Dearest reader, I’m afraid I have been remiss – or at least, distracted.

You may be aware that I have been on the road this year, four months of travelling around Australia in a campervan with my family. It’s been a blast, but I have neglected this blog, and you. Long driving days with my four-year-old son tend to mean we hear a lot of the Frozen soundtrack and, weirdly, The Veronicas.

But I’m back, baby – not from the trip, but from my self-imposed new Australian music estrangement. And we’re kicking off 2023 with a cracker.

‘Beaming’ by FRIDAY* is a really cool track, and fascinatingly unique in its approach. It feels entirely organic, but unlike anything I’ve heard come out of Australia in a long time.

The introduction is low-key, but layered, with chattering voices and laughter and instruments still being tuned – it’s like you’ve stumbled into rehearsals, and inadvertently become witness to the song-writing process in real time. It’s a really beautiful choice, and one which attunes you into the communal feel that the track carries throughout its entire run.

The beat, too, feels inventive but entirely natural. It reminds me of Ringo Starr’s slightly janky drumming in ‘Ticket To Ride’ – it feels off-beat, or out of sync, until you realise they simply refuse to comply with what your ears believe the beat should sound like. They make it feel right.

FRIDAY*’s voice is somehow gravelly and smooth, Frank Ocean meets Otis Redding.

The song develops into the musical equivalent of a warm embrace from a best friend who’s had two drinks and is down to chat – like, really get into how you’ve been doing. It’s sunshine, and crashing waves, and community. When the choral rises towards the end of the track, it transforms into something truly gorgeous and powerful.

And a few others:

‘Final Blow’ by Mitchell Santiago: Let’s get the headline out of the way: this kid is 16 years old. Ridiculous. Has to be a lie. From the voice to the lyricism, this song has the maturity and conviction of a much more weathered soul. Spacey Jane meets The Rions meets a cowboy poet.

‘Imposter [feat. Yours Truly]’ by RedHook: A phenomenal two-hander vocal performance by two of Australian hard rock’s best: RedHook’s Emmy Mack and Yours Truly’s Mikaila Delgado. A startling breakup track that proudly wears its body horror influence and wields it masterfully. Explosive and skin-crawling in equal measure.

‘Mrs Hollywood' by Go-Jo: A funky-as-hell bassline and energising guitar licks create a musical riptide of good feels that will carry you away as your charismatic sea captain Go-Jo regales you with his story of an eroding long-distance relationship. If this isn’t the best Australian song of 2023 so far, it’s certainly the most infectious.