Radio Free Alice Announce Their Third EP ‘Empty Words’
Naarm/Melbourne-based new wave/post-punk band Radio Free Alice announce their incoming new EP Empty Words (Aug 20) and share the new single Toyota Camry, which had its global premiere on BBC 6 Music with Emily Pilbeam last night, along with its video directed by Finn Robilliard.
The release coincides with Radio Free Alice’s debut UK headline tour which kicked off last week, on which they’ve sold out six headline shows in London and further sellouts around the UK and in Ireland. They have also just this week been announced as a late lineup addition to the iconic Reading and Leeds Festival taking place late August.
North American tour dates have also been announced, including two sold out headline shows in NYC (the first selling out in 24 hours) and a slot at Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta, GA this September alongside Lucy Dacus, IDLES, Pixies and more.
Produced by Peter Katis (Interpol, Bloc Party, Frightened Rabbit) in Connecticut earlier this year, Toyota Camry is lashed with bright guitars and 80s-inspired backing vocals. Its release follows Radio Free Alice’s Empty Words Single Tour last month which saw them sell out three Night Cats back-to-back in Naarm/Melbourne and two Oxford Art Factorys on Gadigal Land in Sydney with crowds hanging on to every moment throughout.
Along with its title-track released in March – which was written and recorded during some downtime between shows while Radio Free Alice were in London last year and produced by Ewan Pearson (M83, Stella Donnelly, Depeche Mode) – Empty Words features two unreleased songs Regret and Chinese Restaurant produced by Ali Chant (Dry Cleaning, Perfume Genius, Soccer Mommy). Both recorded in Bristol and London, together they form a bold step in Radio Free Alice’s wildly consistent output.
The EP announcement is the latest marker in an unstoppable year which has also seen Radio Free Alice make their debut at SXSW Austin, feature in the NME 100, Monster Children’s Bright Young Things, perform accompanying a runway show at Melbourne Fashion Festival, take part in their first luxury fashion photoshoot with Prada for the cover of 10 Men Australia, and tonight are nominated for Best Independent Punk Album or EP at the AIR Awards.
Off the back of their second EP Polyester (2024) – which has hit over 2.5 million streams across its four tracks on Spotify alone since its release last 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 so-called-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.
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. They’ve played Lost Paradise, Splendour In The Grass, Dot To Dot, Live At Leeds, London Calling Amsterdam, The Great Escape, Rock For People Budapest, Wide Awake, Mood Swings, Party In The Paddock, Loch Hart, SXSW Sydney and Bigsound, supported Royel Otis and Sorry, and made their debut in the US this year.
Radio Free Alice – Empty Words EP
out August 20 via Double Drummer
TRACK LIST
Empty Words
Toyota Camry
Regret
Chinese Restaurant
