15 local Canberra musicians that deserve to be heard
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From local punk rockers to the high schoolers that are bringing noise-pop to the forefront of the underground scene, here are 15 Canberra-based artists to add to your rotation.
Sonic Reducer
A blend of blaring punk and indie-rock, this Canberra-based four-piece recently put out their third EP Living Room, playing shows across the country in support of the release.
In a live setting, their energy is unparalleled by their competitors, moving with a natural nonchalance that makes it apparent Sonic Reducer is dedicated to every facet of their work.
Miya Zawa
Genre-bending alt-pop mixed with influences from SZA and Benee, this local R&B princess soundtracks the universally acknowledged elements of friendship, heartache, and love.
With an honesty that feels as though you had peered through the pages of her diary, Miya Zawa uses her artistry as an outlet to express her cacophony of emotions.
Guinness Stone
This teenage electronic duo started self-producing their debut album Terminal 2 at just 16 years old. Influenced by the likes of American rapper 2hollis and Canadian duo The Hellp, a soundscape of EDM and noise-pop encapsulates their electric live performances.
They display a unique sense of artistic direction, using customised masks that are almost Daft Punk-adjacent to contribute to their expressive outbursts.
Highland Light
Not many artists produce an explosion of post-hardcore and emo rock that drives the roof off local venues like this four-piece. Paving their own way from rock legends such as Title Fight, Violent SoHo, and Basement, Highland Light uses hauntingly melodic riffs to create a sound uniquely their own.
If you’re looking for an outburst of raw emotion attached to increasingly memorable melodies, look no further than local band Highland Light.
Spouse
This five-piece emo and shoegaze band aims to capture the listener with emotionally resonant lyrics and cathartic live performances backed by explosive melodies.
While they have recently pulled most of their music from Spotify in protest of unfair artist compensation, you can catch their full discography on Bandcamp, or better yet, at one of their upcoming live gigs.
Vanishing Sound
The sound of this shoegaze five-piece really does feel as though you are vanishing into a dream pop abyss. Fuzzy textural guitars underline the pop-driven melodies to create an atmospherically focused narrative, similar to Cocteau Twins, Hotline TNT, and The Courtneys.
Staying true to their involvement in the local scene, members of the group also play in multiple other Canberra bands, a reflection of the strong community our local musicians have fostered.
Buffy
If post-hardcore emo mashed with classic alternative is your jam, Buffy is for you. There is a sense of nostalgia attached to their sound; the lingering riffs are akin to Mineral with the grit of essential 90s Silverchair and Pearl Jam.
They played at the National Dinosaur Museum as part of Gutwrench Records DIY summer last year, to a large crowd of enthusiastic locals; a gig that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
While they are less active on streaming services, you can catch their upcoming shows via updates on Instagram.
Wallabindi
Wallabindi is the project of artist and storyteller Monica Moore, a proud Wardandi Noongar/Yamatji woman. She has been creating on Ngunnawal land for 20 years, vocalising her culture as a form of reclamation, while exercising a cathartic release of her identity as a woman.
Powerfully delivered vocals emphasise her soul-driven lyrics, with a soft blues and roots instrumental that further resonates with her melodic poetry.
The Tremorz
This surf punk duo combines horror with thrashing, primal drums and fuzzy guitars. Their raw passion shines amongst an interpolation of Link Wray and The Cramps, creating a unique visual of otherworldly monsters and desert creatures.
Although The Tremorz play regular gigs around Canberra, their online presence has garnered them a large following of listeners from Japan, highlighting the influence of social media on translating the Canberra scene to an international level.
Dog Name
Dog Name is an indie-rock trio that softly accompanies a summertime backyard campfire and was built around the tight-knit web of the Canberra DIY scene. The vocals are sung in an apologetically Aussie accent that mimics the authenticity of that dog. and Soccer Mommy.
What started as a solo project for singer and guitarist Eadie Newman grew to become a well-rounded group project that achieves a sound that is both melancholy and sun-kissed periodically.
Atlast
Alternative rock that is uniquely crafted by the drivers of the DIY scene, often playing gigs at unconventional locations such as inside takeaway shops, or on top of an iconic Canberra bus stop.
Their tracks tend to build from a Midwest emo-style verse into a bashing chorus that never fails to express the pure vibration of the hard-hitting drums and shouty vocals.
Nuta Mantis
Female-fronted and unwavering in stage presence, Nuta Mantis eccentrically emits the rawness of post-hardcore and alternative rock, while actively engaging with the audience during live performances.
Lead singer Charli Hayes also runs journalism project Spill The Scene, in which they platform up-and-coming Canberra artists and report on the local scene.
What She’s Having
Hearty, fierce, and strictly country. What She’s Having have become regulars in the Canberra scene, spreading their love of American roots, folk and blues alongside their deep chemistry as a band. Singers Jenny Spear and Bridget Croft create wispy and resonant melodies that tell tales of heartbreak and connection.
What She’s Having have played at country music festivals across Australia but also remained loyal to regenerating the local scene by inviting young musicians to support them at their gigs.
Mani Zuko
Born and raised in Weston Creek, Mani Zuko is a young R&B enthusiast who has gained popularity by referencing local places in the hooks of his tracks. He takes inspiration from the likes of Dave, Justin Timberlake, and J Hus, adding a mix of samples that punctuate his lyricism.
Self-assured and quick to create a flow over simple but modern beats, Zuko continues to release singles that secure his identity as an artist.
Split Lip
Alt-rock that continues to shake the Canberra underground scene, with a hard-hitting grunge tone and a tight rhythm section that drives the punk energy to the max.
Best consumed live, Split Lip is another band who have partnered with Gutwrench Records to run a DIY gig at the Campbell Primary courts, which is yet another benchmark of the community-led initiative that is thriving in Canberra.
