Half of 2026 has already gone by.
I can’t believe it, either. So I’ve taken a closer look at the albums coming out of Australia in the last nearly six months.
And while it’s impossible to be across every single release, I feel like some of those records deserve a little more international love and attention. I’m here to ensure they get it.
PART 266 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE
2026 is shaping up to be as very busy for music journos. The amount of awesome music already shared this year is pretty impressive.
Some big names have released new albums, like The Kid LAROI. (BEFORE I FORGET) and Morgan Evans (Steel Town). Some newly crowned faves have pleased audiences with a bigger body of work, too, i.e. Keli Holiday with Capital Fiction or Peach PRC with Porcelain.
There have been some comebacks, including Karnivool (who dropped In Verses after 13 years of album silence) and Kisschasy (who presented The Terrors Of Comfort after 16 years).
Finally, I was psyched to check out Genesis Owusu‘s newest work, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE, and Ecca Vandal‘s LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW. And I wasn’t disappointed in either case.
But there are five other releases I’d like to highlight today because the acts who dropped them do not appear frequently on my channels. It’s high time to change that.
CHET FAKER – DOWNTEMPO/ELECTRONICA/TRIP-HOP
The act: Some of you might be wondering what an artist, fairly well known overseas, is doing here (opening this list on top of it). But if you’ve never heard this artist moniker before, meet Chet Faker (fka Nick Murphy, which is also his real name). The Melbourne-based muso (who went to school with Vance Joy – what a coincidence!) actually introduced himself to a wider audience 15 years ago with a cover of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity”. Since then, however, he’s proven his brilliant songwriting and producing skills time and time again, collaborating with other prominent Aussie acts (i.e. Flume), winning ARIA Awards, and performing at the most popular international festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza. Plus, he keeps outdoing himself on every new record.
The album: A Love For Strangers
Release date: Feb 13, 2026
Stand-out song: “Can You Swim?” – What a pretty track! Have a box of tissues at the ready when you listen to it.
For fans of: Jack Garratt, Mansionair, James Blake
Why it has my attention: Some records are best listened to on a Sunday arvo, some others – only at night. I feel like anytime I put this album on, it’s always a good time. I very much appreciate this type of uplifting songwriting – it resonates with you no matter what happens in your life. So if I were to bring an album with me to a desert island at this very moment, it would probably be this one.
MAY-A – INDIE/POP/ROCK
The act: The 18-year-old MAY-A described herself on triple j Unearthed as “socially awkward” and “constantly heartbroken“, comparing her music to “a toothpaste-flavoured Oreo.” While her personality might have actually played to her advantage, the Sydney-based artist has since somewhat refined her sound. Navigating between different genres and constantly pushing sonic boundaries, she’s made a name for herself internationally through relatable songwriting and catchy hooks. Flume was convinced enough to invite her to collab on “Say Nothing”, which happened to be voted into first place on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2022. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
The album: Goodbye (If You Call That Gone)
Release date: Feb 20, 2026
Stand-out song: “[REDACTED]” – Can a song have an attitude? Because this one surely does.
For fans of: Avril Lavigne, Olivia Rodrigo, G Flip
Why it has my attention: On this record, MAY-A has undergone a major transformation, revealing her feistier, but much more feminine facet. It’s playfully referenced in the record’s title (Goodbye to the old me?) and the artist claims it’s “her best era of music” yet. She also dubs her sound now “angry girl music.” And one of the songs from this album is literally called “(I’m here for the) GIRLS”. Meet too, MAY-A, me too.
SLY WITHERS – INDIE PUNK/EMO/ALT-ROCK
The act: Sly Withers are four mates from WA. The original line-up formed while they were still in high school. Four studio albums, released since 2016, have helped them amass millions of streams and receive frequent airplay on national radio. Over the years, they’ve been selling out headline tours and have supported a few other prominent local acts, like Amy Shark and Tones And I. In 2019, they won a WAMI (West Australian Music Industry) Award for Best Punk/Hardcore Act. Two years later, they placed at #69 on triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown with their song “Clarkson”. And get this: while they were signed to a label for a while, they’re back to being independent, which is a bold move I totally applaud.
The album: To Be Honest
Release date: April 10, 2026
Stand-out song: “Restless” – Just listen to the lyrics, and you’ll know what I mean.
For fans of: Dear Seattle, Ceres, Luca Brasi
Why it has my attention: I’m always down for good tunes coming out of WA – I still think that scene deserves much more national attention. There’s something very honest about the band’s music, too… And as the gents put it themselves: “Hard work pays off, and dreams can come true.” So way to go, Sly Withers!
TRIALS – HIP-HOP
The act: You probably know the ARIA Award-winning Ngarrindjeri rapper, based in Adelaide, from his other projects, The Funkoars and A.B. Original. But trials is also a record producer who’s worked with a plethora of other Aussie artists, like Gurrumul, Hilltop Hoods, DZ Deathrays, Paul Kelly, Mo’Ju or Dune Rats. Despite all those successful collabs and the industry recognition, he managed to stay fairly low-key. Until he didn’t, by dropping the (very personal) debut album nobody expected but everybody talks about in superlatives only.
The album: hendle.
Release date: May 1, 2026
Stand-out song: “run to the river” – This song could be (is?) an entry from trials’ diary, introducing the rest of the record. And I just CAN’T GET ENOUGH of the beaut guitar and strings in it (which, for a hip-hop record, is quite an unusual instrumentation).
For fans of: Anderson .Paak, Archie Roach, DOBBY
Why it has my attention: I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Hip-hop might not be my go-to style, but the way First Nations artists have elevated this genre in Australia is simply incredible. To me, hendle. is the whole package – the dexterity in lyricism, the eclectic sonic layer and the moving story told throughout it speak volumes about the kind of artist trials is. And now everyone finally knows it.
MULGA BORE HARD ROCK – CLASSIC ROCK
The act: Not only are Mulga Bore Hard Rock a six-piece band – they are all family members, and mostly young people between 14 and 20 years old. Hailing from the remote central-Australian desert community of Akaye (Mulga Bore), the closest reference I can give you to their location is: two 2 hours northeast of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Their sound draws on legendary rock influences from the 70s, 80s and 90s, but they’ve put their own spin on it, calling it GLAM hard rock. And rock royalty – KISS – is who they opened for during their “End of the Road” tour. Talking about aiming high, right?
The album: Sweet Home Mulga Bore
Release date: May 29, 2026
Stand-out song: “Stay” – I’m loving the vocal harmonies and the fact that this track is the only ballad on this record.
For fans of: Guns N’ Roses, ACDC, Little Richard (yeah – for real!)
Why it has my attention: Firstly, we need more classic rock in our lives. Secondly, you might not know what it means to release a record if you are a First Nations group from a remote region in Australia. But when you listen to it, you’ll be amazed by how much of a seasoned band attitude they show on this album. There’s also a cultural aspect worth noting – Mulga Bore sing partially in their native tongue, the Anmatyerre language of their mob. Plus, the album is less than half an hour long. So what’s not to like, right?
As I’m typing these words, it’s still more than a day before Perth reggae masters, South Summit, drop their new material, RUN IT BACK. So I can’t include it here now, but I’m pretty pumped to hear it, too. You can still pre-save it so you don’t miss it when it finally arrives.
Finally, let’s hope that the second half of the year in the Land Down Under will be as sonically versatile as this one has been.
Cover photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
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