by Sydney Salk (@sydney.salk)
Welcome to Various Artists! This is a quarterly column that highlights compilations, the people who make them, and the causes they champion. Each release is accompanied by a “Choice Cut” from an artist that stands out, although it’s always hard to pick a favorite. Some of these compilations’ proceeds go to charity, so if you find something you like, please send your support!
So Fresh: Tote-ally Summer For Black Peoples Union
The first collective comp from Billiam in half a decade has been worth the wait. 65 artists have come together to raise funds for the Black Peoples Union, which “aims to empower Indigenous people in so-called Australia.” And there is something for everyone, from the drifting indie rock of Eddy Current Suppression Ring to the spoken word synthetics of Hot Tubs Time Machine. And don’t forget appearances from Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, Private Function, Delivery, and many, many more.
Choice Cut: Silicone Prairie - “Poison Flowers”
It’s nice to hear from the great Prairie in its down-under incarnation. Silicone Outback, do we call this? The hypnotic winding of the guitar and impassioned duality of the vocals make this song a cathartic, danceable journey.
SSP LIVES VOL. 1+2+3
In 2025, Indianapolis’ favorite venue was awarded a grant from Live Music Society, and to celebrate, they are producing a series of cassettes with live performances from their venue. With the first three volumes already out, the whole spectrum of the Hoozier underground has been lovingly captured, with acts both local (Good Flying Birds, Pat and The Pissers, Skull Cult) and passing through (TeeVee Repairmann, Shadow Show, Genre is Death). All proceeds go to support the venue’s ongoing operation.
Choice Cut: Progressive Knife - “State Street Anthem (Live at State Street Pub)”
Easy choice. With a good sense of humor and a whole lot of punch, this “band” dedicates a song to “the greatest bar in the universe.”
True Sounds of Debauchery Vol.2
The second tape from Argentinian label Fake Sex Tape is chock-full of punk rock excellence from around the world, including Germany, Indonesia, Italy, and more. DIY aesthetics are what tie these acts together, from egg to garage to hardcore and back again. The upcoming cassette release of both volumes from Jit Jot Records will also include an unreleased track called "Communists are Funny" from the Bloomington icons the Gizmos.
Choice Cut: Zulo - “24/7”
Zulo is the type of band that would bring down the house at Goner Fest: fast, loud, and unapologetic. The duo from Rosario, Argentina, find the perfect balance between their anarcho-DIY roots and twitchy modernism on “24/7.”
daylight x darknight
As an indie blog morphing into an indie label, Soundvsystem pulls together a dual-sided comp of shimmers and shadows for their first-ever release. It’s a mix of original and previous works, but the story being told is cohesively dreamy. This collection is for fans of melancholy synth and any genre with the suffix “-wave.”
Choice Cut: Pin-Up Sisters - “This Song Sucks”
The punkest act of this bunch, Leeds’ Pin-Up Sisters were also featured on a compilation from the last edition of this column. “This Song Sucks” is a harmonizing blend of garage rock at a breezy one minute and a half.
MIXTAPE #2
Like an international darkwave convention, this tape brings together nine acts who’ve worked with Toulouse-based booker Dernière Neige. Demos and exclusive tracks are what make the release so special, from French chanteuses Lila Ehjä and Gloria Befana to Midwest heroes such as the Serfs and the Mall.
Choice Cut: Buzz Kull - “Dancing With Machines”
“Dancing With Machine” sounds like a lost 80s classic, moody and groovy with a hint of techno nihilism. Sydney-based musician Marc Dwyer has been cranking out synth hits as Buzz Kull since 2012, and hopefully will continue to until the robots replace us.
Sydney Salk is a writer, zine-maker, and radio DJ based in Brooklyn, NY. She does a lot of things, hopefully some of them are good. If you liked this column, you should read her zine Compilation Nation, which is dedicated to archival releases. (sydneysalk.com):