Finnish indie-rock trio Lala Salama return with ‘Spacewagon’, a wonderfully unconventional love song dedicated to a Toyota Corolla. Released November 6 via All That Plazz, the track is the first taste of the band's forthcoming EP, due in early 2027, and captures the freedom, friendship and memories of nights spent travelling together. It's a road-trip anthem with a refreshingly down-to-earth twist.
Built around the steady, hypnotic pulse of a late-night drive, ‘Spacewagon’ gradually gathers momentum as its guitars grow louder and the trio push their sound towards something wonderfully raw and energetic. Born from a rehearsal-room jam, the song was recorded live by Rosa Jules, Aliisa Keränen and Elli Holmström, giving it an instinctive chemistry that suits its krautrock repetition and punk-edged finale. There's a hint of homesickness alongside the excitement of the open road, but above all it's about enjoying the journey with people you trust.
As Rosa Jules explains, the track is an ode to their Corolla and the road trips they've shared, while also representing a return to the band's roots as a rock trio. The recording became an opportunity to explore how they wanted their next release to sound, and the decision to let the song build towards a full-throttle finish has clearly paid off. Following the more wistful ‘Muistot haalistuu’, this is Lala Salama letting their louder, livelier side shine.
The trio already have an impressive reputation building around them. Their debut album, Miltähän me näytettäis yhdessä, earned four stars from Finland's Helsingin Sanomat and was named Album of the Week by Radio Helsinki, while their music has also received national airplay on YleX. Over in the UK, Clash praised earlier single ‘Summer Love’ as an “ultra-catchy shoegaze anthem”, which also reached number one on Hype Machine. ‘Spacewagon’ is another strong indication that Lala Salama are a band worth keeping firmly on the radar.
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Brooklyn singer-songwriter Marla Mase returns with a bold new chapter in her ever-evolving musical journey, announcing the forthcoming EP The Midnight Show – Act I, due November 20, 2026 via True Groove Records. Dark, cinematic and visceral, the release is the first part of a two-act project exploring the contradictions, complexities and extremes of the human condition. Alongside the announcement, Mase unveils a striking reimagining of the Pixies’ classic ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’, offering a fresh perspective on one of alternative rock’s most distinctive songs.
A fearless performer with a magnetic creative vision, Mase has spent three decades moving between music, theatre and performance art. A Brooklyn native, she emerged as a recording artist in the early 2000s and has since released nine albums, performing everywhere from the Bowery to Beijing. Her work refuses easy categorisation, moving effortlessly between rock'n'roll, spoken word, poetry and theatrical expression, often balancing vulnerability, humour and raw emotional intensity.
Recorded at Black Corleone Studios in Brooklyn, The Midnight Show – Act I was mixed by James Dellatacoma at the renowned Orange Music Sound Studio and mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studio. Across its 14 minutes and 52 seconds, the EP tackles love, independence, ageing and mental health, while confronting the consequences of carelessness and denial. Mase describes it as a clash between two inner voices: one energetic, fearless and angry, seeking to empower and protect, the other gentler and more melancholic, searching for understanding and compassion.
That tension promises a compelling listening experience, with Mase offering a cautionary reflection on the damage caused when we ignore what is happening within ourselves and the world around us. Yet, with characteristic humour, she is equally happy to dismiss the deeper explanation and call it “plain ol’ rock-n-roll”. Whichever way you approach it, The Midnight Show – Act I looks set to be another fascinating statement from an artist who has never been afraid to follow her own creative instincts.
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With the world seemingly facing one crisis after another, and the divide between rich and poor continuing to grow, singer-songwriter bauhofer captures a growing sense of frustration and helplessness on new single ‘Anyone Out There’. Exploring the feeling that humanity may no longer be able to solve its problems alone, the song gives voice to those looking towards religion, the universe or even extraterrestrial life for some kind of rescue.
There is a strong protest-song spirit running through ‘Anyone Out There’, recalling the socially conscious work of artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, alongside Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Fortunate Son’. Bauhofer channels anger, despair and a longing for change into a song that reflects the uncertainty of the times, while questioning how far society has drifted from finding solutions together.
Previously recording under the name BB The Artist, bauhofer has enjoyed international success, including a Top 10 position on the European Indie Charts with ‘River Seine’. Social commentary has been a recurring feature of his work, notably on gospel-influenced track ‘RIP Truth’, which examined the erosion of truth in the age of social media and artificial intelligence. His pandemic-era release ‘Together’ offered a message of unity and collective strength.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the new single, bauhofer says it grew from concern about the state of the world and a feeling of powerlessness, adding that he believes it reflects how many people are feeling right now. ‘Anyone Out There’ is a timely and thought-provoking release, turning widespread unease into a heartfelt musical appeal for hope, connection and a reason to believe things can still change.
