TALENT ON TAP // NEW MUSIC FOR MAY
BROUGHT TO YOU BY BURLEIGH BREWING CO.
Words by Emily Halloran
Cover image Kate Rubi
From debut albums and genre-defying new singles to cinematic alt-pop anthems, our May edition of Talent On Tap is stacked with local releases you’ll want to press repeat on. Let’s get into it…
MAY SPOTLIGHT
Feature album: MERCHNTS. – NEVER GOING TO FIT IN
After years behind the drum kit for other artists, Gold Coast local Liam Chapman is stepping into the spotlight with his solo project MERCHNTS. NEVER GOING TO FIT IN features nine tracks of raw, punchy, gritty, genre-blending punk-alt-rock. The release is MERCHNTS. debut album following his release of three singles already for the year. Drawing inspiration from heavyweights like Yungblud, Deftones, Linkin Park and KoRn, the album fuses explosive drumming with aggressive guitars and eerie synths, with an undercurrent of vulnerability. From the punchy opener to the haunting closing track, NEVER GOING TO FIT IN captures the tension of self-discovery through music that is both intensely personal and universally relatable.
MERCHNTS. (aka. Liam Chapman) was born and raised on the Gold Coast. He started learning drums at 12-years-old and took an honing in songwriting at 18 while studying for his Diploma of Music Performance at TAFE Queensland.
NEW ALBUMS
REAL GOOD NEWS FOR FAKE NEWS FANS
Gold Coast punk outfit Fake News return with their second full-length album Dead Set, delivering 12 hard-hitting tracks packed with the kind of high-energy anthems they’ve built a reputation for. Out May 7, the record sees the band expanding on their signature blend of 90s skate punk and melodic hardcore with tighter songwriting, sharper production and a new level of urgency. Recorded on the Gold Coast and mixed by Ean Redman (who’s worked with Aussie acts including Being Jane Lane and Wolf & Chain), Dead Set features 12-tracks that captures the band at full throttle.
NEW TRACKS
TOM CAPTURES LONELINESS & HOPE
Singer-songwriter and producer T IS FOR TOM (aka. Tom Costello) unveils his latest single, London. Entirely self-produced, Tom’s work explores a wide range of themes. Opening with delicate guitar strums and swelling synths, London builds slowly into a soaring alt-pop track grounded by Costello’s raw vocal delivery and honest lyrics. The production is entirely self-handled, showcasing Tom’s growing confidence as an independent artist. The song captures the journey of a struggling busker riding the Underground from gig to gig, weaving through the noise and loneliness of a city that never stops.
PRCHR. EXPLORES NEW EMOTIONS
prchr.’s newest track “train” is an aching, atmospheric dive into insecurity and inner dialogue, capturing the raw emotional weight of not feeling good enough. The two-and-a-half minute track features prchr.’s signature alternative grunge sound with a fresh new twist. A second release, called exhausted, is available to stream from 8 May.
JOLLEE GETS LOUD & UNAPOLOGETIC
Heavy rockers Jollee have released a punchy and loud new single, Stir It Up. Blending gritty guitar work with unrelenting drumbeats, this song is about owning your reactions, finding strength in your struggles, and refusing to let frustration define you. It’s rowdy, energetic, and angry. More of this please, Jollee!
PARKER KNOWS NOSTOLGIA
In a music scene known for surf rock and feel-good anthems, PARKER has carved out his own lane by blending in 80’s pop. His latest releases, Hang Up Move On and Hazel, really lean into that 80s-inspired alt-pop sound that blends soft synths, clean guitars and reflective lyrics. Recorded with Gold Coast producer Scott French at Love Street Studios, Hazel has been a live performance staple since 2024. Excitingly, Parker is on his first international tour this month, playing two shows in NZ.
