Premiere: Meet Newcastle rock duo Milky Thred and their new single, Slug

If there's one thing we've come to learn over the last few years, is that there's something in the water over in Newcastle, especially in regards to how the Novocastrians can pump out country-best rock music in every form it takes: the gritty dance-rock of RAAVE TAPES; the subtle, lo-fi indie-rock of FRITZ; the heavier punk-rock of INTROVERT and the list goes on, and on, and on. Rising rock duo Milky Thred are a pairing that have earnt their own place amongst this league, with a string of singles over the last few years - from their debut in 2017 to their one-off 2019 single Get Out of My Head - placing them as a rising force bound for something special, even within a crowded scene.

It's not too hard to realise why exactly Milky Thred are a band to watch. Over the years, their sound has swept between different takes on the classic, guitar-backed rock sound, but their sound centralises itself on this jangly, surf-inspired collectedness that brings the grittiness of bands like WAAVES and SKEGSS - two heavyweights in this field - and twists it into a 'cool, calm and collected' breeze that's become somewhat characteristic on the Australian side of surf rock, and something Milky Thred are bringing into the spotlight.

Their new single Slug, premiering today ahead of its official release tomorrow, is the type of track that encapsulates exactly what we're talking about. It's two-minutes-thirty of anthemic, festival-ready indie-rock that doesn't require a sense of anger or intimation to get the job done, with their 17-year-old lead vocalist leading the charge above a percussion-rich instrumental that keeps everything in check - from the lively guitar melodies to the singalong anthems that, in the live setting, are making Milky Thred a go-to support act (their resumé includes Hockey Dad, West Therbarton, and a tonne more).

"Slug is a relatable track about days where you just really can’t be bothered to do anything at all," the band say on the single, this aforementioned light-heartedness also coming through their relatable and relaxed songwriting. "You’re just not feeling it, and you just wanna stay in bed and do nothing."

After years of putting out singles, Slug sees the duo look forward. It's the first taste of a debut EP expected later this year, and as their sound works its way through the surf-rock ranks, Slug also sees them shake things up a touch, electing for a sound that feels slightly romantic for the 90s indie-rock explosion that paved out the careers of bands like Weezer and The Smashing Pumpkins, albeit with their distinct Australian touch.

There's plenty more to come - it's worth keeping an eye on this duo as they strive towards the release of their debut EP later this year - but in the meantime, get to know the duo below while we blast their the new single Slug at a high volume:

Tell us about yourself?

We’re 17-year-old Riley (Guitar + Vocals) and 19-year-old Adrian (Drums) from Newcastle, Australia. We met at high school in 2016 and started playing covers. We began writing a few of our own songs in the music rooms at school, and shortly after started playing gigs locally around Newcastle.

What’s the vibe music?

We have a ‘Surf Rock’ frosting with a gooey pop melody centre.

What are your production and writing processes like?

I (Riley) usually write the rough structure of a song at home into Garageband or my voice memos, and then I’ll send it to Adrian to see what he thinks. If we’re really liking it we’ll get together next jam session and polish it off.

Can you tell us about your new single, Slug?

Slug is a relatable track about days where you just really can’t be bothered to do anything at all. You’re just not feeling it, and you just wanna stay in bed and do nothing.

It was produced and engineered by Darcy Long who did our last two singles. He comes from more of a metal background so it’s interesting to see what he brings to our style of music in the studio. Apart from the drums, most of it was just recorded in his share house in Newcastle.

It’s the first single from your debut EP, can you tell us a bit about the EP?

We feel like it’s all more musically sophisticated than our earlier material, and a bit more thought out structure-wise. There are new songs and a few old ones we’ve been sitting on for a while. We culled about 15 songs down to the six that made the cut, ditching some old favourites in the process. It’s been a long time coming, so we’re really proud of this release and super keen for everyone to hear it! We don’t have a release date yet but it’ll be out in the middle of this year for sure.

Any tour dates coming up?

We’ve got an EP tour in the works that will be announced soon. We’re also stoked to be playing with Chicago’s Twin Peaks at The Small Ballroom in Newcastle on the 9th of April! (find tickets on our Instagram and Facebook)

What does 2020 have in store for you?

We want to do more shows, start to hit the festival circuit and hopefully release some more music later in the year. 2020 should be our biggest year yet!

Where can we find more of your music?

You can find us everywhere! We’re on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud and Youtube, and you can find us on Facebook and Instagram under @milkythred.

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