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| Photo Jenna Elson |
There is a particular loneliness in loving someone who never truly sees you, and Boorloo/Perth artist ALEIA captures that feeling beautifully on new single ‘Middle Name’, released November 6. Exploring the frustration of unrequited love and the gradual loss of self-worth, the track finds her delivering another deeply personal slice of confessional indie rock, balancing vulnerability with an unmistakable emotional intensity.
ALEIA has been steadily building a reputation through her debut EP Public Humiliation, released in November 2025, and recent single ‘Willpower’, whose accompanying video has attracted more than 37,000 views. Blending alternative pop and indie rock with delicate songwriting and an undercurrent of angst, she has already earned support from Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, ABC Perth, RTR FM, PBS, Happy Mag and The AU Review, among others.
Musically, ‘Middle Name’ is a brooding and compelling listen, built around waves of overdriven electric guitar and a steady, commanding beat. ALEIA’s breathy vocals move effortlessly between the restrained tenderness of the verses and the soaring intensity of the choruses, creating a striking contrast between the song’s heavier instrumentation and its fragile emotional heart.
At its core, the single explores the painful experience of feeling overlooked by someone who claims to love you but never takes the time to truly understand you. As ALEIA explains, the song reflects her own early experiences of dating and questioning whether it is better to be alone and happy than in a relationship that leaves you unfulfilled. With its honest songwriting and powerful delivery, ‘Middle Name’ is a striking reminder that to be loved is to be seen.
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Serge & The Currents Find the Bright Side of Heartbreak on ‘Finished From The Start’
Melbourne-based guitar-driven pop project Serge & The Currents return with ‘Finished From The Start’, a lively indie pop-rock single exploring the bittersweet realisation that a relationship has reached its end. Combining bright melodies and energetic instrumentation with lyrics about disappointment and unreturned affection, it’s a refreshing reminder that even difficult experiences can produce compelling music.
Fronted by guitarist, songwriter, composer and educator Sergio Ercole, Serge & The Currents brings together classic songwriting and modern pop influences. With more than four decades of experience performing, composing and teaching classical and Latin guitar across Italy, the United States and Australia, Ercole brings a distinctive sense of what he calls ‘future nostalgia’ to the project, balancing familiar musical warmth with a contemporary edge.
‘Finished From The Start’ captures the frustration of trying to make a relationship work when the effort is never returned. Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards and fast-moving drums give the track an infectious, upbeat feel, creating an appealing contrast with its more bruised lyrical message. Ercole’s cherry red Gibson 335 is also central to the song’s guitar-led character, adding another layer of personality to its sound.
As Ercole explains, the song is about recognising when a connection simply isn't going to work, despite the effort and hope invested in it. Ultimately, it becomes a lesson in accepting reality and knowing when to walk away. With its infectious pop-rock energy and relatable emotional honesty, ‘Finished From The Start’ makes for an engaging return from Serge & The Currents.
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| Photo - Melaine Nibel |
Louis Mezzasoma takes a wonderfully free-spirited approach to roots music, moving effortlessly between gritty blues, country-folk and roots-rock. His sound is soulful, visceral and full of character, drawing on the traditions of the blues without becoming trapped in nostalgia. There is a raw honesty to his music, with voice and instruments working together to bring both darkness and light into sharp focus.
Although he may not have grown up on the muddy banks of the Mississippi Delta, Mezzasoma developed his love of the blues through a guitar teacher with a deep passion for the genre. He went on to study jazz and contemporary music at the Saint-Étienne Conservatory, but it was his natural curiosity and appetite for live performance that really shaped his musical identity.
A series of experiences helped define his journey, from soaking up the atmosphere of Scottish pubs during an Erasmus year to meeting French fingerpicking master Alain Giroux. Countless performances using his full one-man-band setup further sharpened his distinctive style, while opportunities to open for respected artists including Charlie Parr, Lucky Peterson, Sugaray Rayford and Popa Chubby offered valuable experience alongside some formidable company.
Mezzasoma continues to follow his own road, avoiding familiar musical shortcuts in favour of spontaneity, freedom and genuine expression. His music may be rooted in tradition, but it feels wonderfully alive, combining elegance and refinement with an electric edge. For anyone who loves their blues with a little country spirit and plenty of individuality, Louis Mezzasoma is an artist worth discovering.
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