July, a funny month: the void and the abundance, all in one sweet summer breath. The city streets are emptier, with the busy-bees buzzing around greener pastures and wetter landscapes, away from the steaming pavement and daily grind; while, at the same time, the stages, charts and streaming platforms are packed heavier than ever. Check out our latest edition of AUSTRIAN MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS to stay up to date and keep your summer grooving along.
I shall be released
PURE CHLORINE gives real talk with brutal healing instructions. For all those who are stuck in an emotional hangover or are just getting sober, “Healing is Brutal” (release date: July 18, 2025) is the finest Groundhog Day music for Sunday depression. But don’t worry: with a happy ending. Because after all, everything always starts all over again in the end. Fortunately, right? Between coffee machine samples, toxic writing sessions and self-deprecating clarity, the artist talks to Ania Gleich in a mica interview about humor as a coping strategy, new honesty without intoxication – and why her band structure works better now that she knows where to go. (Translated from the German original.)
“I ALREADY KNEW WHEN I WOKE UP: TODAY WILL NOT BE GOOD, BECAUSE YESTERDAY WAS TOO GOOD” – Pure Chlorine
Read the full interview (in German) with Pure Chlorine here.
Jo The Man The Music celebrated her debut on July 4th, 2025 with “Skinny Dipping”, which is as metaphorical as it is spot on. So let’s embark on this adventure! “People who sing like this and write like this stay,” says Lisa Schneider, introducing the single on FM4. Stream the song now on all major platforms. Catch Jo The Man The Music at Popfest Vienna on 7/27. Cheers to a great start!
Phasolny, the new album by Max Nagl Quintett, picks up where 2020’s Pdorvk left off, blending avant-garde jazz influences—especially Anthony Braxton—with Nagl’s signature style: playful, quirky, and thoughtful. Joined by top musicians Martin Eberle, Phil Yaeger, Georg Vogel, and Gregor Aufmesser, the quintet delivers a finely balanced, warm sound that moves between jazz, free improvisation, and chamber music. The result is a calm, detail-rich album full of subtle turns and gentle tension, inviting attentive listening without being aloof. Find out more here (German).
Harpist Elisabeth Plank aims to expand her instrument’s repertoire, as demonstrated on her new CD, Chimaera, released on the 6th of June, 2025. In an interview with mica – musica austria, Elisabeth Plank discusses her approach to both unknown works by well-known composers and newly composed pieces.
“THROUGH THE VIDEOS, I WANT TO SHOW HOW INTERESTING THE WORKS CAN BE – AND THUS MAKE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC MORE ACCESSIBLE.” – Elisabeth Plank
Read the full interview with Elisabeth Plank here.
Summer is ready for strawberry ice cream in the shower and vodka with cherry juice. Summer is ready for lovehead – the new indie rock rising stars from Austria. With charmingly snotted lyrics about old loves, Lego bricks and unpleasant nuts, embedded in lively, grungy low-fi sounds, ANNA (bass, vocals), ELENA (drums, vocals) and MARA (guitar, vocals) have generated hype in no time at all – the singles “denkst du an mich?” and “erdnussallergie” are already being shouted along to in many places and have gone viral on streaming platforms. The new single “Lieder für mich” will be released on July 18. On July 25, lovehead can be seen live at Popfest in Vienna, followed by other major stages in and around Austria (see live dates below). In the mica interview, the three musicians from Burgenland talk about backstage fan moments with their idols, the ever-present danger of cringe in lyrics and what it’s like to unexpectedly become a rock star. (Translated from the German original.)
“AND THEN SUDDENLY EVERYONE WAS SINGING ALONG TO OUR SONGS” – lovehead
Read the full interview with lovehead here.
Filiah announces her third single this year, “Sad Girl With A Punchline”, her EP of the same name, which will be released in the fall. The artist released her debut album “For Someone” in 2022, which was appreciated by insiders but overlooked by the general public. The challenges of self-management slowed her down, but during a songwriting retreat with other artists, she found her drive again. Filiah strives for a sound that feels like a little home, where you are understood and cared for. Although the lines of “Sad Girl With A Punchline” speak of frustration, the song conveys esprit and, as the title suggests, responds to life’s challenges with humor. With “Sad Girl With A Punchline”, Filiah takes a path that is not smooth but honest, lined with points and edges that she shapes in passing instead of avoiding them. The song is an anthem for those who feel a lot, for all those who can’t (or don’t want to) swallow their emotions. You can see Filiah live soon on 23.07. at the Superbude in Vienna with free admission. (Translated from our Release Radar in German.)
