Here’s who Australian artists are watching in music in 2025
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAIGE PRIME
AS TOLD TO DAISY HENRY
Your favourite Australian musician’s favourite musician.
If you haven’t been to a music festival in Australia before, then I would strongly recommend considering why not. Whether it’s a quick, one-day experience, or several nights camping in the middle of nowhere, the festival experience is unlike anything else. Hours are spent immersed in music getting to unwind and dance with both new and old friends.
It’s an invigorating feeling to see artists you’ve loved for years right in front of you and singing along to their words, but it’s just as exciting to discover new genres and musicians you might otherwise have missed. And that’s not to mention the food stalls, on-stage panels and discussions and creative workshops that festivals like Womadelaide have on offer.
Discover more artists and music we love at FJ’s Music section.
With its very first festival in 1992, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance), also known as ‘Womadelaide’, is an annual four-day festival held in the Adelaide Botanic Park. Now in its 33rd year, Womadelaide has taken the traditional festival experience and refined it in every way.
The festival regularly features an impressive lineup of international acts (some of this year’s standouts included Khruangbin and Durand Jones and The Indications), alongside established and emerging Australian musicians like Devaura, Ngaiire and Emily Wurramara.
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While you might leave a music festival feeling physically tired and in need of a shower, you always leave it with a renewed sense of excitement and inevitably spend the following days bingeing the catalogues of new artists.
If you didn’t manage to make it to Womadelaide’s 2025 festival, rest assured. Below, nine Australian artists share with us the people in the music they’re loving most this year so you can ride the post-festival wave just the same.
Kayps
Picked by: Devaura
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Whenever I listen to a Kayps track or verse I’m like, “Who gave this man permission to be this goddamn good?”. It’s crazy. His voice is velvety and rich and his bars are crazy. His ability to deliver and serve a track is like none other. My favourite track from him that I’ve been bumping is his latest release ‘Hush’.
I’m predicting another project from him that’s going to be industry-shaking and lead to even more success and greatness all ’round. Kayps is a legend in the making.
The Lazy Eyes
Picked by: Planet Rami
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The Lazy Eyes are a project I’ve had my eyes on for a while! They’re already doing wonderful bits like supporting Djo from Stranger Things at his recent show at the Enmore. I love their sound and their live show is exceptionally wonderful. I’m a big fan of Tame Impala and these guys give me a nostalgic vibe of music I’d listen to when I was growing up.
Geography
Picked by: Ngaiire
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I’ve been watching a Melbourne artist called Geography (aka Georgia Smith). She’s been doing some producing and writing with me and she has an intuition in the studio that’s both refreshing and new. I feel like she’s at the beginning of a journey that may see her become one of Australia’s best-kept secrets as a producer and writer as she quietly develops her craft.
Amyl and the Sniffers
Picked by: Juicy Romance
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My absolutely favourite Australian artist at the moment is probably Amyl and the Sniffers. Their new album Cartoon Darkness is sick and the front woman Amy, is one of my performance idols. She’s an absolute icon. My favourite tracks are ‘Tiny Bikini’, ‘Jerkin’ and ‘Big Dreams’. Also check out Amy’s Brits Awards dress inspired by the Emu – iconic.
Bumpy
Picked by: Emily Wurramara
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I’m watching Bumpy. She’s incredible and her vocals are out of this world. I love her storytelling and songwriting. Her favourite song of mine is called ‘Return Home’. I predict Bumpy is just gonna keep pumping out hit after hit because she moves through this space with authenticity and true musicianship. Her prescience in this industry is just going to get louder.
Thelma Plum, Billy Charles and Tamara and the Dreams
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Picked by: The Slingers
As well as being a captivating performer, Thelma Plum is a wonderful songwriter – rare, intimate and earnest. We literally could not turn off her last album while we were driving through Queensland, it nearly became an issue. We also love Billy Charles. He’s a young gun out of Sydney – reckless and handsome. And of course Tamara and the Dreams. They have new music out that is both daring and gorgeous.
Daine
Picked by: Mallrat
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Some of Daine’s music makes me cry and some of it makes me want to wear sunglasses in the club and pretend I’m really famous. Their style is iconic, their stage presence is scarily captivating and their fan base is kind of cult-y. I feel very lucky to be bringing them along for my Australian tour. I will be watching every show from the side stage.
Plumia
Picked by: Ashwarya
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I’ve got my eye on Plumia at the moment! I recently saw her live in Melbourne as she serenaded us through dreamy soundscapes with an intriguing live set-up filled with lights beaming out of her outfit. There’s something really mystical and hypnotic about her presence and music. It feels otherworldly. I’m excited to see what more she’ll be releasing, both sonically and visually. She’s fresh on the scene but her single ‘Another Flight Home’ caught my attention, especially after seeing her play it live.
Milly Strange
Picked by: Geography
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One artist who has caught my eye in recent times is Milly Strange. Based in Naarm, Milly has a beautiful timeless sound that feels so familiar but fresh and exciting to me. She has this freedom in her voice that makes me feel so good in my bones, paired with this blues-rock sound, reminiscent of my favourite Lana Del Ray records and the gorgeous vintage gothic visual world is so captivating.
Keep up to date with Womadelaide here.
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