Andrew Swift is #1 on the Amrap Regional Chart

Community radio shows a huge amount of support for Australian music, with almost 40% of music played coming from local artists. Taste-making presenters excel at giving airtime to an incredible spread of what Aussie artists have to offer. The Amrap Metro and Amrap Regional Charts provide insight into what’s getting airplay and attention on community radio each week. Here’s the lowdown on some tunes charting this week.

jade imagine – #1 Amrap Metro

Emotionally dictated by the wit and noir of Jade McInally, jade imagine is a band that seamlessly fuses together elements of synthwave and art-rock, with a signature style of bleak pop and contemplative new-wave. McInally has been a stalwart of the indie scene for more than a decade. After winding her way to Melbourne from somewhere consistently sunny, McInally cut her live-performer teeth with her own electronic project Tantrums, before playing in the bands of local favourites Jess Cornelius (Teeth and Tongue) and Jess Ribeiro. Big Old House was written “in Sunshine Beach, after a dream in which a loose melody and lyrics came to me…” McInally, jade imagine’s front-person and key songwriter says. It’s a hazy, guitar led treat perfectly accentuated by her layered vocals and subtle electronic production. Perth’s RTR FM, Radio Adelaide in SA and Hobart’s Edge Radio are already dreaming about the return of summer with this one.  

Madeline Leman and The Desert Swells – #4 Amrap Metro

Over the past four years Madeline Leman and The Desert Swells have been a fresh voice on Melbourne’s Americana scene. Their combination of 60s surf, 70s pop and unique brand of ‘Femmericana’ twang is sinful and soulful, heartbreaking and leg shaking. Moving from seasoned solo performer to energetic band leader was a natural progression for Leman who has spent the last few years carefully developing the band’s hybrid sound. Influenced by Bonnie Raitt and Carole King, Madeline captivates audiences with stories of strong women who ramble their way through the mundane and the profound. With lush vocal harmonies, playful storytelling and a wild onstage energy The Desert Swells’ live show is not to be missed. Nobody’s Fool is a song about strong women rising above their circumstance and features an all-female choir made up of Melbourne vocalists Tiaryn, Brooke Russell, Kelly Day, Leah Senior, Georgia Delves and Cookie Baker. Echoing the voices of the women’s movement, the choir represent a fierce female energy sending a message of empowerment that is ultimately joyous and uplifting. Rox FM in SA, Melbourne’s Triple R and Brisbane’s 4ZZZ are giving this one plenty of airtime, and rightly so.

Cloud Tangle – #5 Amrap Metro

Cloud Tangle formed as a project in late 2014 and found its relevance in 2016 through live shows in Brisbane. Stemming from bedroom focused production and minimalistic instrumentation; the project forms its own unique sound that falls into a lo-fi dream pop genre with elements of shoegaze and soundtrack instrumentation. Ethereal vocals soar above silky guitar melodies and heartbreaking string sections, dragging you ever downward into a subdued, grimly content atmosphere. The sonic elements draw on timelessness and rawness, while each song’s context stems from a much deeper concept provoked by dark human emotion. Falling Asleep is a lullaby about the occasional moments where everything is fine, and you could just fall asleep. It begins with the thoughts you have in that margin-moment between sleep and waking life and slowly descends with the listener into the void. The guitar and clarinet pierce reality and are almost play out like a tug-of-war, a tide pulling you in and out of a dream that might ruin any feeling of peace. Brisbane’s 4ZZZ and Perth’s RTR FM are staying awake for this one.

Dan Vogl – #4 Amrap Regional

Dan Vogl is an indie-pop artist born and raised in Melbourne. Originally a self-taught singer/songwriter, Dan has honed his craft seeking mentoring from industry professionals like Ainslie Wills, Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi) and Joel Quatermain (Eskimo Joe, Meg Mac) to expand on his song writing and performance skills. Gifted In Gold is concerned with the frustration of other people accepting mediocre lives, remaining complacent and failing to progress or make more of themselves. In his own words, Vogl writes; ‘My intention is to inspire people to push through these obstacles and pursue those goals no matter how hard or out of reach they may seem. Taking his advice to heart, Melbourne’s Inner FM, Radio Adelaide in SA and Sydney’s Eastside Radio are sharing the gift.

Palace Of The King – #6 Amrap Regional

Formed in late 2012, Palace of the King have become known for their bluesy, soul-infused, riff-heavy, psychedelic rock n roll. Touring constantly, Palace of the King average 100 shows a year! They’ve headlined three tours of Europe, spending up to eight weeks on the road there every year since 2015. They’ve supported Airbourne in the U.K and France in front of thousands of rabid rock fans, played the USA twice in 2016 and 2017, headlined the Black Woodstock Festival in New Caledonia and circled Australia dozens of times in a tour van. They tour more than any of their peers because – even though they’re a fully-fledged new millennium rock band – they also believe in the work ethic of the old school bands. One Of These Days is the first single from the as yet untitled new album from the Melbourne rockers and immediately delves into hefty blues riffs, harkening back to the open road. Melbourne’s PBS, Brisbane’s 4ZZZ and Edge Radio in Hobart are rolling down their windows for this one.

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