SA musos to watch in 2023: 12 up and coming country, rock and pop stars
From high-schoolers living the teenage rock band dream to rising stars “avoiding working a nine-to-five”, these are the rising stars of the SA music scene.
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From rock star legends like Jimmy Barnes and Paul Kelly to global superstar Sia, it’s really no secret South Australia produces some of the best musicians in the world.
And with the Festival State currently in full swing, there’s no better time to shine a light on the rising stars of our very own music scene.
Here’s The Advertiser’s pick of the top 12 artists who are currently garnering a local and loyal following; and are more than ready to rise to the very top of global superstardom. Let’s meet them …
Chelsea Manor
Names: Bianca Hendy, Michael Collins and Ivan Heenan
Ages: 30, 25, 26
Genre: Rock, alternative, punk
Handle: @chelseamanorband on Instagram
The Lindsay Lohan Freaky Friday remake was the movie that made most of us feel like we were rock stars.
For rock band Chelsea Manor, who formed in 2019, it was one of the reasons that made them want to be musicians.
“It was my 11th birthday, and I remember the choice between a digital camera or an electric guitar … I was actually stumped, but then Freaky Friday hit the video store – and I just knew I wanted to be a musician,” said Bianca Hendy, singer and guitarist.
Ms Hendy joins Michael Collins on drums/vocals and Ivan Heenan on bass.
The band, from Mount Gambier and Modbury Heights, site different reasons to becoming musicians.
“I started playing classical guitar at age seven, when I figured out that I could skip maths class once a week if I did lessons,” Mr Heenan said.
“One day my friend also started learning drums and was immediately better than me so it turned into a competition, I was practising for an hour before school and an hour after school every day,” Mr Collins said.
All three members describe their sound as “a mixed bag of treats with the flavour of familiarity” and site personal experiences, The White Stripes, LCD Soundsystem and The National as inspirations when making music.
The band said the biggest thing they have achieved together is winning Triple J’s One Night Stand in Lucindale’s support slot as well as getting their song Better Then into the 2020 film Sweethurt.
Chelsea Manor are about to release their new track ‘Predator’ and will play in Melbourne this weekend in Moomba Festival.
Newgate Crowd
Names: Kai Bingham, Joey Mulholland and Wil (Viddy) Vidovich
Ages: 16, 17, 16
Genre: Alternative, indie rock
Handle: @newgatecrowdofficial on Instagram
These high-schoolers are truly living the teenage rock band dream.
Forming officially in 2021, the three school mates were keen on creating and playing music.
“We all have a love for listening to and creating music. Working with each other doing this, is a huge bonus,” Kai said.
The band describe themselves as having a “punchy, big and energetic sound” and also like to add an “Adelaide spin” to their music.
“As a group, we take influences from early 2000s sound like Karnivool, Queens of the Stone Age and Tool,” Kai said.
The three teens are still in school, Kai and Wil attend Faith Lutheran College in Tanunda and Joey attends Nuriootpa High School.
“Throw in some funk, jazz, soul, classical styles along the way. We were all raised on listening to awesome music across many genres.”
The group recently won Battle of the Bands at the Stockwell Hotel for the second year running, as well as Best New Emerging Band and People’s Choice Award for the 2021 Vintage Festival Busk to Dusk.
Newgate Crowd are releasing their third single ‘Bright Idea’ on March 17.
Clover
Names: Archie Lowdon, Brad Caught, Holly Hastings and Molly Littlefair
Ages: 20, 21, 24, 21
Genre: Hard rock
Handle: @toomanyclovers on Instagram
Clover have one dream they want to reach as musicians – to bring rock back. The hard rock group credit the Jack Black film ‘School of Rock’ as one of their inspirations when getting into music as well as 80s rock, 90s grunge, blues, metalcore and jazz.
“We all got into music by liking roughly similar but different bands. One thing we always a agree on is that our differences make us stronger,” bass player Brad Caught said.
Lead singer Holly has been singing since she was eight and said she felt she was “born to be on stage.”
Clover’s debut album ‘Pariah’ is set to be released on April 14, and to launch it they’ll be going on tour in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.
“We want to bring rock back. Clover has been based on this common goal since our genesis,” guitarist Archie Lowdon said.
“There’s been such a lack of the sort of music we write in mainstream media lately, and we wanna bring back the hype around classic heavy rock.”
Emerauld
Name: Emilie Rose Suter
Age: 17
Genre: Indie pop, rock
Handle: @emilie.suter on Instagram
Emerauld has been kicking some major goals already in her career. At just 17, she made it to the top 40 of Australian Idol.
Emerauld sings and plays a variety of instruments including piano, electric, bass and acoustic guitar, ukulele, trumpet and drums.
