Coming up: Austrian acts hit the road and releases dive deep into your ears. As winter fades, Austrian acts are gearing up for a heavy touring season. From indie darlings to genre-bending experimentalists, a wave of artists is setting off across Europe and beyond, while new music hits the air waves at a rapid rate.
LIVE And In Person
Sodl kicks things off with an album release tour in March, while Eli Preiss takes her smoothly woven hip-hop, R&B, and pop sound to Germany and Switzerland. Meanwhile, cinematic duo Cari Cari embarks on an international run (US, Canada, Europe) from March through May, bringing its signature desert-rock aesthetic to international stages.
The ever-eclectic Buntspecht hits the road from mid-March to mid-April, delivering their theatrical, genre-hopping live experience across Germany. Fellow sonic adventurers Endless Wellness are also stretching their tour legs, weaving through Germany from March to May.
Austrian singer-songwriter OSKA is set to light up California’s MUSEXPO event in Hollywood on Sunday, March 16th, at S.I.R. Studios. Known for her introspective lyrics and delicate indie-pop melodies, OSKA’s performance is sure to be one of the evening’s highlights. With her ethereal voice and captivating stage presence, the young artist has already earned a dedicated following across Europe, and now she’s bringing her emotionally charged songs to Sunset Blvd. The live set will offer a taste of her latest material, alongside tried and true favorites that showcase her vulnerability and powerful storytelling.
London-based, Austrian-rooted Friedberg is setting off mid to late March for a tour spanning France, Italy, and Switzerland, while the high-energy rock staple, Mother’s Cake, launches a full-throttle international tour throughout March before returning home for April.
The lyrically and sonically expressive act, Oehl, embarks on a March-April run, while indie-rockers Please Madame keep it tight with a March tour across Germany.
Rian is already in motion, having kicked things off with a hometown show at Vienna’s Konzerthaus end of January, before heading to Germany in February. Experimental luminary Soap&Skin joins the wave with an international tour at the end of March, promising hauntingly touching performances.
Finally, rock veterans Steaming Satellites take flight from mid-March to the end of the month, hitting Germany and Switzerland with their expansive, groove-heavy sound.
To top it all off, the Airborne-Extended concert as part of the Frequenz Festival in Kiel at the end of March promises to be a highlight of the festival dedicated to experimental music, performance, and audiovisual art in the contemporary music sphere.
Das Große Feuer – opera by Beat Furrer based on the novel Eisejuaz by Sara Gallardo, libretto by Thomas Stangl, and commissioned by the Zurich Opera House – has its world premiere run at the Opernhaus Zürich in March and April. And, due to popular demand, Bernhard Lang‘s “Dora” is making its second round at the Staatsoper Stuttgart in March. “Dora is an opera in five acts; libretto by Frank Witzel and commissioned by Staatsoper Stuttgart.
Check out the tour schedule of all these Austrian acts and many more here, on our LIVE page.
Release RADAR
Sodl – the recently announced winner of the FM4 Amadeus Award – fuses alternative rock with indie folk influences. Her sound stands out through a mix of electric guitar, drums, and the Russian button accordion, giving her music a distinctive character. Her lyrics delve into a variety of themes, from folklore and mythical creatures to self-empowerment and social issues. With her debut album set to drop in March 2025, Sodl is poised to bring a world of enigmatic figures to life through her music.
On January 31, Harry Dean Lewis feat. Lukas Oscar and Point5ive dropped the single, “Vacations”. Known for his immersive soundscapes and evocative compositions, Lewis’ new work promises to transport listeners into a world of sonic escapism. Whether it’s through dreamy melodies, rich instrumentation, or introspective lyricism, Vacations might just be the perfect soundtrack for wanderlust and reflection in motion.
And on top of that: Harry Dean Lewis and Joe Traxler have teamed up for their latest release, “Submarine Headlights” (Feb. 21), a stunning indie-pop track that blends rich acoustic textures with smooth electronic elements. The song features introspective lyrics and atmospheric melodies, taking listeners on an emotional journey. With their signature storytelling and evocative production, the duo has created a standout track that showcases their unique styles. “Submarine Headlights” is out now and is a must-listen for fans of both artists.
