Premiere: Welcome A Twenty-Two Letter Phrase, and his debut single The Little Things

Even if you're not too familiar with the name, Angus Frederick Gardiner is probably a musician you've seen live before. Formerly one-part of ex-Australian rock favourites Papa vs Pretty, the guitarist has since become one of the country's go-to musicians behind-the-scenes, playing in the live bands for Montaigne, Jarryd James, Jack River, E^ST, Alex the Astronaut, Kita Alexander and tonnes more, while working as a songwriter when he's not on the road. He's one of the most experienced musicians we have, with an imprint that's sure to make him one of the country's most formidable musical names.

Today, however, we welcome his next steps - and they're solo. We're introducing the world to A Twenty-Two Letter Phrase, a new solo venture from Angus Gardiner that goes beyond his work with others to create intimate and personal tracks of his own, showing his talents and skillset with the full creative freedom that comes with a completely personal project, capturing the heart of his musicality through snapshots of the last five or so years.

It begins with the premiere of his debut single The Little Things today, a track originally written back in 2015 after the end of Papa vs Pretty a year prior. It's been built upon since, but you can hear that kind-of nostalgic, mid-2010s indie charm shine through on The Little Things, which kinda occupies this alt-rock-meets-dreampop-esque lane that plucks from influences spread across decades of musicianship, where acts like Wilco and Fiona Apple join those he's had the pleasure of working alongside for much of the last few years.

The end result is striking; a moment of intimacy from someone who breathes the same characteristics into many of Australia's indie and pop favourites, but this time through his own personal lens. "I first wrote this tune in 2015," he says on the single. "I remember being inspired by Elbow's record The Seldom Seen Kid and, randomly, by the guitar riff from Harry Nilsson's recording of Everybody's Talkin' which I had been teaching to a guitar class for seniors earlier that day. I remember them really wanting to learn some Harry Nilsson and that was the only thing of his I knew.

"Much later I opened up the demo mid-way through 2020 and re-did most of at my place here in Maroubra, although some of the sounds are still the same from the demo. It really came into its own when my friend Miles Thomas played and recorded the drums at his place. Its a song about being misunderstood, or not being able to express your true self, or trying to be what others might want you to be."

It's a wonderful moment that comes with teases of a full-length record out later this year, but in the meantime, you can take a listen to The Little Things below ahead of its official release this Friday March 5th, as you introduce yourself to the new project from one of Australia's most remarkable musicians.

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