Each week (or as often as time and technology allow) writers for AAA Backstage sit down to discuss the news and reviews of the Aussie music scene.

Backstage at Brisbane's The Brightside, Max sits down with Ben and Josh from the U.K. duo Getdown Services. They cover how the pair bonded over Aussie icons, how they're changing up their sound for their upcoming second album, and how they discovered that there is money in the music industry.Connect with Getdown Services on Instagram, and listen to their latest single "I Can't Die Like That" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

In new music this week, there's indie dream pop, funky dance music, local heavy metal and then, controversially, a song that Sam's on the fence about. Then it's a tour wrap with two huge sounds at the opposite end of the spectrum, and then a deep dive into an all-important topic: how long should an album be?Listen to the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Off the back of our interview with their frontman Tyler, Sam is reviewing the iconic 2016 release from Luca Brasi. We already know the album, slaps, but will Sam be able to put his finger on why?Relisten to "If This Is All We're Going to Be" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Backstage at the Tivoli on her recent Australian tour, Sam caught up to chat with Maggie Lindemann. They cover breaking out of genre traps to explore, how vulnerability has brought a deeper connection with fans, and why she's moving out of her sad girl era.Connect with Maggie Lindemann on Instagram and TikTok, and listen back to her most recent record, "I Feel Everything" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Light-on for news this week, as Sam and Max dive into some big names coming to your screens and your stages with the ARIA awards and Night At the Parklands, before going deep into some bands that we feel like don't get enough love.Listen along to the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Max is diving into the maximalist sounds of Enter Shikari's latest record "Lose Your Self", with its collection of metal, EDM, punk and indie. Will they be able to bring it together, or is it all too much?Listen to Enter Shikari's "Lose Your Self" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

At the local leg of their 10th Anniversary tour of Opera Oblivia, Sam catches up with Hellions. The cover how there's influences from the '50s and '60s on the record, how their friendship put new music on the map, and how they brought the fun element back to the band.Connect with Hellions on Instagram and TikTok, and relisten to "Opera Oblivia" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

The show is on holidays as Sam and Max jump into another studio, but that doesn't stop them serving up big new hits, shouting out an iconic Brisbane venue that's opening it's doors to the scene, and then run through another huge pile of acts that are heading to town.Follow along with the songs we discuss in this week's Spotify Playlist. Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

During the huge 10 anniversary tour of "If This Is All We're Going to Be", Max dials in with Tyler, front man of Luca Brasi. They cover how the record was almost re-produced to be heavier and thrashier, what it's like bringing back tracks that haven't been in the setlist for years, and how they've banked a crowd for the 20th Anniversary.Connect with Luca Brasi on Facebook and Instagram, and listen back to "If This is All We're Going to Be" on Spotify and Apple Music. Get tickets to the remaining dates on their anniversary tour at their website.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam is reviewing the second record from Baker Boy, and, following our recent interview with him, we investigate why he's letting himself into "Baker Man". Across a range of genres, he's telling an incredible story, but how does the album come together as a single record?Relisten to "Djandjay" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Off the back of their latest album "Wired", Max and Sam dial in with Andrew from Basement. They cover how they've embraced their "British-ness", how their one-year hiatus became an eight-year hiatus before becoming the drive to record, and why L.A.'s fences stood no chance.Connect with Basement on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to their latest record, "Wired", on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

A new week, a new slate of bangers as Sam and Max get into dance metal, melancholy hyper pop, and just good ol' fashioned pop punk in this week's fresh tracks. Then they dive into Sam's huge weekend of gigs, as well as dissecting the phenomenon of "blue dot fever". Finally, it's getting vulnerable with our all-time listening stats.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this wee's Spotify Playlist. Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam and Max double-up for a sit down with The Terrys as they wrap their Groovin' the Moo coverage. In a loose and wide-ranging chat, they cover how the band reintroduced themselves, Cam's special working relationship with Jasmine, and why the next album might be a little later than expected.Connect with The Terrys on Instagram and TikTok, and relisten to the deluxe version of The Terrys self-titled album on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

For his homework this week, Max is reviewing Adrianne Lenker's solo folk record and finding out if he can get into the energy, or if it's veering too sad for a regular listen.Relisten to "Songs" by Adrianne Lenker on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Maple of Maple's Pet Dinosaur joins Sam for a chat straight off the back of their huge Groovin' the Moo set. They chat about a mutual love for a 90s mainstay, what direction Maple's upcoming EP is going to head in, and whether some overseas trips might be on the cards.Connect with Maple's Pet Dinosaur on Instagram and TikTok, and listen back to their viral hit "Lego" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

We're back at Groovin' the Moo, this time with Max chatting to local legends, The Colliflowers. They cover their latest single "Reruns", how they get inspired by bands outside their genre, and why festivals returning is only the beginning for the Northern Rivers.Connect with The Colliflowers on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to their latest single "Reruns" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Fresh off stage after his set at Groovin' the Moo, Sam sits down with Baker Boy. They chat about how he translated his vulnerability into a huge, hard hitting album, how to give dance and party tracks real meaning, and why his family keep calling him about an L.A. rap icon.Connect with Baker Boy on Instagram and TikTok, and relisten to his most recent record, "Djandjay" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

