Last year, Impressed Recordings, Australia’s first direct-to-superfan vinyl brand, landed on the scene with an armada of curated releases from some of the country’s most beloved and exciting new acts.

I caught up with Luke Bevans, founder of Impressed Recordings, and - through a handful of technical difficulties - we caught up about all things Aussie music and vinyl. industry sustainability and collaboration, upcoming plans, and of course, his current top Aussie artists.

Be sure to check out Impressed Recordings, as well as the upcoming Record Store Day special releases on April 20!You’ll need to visit your local record store IRL to snap up what’s on offer, so make sure to put it in your calendar!

Spearheaded by Melbourne/Naarm-based creative Allison Watters, the DIY independent 'zine PULSE makes a comeback this year for PULSE: Issue 2. In what might be one of my favourite episodes/conversations to date, I chatted with Allison about all things PULSE, and pick her brain about her experience entering the heavy music and media industry, and why its so important to push for representation and support of non-men in the industry.

I got to chat with Callum and Jack from The Snuts all the way over in Glasgow, ahead of their first independent album on their fresh record label 'Happy Artist Records'. 'Millennials' is a content and carefree leap away from their previous album - and it's so dang happy I might cry (in a good way).

I catch up with Leo Davadi Sundli, AKA STORM, ahead of his slot with Download UK in June this year. The audio for this episode is a little iffy (good ol' Zoom Calls), but at just 15 years old STORM is smashing expectations and we're psyched to see where he goes.

Back with the second ever 2024 episode in the last month of the year - but we’re here! In this one I got to chat to Ed and Todd who’ve directed and produced a huge list of incredible projects with names including Gerard Way, The Veronicas, I Prevail, Fender, Northlane (and a bunch of early days Backbeat guests including Warwick Hughes from our FIRST guest episode, and Jess and Jay from Episode 5!).

I was lucky enough to be involved with the latest Northlane music video shoot for ‘Dante’, where I connected with the guys and we managed to squeeze a near-2-hour episode into what has been a crazy past couple of weeks!

We go over video production and directing, lessons learned over their years in the industry, with a sprinkling of mental health and personal wellbeing, and ofcourse their current Aussie favourites.

Back with a new episode for the first time in a YEAR. Oops.

In this one I’m chatting to someone who I’m personally a huge fan of, while also being my first episode back in a LONG time, and my first international guest (as older listeners of this podcast and platform has previously been solely focussed on Australian music and artists). Safe to say I’m excited for this one.

On what is possibly the longest distance zoom call I’ve ever done, I’m here with Orla Gartland!

Here, in Part 2 I caught Some Heard Trouble right before they went on stage, chatting about their recent and upcoming releases, mental health and burn out, personal and professional development within the band, their top 3 Aussie acts right now, and more!

I caught up with The Last Martyr and Some Heard Trouble at Freeza and Yo Bendigo’s ‘BendiGLOW’ Youth Fest in September for my first FACE TO FACE interviews in over a year and a half (!!!). Look out for Part 2 with Some Heard Trouble coming up next!

Ahead of their mammoth 22-date national album tour for October - December, I chatted to Maz from WAAX on their latest album ‘Atleast I’m Free’, with the tour kicking off this coming week on October 6.

“You might consider At Least I’m Free something like a second debut album for WAAX — a creative and emotional rebirth that’s resulted in some of the band’s finest, punchiest songs ever” and that’s exactly what this ep is all about. Songwriting, hardships, mental health, industry struggles, and coming out the other side. Enjoy.

Without a doubt, the “feel-good” vibes of Spici Water will continue to grow their following throughout Western Australia & beyond. I chat to the band about their new track 'Truth' and catch up about the bands' history, their first show and first tour, mental health, adulting, ADHD, and why in the world they're called 'Spici Water'.

Madi is a long-time friend and live events and boudoir photographer and model, who started out down here in VIC and has moved up to Brisbane to follow her passions. Having covered locals like Tonight Alive, Trophy Eyes, Northlane, The Amity Afflication and internationals such as All Time Low, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, and Mayday Parade, moving up in the world with her business, Madi is one to watch!

James from a couple episodes ago - I HEARD A RUMOUR(S) - makes a noble return and gives the run down on Australian Owned, Melbourne based Drumstick and Apparel company, Big Sound Percussion.

In this episode, I catch up with Cam and Pat from Tassie-based indie. punk-rockers, The Sleepyheads, while they recover from covid and other fun stuff. We go over their debut album ‘Something to Balance the Sonder’. Coming full circle a little here as my old co-host Gabby mentioned them in a super early episode as one of her hometown favourites. ‘Something to Balance the Sonder’ is out NOW - definitely check it out, and enjoy the episode!

In this one, I’m chatting to Ben and James from Melbourne alt-rock band Rumours, who have the launch for their latest single ‘Blood Eagle’ next Friday (July 15) at Cherry Bar. 

A slightly more lighthearted one, where we go over the new release, the upcoming single launch, mental health and supporting each other, dream collaborations, their songwriting process based on their influences and inspirations, and what to expect from them going forward.

Check out this weekend’s sister episode with Yours Truly as well!

Another short one, this time with Mikaila Delgado from Sydney ‘alternative bright lights’, Yours Truly.

Their new EP ‘is this what I look like’ comes out next Friday July 15th and in this episode we go over the background of the EP and prior releases, the surprise video debut for ‘Lights On’ at Unify 2022, working with Josh Franceschi from You Me At Six for ‘Hallucinate’, Mikaila’s fem-focussed collab wishlist, rebranding their feeds for new releases, and we touch on feelings of imposter syndrome & mental health, and how that’s changing over time for Mikaila and the band.

It’s sweet, it’s fluffy, it’s tasty, it’s Bakers Eddy. In this absolute biscuit factory of an episode, I catch up with Ian and Ciarran from Bakers Eddy, to chat about their mammoth tour announcement, their freshly baked not-so-debut album ‘Love Boredom Bicycles’, emo origin stories and their change in confidence over the years, cats, fashion, the whole loaf. It’s got a sprinkle of occasional chaos and a litre of laughs. Enjoy.

A quick one with Montaigne in lead up to Groovin’ the Moo!We chat about that ‘fucked music’ we fondly know as 'Hyperpop’, the development of her track ‘Always Be You’ with none other than American new-wave idol, Talking Heads’ David Byrne, her acting debut with ‘Time to Buy’, and hints for her upcoming album.

After debuting a new name with their late 2021 track ‘Now Or Later’, Sydney indie pop quartet 90ivy (formerly The Flowers) are thrilled to soon be revealing their brand new single ‘Tiffany’. We chat about the band’s personal and creative inspos, introspection, mental health, soap-box trash TV, and of course, their Aussie faves.

In this smashing solo return, I've got the scoop with Dale Tanner from Ocean Grove, chatting a little more in depth about the intention behind upcoming album 'Up In The Air Forever', mental health and wellbeing, and the development of Ocean Grove's personal mantra 'PMA'.

The end of an era! I say goodbye to Gabby and we go over some of her highlights in her time as co-host on the BackBeat. Will we see her on here again? Only time will tell! Thankyou to Gabby for her involvement and efforts in kicking off this whole project, and we’ll catch you next week with one HECK of a guest - like, seriously…