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ABC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Chasing Ghosts' Jimmy Kyle on new album Therapy, reconciliation and tackling tough topics
Content Warning: This article discusses suicide and domestic violence. The weight of an album's subject matter isn't always a good measure of its quality. But in the case of Chasing Ghosts and Therapy, one of the year's best albums, there's absolutely a positive correlation. Therapy lives up to its title, confronting topics even heavier than the down-tuned riffs and pummelling energy that define its hard rock sound. Mental health, domestic violence, suicide, intergenerational trauma — each song wrestles with difficult issues in catchy, cathartic anthems just as likely to make you tear up and reflect as they will have you shouting along. Witness the muscular IWPTEK (an acronym for 'I Wouldn't Profess To Even Know'), all cutting riffs and blood-pumping tempo as Jimmy Kyle, the group's proud Thungutti frontman, raises his voice to a throat-shredding roar of solidarity for trans family members: "I don't have to understand all the elements of someone's lived experience to understand what respect is," the musician tells Double J's Dylan Lewis. "My job isn't to figure out what your gender identity is, or your orientation … nor is it my business. My job is to love you while you figure it out. And that's it. That's what that song is about." That earnest, conversational tone filters into the chorus of Flowers: "Don't you lie to me/And tell me that you're okay, when you're not." It's a song about "dealing with the 'what could I have done?' The 'what ifs' when you lose someone to suicide," Kyle explains. It's even more poignant knowing Flowers is dedicated to his late friend Sean "SK" Kennedy, former bassist for fellow homegrown heavy acts I Killed The Prom Queen and Deez Nuts, who took his own life in 2021. Similarly, the power ballad Hurting Years is an ode to those that "didn't make it" and the resilience of those that did, the lyrics underscoring the fine line that can separate the two. "I implore you to tell your friends that you love them," Kyle sings, addressing the alarming rates of suicide among young Australians. "For First Nations communities, it's even higher still," he adds. Another national epidemic — domestic violence — is tackled in My Bingayi (translating to "My elder brother"), which zeros in on a heart-rending appeal to an individual perpetrator to end the cycles of abuse. The outcome manages to nail the tricky balance between being melodic and tender yet heavy hitting in tone. If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0 "It's a cautionary thing about recognising the potential of a person and not condemning them just purely as a monster. And that's a very nuanced conversation. And it's a dangerous conversation to stumble through recklessly," says the frontman. "But I'm hoping that some young man might see himself in a song like My Bingayi and think, 'There's a better version of me out there I can lean into. And this is not it.'" Chasing Ghosts began as a solo project of Kyle's more than a decade ago. From the raw, acoustic missives of 2011 debut Confessions From A Phone Booth, it has evolved into the five-piece band powering Therapy. It's easily the biggest and most polished Chasing Ghosts have ever sounded, courtesy of ARIA Award-nominated producer Stevie Knight, who brings extra punch and gloss to the mix. Hooky melodies and crunching, bellowing choruses are framed by strings, synths, and piano. Rather than merely prettying up these songs, these flourishes amplify their emotional intensity. Even as his songwriting has expanded dramatically in sound and scope over the years, the through-line has always been Kyle's passionate lyricism and authoritative honesty, particularly concerning the ongoing inequity and challenges First Nations people face. Therapy so often hits where it matters because Kyle isn't a rock star preaching platitudes from a soapbox. Instead, he comes across as a relatable guy; a working-class father just trying to pay the bills and get some darn sleep, whether through natural remedies (on Chamomile Tea) or prescriptive means (on the booming Ten Feet Tall). For all the weight Kyle shoulders, and the difficulties Therapy wrestles with, the music is more life-affirming than harrowing. It isn't raging against the machine, more rallying together to confront uncomfortable truths. He wanted these songs to engage in difficult conversations, "but I also didn't want to browbeat people. I think that's when we talk about why these songs are difficult to write. It's about shaving off the rough edges around difficult conversations. Being really mindful when you write a song about domestic violence [for example]". Fist-pumping single Amnesia Everybody addresses what Kyle calls a "head in the sand" attitude towards Australia's violent colonial history. "The short version of that is things like slavery, the massacres that occurred in this country and a lot of people probably aren't familiar with the fact that 50 per cent of those massacres were led by colonial police officers. That really set the dynamic for policing in Australia and especially for First Nations communities. "We have big gaps in our education system … that give people a very skewed understanding of how some huge historical events, which don't' seem to feature in any of our textbooks, have direct links to the circumstances and the context and the relationship and the dynamic we're in today between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians. "Many of us are pretty disenfranchised with the reconciliation movement, we feel a bit let down and disappointed, especially with recent events. People getting booed for acknowledging the historical truth and reality. "Myths