Best Before

Best Before is a collective of friends who straight-up love music and are looking for a community of people to share it with.

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6th November | Porter Robinson | Margaret Court Arena, Naarm/Melbourne

Porter Robinson was back in Australia to play his first live shows in six years. The Atlantan electronic producer was in Melbourne, playing tracks from his sophomore LP, ‘Nurture’, with an electric set that all in attendance would agree was well worth the wait. Photos by Scott Kaufman.

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5 Quintessential Records With Electronic Americana Pioneers Kerala Dust

Back in 2017, I heard the debut EP from London outfit Kerala Dust, was completely infatuated with the band’s moody electronic, carnal soundscapes, and immediately shared their music with anyone who’d let me get a word in. (To the friends who thanked me in the weeks/years to follow, you’re welcome.) Now based between Berlin and Zürich, the trio (vocalist/producer Ed Kenny, keyboardist Harvey…

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Pop Innovator ASHWARYA Talks Channelling Cultural Heritage & Going Label-Free

From performing to buzzing crowds at her EP launch in Sydney/Eora and Melbourne/Naarm, to gracing the stage twice at SXSW, ASHWARYA is firmly putting her very own stamp on the Australian music scene. The Indian-born, Aussie-raised artist makes music that shimmers with confidence, all whilst harbouring heartache. Based in Naarm, ASHWARYA first turned heads with her debut EP, progressive…

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14th & 15th October | Yours & Owls Festival | University of Wollongong, Wollongong/Dharawal

Following last year’s unfortunate last-minute cancellation, Yours & Owls Festival returned in triumphant fashion with a new site, new stages, and a host of local and international acts. Over two days crowds were treated to sets from Golden Features, Flight Facilities, Earl Sweatshirt, Masego, Vera Blue, Oliver Tree + more. Photos by Georgia Griffiths.

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Review: Dorian Proves The Ultimate Postmodern Popstar On 'Fanfare'

Dorian Electra‘s Melbourne debut at the beginning of 2020 was the last live show I caught, right before myself and a good portion of the world were thrown into nebulous months of lockdown. In hindsight, the chaos of the Texan artist’s live performance anticipated the turbulent times. Many of us retreated to digital realms. The mundane realities of being cooped up for weeks and months on end…

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Review: Jorja Smith Soars On Spellbinding Sophomore Album 'Falling or Flying'

Released when she was just 21 years old, Jorja Smith‘s Mercury Prize-nominated debut record ‘Lost & Found’ was a vulnerable and tender introduction that garnered fans worldwide and caught the attention of none other than Drake. The West Midlands artist was quickly propelled to heights she deserved, and she continued dropping independent singles and eventually a longer EP, ‘Be Right Back,’ in…

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1st October | Son Little | Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne

Philadelphian rhythm & blues musician Son Little, AKA Aaron Earl Livingston, was back on tour in Australia, marking his first visit since 2016. We caught his spellbinding show at Naarm’s Corner hotel. Photos by Scott Kaufman.

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30th September | Listen Out | Centennial Park Sydney

Listen Out returned to Sydney for the final show of the tour, with a superstar lineup in tow. International heavyweights Skrillex, Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice, JPEGMAFIA and Kenny Beats brought the heat alongside local favourites ONEFOUR, Zion Garcia, Mallrat + more. Photos by Georgia Griffiths

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5 Quintessential Records With Electronica Stalwart TOKiMONSTA

Korean-American producer TOKiMONSTA (aka Jennifer Lee) has been a true trailblazer in the electronic music scene, having collaborated with the likes of Anderson .Paak, Earthgang, Isaiah Rashad, Selah Sue, and ZHU, and earned numerous accolades including a Grammy nomination and, most recently, the prize for Best Remix/Edit at at DJ Mag‘s Best of North America awards for her epic rework of Sia’s…

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22nd September | Gretta Ray | Northcote Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne

Melburnian indie-pop chanteuse Gretta Ray embarked on an Australian tour in celebration of her sophomore album, ‘Positive Spin’. With Canadian born, London based pop singer Cate accompanying Ray on tour, fans were in for a treat. Here’s all the action from their stop in Ray’s hometown. Photos by Scott Kaufman.

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19th August | MAY-A | The Triffid, Meanjin/Brisbane

Byron Bay-raised, Sydney based artist MAY-A (born Maya Cumming) has had a huge year, with two massive singles, “Sweat You Out My System” and “Your Funeral” on high rotation across Aussie radio. The singer-songwriter recently supported 5SOS on their Australian headline tour and Wallows in the UK and EU, and also collaborated with Flume on his first new tune in three years, “Say Nothing”, which was…

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5 Quintessential Records With Future Classic

You’d be hard-pressed to find a music lover in Australia unfamiliar with the name Future Classic. Founded in 2004, the indie record label has supercharged the careers of Flume, Flight Facilities, SYCCO, G-Flip, Sophie, Hayden James, Basenji, Wafia, Touch Sensitive, and more. With offices in both Sydney and LA, the label is continuing to cultivate local talent worldwide, with Future Classic DJs…

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5 Quintessential Records With I OH YOU's Johann Ponniah

One of the most influential names in Aussie music, Johann Ponniah has been nurturing emerging artists since starting his I OH YOU label back in 2019, transforming local acts into international heavyweights, from DMA’S, to Confidence Man, Hayley Mary, Jack River, and Violent Soho. Now one of the nation’s most respected indie music companies, I OH YOU has also been behind local tour promotion for…

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Review: Genesis Owusu's 'STRUGGLER' Is A Frenzied-Yet-Focused Exploration Of Human Resilience

It’s been a little over two years since the multi-ARIA award-winning Ghanaian-Australian artist, Genesis Owusu (aka Kofi Owusu-Ansah) launched onto the global map with his politically and emotionally-charged debut album ‘Smiling with No Teeth’. Now he’s back with his sophomore LP ‘STRUGGLER’, an 11-track journey that celebrates the “stubbornness of the human will to survive”. Released ahead of a…

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Witness Triple-Threat METTE's Star Rise With "VAN GOGH"

METTE (aka Mette Towley) is no stranger to the stage. She’s performed as part of Pharell‘s dance troupe on his world tour, starred in the music video for N.E.R.D. x Rihanna collab “Lemon”, featured alongside JLo in 2019 film ‘Hustlers’, and most recently made a cameo as ‘Video Girl Barbie’ in Greta Gerwig’s box office-breaker. On September 22, METTE will release her first EP, ‘Mettenarrative’,…

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26th July | Tourist | 170 Russell, Naarm/Melbourne

Grammy Award-winning British artist Tourist (aka William Phillips) recently released his first single of 2023, titled “A Little Bit Forward” – the first taste of a more dance-focused project that will be the follow up to his highly-acclaimed 2022 LP ‘Inside Out’.  Off the back of a sold-out US tour earlier this year, Tourist brought his new audiovisual solo show to audiences at Naarm/Melbourne’s…

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27th July | Loyle Carner | Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne

We’ve been die-hard fans of Loyle Carner at Best Before, ever since the South London artist released his debut LP ‘A Little Late’ in 2014. He’s since collaborated with the likes of fellow virtuosos Tom Misch, Madlib, Jorja Smith, and Jordan Rakei, and has three albums under his belt, with his latest LP ‘ hugo’ marking his fastest selling record to date. We caught his Splendour sideshow at the…

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