Our guest this week is Genesis Owusu. After breaking through with his ARIA Award-winning debut Smiling With No Teeth and its follow-up Struggler, he’s continued to build a global audience through his electrifying live show and touring with the likes of Tame Impala and Paramore. Last week, he announced his new album Red Star Wu & The Worldwide Scourge (out May 15), alongside a global tour including several Australian dates, marking the next chapter of his ever-evolving project. On today’s episode, we're chatting with Genesis Owusu about Red Star Wu and its inspirations, the Canberra music scene that shaped him, his songwriting process, and how these new songs will translate to the live stage.

Genesis Owusu: Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guest this week is Bad//Dreems. The Adelaide rock staples have become one of the country’s most beloved bands over the past 15 years, known for their visceral live shows and unfiltered take on modern Australia, with many fans considering their debut Dogs at Bay a defining Aussie rock record. Today marks a huge and bittersweet moment for the band as they release their new album Ultra Dundee, a gritty, honest snapshot of contemporary Australia that stays true to everything they’ve built. Alongside the release, they’ve announced a national tour and their own Gather Sounds festival, while also revealing plans for an indefinite hiatus. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Alex Cameron and Ben Marwe to talk about Ultra Dundee as both a record and a mindset, how their songwriting has evolved over time, and the realities behind stepping away from the band, at least for now.

Bad//Dreems: Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guest this week is Leigh-Anne. As one third of British girl group Little Mix, she’s spent over a decade in the global spotlight, helping the group sell more than 50 million records and become one of the most successful girl groups of all time. Earlier this year, Leigh-Anne stepped out on her own path with her debut solo album My Ego Told Me To, released in February through an independent label. The record bridges the pop sound fans know her for with dancehall, reggaeton and Caribbean-inspired influences, creating a vibrant and deeply personal debut. On today’s episode, we chat with Leigh-Anne while she’s here in Australia about finding her sonic identity outside of Little Mix, why it was important for her songwriting to be front and centre on My Ego Told Me To, and how she’s thinking about bringing this new era to stages around the world.

Leigh-Anne: Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guest this week is Buzzy Lee. The musical project of Sasha Spielberg, she crafts intimate, emotionally immersive songs that move between singer-songwriter folk and moody indie pop, delivered with a warmth that feels deeply personal. Over the past few years, she’s released two studio albums and collaborated with artists like Denzel Curry and Nicolas Jaar, quietly building a thoughtful and textured body of work. Last week, she announced her third album, Shoulder to Shoulder, arriving March 27, alongside its dreamlike lead single “Bad Company.” On today’s episode, Sasha joins us to talk about the hazy, cinematic feel of the new track, making the album alongside her husband Harry, her memories of touring Australia with JPEGMAFIA, and how allergies unexpectedly play into her songwriting.

Buzzy Lee: Instagram / Spotify / Sasha Spielberg Instagram

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Our guest this week is Meg Mac. One of Australia’s most beloved songwriters and vocalists, she’s built her career on powerhouse soul vocals and deeply honest lyricism, touring with artists like D’Angelo and Sam Smith and releasing three studio albums, including 2022’s Matter of Time, which debuted at number one in Australia. Last week, she returned with her fourth album, It’s My Party, a bold sonic shift that trades some of her brooding, ethereal tones for something brighter, more playful and self-assured. On today’s episode, we chat with Meg about the evolution behind It’s My Party, working with UK producer Bullion and the trust that collaboration requires, pushing against expectations of what a “Meg Mac record” should sound like, and her immersive live show currently touring the country.

Meg Mac: Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guest this week is Chet Faker. The musical alter ego of Melbourne singer-songwriter Nick Murphy, Chet Faker has spent nearly 15 years crafting textured, soulful pop that blends electronica and R&B, earning ARIA and AIR Awards along the way and topping the triple j Hottest 100 in 2014 with “Talk Is Cheap.” He’s collaborated with artists like Flume and Marcus Marr, and last week returned with a brand new album, A Love for Strangers, a lush and reflective record that finds him exploring vulnerability and heartbreak. On today’s episode, Chet joins us to chat about the new album, the distinctions between his musical personas, and the unique connection that great pop music can create.

Chet Faker : Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guest this week is Hemlocke Springs. With a sound that fuses 80s maximalism and 2000s pop eccentricity, she’s quickly become one of alt-pop’s most compelling new voices and has toured alongside Chappell Roan, Doja Cat and Conan Gray, while earning praise from artists like Doechii and Grimes. This week, she releases her debut album the apple under the sea, a chaotic, joyfully unhinged, genre-hopping record that sounds unmistakably like her. On today’s episode, Hemlocke Springs joins us to talk about the making of the album, the influences behind her sound, how she builds such vivid creative worlds, and the role religion and faith play in her songwriting.

Hemlocke Springs : Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guest this week is Iron & Wine. The beloved folk project of songwriter and musician Sam Beam, Iron & Wine has spent over 20 years crafting warm, thoughtful songs, collaborating with artists like Fiona Apple and Band of Horses, with his songs becoming deeply embedded in pop culture through films and shows, including The O.C., Garden State, and The Twilight Saga. Later this month, Sam returns with his eighth studio album, Hen’s Teeth, which incorporates small sonic influences from jazz and other genres while staying true to his signature troubadour sound. To celebrate, Iron & Wine is heading back to Australia for the first time in over eight years, with headline shows and festival appearances at WOMADelaide and Port Fairy Folk Festival. On today’s episode, we chat with Sam Beam about Hen’s Teeth, the project’s ongoing evolution, and what fans can expect from these long-awaited Australian shows.

Iron & Wine : Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guest this week on the podcast is The Head & The Heart. The Seattle indie-folk favourites have been crafting earnest, feel-good folk music since 2009, releasing six studio albums and touring globally with artists like Vampire Weekend and Death Cab for Cutie. Last year, they returned with their sixth album, Aperture, marking the first time they self-produced a record since their debut. While in Australia supporting The Lumineers, we caught up with Jonathan Russell and Tyler Williams from the band to chat about touring Australia, the creative freedom behind Aperture, their early songwriting journeys, and the renewed rise of indie-folk through artists like The Lumineers and Noah Kahan.

The Head & The Heart : Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our guests this week on the podcast are These New South Whales. The Naarm-based punk four-piece have spent the last decade evolving their sound, expanding on their basement punk roots while consistently pushing themselves creatively. Across four albums, they’ve become one of Australia’s most dynamic and influential contemporary punk bands, building a world around their music with their cult Comedy Central mockumentary and the epic 500-episode run of their podcast What A Great Punk. Their latest album, Godspeed, was released late last year, and the guys will be heading out on a massive Australian tour in support of the record. On today’s episode, frontman Jamie Timony and guitarist Todd Andrews join us to talk about all things Godspeed, working with producer Ben Greenberg, the band’s songwriting process and early influences, and hitting the milestone of 500 podcast episodes.

These New South Whales : Instagram / Spotify / Website

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Our first guest of the year is Cavetown. The project of English singer-songwriter Robin Skinner, Cavetown has become one of indie music’s most cherished artists, building a devoted global fanbase and racking up billions of streams along the way. Today, Cavetown returns with a brand new album, Running with Scissors, and in just a few weeks will head back to Australia as part of St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2026. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Robin Skinner to talk about the year ahead — diving into Running with Scissors, this new collaborative chapter in their music, the role ambition plays in their songwriting, and what fans can expect from Cavetown’s Laneway performances.

Cavetown : Instagram / Spotify / Website

Purchase tickets to St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2026 here

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