are often what fills the place of facts in Australian history. And I think if we can get rid of the myth, if our communities can come together and stand with our allies, we can build momentum again to do something positive." The album ends on an optimistic note that rings sincere because it's hard-won, Kyle singing of "trying to be better each day" on closing track Trick or Treaty. Somebody striving to build upon the work of those who've gone before to leave the world in a better place for those that come after. "The most important thing for me — I have a son now, so I think about that — is treaty. We want a treaty between First Nations and non-Indigenous peoples in this country." He estimates the majority of "the Aboriginal community would agree with that" and see the potential of a unified Australia. "Where we have an intimate awareness of one another and we try and meet each other's needs to do positive things for the future generations," he elaborates. "Because my son's going to have to grow up in this country. I don't want him to face racism endlessly. His sentiments resonate with the current NAIDOC Week theme of "next generation: strength, vision and legacy". However, Kyle acknowledges there's a lot more work to be done, and a long history of mistreatment and mistrust to overcome, pointing towards landmark protests like the 1965 Freedom Ride and 1972 Aboriginal Tent Embassy. "Our communities, we challenge and we agitate to make change and that's why we do it. If we hadn't agitated, then change doesn't come. It's never been handed to us … And that's the truth. "I don't want people to misconstrue, when we criticise systemic racism and historical injustices. We want justice. That's a normal thing to want in a democratic society. So, it's not a personal punch down on non-Indigenous people, by any means. It's we want true reconciliation where we understand each other." He believes reconciliation and treaty are still within reach, with a shift in perspective and a healthy amount of respect and empathy necessary for living together. "Because no-one's going anywhere. There's 28 million of us all stuck on this big old island. We all gotta get along at some point, and the one thing I know is: respect is free. So, when someone disrespects Aboriginal people, it doesn't say anything about us. It says everything about them. "I believe the criticism sometimes that we bring to the table, people hear negatively, but I think if people could consider that we see the potential of an Australia of us all together, working together. "We're not asking non-Indigenous people to forget their British heritage or their Irish heritage or whatever their heritage is. We're not asking them to not be seen in public and to quieten down, so don't ask us to. We're not going to get quieter, I can guarantee that part." Speaking up and standing firm, rather than suffering through struggles in silence, is a unifying theme of Chasing Ghosts's new album. And the clue is right there in the title. Rather than being confrontational, Therapy's song-craft aims to be inclusive, offering catharsis and healing "Music is therapeutic by nature. It's not just my sort of cathartic release of things that sat on me," says Kyle. "So, whether or not it's my therapy, or whether it's your therapy, or whether we all go to therapy together — it's consistent in the idea of expressing things that make us a little bit scared." Therapy is out now.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
The 20 best albums of 2025 so far
It's been another year of brilliant new album releases. The team at Double J have done a lot of listening and, after plenty of friendly arguments, have settled on their 20 best albums of the year so far. The final list is a thrilling mix of fine local talent, international favourites, a few exciting new voices you might not know, and some big hitters you definitely will. Here are their picks, in their own words. Tap the box to read more about each album. Ball Park Music — Like Love Every album Ball Park Music has released is a special encapsulation of time. Like Love doesn't just show the band maturing but a levelling up of their sound and confidence. They've gone through their pop and experimental phase like The Beatles, so call Like Love their Abbey Road — but hopefully there are more albums to come like this beauty from the Brissy Beatles. Listen: Please Don't Move To Melbourne Nick Gerber Bon Iver — Sable Fable 'From great suffering comes great art' is an age-old saying, and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon proves it wrong in turning over a new leaf. He emerges like a slow-jam butterfly from the depths of sadness saying 'enough!', and his bloom is all heartfelt, hands-in-the-air and brilliant collaborations with music's most exciting new voices. Listen: Everything Is Peaceful Love Zan Rowe Chasing Ghosts — Therapy Thungutti man Jimmy Kyle delivers straight from the heart on one of this year's best heavy albums. Therapy tackles mental health, intergenerational trauma and Australia's dark colonial history across 10 anthemic, fist-pumping songs. It might make you cry, it might make you recognise something in yourself or a loved one, and it will definitely stick in your head long after you first hear it. Listen: My Bingayi Caitlin Nienaber Close Counters — Lovers Dance Academy Melbourne-via-Tassie duo Close Counters are clearly deep into their 10,000 hours on the tools. More than a decade of collaboration has sharpened their signature blend of house, broken beat, soul, jazz, and more. We hear all of this across Lovers Dance Academy. A warm, rhythmic journey through connection, movement and love. Built for both the heart and the dancefloor. Listen: Freedom We're Needing Dylan Saville Ela Minus — DÍA Colombian Ela Minus has made a creatively free album that veers between