Mitra Kotte has just released her new CD with works by female composers of the 19th and 20th centuries (like Louise Farrenc and Emilie Mayer) entitled: “Herstory”. The CD presentation will take place in Leipzig on March 8th.
Mitra Kotte tells us: “The research for the album was very fascinating. I studied a lot of sheet music to discover the compositional styles. Each of these women had a very unique sound language and color that I was able to discover for myself. I also found it very exciting to work away from the works that everyone has in their head from standard recordings anyway.” (Translated from the mica – music austria interview.)
RUHMER released “Ain’t Used to Talkin’” on February 21, the second single from his new album “The Masterplan” (release date: May 30, 2025). “Sometimes it just feels weird to get in touch with people – I wanted to capture that,” says the musician about the new single, which puts you in a party mood. Soulful sounds meet brass arrangements and relaxed, honest vocals, the artist was inspired by musicians such as St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Black Pumas and Michael Kiwanuka. (Translated from the mica – music austria German original.)
With their new single “Boring” (released Feb. 21), Cousines Like Shit unveil their Red Flag. The song is the first single from their new album “Permanent Earthquake”, which will be released on March 21st. In their new single, the band creates a tense atmosphere and combines it with a warm, dark indie sound. “Boring is the worst word, that I know and if I call you boring …” sing Cousins Like Shit, leaving the sentence hanging heavily in the air. If you want to see the Avant Trash group live, you have exactly ten opportunities to do so between now and May, e.g. at their album release show in Vienna (Mar. 20.), in Regensburg (Apr. 28) or on in Salzburg (Apr. 30). (Translated from the mica – music austria German original.)
BEX released her club-ready track “Breakup Song” (Rain Records) on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), produced by Nono Punch, on Valentine’s Day. On social media, the artist explains what’s behind it: “Breakup Song actually started because somebody played in my face … I am petty like that, and I carry a grudge. That’s the tea”. The danceable single with a beat like a rapidly pulsating heartbeat is the first single from the EP “HRTCORE”, which will be released in April. In the video for the single by Hvala Ilija and Rea from Vić, BEX goes to town on a car with a crowbar. The artist made her debut in 2021 with two features on W1ZE’s EP “Down Low”, which was nominated for the Amadeus Austrian Music Award. (Translated from the mica – music austria German original.)
Ankathie Koi sizzles on the sandy beach and yet is unusually cool. Because in her new single “Bora Bora” (Faszinator Music: Jan. 31), she says goodbye to something that used to be passion and love. It is the first release after the artist brought out the album “Tiefer” last year. “Bora Bora” has a melancholic note, but also the usual Koi humor. “Bora Bora” is an anthem for everyone who realizes in paradise that happiness sometimes lies elsewhere – or with oneself,” writes Ankathie Koi about her new single. On Instagram, she packs her trip to the South Pacific island into wonderfully entertaining photo stories. (Translated from the mica – music austria German original.)
“Billie is too intoxicated to be scared / Lana is born to die and sings ‘women are beautiful when they cry’ / Phoebe is hardly feeling anything at all”, sings Sophia Blenda in ‘Sad Girl Summer’ (Siluh Records: Jan. 31). It is her first release since her acclaimed debut album “Die neue Heiterkeit” (2022) – and a harbinger: her new album “Die Summe der Vereinzelung” will be released on April 11. The new single is a reality check in which Sophia Blenda takes a critical stance towards the glorification of female/queer pain in pop culture. Her voice – sometimes whispering, sometimes piercingly clear – penetrates a dense sound fog of muffled bass and floating melodies. (Translated from the mica – music austria German original.)
After the single “BlaBlaBla”, which Ava Fina released in 2024, she is now releasing the second single from her debut EP. “Crocodile Tears” (Jan. 24) is the name of the release and it is clearly audible that Ava Fina is shifting up a gear. It sounds both epic and vulnerable when the Salzburg artist admits to longing for closeness in the new single, even though there are no feelings involved. Her debut EP “Simultaneously Stimulating” will be released this spring. (Translated from the mica – music austria German original.)
Arianna Alfreds