Introducing Sydney Indie Pop-Rock Band Polybius…

Sydney band Polybius have released their new EP After Hours and its the soundtrack to heartbreak. Themes of heartbreak, emotional burnout, anger and disappointment deliver a solid collection of rock songs with big choruses, dynamic guitars, and an emotional core built for connection. The band took some time to chat to Hi Fi Way about the process and the band’s process of writing their debut EP.

You’ve released you debut EP After Hours, how it feels to get this music out?
It’s definitely a relief to finally have it out after working on it for so long. We put a lot of effort into making sure it was the best quality possible, so finally having it out in the world is an incredible feeling.

Can you tell us why its the New Soundtrack to Heartbreak?
We structured the EP so that each song represents a different stage of grief. As you move through the tracks, you journey through the emotions of heartbreak and eventually arrive at freedom and resolution. It’s essentially a soundtrack for every stage of heartbreak.

Has this been a cathartic experience writing the songs about heartbreak and such raw emotions?
It was extremely cathartic. We were writing these songs in real time while our singer was going through a breakup, so the EP really captures those raw emotions as they happened. I think that makes it feel more relatable. Sometimes it’s confronting to write something so personal and then share it with the world, but for this release it felt like free therapy.

What is the process as a band of writing your songs? Is it more of a collaborative effort or individually then coming together?
Our songwriting process is different for every song. Sometimes our guitarist, Simon, will come in with a riff or melody and workshop it with Tam before bringing it to the rest of the band. Other times Tam will have lyrics and a vocal melody that she develops with Simon first. Occasionally, we’ll just start jamming at rehearsal and build something organically. It’s definitely a collaborative process. We like everyone to feel connected to the songs and have creative input because it makes the final result feel more special.

I like the hard rock sound of Get Even. What is that song about?
Get Even represents the anger stage of grief. It’s about realising that someone or something isn’t right for you and recognising when they’ve been selfish or taken your power away. The song is about taking that power back, with just a hint of petty revenge thrown in for good measure.

There’s a mix showcasing vocals and different sounds but mainly a solid guitar sound. Was this a conscience effort and how would you describe your music?
We’re very diverse when it comes to our music. Each of us comes from a different background—Tam has roots in musical theatre; Will comes from jazz and classical music; Dono comes from metal and hardcore; and Simon leans more towards classic rock, alternative rock and pop. Bringing all those influences together gives us a really interesting mix of sounds. We want there to be something for everyone while still staying true to our core identity of guitar-driven songs.

What’s your favourite song off the EP?
Tamzin’s favourite tracks are Escape and The Rain. Dono’s favourite is The Rain. Will’s is Escape while Simon’s is Sun Song. It tends to change depending on the day and who’s answering.

Who are the band members of Polybius?
We’ve got Will on bass, Dono on drums, Tam on vocals, and Simon on guitar.

How did the name Polybius come about?
Tam and Simon tried to come up with a band name that wasn’t already taken. Eventually, Simon suggested Polybius because he’d always liked the name, and Tam basically said, “Yeah, alright” If you do a deep dive, Polybius is linked to both a Greek philosopher and a famous conspiracy theory, which makes it interesting. You’ll spend hours in a TikTok loophole learning all about it.

Any plans to play live?
Of course! We’re constantly playing live shows and are currently looking at putting together a regional tour across NSW. We’re also hoping to expand interstate next year and get in front of even more audiences.

Interview by Anastasia Lambis