Canberra’s best music releases of 2021
Genesis Owusu by Bailey Howard
Mustard Dripped | Our top 25 favourite local releases this year
We are calling it. 2021 was the biggest year for independent music in Canberra. Triple J Album of the Year + 4 ARIA awards for Genesis Owusu, 56 million streams for YNG Martyr, Unearthed Feature Artist for Groovy Daughter and a goat tattoo for Jack Biilmann. T-Pain showed love to Kirklandd and Aya Eves did a song with Boy George.
We squeezed in plenty of live music between lockdowns. Hands Like Houses x Citizen Kay Numb/Encore cover a particular highlight. COVID safe seated DJ set by Touch Sensitive at ANU a lowlight. Surprise of the year Genesis Owusu’s DJ set at Fiction Nightclub. Eagle Village Club launched a song writing retreat for local artists that is sure to deliver some gold in the near future. Even during lockdown the isolation brought creativity with living room streams like Winter Rhythm and Houseband Session and we got a new gig guide.
Best music video goes to Peach Lane - Rolling staring Liv Hewson from Santa Clarita Diet and Bombshell fame. Beautifully directed by Sean O'Gorman.
We lost Transit, Kokomos, Beirut Bunker and Mr Wolf (gained One22) and will hopefully see some new live music locations in the new year. Gang Gang and Sideway get MVP with a huge schedule of music on display. The punters will start to benefit from $800k in Amp It Up! funding for venues from the ACT Government.
Here are our favourite music releases for 2021 by Canberra artists. Mustard Flats Wrapped in order of sauciest tune. Canberra is oozing talent and the capital is about to overflow in 2022. Enjoy.
1) Genesis Owusu - Gold Chains
2) YNG Martyr - POP! (Feat. BOY $COUT GATSBY)
3) Lucy Sugerman - Trust Nobody
4) Sputnik Sweetheart - Rolling
5) biblemami - bunny
6) Hope Wilkins ft. Kirklandd - Problems
7) YOUNG MONKS - BRAND NEW FEELING
8) Kirklandd - Man of My Word Ft Lil Spacely
9) Jack Billmann - SOS - Live at Mustard Flats
10) Groovey Daughter - I DON'T CARE
11) Archie - Greener
12) Rac Rila - I'm FEELING
13) Shaka J - UNTITLED FREESTYLE
14) Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers - AHHHH!
15) Koebi Faumui - A Song About Nothing (feat. Hayds)
16) Aya Yves - Body That I Break
17) YNG ONE - Down Bad
18) Rolling - Peach Lane
19) Moaning Lisa - Inadequacy
20) ATU - Live N Learn
21) Lani - Captain Hook
22) Miroji - Satisfied Minds (Official Video)
23) Nina Leo - Recover
24) Kirrah Amosa - Fallin/The Way
25) Danny Pratt - Black Magic (Official Video)
Bonus Tracks
26) LIV LI - Silence
27) Northbourne Flats - Paralysed ft. Ruby Delgado
28) Magnifik - Float Above (feat. Kng George)
29) SickLonely - Back In It (ft. Watson)
30) CJ Shaw - Ain't Many Like Lennie
31) 49bags & SecretSaturdays - Sober (prod. Pancho)
