Alt Down Under

This week on Alt. Down Under, Luke is joined by Ben Bray - front man of one of the most exciting bands coming out of Melbourne, Divers! Fresh off the release of their acclaimed debut album, 'Odd Dog In The Capital', Ben chats about the band's evolution from a Covid-era studio project into one of the most exciting and distinctive voices in Australian indie music. The pair dive into the creative pro...

On this episode of Alt. Down Under , Luke sits down with Nkechi Anele, the voice behind Owelu Dreamhouse - one of the most exciting projects coming out of Melbourne’s soul scene right now. Having cut her teeth as the frontwoman of beloved Melbourne six-piece, Saskwatch, Nkechi has spent years building her sound and her community.  With Owelu Dreamhouse, she steps into something far more personal -...

Cut Copy have spent more than two decades blurring the lines between indie rock and dancefloor euphoria. In this episode of Alt. Down Under, bassist Ben Browning reflects on the early 2000s collision of guitars and synths, the so-called Indie Sleaze era, and recording Zonoscope in a cold Melbourne warehouse. We revisit the cultural moment that shaped the band - from The Strokes and bloghouse to Da...

Melbourne soul artist WILSN joins Luke for a wide-ranging, free-flowing chat on finding your voice, trusting the long game, and why soul music is quietly having a moment in Australia. WILSN talks through recording her latest album Bloom live to tape with the touring band of soul legend Charles Bradley , and how a decade-long relationship finally came full circle in the studio. The conversation dig...

WE ARE BACK. Kicking off 2026 on Alt Down Under , we’re joined by Maisie Everett , lead singer of The Bel Air Lip Bombs , fresh off the release of their second album ' Again' . In this episode, we get into the making of a record that hits harder, sounds sharper, and feels more confident than ever. Maisie breaks down the shift between album one and two, why she made a conscious decision to change h...

On this week’s episode of Alt. Down Under , Luke sits down with Jamie and Todd of These New South Whales , one of Australia’s most beloved and brilliantly chaotic guitar bands. With their brand new album GODSPEED dropping at the end of this week, the lads talk origins, instant friendships, adult sleepovers, and why they’ll never listen to a song you send them while they’re “chopping carrots.” They...

It’s a big one. One of the UK’s most magnetic voices, Joy Crookes , joins Luke for a deep, funny and honest chat ahead of her set at New Year’s At The Bowl in Melbourne. Fresh off the release of her stunning second album,  Juniper , Joy talks whirlwind love stories, finding romance in the smaller moments, teaming up with Kano on Mathematics , and gives her best crack at an Aussie accent! She also...

Kermit The Frog, kebabs, and why saxophones are more than just a sexy instrument... dust are back! Bassist Liam Smith joins Luke to chat about the band’s explosive new album,  Sky Is Falling , from its euphoric highs to its darker lyrical edges. The pair dig into how dust earned their stripes on Australia’s east coast touring scene, the chaos of filming a DIY video above a Thai restaurant, life on...

It’s a packed one this week on Alt Down Under ! Luke catches up with the brilliant Stella Donnelly , diving deep into her third album Love and Fortune - out November 7. The pair chat about creative resets, friendship, and finding joy again in song-writing after a much-needed break. Luke also reviews Wunderhorse’s electric show down at The Forum. Are they the best band out of the UK right now? Plus...

Soul is having a moment right now. Acts like Joy Crookes over in the UK, Thee Sacred Souls stateside and right here in Australia, with Ella Thompson. The Melbourne-born artist drops by for a chat all about her wide-ranging musical career so far… featuring in bands, before going all-out as a solo artist whilst still collaborating A pretty cool journey for an artist who was in school bands with The...

25 EPISODES! A huge landmark for Alt Down Under - thank you to everyone who’s listened along the way. To celebrate, we’re joined by Melbourne’s very own Playlunch . Ozzy, Michael and Liam chat about their early days in folk trios, how they evolved into a 7-piece “bogan funk” outfit, and why their mission is to poke fun at life’s shittier parts - from real estate agents to the cost of living… and e...

“You’re gonna have to be more pacific, mate.” This week, Luke is joined in conversation by the absolute dude that is Jack Kay – bassist for the brilliant Pacific Avenue .  2 years on from their critically-acclaimed debut album, 'Flowers' , Jack looks back on the journey between now and then and drops hints on when a second album could be on the horizon. It’s been a big couple of years, as the band...