She began her music career in primary school after being given a ukulele and singing in a play.
“I then auditioned, playing an original song on piano, for Marryatville High School as a Special Interest Music Student,” Emerauld said.
“I was successful and now play trumpet in big bands, sing in choirs, I’ve learnt how to write sheet music and have been releasing my own music since I was 14 years old.”
Emerauld’s sound comprises of “emotional lyrics with an attention grabbing voice that packs a punch”.
The teen’s most popular release is ‘in the silence’, which was popular of Triple J.
Emerauld’s upcoming release is ‘Telescope’, which she said “has a different vibe compared to my other songs. It’s more of a Lofi Pop feel and a little dreamy.”
Mums Favourite
Names: Sasha Theunissen, Brooke Squire, Jordy Theunissen, Nic Ursida, Maarlee De Jong
Ages: 20, 19, 23, 20, 20
Genre: Psych-rock
Handle: @mumsfavourite on Instagram
If Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Janis Joplin had a musical baby and that baby was all their favourite.
That’s how Mums Favourite describe themselves.
The western suburbs group wanted to start a band to “avoid working a nine to five desk job” and “share our music”.
Their iconic 1970s rock sound transports audiences back in time and leaves them wanting more.
Mums Favourite, who have supported The Master’s Apprentices and have played multiple festivals, don’t plan on stopping.
Their debut EP Where Are The Birds? is available on all streaming platforms.
“It’s a 4-track cosmic amalgamation of wailing guitars, powerful vocals and thunderous rhythms that teleport you straight to the 1970s,” the band said.
Twine
Names: Thomas Katsaras, Thea Martin, Alicia Salvanos, Matt Schultz and Jackson Pagett
Ages: 24, 22, 26, 27, 22
Genre: Noise rock, post-punk
Handle: @twineadl on Instagram
Violinist in Twine, Thea Martin, said she started playing at age four after watching Play School. She played as a classical musician growing up and started playing in bands in the last few years.
“Music has always been a way for me to explore connection – with bandmates, with audiences, with other musicians. The depth of feeling I experience when making music with other people is very important to me,” she said.
Twine’s sound is “noisy and turbulent, with moments of fragility” and the band are inspired by Unwound, Dirty Three and Pile.
“I think we all just want to make the best possible music we can, that allows us to explore and experiment with new sounds, and to have that music mean something to the people who listen to us,” Ms Martin said.
Twine have toured across Australia with a multitude of bands and are currently working on their first album.
Their recent release ‘Seachange’ is available on most streaming platforms.
The Vains
Names: Rhia Dickson, Libby Verrall, Shara Klecka, Madeleine Cossey
Ages: 25, 34, 27, 21
Genre: Rock, punk
Handle: @thevainsmusic
With squealing guitar riffs and gritty vocals, The Vains are the girl group determined to rock your world.
The Vains have a sound that is “facemelting punk rock. Angry, angsty and loud.”
Their inspirations when creating their own music are Amyl and the Sniffers, The Runaways and Bikini Kill, so you know you’re in for an energetic night out.
“We all grew up playing and loving music and formed our dream team all gal line-up a few years ago. We’ve loved every minute since,” the band said.
“We love listening to music and wanted to rock out like our idols.”
What’s next for The Vains? They want to be recording more, touring more and supporting headliners.
Their latest EP ‘Uppercut!’ is available on all streaming platforms.
Caitlin Drew
Age: 31
Genre: Contemporary country
Handle: @caitlindrewmusic on Instagram
This upcoming country music star from Burra is not one to be missed.
Ms Drew came from a musical household and used to sing around the house from a very young age.
“I was entertaining my family on the coffee table with Christmas carols or singing Yellow Submarine while a doctor stitched up my head as a 5 year old,” Ms Drew said.
“I was fortunate enough to have parents that recognised my love for music and thought ‘hang on a minute I think this girl has some tune’ and chucked me into singing lessons.”
Ms Drew knew she had a talent to pursue when she performed Born To Try by Delta for a local football club’s Red Faces night.
“A now very good friend of mine asked if I was willing to sing the song again by my self and with the music quieter so people could hear me,” Ms Drew said.
“Through that I was asked to sing that same song at the local NENA presentation dinner. That’s when I knew I had something I needed to pursue.”
Ms Drew’s inspirations when making music are her experiences and people around her. From heartbreak to travelling to her dogs, Ms Drew uses her inspiration creates her original music.
“My originals are contemporary slightly Aussie country with a hint of folk. My live performances are country, rock, folk and comedic,” she said.
Ms Drew has just released her first album, Dirt Roads and Dogs, and is already booked out until June.
