Thursdays, 8pm
Indie Spotlight Melbourne is a J-AIR radio show playing all the newest music made in Melbourne. Melbourne has a vivacious, creative community of musicians constantly creating new fresh sounds of all genres.
On the show we will not only be playing music but conducting live interviews with musicians. The two-hour show is hosted by singer-songwriter Shani Weiss and will be on every Thursday at 8pm
Listen On Demand
10 Apr 2025, 7:58pm Indie Spotlight Melbourne Brisbane-based indie artist Katanak unveils the final single release, ‘Who Do You Love’, from his self titled debut EP, ‘Katanak’. With its raw indie rock/pop edge, this track delves deep into the emotional wreckage of a fractured relationship, exploring the torment of betrayal and the lingering question: “Who do you love?” Known for his vibrant, groove-laden tracks, Katanak has carved out a signature sound that resonates with fans of 5 Seconds of Summer, Smallpools, and The Band Camino. ‘Who Do You Love’ stands out as a darker, more introspective addition to his repertoire, while still delivering the infectious hooks and toe-tapping energy fans have come to expect. Fresh off collaborations with Australian music legends like Quan Yeomans (Regurgitator) and Pete Murray, Katanak continues to prove he’s a force in the indie scene. His ability to straddle the line between rock and pop sets him apart, blending heartfelt lyricism with high-energy melodies that stick with you long after the first listen.
27 Mar 2025, 7:58pm Indie Spotlight Melbourne Steve got his first guitar for Christmas at 11 years old. An inexpensive steel string acoustic guitar, quite difficult to play. Steve was largely self taught growing up while learning licks and tricks from other friends and trying to work out songs from records was how it was done. No TAB, no internet, YouTube, etc. At 13, Steve got his first electric guitar and small (6 watt) amplifier. A few local gigs with his Cousin's band followed, including opening for Billy Thorpe. At 15 Steve joined his first real band playing dances at High School and local halls. Mostly Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bee Gees and hits of the day. His first forays into song writing began at 17. Steve wrote songs and performed for a Musical in High School drama before switching to Bass guitar for a few years. Steve continued to play in bands doing covers before spending more time away from music, building his career in Finance, including working full time and studying for a University degree at nights which took 6 years. In 1994, he moved to Hong Kong for work and played occasional gigs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Houston and New York. In mid 2002, Steve returned to live in Australia full time and studied Music (Jazz) at the Victorian College of the Arts for a year and then an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance (Jazz and Contemporary) at NMIT Fairfield. Song writing increased whilst studying and he was also playing in Bands (primarily Jazz) and teaching guitar. Steve performed widely around Melbourne Including various bars around ST Kilda, Fitzroy, Brunswick etc as well as appearing at Dallas Brooks Hall (with the NMIT big band), Crown Palladium and many more. Following completion of the Advanced Diploma at the end of 2005, he was a professional musician, teaching, writing and performing. After completing his music studies, Steve played Jazz for a while before moving to more contemporary styles. Performances with Dead Cats Bounce, Mark Gardner and the Great Divide, The Broken Sweethearts (both predominantly original material), Stockpile (boogie blues), a Ska band and The Pacific Belles (Andrews Sisters tribute). Steve has played at The Basin Music Festival, Mansfield Music Festival, St Kilda Music Festival, Melbourne Town Hall, The Espy and the The Prince of Wales among many others. He has also been Music Director at the St Kilda Community Gardens for 20 years (minus 2 years of no events due to COVID). Taking a break from ensemble playing, Steve wrote and recorded his first solo outing, The Charlemagne Project (Country/Americana). Steve is currently working on new material for a further Chapter in The Charlemagne Project, hoping to record in the next few months for a release later this year.