In the grandstand at the 2026 iteration of Groovin' the Moo, Max catches up with the Hometown Hero slot winner, Mr Rhodes. They cover why Horrorshow was so integral to his sound, what you can do with a Yamaha 4-track cassette recorder, and how mixed lineups built the scene.Connect with Mr Rhodes on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to his latest single "Life Can Be a Damn" on Spotify and Apple Music. Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Live from Groovin' the Moo 2026 in Lismore, Max catches up with Matt Corby before he heads on stage. They cover how his latest record came to be without intending it, how the artists he produces with influence his own writing, and how to bring an accidental album to life live.Connect with Matt Corby on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to his latest record, "Tragic Magic" on Spotify and Apple Music. Find tickets to the Tragic Magic Tour from his website.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

The boys have been on the road all week, so they're glad to be sitting in the studio for five minutes. They bring plenty of new tunes with everything from sexy metal to model rock, then dive into some of the mountain of live music they've seen over the week, and why a family day out may save one of Australia's most iconic festivals.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam is looking back over the debut record from one of the biggest names in modern hip hop, reviewing "Camp" from Childish Gambino. He knows Bonfire, he knows Firefly and he knows Heartbeat, but will the rest of the tracks hold their own?Relisten to "Camp" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam and Max catch up with JT and Matt They cover what 20 years of an iconic album looks like on tour, how JT's voice is the band's secret weapon, and what songs they'd want to hear if they were stuck in a plane crash.Connect with Hawthorne Heights on Instagram and TikTok, and revisit their iconic album, "If Only You Were Lonely" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

It's a bumper episode of double-length new music this week, as we get into dance-metal, jazzy EDM, indie pop and much, much more. Then Sam brings us up to speed with his centurion challenge, and we do some classic games.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Max dips into the discography from one of the biggest rock bands on the planet as he reviews Sam's Record Store Day pressing of "All We Know is Falling". It's a record from before Paramore reached global fame, but how does it stack up in hindsight?Relisten to "All We Know is Falling" on Spotify & Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Ahead of their Brisbane show supporting Spite, Sam snuck backstage to a very cosy green room at The Triffid to interview Skylar and Shane from metalcore band Varials. They cover their most recent album "Where the Light Leaves", some wild video inspiration behind the bass booms, and how Skylar ticked enough boxes.Connect with Varials on Instagram and TikTok and listen to "Where the Light Leaves" on Spotify and Apple Music. Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Indie Mk.Gee, sexy metal and 60s' throwback bangers are stacking the new music mix this week, before Sam and Max pour one out for an Aussie icon at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, and start looking ahead to Brisbane's biggest annual music event lineup.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

The mics are back to full power, and Sam is in neo-soul heaven as he reviews the second outing from UK outfit Jungle. He's throwing references like Frank Ocean, Tame Impala, and Mk.Gee, but how do they stack up?Relisten to "For Ever" by Jungle on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam and Max head backstage at The Tivoli to chat with Phil and Beau from Saosin prior to their tour. They cover the band's first new music in a decade, how they're surprising each other with riffs, and why kids these days need to learn German Techno-Metal.Connect with Saosin on Instagram and Facebook, and listen back to their latest single, "Starting Over Again" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

It's an audio disaster as Sam and Max discover that this week's episode broke our mics, meaning that we're running off the backup feed, so excuse the quality. But they dive deep on the their Record Store Day hauls, offer an apology to a recent guest, and unpack their Discogs.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Max is discarding everything he thought he knew about Filthy Frank as he reviews the homework that Sam set for him this week with Joji's latest album. There are plenty of different songs and sounds across the 40-something-minute record, but how will it stick together?Revisit "Piss in the Wind" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Ahead of their first ever Australian show, Sace and Noah join Sam and Max backstage at the Triffid. They chat about the different recording styles that went into their debut album "Brutalist", which Bieber era is the peak, and which Australian Razor Scooter maestros deserve the shout-outs.Connect with Sace6 on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to the singles from their up-coming debut record "Brutalist" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Max is operating on half-capacity thanks to a back injury, but the show goes on with fresh new music from some British indie rockers, a U.S. sexy-emo band, and some unexpected Jazz. Then it's an exploration of the first week of Coachella and two very controversial takes; one from Tash Sultana and the other attached to a recent Like A Version.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam's rewinding back to a big year for him as he listens to Prodigy's 1997 masterpiece, "The Fat of the Land". It's shaped his experience of dance music and electronica, but what are his takes on the album as a whole?Relisten to "The Fat of the Land" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Ahead of their tour with A Day to Remember and Papa Roach, Sam and Max dial in with Flo and Kevin from the French Metalcore band LANDMVRKS. They cover how the Marseille scene blended their sound together, why A Day To Remember is one of their ultimate support slots, and how they use their multi-lingual lyrics to tell even more stories.Connect with LANDMVRKS on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to their most recent album, "The Darkest Place I've Ever Been" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

