Chasing Ghosts Throw Out The Rule Book On New Album ‘Therapy’

Naarm First Nations led indie punk band Chasing Ghosts have released their new album Therapy which coincides with their Australian Tour which kicks off next month with special guests Brisbane alt-rock band The Comfort and Melbourne pop punk band Cordiform. Chasing Ghosts will be bringing their indie punk rock anthems to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat and Adelaide. Unbridled passion and fury meet honest storytelling, delivered by Thungutti front man and songwriter Jimmy Kyle, as this new collection of music repositions him as one of Australia’s most important voices of any scene, not just the alternative genre.

Developing Therapy with ARIA nominated producer Stevie Knight (Stand Atlantic, Redhook, Yours Truly) and Chasing Ghosts, Kyle found himself writing without the rulebook of his previous work. The authenticity remains but here, Kyle writes with his eyes having been opened to new ways of approaching the craft. Jimmy talks with Hi Fi Way in greater detail about the album and upcoming tour.

Great to be talking to you, you must be really excited with the build-up to the new album.
Absolutely! We’re super excited, it’s been a long journey to get this one out, so we’re pumped.

Do you also feel a sense of relief now that the album is finally done and out of your hands?
Yeah, absolutely. It’s been a rewarding challenge to develop the assets, film clips, and everything else that comes with releasing and promoting a record. There was definitely a moment when we looked at the mountain of work ahead and thought, “How will we ever get through it all?” So it’s a pleasure to finally be on this side, where we can focus on sharing and getting back on stage, connecting with everyone again.

Has it been tough juggling making an album while managing day jobs and other responsibilities?
It definitely is, and it’s only gotten harder as we’ve gotten older. I honestly don’t know how we’ve kept doing it for so long. Being a dad now has added another layer of challenge, going away to tour, doing the work, and then coming home. One of the other guys in the band has two little ones as well, so we’re adjusting to this new balance.

Did you always have a clear vision for how you wanted this album to sound, and did it end up that way by the time you finished?
I didn’t always have a perfectly clear idea. Like anything creative, the vision becomes clearer as you go, and once you find that path, the process gets easier. Compared to our earlier releases, I had a more solidified idea for this one, but it still took time to figure out exactly how it would come together. In the studio, Stevie Knight told me, “This will be the most enjoyable and stress-free experience making a record together.” That was a bold statement at the start, because I’ve definitely had past experiences that were anything but stress-free!

He was right, though. It all came together naturally. It felt cathartic, like I had truly found my place in it all. After so many years, you kind of should know what you’re doing, and this time, it all clicked. That’s the beauty of being able to share it now with others.

Were there points along the way where you doubted yourself or wondered if you’d actually get this album finished?
No, we were determined to see it through, no matter what. But there were challenges in balancing everything, especially as life kept changing. A lot happened over the course of making the record, not just for me but for the guys in the band as well. The post-COVID world forced a recalibration for all of us, especially those living in Victoria. During that time, I relocated to Tasmania and also became a father. So the big question wasn’t whether we’d finish the album, it was how we’d manage everything else alongside it. Balancing all of those responsibilities took time, but we’ve gotten better at it. Once you get clear on what matters most, you start letting go of other distractions to make room for what truly counts.

Sonically, how does this album compare to your previous releases?
It’s a huge departure from our earlier work, it’s shiny! In the early days, I was a stickler for recording on tape and going fully analog. I loved the warmth of old records and wanted to replicate that, even though it was incredibly expensive. I kept approaching each record like it might be my last, so I went all in every time. And then, of course, I’d find myself thinking, “Wow, that was expensive. I probably shouldn’t do it this way again.” Over time, I let go of certain things. This album is the most polished, modern-sounding record we’ve made, full of ear candy, expertly produced, and shaped by some of the best engineers we’ve worked with.

That’s been the natural progression of Chasing Ghosts. We started with raw, authentic analog recordings, then moved into a more lo-fi Melbourne indie aesthetic, what I’d describe as a Poison City-style terrace-house sound. This album takes us somewhere completely new. It has all the bells and whistles, all the trimmings, and that’s something totally fresh for us.

Was it easy to let songs go once they were finished?
Yeah, some more than others. Certain songs seem to write themselves and fall into place effortlessly, while others take more wrestling. The challenge comes with the songs that require more work, but that’s part of the creative process.

Did you feel a sense of pride and satisfaction when you put on the headphones and listened to your copy for the first time, start to finish?
Absolutely. It was enjoyable, but also a different experience compared to early Chasing Ghosts records, which were slower, softer, and nostalgic with lots of space. This album is busy, it makes you want to move, nod your head, and engage with it. It carries the energy of sounds that were big around 2010, which I really loved. Even with its drive, it retains the nostalgic thread and emotional depth. There’s always an underlying sadness in the music, but this time, there’s so much life and energy behind it.

I think some people expected me to release the same kind of album over and over, but that’s like telling the same joke repeatedly and expecting people to laugh every time. This is another incarnation of our sound, but with fresh energy. Rather than gazing out a window in deep thought, this album makes you want to move, it’s high-energy and a lot of fun.

Have you felt the buzz of people connecting with the four singles released so far, possibly even new fans discovering the band for the first time?
Definitely. That wave has started to build, and different songs have resonated with different people. You never know how a track will connect, but My Bingayi, really stood out, it struck a chord with a lot of listeners. Now that the singles are out, I’m excited to share more. There’s plenty more music to come, and it’s great to finally say, “Here’s the rest of the album, dig in!”

With the tour coming up, you must be excited to hit the road and do a quick lap around the country?
Yeah, we tend to do this quarterly, going for a spin around the country. It’s always great to catch up with friends, even though time is tight between making the show work and managing all the moving pieces. It’s been fantastic seeing how the audience evolves over the years, spanning different records. I’m especially excited for the regional show in Ballarat, it’s been a while since I played there. After the Therapy tour, I’ll head straight down to Tassie for a festival, then take a couple of weeks off.

Will you be playing the entire album on this tour?
We’re still discussing whether we will or if we’ll mix in classic Chasing Ghosts tracks that people love. Fan favorites might get peppered throughout the set, but we’ll definitely be playing a lot of Therapy.

What does the future hold beyond the tour? Are you looking to expand further, perhaps internationally?
We’re always open to new opportunities. When Chasing Ghosts was in its solo format, I toured extensively Europe, the UK, Southeast Asia, and New Zealand. Those places are always on my mind, and the idea of reconnecting with those audiences is appealing. For the last few releases, we’ve really focused on Australia, especially Victoria, making sure we have a strong foundation here. However, we’re seeing more interest coming from the UK, Europe, and the States, so there’s certainly potential for something bigger.
For now, after this tour, which we’re super excited about, we plan to take a moment to consolidate our lives a bit. It’s been a massive body of work, and once we catch our breath, we’ll figure out what’s next. But there’s definitely plenty more touring left in us.

Interview By Rob Lyon

Catch Chasing Ghosts on the following dates, tickets from Destroy All Lines…

Therapy is out now