Australian new wave/post-punk band Radio Free Alice are excited to share their new EP Empty Words, available everywhere now via Double Drummer. A reflection of the band’s experiences from over the past few years, today’s EP shows off their honest inclinations, striking riffs and their ability to capture the world as they see it. “Regret” and today’s focus track “Chinese Restaurant” have flashes of the past, but look toward the future with thoughtful lyricism and undeniably sticky melodies.
Produced by Ali Chant (Dry Cleaning, Perfume Genius, Soccer Mommy) – who also produced EP track “Regret” – and recorded across London and Bristol this year, on “Chinese Restaurant” Radio Free Alice frontman Noah Learmonth shares, “The idea for Chinese Restaurant came while touring the UK, surrounded by this overwhelming sense of living in the past. Every venue had a punny name nodding to some bygone legend, places like ‘EBGBS’ (a riff on CBGB) or ‘The Stoned Rose’. Driving around the UK in this tour van felt like wandering through the aftermath of a house party that was definitely over, but no one seemed capable of moving on from.”
Learmonth continues, “The whole EP is in some way connected to this feeling that I’ve had my whole life. That the world’s this museum for the past we didn’t even live through.”
A preview of today’s EP arrived last month in the form of “Toyota Camry,” a single lashed with bright guitars and 80s-inspired backing vocals. The song’s official music video accompanies the release, directed by the band’s creative partner Finn Robilliard. This news arrived in tandem with the announcement of the band’s first headline North American tour surrounding an upcoming performance at Shaky Knees in Atlanta, GA, this September and two sold-out headline shows in NYC (the first selling out in 24 hours). Earlier this summer, Radio Free Alice knocked their debut UK headline tour out of the park with six sold-out headline shows in London and a newly announced slot at this weekend’s Reading and Leeds Festival.
The EP’s title-track was released in March after being recorded during downtime between shows in London. It was produced by Ewan Pearson (M83, Stella Donnelly, Depeche Mode). Empty Words features two unreleased songs “Regret” produced by Ali Chant (Dry Cleaning, Perfume Genius, Soccer Mommy) and “Chinese Restaurant,” both recorded in Bristol, UK, this year and together form a bold step in Radio Free Alice’s wildly consistent output.
Off the back of their 2nd EP Polyester (2024) – which has hit over 2.5 million streams across its four tracks on Spotify alone since its release in August with support and acclaim from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music (New Music Fix), triple j, FBi Radio, Triple R, Clash, the cover of DORK (UK), Complex, Pigeons & Planes, NME, Rolling Stone, The Line Of Best Fit and many, many others — Radio Free Alice toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe, joined the The Killers on tour across Australia, and co-headlined a national run with Big Special. Throughout it all, plus the acclaim on their singles “2010” and “Johnny,” the highest kudos might have come from The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s leader Anton Newcombe, who told the band they were “not shit” after accidentally catching one of their headline shows on Gadigal Land in Sydney.
Formed in Gadigal Land/Sydney in 2020 before making the move to Naarm/Melbourne, Radio Free Alice — Noah Learmonth (he/him; vocals, guitar), Jules Paradiso (he/him; guitar), Michael Phillips (he/him; bass, saxophone), and Lochie Dowd (he/him; drums) — continue to make their mark with their wildly consistent output and vital live performances. Their debut self-titled EP (2023) was nominated for Best Independent Punk Album or EP at the AIR Awards and quickly followed up with Polyester (2024). They’ve played countless festivals across Australia and Europe, with their US debut at SXSW earlier this year, and additional touring with Royel Otis and Sorry.
RADIO FREE ALICE – EMPTY WORDS TRACK LIST
1. Empty Words
2. Toyota Camry
3. Regret
4. Chinese Restaurant
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
UK / EU
August 20 – Brixton Windmill – London, UK (SOLD OUT)
August 22 – Reading and Leeds Festival – Leeds, UK#
August 24 – Reading and Leeds Festival – Reading, UK#
August 27 – EKKO – Utrecht, NL
August 30 – Manchester Psych Festival (YES Pink Room) – Manchester, UK
September 1 – Schokoladen – Berlin, DE (SOLD OUT)
September 5 – Supersonic Records – Paris, FR
NORTH AMERICA
September 7 – The Monarch – Toronto, ON
September 8 – Casa del Popolo – Montréal, QC
September 10 – The Red Room at Cafe 939 – Boston, MA
September 12 – Union Pool – New York, NY (SOLD OUT)
September 13 – Night Club 101 [late night show] – New York, NY (SOLD OUT)
September 16 – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
September 17 – Songbyrd Music House – Washington, DC
September 19 – Purgatory At The Masquerade (Shaky Knees Late Night Show) – Atlanta, GA
September 20 – Shaky Knees Music Festival – Atlanta, GA #
September 21 – The Basement – Nashville, TN
September 23 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL (LOW TICKETS)
September 24 – 7th St Entry – Minneapolis, MN
October 8 – Los Angeles, CA – El Cid
October 10 – San Francisco, CA – Eli’s Mile High Club
*supporting Bodega
# festival date
All tour info here
PRAISE FOR RADIO FREE ALICE
NME: “Revitalising the distinct ’80s basslines and sharp guitar riffs of The Smiths and Joy Division, Melbourne’s Radio Free Alice have staked their claim as a rising force…they’ve displayed their strength in transforming nostalgic, gritty post-punk sounds into something much more sleek and concise.”
STEREOGUM: “…punchy with a snappy melody that feels like early Arctic Monkeys or Bloc Party. Some guitars swim in waves of reverb, while others are tire trucks on gravel, alongside a formidably anchoring bass. It’s far from a dull song, but its lyrics fixate on boredom’s biggest victim.”
MATT WILKINSON, APPLE MUSIC 1: “one of the best bands that I’ve heard coming out of Australia this year”
ROLLING STONE AUSTRALIA: “Why the f*ck would you come to one of their shows? You come for the precise post-punk riffs. You come for the endless energy and enthusiastic lyrics. You stay to watch one of Australia’s most exciting guitar bands in years up close.”
CLASH: “clipped, evocative, 80s leaning indie”
THE LINE OF BEST FIT: “Fans are lining up around the block to listen to their smouldering, reverb-laden live performances, and we don’t blame them for braving the heat. The hype is all due to the band’s classic DIY sound, which manages to feel both nostalgic and new.”
ESQUIRE AUSTRALIA: “Brit post-punk energy teasing an upbeat yet relaxed autumn/winter offering”
NEW NOISE: “With its jagged guitars and light, bouncy rhythm, ‘Empty Words’ is, at times, a breezy track and, at other times, an emotionally intense rocker. As the lyrics rail against performative politics that don’t accomplish anything, the intensity of the vocal delivery really sells the anger.”
GLIDE: “‘Toyota Camry’ is the lead single from the upcoming EP that balances ambitious musicianship with introspective lyrics. The arrangement acts as the speeding car bolting down an open highway, while the lyrics act as the driver, deep in thought while attempting to clear their mind.”
RIFF: “The searing guitar licks and a catchy bass line stand out on their second single from the album. The song features a fuzzy sound that complements vocalist Noah Learmonth’s cleverly delivered, introspective lyrics…”
HARD OF HEARING: “one of the most compelling acts to catch live.”
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For more information on Radio Free Alice please visit:
Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Apple Music
For Radio Free Alice press materials and inquiries, please contact:
Madi Florence | madi@bighassle.com
Source: MyPR International
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