Remember January? This year started out with so much potential, and in many ways still gave us a lot to be grateful for! I had a great time representing Wall of Sound at UNIFY 2020 and I'm most proud of my brainchild Tattoos of UNIFY, a segment we will carry over each year, and was stoked to review the festival alongside Browny.
I am thankful to have reviewed some killer albums this year, and also to have interviewed some incredible musicians including Kenta Koie of Crossfaith, Henry Cox of Boston Manor, and Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari. This year threw us a whole bunch of oddly shaped hoops and I reckon we jumped through them all in some way, so I hope that 2021 will bring more challenges and stellar music.
TOP 10 RELEASES
10. Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR
9. GreyDaze - Amends
8. HandsLikeHouses - Hands Like Houses
7. EnterShikari - Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible
6. DreamOnDreamer - What If I Told You It Doesn't Get Better
5. PVRIS - Use Me
4. Dance Gavin Dance - Afterburner
3. Boston Manor - GLUE
2. Slowly Slowly - Race Car Blues
1. Polaris - The Death Of Me
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2020
10. Hands Like Houses ‘Space’
9. In Hearts Wake ‘Worldwide Suicide’
8. Polaris ‘Black Fingernails Red Wine’
7. The Amity Affliction ‘Soak Me In Bleach’
6. Dance Gavin Dance ‘Lyrics Lie’
5. Slowly Slowly ‘Race Car Blues’
4. Grey Daze ‘B12’
3. Boston Manor ‘Plasticine Dreams’
2. Slowly Slowly ‘19’
1. Polaris ‘Martyr (Waves)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2020
This music video is incredibly shot. If you don't know anything about SKYND, look her up because she will blow your mind.
I couldn't go past it for the best music video of the year. It is 'Columbine' by SKYND Feat Bill $aber.
'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' - George Santayana
LAST GIG YOU CAUGHT BEFORE COVID
The last gig I saw was Polaris at The Tivoli and it was one hell of a night. I can still feel the electric atmosphere, the bodies, the sweat, and the bass thrumming through my body. What a gig to remember heading into lockdown.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Tao5nBWgv/
HOW DID COVID/LOCKDOWNS AFFECT YOU IN 2020?
I was one of those to lose their jobs during COVID (not this one, of course!), and become cut off from my immediate family living in SA. And the closure of the gym, pool, and my Krav Maga centre really cut me off from my fitness and social life. I ended up trying to get better at running and yoga, tried to bake macarons and was somewhat successful? I really just tried to get a routine going and stick to it.
COVID made me realise that even though I am energised by my own company, I actually missed being around other people quite a lot. And not just missing going out for brunch with mates, but I missed being surrounded by randoms at a gig or walking through a crowd of people. That's a different kind of energy I didn't realise would affect me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_lg6IRBMJ6/
BIGGEST THING YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF THIS YEAR?
I think I realised that I'm more extroverted than I thought, and that I will always need some sort of fitness to keep my mind and body strong. Also, that it's okay to not be productive.
FAVOURITE NEW BAND DISCOVERED IN 2020
I've listened to a lot of my regulars this year, especially as they released new albums. Only in the past few weeks did I discover a new band that I fell in love with, and they are Agapanther. Hailing from Adelaide these guys produce a whimsical type of melodic hardcore/punk, and I think it's great. Have a listen to their debut EP Overdue and then tell me you agree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVLmi1at29E
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACT TO WATCH IN 2021?
I honestly think that Slowly Slowly are only just getting started. Race Car Blues was such a ground breaking album and they're already hinting at a RCB Chapter 2 which will take them to even higher heights. Slowly Slowly are a band that gather fans to them like bees to honey, we literally can't resist. And so I think that this year is only the beginning of their world domination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT0_Qfol3Ag
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2021?
Not scanning anymore QR codes.
Live music of any sort.
Heavier deadlifts.
Tattoos.
Bye 2020.
Words by EbonyStory. Insta: @ebonyrose.s
