An epic, five-minute song that also features Abbe May, ‘Nourishment’ showcases Mathas’ incredible lyricism and story-telling, as well as his beatmaking skills. His live shows have become must-see events too, with the Perth MC playing different characters with the help of a variety of props on stage. Mathas is left of centre and proud of it. He’s got a new album ready to drop in 2014 and it’s bound to turn heads.
Meg Mac (VIC) Soulful Melbournian Megan McInerney’s has only been recording and performing as Meg Mac for a little over a year, but don’t assume music making is a recent thing for her. She’s been obsessed with it since age nine – and it shows in the two songs she’s bestowed on us so far. ‘Known Better’ and ‘Every Lie’ made us sit up in our chairs, thanks to the combination of Meg Mac’s powerful voice and dramatic, arresting song writing. She impressed us so much she scored the Unearthed slot on the bill for Falls Festival in Lorne at the end of 2013 and we’re tipping that it’ll be far from the last big festival to feature Meg Mac on the bill.
The Murlocs (VIC) The Murlocs have music in their blood. Their frontman Ambrose is the son of Broderick Smith, founding members of ‘70s rockers The Dingoes, and you can hear the reverence for old school rock’n’roll in the Melbourne quintet. Songs like ‘Tee Pee’ and ‘Space Cadet’ are jangly, fuzzy pop songs that sound like they’ve swaggered out of the coolest ‘60s party ever. In 2013 The Murlocs played a tonne of gigs, including the Falls Festival in Lorne, and they covered the classic Count Five song ‘Psychotic Reaction’ for the venerable Nuggets tribute album. With another release on the horizon, you can expect more harmonica-laden rock from The Murlocs in 2014.
Remi (VIC) Remi is one of Australian hip-hop’s hottest properties right now. This guy was born with charisma. “Label execs wanna check out my press kit cos I’m on that next shit you’re copying next year,” he raps on ‘Saggin’, one on the great cuts from his mixtape F.Y.G Act: 1 which he dropped in 2013. Remi marries his effortless flow and witty lyrics with beats that take inspiration from old-school hip-hop and unicorns (seriously, check his Unearthed profile). We fell so hard for the Melbourne MC that we gave him the J Award for Unearthed Artist of the Year. Expect more live shows and an album from Remi in 2014.
SAFIA (ACT) Canberra’s SAFIA haven’t released a lot of music – but what they have, they’ve made count. The trio worked their energizing mix of bangin’ beats, chopped-up samples and soulful vocals to incredible effect on joints like ‘Stretched & Faded’ and ‘Listen To Soul, Listen To Blues’, as well as a swag of remixes in 2013. They can also add “thrilling live performers” to their resume: we picked them from triple j Unearthed to open Groovin’ The Moo in Canberra in 2013 and since then they’ve played alongside Disclosure and RUFUS and scored themselves a J Award nomination for Unearthed Artist of the Year. Add all those elements together and we reckon you’ve got a picture of a band on the serious rise.
Statues (WA) The Next Crop act most likely to give you permanent ear damage comes via Perth in the form of chaotic hardcore unit Statues. The band, who almost called it quits in 2012 when half of their band jumped ship, are testament to the old adage “practice makes perfect”. Pissing off every single one of their neighbours in the process, their rehearsals eventually spawned one of the year’s most brutal pieces of metal, ‘Affliction Prescription’. Executed with devastatingly precise technicality, Statues’ live show earned them a spot on Northlane’s Singularity tour last year. The band are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album.
Tkay Maidza (SA) It’s been a big year for Zimbabwean-born, Adelaide-raised MC Tkay Maidza, especially when you consider she only discovered hip-hop in 2010. After throwing down the gauntlet on her first tune ‘Handle My Ego’, Tkay backed it up in a big way with her certifiable stomper of a tune ‘Brontosaurus’, a brash, bass-heavy banger that lit up the triple j textline. That heat spread far beyond the airwaves too. A weapon on the mic, Tkay literally set fire to the Unearthed stage at Bigsound in Brisbane last year when her smoke machine malfunctioned. In between architecture study at Adelaide Uni, Tkay’s currently putting the final touches to her debut EP with local Adelaide producer Bad Cop.
Wave Racer (NSW) Sydney producer Wave Racer made a new legion of fans in 2013 thanks to his red cordial-infused dance music. Showcasing his new bright, bouncy style on tunes like ‘Rock U Tonite’ and ‘Stoopid’, Wavey went on to be crowned MVP on triple j’s House Party tour this year with Nina Las Vegas. He’s been busy blowing up the internet ever since; his recent remix of Panama’s ‘Always’ racking up a quarter of a million plays in less than five days. Capping off a massive 2013 with sets at Falls, Field Day and Southbound over New Year’s, expect even bigger things from Wave Racer this year.
Willow Beats (VIC) Willow Beats’ tribal electronica springs from the pairing of beat maker Narayana Johnson and the soaring voice of his niece Kalyani Ellis. The duo seemed destined to end up working together: Narayana was raised around music (his dad wrote the schoolyard classic ‘Give Me a Home among the Gumtrees’) and the two share a left-field approach to song writing. “I think our music definitely has a fantasy feel. We try making mystical music that transports you to a different world,” says Johnson of the band’s otherworldly vibe. And it seems to be working, quite literally. After releasing the super-dreamy Alchemy EP and a series of throbbing remixes, Willow Beats were transported to Hong Kong to play the Clockenflap Festival. They’ll finish up 2013 with a set at Falls before returning to the studio to get started on more new music.
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