PICK & MIX: Annabelle Scobie’s fave places to rock out and chill out
We don't just want you to go to more shows – we also want you to buy more music, support more venues, meet more people (if you're into that), enjoy more art, and know more spots. Because we're all well-rounded multitude-containers in one of the world's great cities, right? So here's our new semi-regular feature, Pick & Mix – a candy salad of quality stuff from Sydney and from elsewhere, endorsed and lovingly selected for you by interesting people.
Sydney’s soft-emo scene is getting a revival and Annabelle Scobie (aka @mallgoth6) is at the forefront of it. Annabelle is the kind of DIY-by-instinct artist that self-produces her music, directs her own music videos, and makes everything feel effortlessly cool.
We tasked Annabelle Scobie with putting together a list of random recommendations, and she hit us back with this wild list of places, real and virtual, to explore.
Check out her latest release, “Downfall”, when you’re in a safe space for crying.
She’ll be supporting bilby this Saturday at the Trocadero Room with Entertainment Quarter in case you like going to gigs and that sort of thing.
LA Studios, Wetherill Park
This is a rehearsal and recording studio and it is fucking mad. It’s quite cheap for the space you get and has really large cabs to hire and good drum kits. It’s also really cosy and out of the way so you don’t have to worry about parking, which is a huge quality of life improver in my opinion.
I moved back to my hometown, Moruya, two months ago and this studio is definitely one of the places that I am missing so much. I have had such fun silly times at this place and would recommend it to any band in the western suburbs or inner west.
Check it out:
My TikTok
I love my TikTok. It’s actually not that great and is not engaging at all. But I see big things happening for @itsdereksmeath. I don’t know what I will go viral for and I don't know when, but I believe it will happen. I’m not sure if the username will be the same when this article comes out but give it a go.
Check it out:
Marrickville Bowlo
If you saw me walking on the green in 2023… no you didn’t. I did not know you’re not supposed to walk on the stupid bowling green ffs!
This venue is so comfy to go to and the bathrooms are so massive, with old chairs to sit in if you need to escape someplace quiet. It seems to have a pretty long history of indie and punk rock and I also saw some experimental stuff there recently which stretched my taste a bit, but it’s also cool to see they’re down for anything. I really enjoyed seeing Collarbones there at their send-off show. The ceiling and the furniture is so vintage, the disco ball is out, the crowd is always so stylishly grunge and the music is just so cool.
Check it out:
The old airport lookout (The Beach)
Honestly this gloomy place is such a gem of a setting for any music video or photoshoot. I have used it time and time again and am tempted to gatekeep, but who cares.
It’s this beautiful carpark and small beach where you can park up for a car meet or take your introverted date. You can find it pretty easily if you know where Brighton-Le-Sands is – it’s literally across the bridge and down the weird exit on the left that looks like you're driving onto the plane tarmac. You will also potentially see some graffiti of my old alias ‘Yen Strange’ on the brick wall down the path to The Beach.
Do not swim at The Beach though. Please read the signs. It is a filthy place.
Check it out:
plinks' Instagram and entire discography
plinks is my favourite soft girl emo. Do you ever feel like you start listening to music that has a really dark, moody visual and then halfway through the song you actually feel more peaceful and happy than you intended? I’m not sure if that makes sense but I feel that with plinks. I was lucky enough to have her play at my ratgirlsummer ep launch late last year, and her voice is so cute and special. Not to mention her immaculate Instagram with subtle spaced-out posting of her unique early 2000s style and midwest emo-ish surroundings.
Check it out:
Further Listening
- by
- Jess Lord
- Published
- 13 Mar 2025
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