Sienna Wild’s Top 5 indie artists you need to hear
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Sienna Wild’s Top 5 indie artists you need to hear

A swirl of soaring guitars and searing vocals, supported by the tightest of rhythm sections, the boys from Sienna Wild play it their way. Born and bred in Melbourne, the last few years have seen the band support the likes of White Summer and Columbus, play Federation Square’s Summer Series, and play a bunch of cracking headline shows and residencies, as well as spending time in the studio with Oscar Dawson which resulted in a collection of new tracks as grand and atmospheric as anything the band has ever done.

​After dropping their latest gritty single ‘You Wouldn’t Know’ late last year, the boys have spent the first few weeks of 2020 taking their live show through Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane before they wrap it all up with a hometown show in Melbourne at The Tote on January 31.

If you’re a fan of classic bands such as Catfish And The Bottlemen, Eskimo Joe, or the Arctic Monkeys, and you live for soaring guitars and searing vocals, Sienna Wild is one of those bands who you’d do well to check out as soon as possible.

Ahead of their Melbourne gig, we had the guys share the top five indie artists we should be listening to.

Jade Imagine
This band is kicking some serious goals! Signed to Milk Records recently and released their album Basic Love this year, but their music is anything but basic, full of strong instrumentation and really cool lyrics. Has a C Barnett feel, with a more laid back musical vibe and some really cool production tricks. Jade Imagine are really firming themselves within a really strong musical movement, driven by powerful female front men aka Courtney Barnett, Julia Jacklin, etc. Really easy listening indie rock, in the best sense of the word.

Oh Pep!
This Aussie duo really hit us hard when we first heard them! Really beautiful melodies delivered by unbelievably gentle and powerful vocals. It is rare that you’ll find such touchy lyrics and feels in an indie pop-rock outfit that also delve into folk and bluegrass but they do it effortlessly. Arguably the biggest surprise packet coming out of Australia for some time. Definitely a group you need to hear when you wanna feel something!

Middle Kids
This band has to be on here for us, simply because of their immediate impact on us as songwriters and as musicians in the Australian music scene. It is easy to get caught up in trying to sound a certain way, to write and play to your strengths, to be influenced by the outside expectations or trends, etc but every now and then a band comes along that just writes and plays good indie rock, and that’s Middle Kids. Their songs tell a concise and clear musical and lyrical story without sounding too simple or contrived. From a personal perspective, I feel really inspired when I hear their stuff and it drives me to write better songs and use their blueprint as a guide. They deserve everything that comes their way.

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Such a cool band! Strong guitar-driven no bullshit indie rock. These guys have toured all over the world in the last 12 months and rightly so. Really strong melodies and punchy sound that harks back to the early 2000’s “new rock” movement, which is arguably one of our favourite periods of music. High in energy at times and also really versatile listening for different times and places. These guys are on a really steep rise!

Pickwick
Pretty much a perfect sound if you love surfy soulful indie rock! And who doesn’t? Driving beats, swirling guitar effects and really catchy melodies. Reminds me a bit of those really cool early 60’s California garage surf bands with a psych vibe and a driving Black Keys-like sound. This kind of familiarity is what makes us like what we like, but there is something really unique about these guys too. Great minimal-production on their album that helps keep things energetic and simple. These guys will take you to the coast and leave you there to your own devices! Definitely a band to look out for.

Check out ‘You Wouldn’t Know’ below.