These New South Whales Might Just Release The Album of the Year This Month
If I was asked how to be a band in 2022, I’d point to These New South Whales without hesitation. Masterful content creators that seamlessly operate across a wealth of platforms to ultimately build sustainable community around their music.
I fell into the These New South Whales universe at some point during the COVID lockdowns, I’d known and been a fan of the band for years, but when looking for something to truly connect to TNSW delivered.
Scrolling Twitch I was served up frontman Jamie Timony playing Mario Kart with members of the band’s Patreon. Looking into the Patreon I found myself listening to the band’s podcast, What a Great Punk, every Monday morning. The podcast led me back to Patreon, which ultimately landed me as a Great Punk in the band’s Discord channel; a rich community of likeminded individuals united around their love of food, vinyl, making up band names, pets, and These New South Whales.
Yet the above paragraph is only a scratching of what the band has produced. Adding to the list are two albums, with a third on the way, a plethora of singles, two seasons of a Comedy Central mockumentary, a late night show styled YouTube series, potentially the best beer jingle ever produced, and over a decade of touring; taking their raucous live show everywhere from boxing rings to festival stages.
It’s been an incredible knock for any band. However with each of TNSW’s latest singles, it feels like the band are only just getting started. Each single from the upcoming third album TNSW, releasing Friday 18 November, has revealed an evolved, matured, and undeniably authentic sound.
Latest single Under the Pressure explores this idea of authenticity. Lyrically the song traverses themes of performing a version of yourself with the goal of pleasing others, and the inevitable pressure that comes with turning away from your authentic self. Contrasted with the realisation that allowing yourself to be just that, yourself, would ultimately be far easier.
“Pleasing people, is getting older. A rotten feature, and I don’t need it.” soars across a rising and anthemic chorus of self actualisation. It’s a remarkable moment of genuine expression from a band that have often played hyper exaggerated versions of themselves, blurring lines between the band and the bit.
Across TNSW’s last three singles the band’s fundamental sound has flexed its own progression. Rotten Sun flirted with Placebo influences, whilst Bending at the Knee delved into the band’s heaviest sound to date. Under the Pressure continues to steer the ship further from their Australian garage punk roots into something that sits more comfortably sonically with Fontaines D.C., Shame, or TV Priest.
A ridiculously sharp rhythm section sets the pace for each single - driving on Rotten Sun, explosive on Bending at the Knee, and expansive on Under the Pressure. Pointed guitar riffs deliver dynamics, and some of the most absurdly catchy hooks of the year. Whilst Timony pushes away from the abrasive edges of the Australian accent found in the band’s early releases to explore the expansiveness of his voice, and in doing so entirely enveloping their listener.
Despite the leaps across releases the evolution of These New South Whales’ sound across the years feels entirely natural. Rather than pushing their sound to a place that will find streams, this feels like a group of friends who are growing together, and their music reflects that growth.
With the full release of TNSW just over a week away, everything the band has produced to date indicates an album that will create a statement of who These New South Whales are as a band in 2022. No longer four cocky underdogs from Newcastle, but a group ready to be one of our finest exports with a sound fit for the international market.
