Sound Under Weekly Picks: 24 July 2026
Four Australian alternative tracks that earned a spot in our rotation this week.
Every Friday, Sound Under curates the best of Australian alternative music: fresh releases, overlooked gems, rising artists, and songs worth spending real time with.
Whether you’re driving down the coast, walking through the city late at night, or simply tired of playlists chosen by algorithms, these picks are built differently. This isn’t about hype cycles or whatever is trending for 48 hours. It’s about music with replay value, personality, and something real inside it.
No artist is too early. No sound is too left-field, and no scene is too small.
Here’s this week’s Picks:
Arizona — The Colliflowers
The Colliflowers are quietly becoming one of our favourite bands in Australia. Every release feels effortless, but never forgettable. They have a knack for writing songs that sound simple on the surface yet somehow stay with you long after they’ve finished.
“Arizona” is another reminder of that.
The song is built around bright guitars, infectious melodies and a chorus that feels made for long drives with the windows down, but underneath that easy-going energy sits something far more reflective. There’s a lingering feeling of being stuck, caught in routines that are both comforting and destructive.
What we love most about The Colliflowers is that they never overcomplicate their songwriting. They trust good melodies, honest lyrics and great chemistry to do the heavy lifting, and it works every time.
If you’re new to the band, start here, then go back and listen to “Reruns” and their EP Mirage Hotel. We have a feeling this won’t be the last time they appear in our Weekly Picks.
Heaven’s Open — Selve
Gold Coast outfit Selve recently released Breaking Outta Heaven, a companion EP to their album Breaking Into Heaven, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
While the whole project is worth your time, “Heaven’s Open” immediately stood out as the heart of the release.
The song opens gently before gradually expanding into something huge. Psychedelic textures, soaring melodies and an anthemic chorus come together to create a track that feels both intimate and cinematic at the same time.
The repeated refrain:
“Heaven’s open and true love is alive.”
becomes more powerful with every listen. Rather than feeling overly sentimental, it lands with genuine optimism, giving the song a warmth that’s difficult to fake.
As an opening track, it couldn’t set the tone any better. It welcomes you into the world of the EP while leaving you wanting to hear where it goes next.
Raid — Sex Mask
There aren’t many bands making post-punk as unpredictable as Sex Mask right now.
The track “Raid” is restless from start to finish. Driving rhythms, jagged guitars and an underlying sense of tension keep everything feeling slightly unhinged without ever falling apart. It’s noisy, hypnotic and constantly feels like it’s about to spill over the edge.
What impresses us most is how naturally the chaos comes together. Every element serves the atmosphere the band are creating.
With a new EP on the way and an enormous UK and European tour ahead, Sex Mask feel like a band entering a new chapter. If “Raid” is any indication, it’s going to be a very exciting one.
Walkie Talkie — Baby Smith
Sometimes the best bands come together completely by chance.
Baby Smith was born after two Australians, Ray Sonder and Saxon Gable, found themselves living in Berlin at the same time. Thankfully they did, because the project they’ve created together feels refreshingly honest from the very first listen.
“Walkie Talkie,” taken from their debut album Lately, Love Is Dead, explores insecurity inside a relationship. It’s about questioning everything, overthinking every interaction and desperately wanting reassurance from someone you care about.
The repeated line:
“You still love me right?”
becomes almost hypnotic as the song unfolds. Every repetition feels a little more desperate than the last, capturing the kind of anxiety that can quietly consume a relationship.
Musically, the band balance that emotional weight with layered harmonies, memorable hooks and polished indie rock production that never loses its warmth.
We only discovered Baby Smith recently, but we’re very glad we did. If you enjoy melody-driven alternative rock with genuine emotional depth, they’re absolutely worth adding to your rotation.
Every Friday, Sound Under spotlights the best alternative music beneath the surface.
Got a track we should hear?
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