KLACEY FINDS STRENGH IN VULNERABILITY
KLACEY returns with MAKE BELIEVE, a bold new modern-pop single about empowerment and finding your voice. The track channels fierce energy and a powerful message of standing up for yourself and embracing your worth, saying “I wrote it because I was feeling very tired of certain people pretending to be something they are not”. If you’re fans of Tate McRae and Madison Beer, you’ll enjoy KLACEY’s music.
A GENRE BLENDING RELEASE
The Water’s Edge is the second release from Gold Coast genre benders Satellite Mile‘s forthcoming album. The track is moody, edgy and blends electronic melodies with grunge, having taken inspiration from Massive Attack and Depeche Mode. The track was “dreamed into existence” by guitarist, vocalist and synthesist Ben Love, The Water’s Edge was mixed by the legendary Paul Gomersall (who has worked with Kate Bush, Genesis, and George Michael) and produced by Love and Peet Gardner at Brisbane’s So Soap Studios.
CHECK OUT THE MUSIC VIDEO:
FALL IN LOVE WITH NATF
Introducing Nightshade and The Fates (NATF), newcomers on the scene having just released their debut single Fallen. Infused with post-punk and darkwave nostalgia, the track showcases a blend of wall-of-sound guitars, moody synths, and a solid rhythm section. It’s a haunting, atmospheric piece that immerses listeners in its brooding yet experimental vibe, laying a strong foundation for the band’s upcoming EP.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT RHEA
Rhea Robertson brings a cinematic, emotionally charged alt-pop track that you won’t get out of my head, Forget About Me. The track, produced by Scott French of Love Street Studios, features deep base, sweeping strings and haunting melodies and captures the quiet strength of someone who’s faced heartbreak and emerged not broken, but reborn. “This song started as a line in an old journal. Though it was an old story, I realised there was still beauty to be made from that painful period of my life. Forget About Me became my way of reclaiming another piece of myself from that time,” Rhea shared about the track.
KATE MAKES DEBUT WITH INTROSPECTIVE POP
Kate Rubi’s We Were Never That Close is a raw, gut-wrenching pop ballad. The debut release was co-written with Bayley Pearl and explores the realisation that a relationship meant everything to one person but nothing to the other. With melancholic lyrics and haunting melodies, We Were Never That Close was inspired by pop icons Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo. We look forward to see what else is to come from Kate Rubi over the next year.
NEW LOOSE GOOSE ANTHEM
Following a successful East Coast tour, Loose Goose drops What I’d Do (For You), a high-energy anthem with soaring choruses and a driving rhythm. The track channels the gritty rock spirit of Beddy Rays and The Grogans, offering a sing-along tune that showcases the band’s growing momentum and ability to capture an audience’s energy.
IN OTHER MUSIC NEWS…
DID YOU HEAR?
Eimhin has been busy recording his second album at Flying Pan Studios in Hobart. The first track, The Mirror On The Water Pt. 1, is set for release this month, on May 14th. Expect a flowing, cinematic sound with some new experimental elements, offering a deeper exploration of his style.
SUNNY HAS A NEW TUNE
Out on 23 May, Letter to the Future (I’m Sorry) is a soulful contemporary/pop anthem for climate justice by singer-songwriter, Sunny Luwe. Written by Sunny back in 2020, this acoustic-driven track reflects the urgency of caring for the earth. With its introspective tone, the song is a poignant reminder of the collective responsibility we share, crafted with heartfelt production alongside her husband and producer Matthew Collins (okmattcollins, WHARVES).
STREAM THE TALENT ON TAP PLAYLIST NOW!
The Gold Coast Music Network’s Talent On Tap is brought to you by Burleigh Brewing.
ARE YOU A GOLD COAST ARTIST WITH NEW MUSIC ON THE HORIZON? WE WANT TO HEAR IT!
If you’ve released new music or have something due for release in May or June, shoot us the details for the chance to be considered for the next ‘Talent On Tap’ column. Email our new music guru Emily Halloran on newmusic@gcmusicnetwork.com.au with a link to the song (Spotify preferred), an artist press shot and a few words/media release about the track or album being released.