Paul Kelly ascends to the top of the Amrap Metro 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.

Paul Kelly – #1 Amrap Metro (pictured above)

Paul Kelly is showing us how to have a latter-day career. After talking out APRA Song of the Year with last year’s Firewood and Candles, Kelly has returned with the majestic With The One I Love. It harks back to his fruitful time with the band he truly made his name with, The Messengers, being replete with a signature grit and guitar twang as well as great harmonising. Kelly just keeps keepin’ on with a seemingly endless well of brilliant, heartening songwriting. Sure, most Australian radio is all over this, but community radio never left Kelly behind and he’s back at #1 with this on the Amrap Metro Chart this week. There are too many stations to name, but just a few highly anticipating the new album, Nature, are Radio Adelaide, Bay FM, 2SER FM and 3WAY FM.

JEFFE – #8 Amrap Regional

In upping the tempo on her latest single, Undecided, Brisbane’s JEFFE has also upped the stakes in her burgeoning pop career. With production from Dave Hammer (Thundamentals, Megan Washington), Undecided shines on a bouncy, house-influenced sound contrasted by JEFFE’s understated vocal turn that pierces with vulnerability. Set to be one of the showcase highlights at this week’s BIGSOUND conference, we’re feeling there’s massive scope for JEFFE and she’s only getting started. There’s no indecision from community radio regionally – this one’s got love at places like 5GTR in South Australia’s Mount Gambier region, NSW’s Yass FM and Queensland’s Fraser Coast Community Radio.

Ultra Material – #9 Amrap Metro

This Brisbane quartet is made up of two couples – their debut album was aptly-named Double Date – plying a seriously good trade in swirling layered guitars, coalescing into divine dream-pop offerings with the ragged edge of UK legends Ride and Swervedriver. Their new single Rhodamine is a reverb-heavy gem from their just-released debut album, Cosmic Anti-Stuff, released by true indie stalwarts Black Wire Records. No surprise that Brisbane’s 4ZZZ FM are leading the way with airplay in typically great support of their local talent, but FBi Radio in Sydney are also in for the ride.

Thando – #3 Amrap Metro

With serious props to baeatmaker Tetendo, Thando’s Happy is one of the most glorious productions we’ve heard this year. Tastefully laden with modern soul moves set to put any speaker system on the right side of smooth, Happy hits deep-cut status also on Thando’s standout vocal style and upfront lyricism. Pushing the power and roots of soul music well into the future, Thando’s vision is one we need to pay attention to. Community radio has done just that in spades, with a high spot on the Amrap Metro Chart this week and a load of spins at 4ZZZ FM in Brisbane, Perth’s 6RTR and Radio Adelaide.

Essie Holt – #9 Amrap Regional

Melbourne’s Essie Holt has burst out of the blocks yet again with the booming pop number, Better For You, rising high on sweeping synth atmospheres and sweet, positive feeling. It’s a combination set here for maximum release and Holt’s voice glides and glimmers through it all. Having just toured in support of LANKS for his August album tour, Holt seems rightly poised to crossover with her shiny, thrilling sound. She’s been getting loads of airplay at regional community radio from the likes of Rox FM in South Australia’s Roxby Downs, Nabucca Valley Radio in NSW and Queensland’s Fraser Coast Community Radio.

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

The Amrap Charts show the Top 10 tracks ordered for airplay by community broadcasters through the Amrap’s AirIt music distribution service. Amrap is an initiative of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia which distributes new Australian music to community radio stations nationwide & empowers broadcasters to promote new Australian music on air & online.