When your band name is born out of trying to come up with the worst band name ever – then surely you’re destined to go to the top? That might not have been the thinking at the time, but Canberra’s Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers are now 10 years down the track from that conversation and their 2015 inception. Lead singer - Anna Ryan - stops by on Alt Down Under to look back at the wild times she...

What do you get if you put two brothers into the same band? Some scraps in the early, pre-band years? Sure. But in the case of Radium Dolls, you end up with an irresistible cocktail of punk, passion and energy that slaps you in the face with the warmest of wake-up calls, right from the first listen. Frontman Will and guitarist Tom sit down with Luke for episode 22 of Alt Down Under.  The boys take...

How would it feel to be the lead singer of a band who’ve just recorded in the iconic Abbey Road Studios, made famous by The Beatles? Imagine that in doing so, you become the first Aboriginal act to record a full-length album in the studios’ hallowed rooms. That is exactly the journey of Selve, a Queensland outfit, fronted my Loki Liddle. A proud Jabirr Jabirr man, Loki describes how the new single...

Alt Down Under hits 20 episodes! For this milestone show, Luke catches up with Sonic Reducer, a 4-piece punk group from Canberra. Bassist, Louie Hanna, is on hand to discuss why the band are doing things differently to the generic 4-piece bands that we’ve grown tired of over the years. Find out the impact that the closing of venues in Canberra has had…and the creative workarounds that artists are...

This time out, we take a trip west....to see what alternative gems New Zealand has to offer! That comes in the form of episode 19's featured artist, Phoebe Rings. Joining Alt Down Under is lead singer, Crystal Choi.  Native to Korea, Crystal tells all about how moving to The Land of the Long White Cloud has impacted her life and her song-writing. And...is starting a band a few months before the co...

With Aussie winter around the corner, it feels like the time of year where music that warms the soul is on the menu. Step in, Annie-Rose Maloney, the featured artist in episode 18 of Alt. Down Under! The Naarm-based singer-songwriter’s debut album Circle Walking is the perfect antidote to winter blues. With insights into her personal journey to seeking happiness and battling life’s dramas along th...

Slap bang in the middle of their Aus/NZ tour, we caught up with The Murder Capital! Joining Luke Scanlan in conversation is bassist, Gabriel Blake. After waiting years to finally play to fans in the region, Gabriel speaks of what it means to give fans a taste of tunes from across their three albums: When I Have Fears, Gigi’s Recovery and Blindness Plus, why he thinks albums – also referred to as ‘...

This time out, it’s the melodic vocal genius of The Stamps under the spotlight, joining us as our artist in residence! Ahead of a big week of announcements for the Melbourne-based group, singer and songwriter Scarlett Graham drops by for a chat. One third of the vocals behind the band formed after a suggestion from their school music teacher – Scarlett tells all about the story behind new single J...

James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck , better know as HONNE are this week’s artist in residence on Alt. Down Under . Fresh from the release of their latest album, Ouch , the British electronic duo drop by to talk us through the stories behind the new tunes. From stepping into fatherhood and making sure to squeeze all that you can from life. And of course, the boys build their Dream Gig Venue . How t...

Another fantastic guest artist interview for you in episode 14 of Alt. Down Under ... This time out, it's the unreal Girl and Girl . Speaking with Luke is frontman Kai James and drummer, Aunt Liss . They've just caught a breath after an 8-date whistle-stop tour around Australia, bringing the energy to cities up and down the country. It's not every day an aunt ends up being the drummer for her neph...

Don't they say "never work with a partner"? It might be a disaster for some, but Sydney duo Salarymen have found the magic formula...and we are here for it. Thom Eagleton and Renee de la Motte  sit down for a chat off the back of their latest EP release, Day By Day . Why is being honest with each other so crucial to the way they operate as a couple and as artists? PLUS - social media - love it or...

The fantastic Romanie is the guest artist for Episode 12 of Alt. Down Under. After meeting her in his first week in Australia when she performed alongside Katy J Pearson , Luke finally sits down with the Belgian songwriter to chat through her experiences of moving down to Aus. Romanie explains how stepping out of her comfort zone has shaped her as a person as well as empowering her work as an arti...

Lotte Gallagher is Episode 11’s featured artist for Alt. Down Under ! The rising star of Melbourne’s Indie & Alternative scene drops by for a chat all about her debut EP, A Better Feeling – which landed earlier this month. The Naarm-based singer opens up on how she was able to find her feet as a songwriter in her early teens, why family has been so important to her journey so far and how music...