Cool Sounds (Aus)

Cool Sounds is the key project of Australian pop polymath Dainis Lacey, with a live band that sees up to six musicians crowded onstage. Across five albums to date, Cool Sounds’ shapeshifting indie rock has given nods to 80s pop, cheerful funk, and alt-country, all with a lightness of touch that disguises Lacey’s thoughtful, perceptive songwriting. Their latest album Like That (Chapter Music) “rips into a slicked n’ slippery, dance-ready aura of disco and funk flexed pop.”Raven Sings The Blues This evolution continues with their new EP, BUG0BEAT (2024, Chapter Music), delving further into an oddball funk-damaged pop sound.

Like That was Album of the Week on RRR and has been covered by The Evening Standard (UK), The Guardian (UK), Scottish Daily Express (UK), Radio France, Frankie Magazine, Pilerats, Brooklyn Vegan and NME Australia amongst others, with airplay on BBC 6 Music, Triple J, Double J, Rage and across community radio at home and abroad.

Cool Sounds toured Europe in 2023 and 2019, most recently selling out shows and performing at festivals alongside Gilla Band (IE), and Panda Bear and Sonic Boom (US/UK). At home they have shared stages with Mdou Moctar (NE), TOPS (CA), Los Bitchos (UK), Twin Peaks (US), Fazerdaze (NZ), Spiral Stairs (US), plus Australian indie royalty like Good Morning, RVG, Snowy Band and Mod Con. Their 2019 album More to Enjoy and EP Sleepers were nominated for AIR Awards, and previous releases have been featured in Line Of Best Fit (UK), Raven Sings the Blues (US) and elsewhere.

Cool Sounds play their fist shows in Aotearoa in March 2024