Eora/Sydney-based post-punk/goth band Second Idol are known for their music that speaks to the community. Their latest track, the haunting “Postcolonial Blues”, is a prime example. We are delighted to premiere this single today, along with its video, which happened to be filmed in my neighbourhood,
“Postcolonial Blues” tackles some significant philosophical conundrums. How do we come to terms with our place in post-colonial Australia? Lead-singer Kate Farquharson talks about the inspiration behind the song:
“The lyrics in ‘Postcolonial Blues’ are a contemplation of my upbringing in the country town of Kempsey, NSW on Dunghutti land. It stems from the navigation of my personal experiences growing up in a cross-cultural household. It contemplates the racism I experienced and observed in my hometown’s past and present, and the inequalities, tensions and fractures that continue to exist. This song is me trying to make sense of my place in the world and how I reconcile calling Australia home. My family tree and my existence are born from colonialism, and as a postcolonial being, I question how I navigate this world and where I feel that I belong. This song is an Australian song, and it is about my Australian experience.”
The tensions raised by the lyrics can be felt throughout “Postcolonial Blues”. It’s dark and brooding, with pounding drums delivering a strident urgency. The gritty guitars swirl, and there is a hypnotic post-punk emo feel to it. Second Idol are pitch perfect in their message on this one. Fans of Placebo should find plenty to love here.
The video was directed by Throat Pasta (Mitchell Farkas) and was shot in Manly Dam in Eora/Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The clip is a visual representation of the immigration experience of being uprooted and seeking connection in a new environment. “The approach in this clip was Australian Gothic,” the band explains. “We pitched two key inspirations, Peter Weir’s Australian classic, ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, and Depeche Mode’s ‘Enjoy The Silence’. We wanted to encapsulate a feeling of claustrophobia in the natural environment and environmental horror. The ritual that Kate engages within the clip is reminiscent of Celtic clootie wells – an attempt to reconcile with nature. The analogue effects employed by Mitch Farkas, the glitches and the distortion are representative of a loss of culture and memory, and the erosion and warping of identity.”
The track is from their forthcoming album Mongrel, due for independent release in mid-2025. If you are in Eora, Second Idol will be launching the single on the 29th of March at Bootleggers in Newtown. As well as being a single launch, this is a fundraiser event for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Get along and support live music and a good cause. Ticket links below.
Second Idol “Postcolonial Blues” Single Launch
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) Fundraiser
Saturday 29th March, Bootleggers – 7 pm, 285 King Street, Newtown, NSW – Tickets HERE
You can give Second Idol a follow on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify
Header image credit: Ben Westover
