A.B. Original and 8 Ball Aitken hold onto top spots in community radio charts

Image: A.B. Original

The Amrap Metro and Amrap Regional Charts provide insight into what’s gaining airplay and attention on community radio. The charts show the top ten tracks ordered for airplay by community broadcasters through the Amrap’s AirIt music distribution service. This week sees A.B. Original and 8 Ball Aitken hold onto the top spots in the Amrap Metro and Regional Charts.

A.B. Original have held on tight to #1 in the Amrap Metro Chart in their third charting week, and debut at #5 in the Regional stakes with January 26 off their debut album Reclaim Australia. The rap duo have picked up Feature Album on SYN Melbourne, and spots in 4ZZZ Brisbane’s Top 20, Triple R’s Soundscape and PBS FM Melbourne’s Top 10, as well as 2ser’s SERvin’ Up! and FBi Radio Sydney’s New Music List. Trials, one half of A.B. Original, spoke with Angela from Local Noise at Radio Adelaide about the development, release and reception of their debut album, Reclaim Australia. The rapper speaks of wanting to create and offer a sound which resonates with the Aboriginal experience. Listen to the discussion here. You can watch the official video for the duo’s Australia Day address as featured via Amrap Pages on station websites including 4ZZZ Brisbane, 5 Triple Z in SA, Edge Radio Hobart, RTRFM Perth, Triple R Melbourne, and Triple H and FBi Radio Sydney.

8 Ball Aitken has held onto the lofty position of #1 in the Amrap Regional Chart with Shut the Front Door. Watch the official video for the Texas blues track as featured via Amrap Pages on station websites including Fraser Coast FM in QLD and 979 FM and Mountain District Radio in VIC. The self-described ’groovy’ single has racked up airplay in regional areas across the country at stations including Voice of The Avon and Radio Goolarri in WA, SWR FM, 2MCR, WOW FM, and Today’s Country in NSW, Valley FM, Coast FM, 4YOU, Fraser Coast FM and Noosa FM in QLD, 5 Triple Z, Coast FM, Fleurieu FM, Hills Radio and PBA FM in SA, as well as Seymour FM, 979 FM, Apple FM, 3RPC, Yarra Valley FM, 3WAY, Voice FM and Inner FM in VIC.

Ziggy have moved up to #2 in the Amrap Metro Chart with Black Face. The Perth hip hopper’s track was chosen by Emily Nicol from Koori Radio as one of the Seven Best Aussie Songs you Haven’t Heard. He also paid a visit to Breakfast with Caitlin on RTRFM to chat about the single, discussing the warm reception Ziggy received from Stan Grant’s family for sampling his speech on the track and delving into how racial relations in Australia have shaped his voice and art. He also touches on being inspired by Kanye West’s College Dropout and how it helped form his interest in hip hop. Listen back to the interview here. Watch the official video for Black Face as featured via Amrap Pages on Station Websites including Edge Radio Hobart, Triple R Melbourne, and Koori Radio and FBi Radio Sydney.

Australia’s most prolific psyche act King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have leap-frogged to #2 in the Amrap Regional Chart, also taking #3 in the Metro stakes with Rattlesnake, the first single off their new record Flying Microtonal Banana. The microtonal single is featured in 4ZZZ Brisbane’s Top 20 new music list. Watch the official video for the song as featured via Amrap Pages on station websites including RTRFM Perth, 4ZZZ Brisbane, Edge Radio Hobart, FBi Radio Sydney, and Triple R and Mountain District Radio in VIC.

I Heart Hiroshima have climbed to #4 in the Amrap Metro Chart with Glow. Their Spillin’ the Light EP has picked up spots in PBS Melbourne’s Top Ten and 4ZZZ Brisbane’s Top 20 new music lists, along with additional airplay across the country at stations including Star FM in TAS, Coast FM and Valley FM in QLD, Inner FM and 3MDR in VIC, 2SSR, 2RDJ and VOX FM in NSW, as well as Albany Community Radio, Radio Goolarri, Voice of The Avon and Heritage FM in WA.

Cloves take #4 and #5 in the Amrap Regional and Metro Charts respectively with the bluesy folk single Better Now. The double-charting single has picked up spots in FBi Radio Sydney’s new music list and SYN Melbourne’s Sweet 16. The singer has racked up further airplay in every state and territory at stations including RTRFM Perth, Star FM in TAS, 5 Triple Z in SA, Gove FM in NT, Coast FM and Bay FM in QLD, 2SEA, 2EAR and Eastside Radio in NSW, as well as Sunraysia Community Radio, Whitehorse Borrondara Community Radio and 3MDR in VIC.