Ella and Sienna
Names: Ella and Sienna McClean
Ages: 20 and 16
Genre: Pop, country
Handle: @ellaandsiennamusic on Instagram
Ella and Sienna McClean “can’t remember a time” they weren’t into music.
The sister duo from Mount Barker said they have always sung together since they were very young.
“We went to singing lessons and learnt to sing proper harmonies together when we were about 10 and 13 years old. We started busking from then,” they said.
They grew up in a music loving household. At two years old, Sienna saw P! NK on TV and declared “when I grow up I want to be a rock star!”
Both girls developed their voices to harmonise perfectly together, while Ella learned to play guitar and Sienna bass and piano.
“Our dream as musicians is to share our music by touring and performing,” they said.
“Our musical inspirations are many, but we are currently listening to a lot of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Maisie Peters.”
Their recent successes include winning an SA Music Award in People’s Choice Country Aritst as well as earning their way to be in the final six in Rita Ora’s team on The Voice.
The group have also won a number of competitions and awards with prizes such as a recording trip to Nashville.
Their sound is soft pop with a rockier feel with country storytelling. On March 12 they will play their first Fringe show Taylor Swift – Country Meets Pop.
Dean Forever
Names: Kiah Lanagan and Jakub Tengdahl, supported by Bianca Hicks and Nicholas Pipe.
Genre: Dream-pop, shoegaze, alternative, rock
Handle: @deanforeverandever
Dean Forever reignite the 1960s sound with jazz lined, shimmery pop along with cutting lyrics.
“We blend the swirling ‘wall of sound’ of dream-pop and shoegaze with the orchestral pop textures of bands like Split Enz or later Elliott Smith. Our melodies walk the line between jazz and 60s-influenced bands like Broadcast,” singer Kiah Lanagan said.
The up and coming duet comprise of Ms Lanagan and Jakub Tengdahl who both had great musical influences since they were children.
“It’s the age old story for me of my parents always playing great music around the house. I spent hours listening to the same 4 CDs by Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Electric Light Orchestra, and Leslie Gore, along with my So Fresh and Britney,” Ms Lanagan said.
“I wanted to play violin the first time I saw someone play, then piano. I don’t know when I mainly became a singer though – I think some people just love to sing, so I was always doing it.
Mr Tengdahl said his first musical experience was as a toddler in Poland with his uncle.
“He is a well known folk and modern classical musician over there and he was the first to tell my mum that I had a bit of an ear for music,” he said.
“When we came to Australia she was quick to get me into piano lessons and managed to get a cheap Casio keyboard.”
Dean Forever have a new album coming out in 2023 and will be in the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
Pity Lips
Names: Mia Neale, Nadia Andrasic, Steph Andrasic and Cahli Blakers
Ages: 27, 25, 25, 21
Genre: Post-punk, punk rock
Handle: @pity.lips on Instagram
Pity Lips describe their sound as “noisy, punchy and dynamic”.
The four-piece girl group started out in 2021 and played their first gig together in April 2022.
“I’ve been singing pretty much my whole life and went on to study music at uni. I then became a teacher and taught music to high schoolers. It wasn’t until meeting people through Girls Rock! Adelaide and local music circles that I started to play in bands,” said drummer Mia Neale.
Guitarist and vocalist Steph Andrasic started writing songs at age eight but stopped as she struggled not seeing herself represented in music.
“When I moved to Adelaide and Nadia dragged me to gigs, that all changed. I picked up a guitar again, started writing songs and found my voice,” she said.
The group love playing their own music live and being part of line-ups that represent them.
“Honestly just playing our songs to rooms full of people, that’s an amazing opportunity no matter how large or small the room. Also being a part of line-ups that we feel represent us as queer people, and hopefully being that representation to young people discovering their love for music,” Ms Andrasic said.
moxie
Names: Max Olman, Mik Chambers, Nat Cornelius, Ari Mercer
Ages: 16, 17, 17, 18
Genre: Pop, grunge
Handle: @moxie.adl on Instagram
Teenage dream band Moxie only debuted in January and are “booking as many gigs as they can” to break into the local scene.
In the band is vocalist Max Olman, guitarist Mik Chambers, drummer Nat Cornelius and bassist Ari Mercer, who describe their sound as “a mess, but a moxie mess!”
“I take huge inspiration from Australian punk legend Amy Taylor from Amyl and the Sniffers. I love the way she performs for herself and no one else,” said Ari.
“When writing songs, I am inspired by artists such as Lizzy McAlpine and Ethel Cain. When it comes to bands, I’m inspired by Movements, Teenage Joans, Peach Pit and the Front Bottoms,” Nat said.
Moxie also take inspiration from fellow Adelaide group Oscar the Wild.
The band plan to record their first single ‘Bleach’ with Travis Demsey at Base 10 and will be performing at No Quiet festival on April 29.
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