After starting with a formal apology for last week's experimentation, Sam and Max dive into new music with features from some Aussie favourites and DM sliders alike. Then it's a look at Raye's latest album "This Music May Contain Hope", a look forward at Coachella's two upcoming weekends, and a look back at some of Max's unloved artists.Follow along with all the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

It's a review of one of Brisbane's most iconic bands and one of their most iconic record as Max looks back at Violent Soho's 2013 album, Hungry Ghost. You can already guess the result, but what nits will he still be able to pick?Relisten to Hungry Ghost on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Off the back of his latest single, "Arms", Max and Sam dial in with Sydney singer-songwriter Chuck Sics. They cover how he learned to love the song that he originally hated, whether he'll be the next "just one guy" artist, and why playing the trumpet gave him the competitive edge.Connect with Chuck Sics on Instagram and TikTok, and check out his latest single "Arms" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam debuts a character on-air which changes the vibe of the entire episode, as he and Max chat through the stack of winter tours heading Brisbane's way, Peking Duk's debut album announcement, and the AFL Grand Final locking-in with an Australian icon. They also provide an overview on the criminal case unfolding adjacent to Parkway Drive and family.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Following the release of his latest album, "Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally", Sam is reviewing Harry Styles' penultimate record, Harry's House. Sam's been surprising the gang with his pop music takes recently, but will it be continued love?Revisit "Harry's House" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

After getting a sneak peek at some work-in-progress tracks, Sam and Max joined Don Broco's Rob Damiani while they were in Brisbane on tour in September, and with the album, "Nightmare Tripping", dropping, they're stoked to drop a behind-the-scenes look at how the record came together. They cover how the band wanted something that their fans could describe, how they wanted to go back to their roots, and how Rob turned to believing ghosts.Connect with Don Broco on Instagram and TikTok, or listen to their latest album "Nightmare Tripping" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam has flown into town just to podcast this week, so alongside new music to grace your eats, he and Max cover the continuing fallout from the collapse of Bluesfest, deliver more news about Violent Soho's possible reunion, speculate on Good Things, and think ahead to airport security.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

It was one of their big transition albums from deathcore origins to alt-pop modernity, but will Max get onboard with Oli and the gang's 2015 album?Relisten to "That's The Spirit" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Max sits down with Dom from the electronic music duo Felsmann + Tiley to chat about their latest album, "Protomensch". Along the way they cover how the album started as a narrative manifesto, what led them to create music without any drums, and why you might be seeing them pop up at your local planetarium soon.Connect with Felsmann + Tiley on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to their latest album "Protomensch" on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

After jumping into the new tunes of the week, Sam and Max look into how and why Bluesfest might have failed, how Hilltop Hoods brings the dads together, what's up with Future Islands, and how a beloved Brisbane band might be making a little comeback...Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam has made his feelings known about Coldplay both positively and negatively. But after a look back at their second full-length release, which side of that ledger will it land on?Relisten to A Rush of Blood to the Head on Spotify or Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Diving back into the archives, we're bringing our 2021 conversation with Dune Rats back to the fore. They cover what the big late-00s/early-10s scene was like in Brisbane as it spawned some of the biggest bands in the country, what wisdom was dropped on him by a religious icon, and what it's like to run their own record label.Connect with Dune Rats on Instagram and TikTok, and throwback to their 2022 record Real Rare Whale on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok. Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

The race is on as Sam opens up with a Melbourne Grand Prix recap, before he and Max bounce through some new albums on the scene, and then tackle one of the most important questions on the scene: what makes a song feel sexy?Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok. Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Fresh off Sam's recent visit to see Thornhill live backed by Ocean Grove, he's dropping the latter's fourth album for Max's homework this week. Will he get the vibe to shake that tree?Relisten to "Oddworld" on Spotify and Apple Music, or pick up a copy on vinyl from Ocean Grove's online store.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok. Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Alongside the release of their latest record, The Warning, Max dials in with Ed and Josh from Melbourne's Telenova. They chat about whether there's a live drum kit anywhere on the record, how smokey the room should be to enjoy the album, and whether you'll ever see a extended jam at a Telenova live show.Connect with Telenova on Instagram and TikTok, and listen to their latest record "The Warning" on Spotify and Apple Music, or pick up a copy at their online store.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok. Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Sam and Max are taking on income inequality and heavy drops in this week's new music mix, then it's a look back at Sam's pinnacle of the year with Ethel Cain's live show, and a quick recap of the flurry of tours that have been announced over the week.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify PlaylistDiscover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok. Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.

Ninajirachi's debut album defined a new generation of EDM and won the critics hearts the world over. But will it win Sam's heart as part of his homework for this week?Relisten to I Love My Computer on Spotify and Apple Music.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok. Watch episodes on our YouTube channel and don't forget to like and subscribe.