SIX AUSSIE FEMME ARTISTS/BANDS THAT YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO IN 2026 ♡

Tia Babatzikos
Apr 12
3 min read

Updated: Apr 20

As we are now a few months deep into 2026, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of my new favourite Australian-based femme artists and female fronted bands. Through my work with Hot & Heavy, I've been lucky enough to be introduced to so many up-and-coming new bands that are loaded with talent, especially in genres that are typically male-dominated.

I was inspired to curate this list after attending Siren Sounds, a mini-festival which featured a line-up prioritising local femme and queer artists. This event really made me think about how important femme representation is, especially now more than ever in the context of the current social climate in Australia.

Anyway, enough yapping from me, here’s my list :)

Future Static

First up on my list is Future Static, which any Melbourne-based metalcore enthusiast can definitely speak praise of. Fronted by vocal powerhouse Amariah Cook, who in my opinion is one of the most striking voices coming out of the Melbourne scene, Future Static are on a rampage. I saw these guys opening for Lacuna Coil in February, which in itself is so huge and a total testament to their talent, and I absolutely fell in love with their sound and energy.

Defined by their “unique brand of emotive heaviness” these guys blend electrifying heavy breakdowns with entrancing melodic moments. Fans of Jinjer and Spiritbox will absolutely love these guys, so make sure you check them out here!

RinRin

Next up is RinRin, an Australian-based artist that is on the path to total domination. Blending elements of pop-punk, metalcore, hyper-pop & pop, RinRin’s sound is 100% explosive and infectious. Entwining her own personal interests like video games and anime into her songs and music videos, her sound and aesthetic are super cool and perfectly crafted.

I was first introduced to her music last year just before the release of her debut album “The Nut House” and was instantly hooked. Her energy when performing live is off the charts, with her humour and overall stage presence shining. If you're a fan of BABYMETAL, Poppy and Bring Me The Horizon, you will definitely want to check her out!! You can do so by clicking here!

Cenobia

If you're looking for someone that’s enigmatic and enchanting, Sydney-based solo artist Cenobia has it down to an art. Her most recent track ‘Make Us Whole Again’, demonstrates her ability to craft a sound that is haunting and atmospheric. What really draws me to Cenobia is how evocative and filled with longing and heartache every single one of her songs are. Her ability to express catharsis and angst is so powerful and really sets her apart.

I’m super excited to see what else Cenobia will be blessing us with in 2026 (fingers crossed there’s a debut album on the way)!! Check out her currently released songs here in the meantime!

Sage

If guttural wailing and thrashing punk riffs are more your vibe, then Sage is definitely the one for you! Her self-titled debut EP just dropped in March, and hearing it performed live a few weeks ago at Siren Sounds was a totally electric experience.

Sage brings the rawest and some of the most ferocious energy to her live performances that I have seen, firmly cementing her as the queen of bitch-punk. Her music is politically charged and is filled with rage, directed at the many injustices in the world and current society as a whole. Sage's vocals drip with venom and she is an absolute force to be reckoned with!! Check her out here!

Nightlight

Nightlight take catchy pop choruses and influences from genres like K-Pop, all the while still keeping it heavy AF. This Melbourne-based trio is fronted by Laura Lazzara, who has all the range of a total pop diva while still being able to belt out those gutturals and screams as required. Nightlight’s sound is definitely unique in the modern metalcore scene, with their fusion of genres and use of instruments like a keytar (so sick BTW!!).

Having released their newest EP 'PARALLEL//LINES VOL.1' (Listen to it here) just last month, I'm definitely excited to hear more from these guys!!

Terra Rouge

Last, but by absolutely no means least, is Melbourne’s favourite rock princess Terra Rouge! Terra brings flirty charisma to everything she does, from her tongue-in-cheek lyrics about queerness, to her playful stage presence when performing live (all with a tiara balanced atop her head). Her sound and look pay homage to the Y2K era of pop-punk princesses, from her signature tiara to her band wearing iconic identical ‘I ♡ Terra Rouge’ shirts.

Her latest single 'BAD 4 U' is a super fun and catchy banger, and I definitely wanna hear more from her!! Get your rock on here ♡