The creator of Auckland alternative ladies' night Proud Mary, Katija Vlatkovich, is regarded as a bit of a music buff and she has picked her top five favourite songs right now for our Aural Pleasure series. So if you want to check out some fresh music from outside the mainstream, read here! 1. Wild Flag – Future Crimes This is pretty much one of those dream bands for the queer girl who has an affinity for great guitar riffs, tight drums and babes with talent. With two-thirds of Sleater-Kinney you are bound to get something fantastic. This song has Carrie Brownstein all over it. Her voice cuts through an intricate layering of beats and tones. A must listen and a band to watch. 2. Bon Iver – Calgary This song has more magical powers than any character of True Blood combined. I heard this man’s voice for the first time last year when travelling down to Wellington with my soon-to-be girlfriend. His voice bought me to tears. Turn this up, close your eyes and let Bon Iver take you to another plane. 3. Bjork – Crystalline Well I really have one comment about this, praise to the musical Gods that the old Bjork is back! We haven’t seen this kind of crazy electronica from Bjork in about 15 years. She brings this together with some crazy, staccato percussion right through and a strong, haunting melody. Watch out for the random break-beat break in the song. I like it but it’s pretty intense for the unseasoned listener. You might not like it after the first play but keep trying. Like most of Bjork’s music, it will grow on you like that kid you always had to play with from next door who grew into be the hot queer on the block. 4. Coco Solid – Pacific Rims Mixtape If you were at the last Proud Mary you would have seen this woman owning the stage with her flawless array of talent and tunes. She’s been busy since then releasing her very own mixtape and god damn it’s good. It’s got me through a few long and dreary days at the office lately. Pretty much Coco gets all of her talented friends and peers together on a ½ hour piece of musical genius that will make you get up and shake yo thing no matter where you happen to be. The best thing is she is offering it as free download on her website www.cocosolid.com . My girlfriend mixed this album too so it’s gonna sound perfectly smooth through your headphones. 5. Kool Thing – The Sign This duo are two talented queer ladies from Paris, France. Not only are they stunningly beautiful and queer but their music is simply fantastic. The Sign is made up of minimalist, electronic beats with soft harmonising melodies. If you like The xx and Warpaint you will love this – they are worth a listen for sure. Vlatkovich promises Proud Mary's Winter Mixer on Friday 29 July will bring some blood to the surface, no matter how cold you are. It features Melbourne girl duo Avant-Garde, Croatian Auckland DJ sensations and sisters MAYAVANYA and Bridge. PROUD MARY'S WINTER MIXER FRIDAY JULY 29TH 4:20, K'RD AUCKLAND 10PM $10 Check out more here For now, you can whet your musical appetite by checking out Wild Flag's Future Crimes in the video below: Katija Vlatkovich - 23rd July 2011