Glam’s new EP “(Squint Your Eyes And) Look Into The Sun”, created with Markus W. Schneider and Aras Levni Seyhan, blends experimental pop, rock, and electronic elements into a compact, richly layered sound. Avoiding conventional song structures, the trio crafts dynamic, atmospheric tracks anchored by Gloria Amesbauer’s expressive vocals and socially conscious lyrics. With shimmering synths, trip-hop beats, and intricate arrangements, the EP balances artistic depth and accessibility, offering a brief yet powerful listening experience that rewards close attention. Read more about GLAM and the new album here (German).
Festive
Wellenklänge Festival 2025 takes place from 11 to 26 July in Lunz am See, Austria, with the theme “Shame & Beauty” curated by Julia Lacherstorfer and Simon Zöchbauer. Set on the iconic floating lakeside stage, the festival blends music, social dialogue, and nature. The program features concerts, performances, panel talks, and workshops exploring themes like femininity, disability, mental health, and body image. Highlights include artists such as Christl, Lylit, Kurdophone, Sodl, Frigg, 5/8erl in Ehr’n, and a Composer–Performer Lab. Recognized as a certified Green Event, Wellenklänge emphasizes sustainability, accessibility, and cultural reflection in a unique Alpine setting.
Klangspuren Schwaz 2025 runs from 11 to 27 September and marks the 32nd edition of Tyrol’s renowned festival for contemporary music. Under the theme “Rewind · Play · Fast Forward”, the festival explores the evolving relationship between music, technology, and human creativity. Audiences can expect an exciting mix of premieres, experimental concerts, and interdisciplinary performances, featuring ensembles such as Klangforum Wien and the Tiroler Symphonieorchester.
Highlights include the Composers Lab and Future Lab, which bring together emerging composers and established mentors for collaborative work and public performances. The Klangspuren Café offers an informal setting for artist talks and insights into the creative process. New in 2025 is an AI-powered festival guide, Austria’s first cultural chatbot, offering an interactive way to navigate the program—perfectly in line with this year’s focus on digital-human interplay.
special specials
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has launched the EBU Music Commissioning Scheme, premiering 10 new classical works by composers from eight countries across four continents. Partnering with major European orchestras and broadcasters, the pieces will debut between September 2025 and 2029, with the first premieres by Andile Khumalo, Edgard Moya Godoy, and Austrian-based Mirela Ivičević this autumn. All works will be recorded and broadcast across the Euroradio network, reaching millions and highlighting the EBU’s commitment to supporting contemporary music and cultural collaboration. Of all the selected composers, two are heeding from Austria, namely: Alessandro Baticci and Mirela Ivičević, both of whom will have their works performed. For more information, go here.
In this country, MWITA MATARO has become known in recent years primarily as the head of the successful Austrian indie act At Pavillon. More recently, however, he has increasingly appeared as a mouthpiece for Black musicians in Austria. In his documentary film “Austroschwarz”, which was released this year, he deals with personal experiences and shows what it means to live as a Black person in a white majority society like Austria. Mataro is also breaking new ground with his solo project: he sings in German, takes an artistic approach to Austropop – and deliberately places national symbols such as the red-white-red flag at the center of his visual language. His concern: To show people with a migrant background in Austria that a black person can – and is allowed to – be a real Austrian. In a mica – music austria interview, the Salzburg native talks about the idea for “Austroschwarz”, his motive for trying his hand at Austropop and why he cannot simply separate his artistic work from the political – although he would also love to devote himself to lighter topics.
“WHAT IF I – AS AN AUSTRIAN WITH AN IMMIGRANT BACKGROUND – ADOPTED THE TERM AUSTROPOP […]” – Mwita Mataro
Read the full interview with Mwita Mataro here (in German).
For those who missed it, Austrian label and publisher, Ink Music, has received its first gold record with Sharktank’s “Washed Up”. Released in the midst of the turmoil of the 2020 pandemic, it now has over 25 million streams worldwide. Congrats to the band and Ink team!
Granada – 10 Years, 1 Tour! The Big Anniversary Tour 2025: It’s hard to believe, but it’s true: Granada is celebrating 10 years as a band in 2025! Since their formation in Graz, the five Styrians have captured hearts with their unmistakable sound – somewhere between indie, pop, and Austro charm. Songs like “Eh ok”, “Ottakring”, and “Lieber gern als schlecht” have long become anthems. To mark the occasion, Granada is finally hitting the road again – bringing new songs and all the fan favorites that are a must at every show. This tour is more than just a concert: it’s a love letter to a decade filled with music, passion, and poetic dialect. See Granada live on their 10-Year Anniversary Tour across Austria, Germany, and beyond. The tour offers a retrospective on a decade of music, while also presenting new material. Familiar and fresh – Granada live in 2025.
“10 years of buzzing clubs.
10 years of great stages.
10 years of unforgettable moments.” – Granada IG
Arianna Alfreds