Methyl Ethel are still going strong in the Amrap Metro and Regional Charts, taking #6 and #8 respectively with No. 28 in their sixth charting week. The popular single has picked up spots in SYN Melbourne’s Sweet 16, RTRFM Perth’s Sound Selection and FBi Radio Sydney’s new music list. Listen back to frontman Jake Webb’s interview on Triple R Melbourne’s Test Pattern, chatting with Josh Earl about the isolation of Perth, songwriting on a world tour and the experience of making and listening to music in different environments. You can also watch the official music video for the pop single as featured via Amrap pages on station websites including 4ZZZ Brisbane, Triple R Melbourne, and FBi Radio Sydney.

Slum Sociable have held onto #7 in the Amrap Regional Chart with Name Call having picked up spots in FBi Radio Sydney’s new music list, Edge Radio Hobart’s Recommended list and SYN Melbourne’s Sweet 16. The Melbourne jazz hop duo have racked up airplay all over at stations including Valley FM in the ACT, Voice of the Avon in WA, Gin Gin Radio in QLD, 5 Triple Z and Hills Radio in SA, Nambucca Valley Radio, SWR FM, and Eastside Radio in NSW, as well as 3NRG, Southern FM, 3WYN, 3MDR and Inner FM in VIC.

Shrapnel have slipped back into the Amrap Metro Chart at #7 following a five week hiatus with Another Year having picked up spots in Triple R Melbourne’s Soundscape and Edge Radio Hobart’s Recommended List. (Matt) Nev(ille) from the band called into Triple R Melbourne’s iconic Teenage Hate, chatting with Tim Scott ahead of their album tour about the etymology of their Butthole Surfers-esque album name Tranceplanetsugarmouth, how Shrapnel differs from other bands its members has been involved in, and writing a new record before the latest one has even been released. Listen back here. Watch the hilarious official video for ’Another Year’ as featured via Amrap Pages on station websites including Edge Radio Hobart, 4ZZZ Brisbane, FBi Radio and Yass FM in NSW, as well as Inner FM, Triple R and Mountain District Radio in VIC.

Parcels debut at #8 in the Amrap Metro Chart with their harmony driven single Older having picked up spots in FBi Radio Sydney’s new music list and SYN Melbourne’s Sweet 16. The Byron Bay, now Berlin-based five piece have picked up a whole BUNCH of airplay at their hometown station Bay FM and additional airplay at stations including Tjuma Pulka FM and Voice of the Avon in WA, Alex FM and 5 Triple Z in SA, 2RDJ, 2CCR 2MCR and Bay FM in NSW, as well as SYN, Inner FM, 3WBC, 3MGB, 3RPC and Hot FM in VIC.

Mezko slip into the Amrap Metro Chart at #9 with Everyone having picked up a spot in FBi Radio’s new music list. The Sydney girl duo have a tight relationship with their hometown station having been finalists in FBi Radio Sydney’s Northern Lights competition, and having more recently performed a guest mix for Purple Sneakers on FBi Click’s EMC Showcase special. Listen back here. The two-piece were also included in FBi’s new The Bridge Class of 2016 free music compilation of Sydney artists. They are getting attention elsewhere too – watch the official film clip for the charting song as featured via Amrap Pages on station websites including Harvey Community Radio in WA, 4ZZZ Brisbane, Inner FM in VIC, RTRFM Perth, as well as 2BOB and 2GLF in NSW.

Ashleigh Dallas moves into her third week in the Amrap Regional Chart at #9 with Lighthouse. Watch the luminous film clip for the sweet sounding country single as featured via Amrap Pages on 3MDR in VIC and Fraser Coast FM in QLD’s station websites. The sentimental song has received further airplay far and wide at stations including Radio Mama in WA, Gippsland Community Radio, Great Ocean Radio and 3RPC in VIC, Alex FM, Coast FM and 5 Triple Z in SA, Fraser Coast FM, 4GCR and 4YOU in QLD, as well as Nambucca Valley Radio, Northside Radio, Central Hunter Radio, and Lauchlan Valley Community Radio in NSW.

See the full Amrap Charts at www.airit.org.au