ecstasy and apocalypse. She used to be a drummer and a punk, then got obsessed with synthesisers and eventually crow-barred her punk sensibility into Berklee College of Music. The agony of that forced discipline can be heard here. She's f***in cool. If you sometimes want to set fire to your life, this could be the soundtrack. Listen: Broken Yumi Stynes FKA Twigs — EUSEXUA FKA Twigs's first album in years is a dazzling display of her future-pop brilliance. ( ) 'When a girl feels good, it makes the world go 'round,' sings UK polymath FKA twigs. And the exhilaration of her thrilling third record is highly contagious. It's as deeply sensuous and completely exuberant as an interstellar dancefloor experience can get. Listen: Eusexua Caz Tran Floodlights — Underneath Naarm/Melbourne's Floodlights have steadily built up a following with spikes around their word-of-mouth performances. They've hit their stride with their third album, creating ambitious, world-class rock that feels honest and stays grounded. If success is measured in the ability to connect, there's truly something bubbling under the surface here. Listen: The Light Won't Shine Forever Dorothy Markek Ruby Gill — Some Kind of Control The magic of Ruby Gill's second long player is her astute use of space. It creates room for her voice to move and drift, for melodies to hang in the air then sink under your skin. It makes me feel like a cat perched on a sunny sill; her melancholy, mirth and ruminations draped over me like a favourite blanket. Listen: The Flood Caz Tran Little Simz — Lotus As the London rapper emerges from tumultuous times, the lotus flower proves a powerful metaphor. Six albums into a decade-long career, wherever Simz goes, I'm along for the ride. Uncompromising from the outset and devoted to pushing boundaries, Little Simz sits safely among hip hop's elite. Comfortable but never complacent. Listen: Flood Dorothy Markek Obongjayar — Paradise Now Despite loving Obongjayar's scene-stealing features with Little Simz, Fred Again.. and Danny Brown, I was criminally late to the Nigerian-bred, London-based artist's debut album. You can bet I wasn't making that mistake a second time. Paradise Now is an auspicious showcase of his shapeshifting talents, both vocally and sonically, on approachable songs that are impossible to pigeonhole but easy to admire. Listen: Holy Mountain Al Newstead Panda Bear — Sinister Grift On his eighth solo album, Panda Bear explores the intense emotions that come with a break-up, while revelling in some of his warmest, lush-sounding songs so far. Working with Animal Collective band mate Deakin, he's served up a feast of sound, embracing breezy rhythms, psych-pop, reggae and sad ballads. But it's Panda Bear's incredible ear for melody and layered, Beach Boys-style harmonies around his signature happy/sad vocals that is the star of the show. And has me coming back again and again. Listen: Praise Karen Leng Press Club — To All The Ones That I Love Everything I've loved about Press Club is still here on their brilliant fourth album. But somehow the hooks are hookier, the melodies are bolder, the riffs are more emotional and the lyrics are an even harder punch in the heart. This Melbourne/Naarm band have really levelled up, delivering what could be the best local rock album of 2025. Listen: To All The Ones That I Love Ryan Egan Skeleten — Mentalized Warmth is the anchor that roots the sonic eclecticism of Skeleten's second album, Mentalized. Trip hop, house, electronica and indie pop collide in a melting pot of genre, where the secret ingredient is Skeleten's genuine love for the music that's shaped him. It's that love that translates into the warmth we hear and feel, which makes Mentalized such an enjoyable listen. Listen: Deep Scene Stephen Goodhew Liz Stringer — The Second High It's so easy to dive into The Second High — you'll be fully immersed from its first seconds. You can tell this was recorded in the backstreets of Brixton. Many songs channel some of the UK's most hypnotic music from the past few decades, all the while perfectly intersecting with the empathy and curiosity of one of our country's finest contemporary songwriters. Listen: Coming Home Henry Wagons Surprise Chef — Superb Many will use the new album from Melbourne funk world-beaters Surprise Chef as a sleek and luscious background soundtrack. Nothing wrong with that. Lean in, however, and the experience becomes imminently richer. One of the country's most adept bands channel the taut funk of Stax and imbue psychedelic, cinematic touches that keep us wondering where their sound will go next. Listen: Bully Ball Dan Condon Antony Szmierek — Service Station at the End of the Universe The poetic debut album from Manchester's Antony Szmierek has a retro-futuristic scope. There's redolence in his words, and a pressing vitality to the beats and synths that couch them. The Streets is the obvious point of comparison, but Szmierek's somewhat more cerebral approach and clubbier instincts show he's operating on a different track. Listen: Rafters Dan Condon Julien Baker and Torres — Send a Prayer My Way Big riffs and big heart; this joint album is raw in a way that feels like a hug, or a punch. Classic country tones come intuitively to Baker and Torres, intimate without indulgence. 'Sugar in the Tank' is an especially furious-yet-graceful belter. This album is joyous, banjo-filled, flamingly queer, and easy to love. Listen: Sugar In The Tank Steph Hughes Viagra Boys — viagr aboys The magic of Viagra Boys' fourth album lies in the dynamic between its visceral and putrescent slacker punk energy, and its moments of genuine and tender lyrical poignancy. It's the magnetism between these opposing poles that keeps the album grounded and relatable; a valuable counterpoint to its Ren and Stimpy-esque intensity. Listen: Man Made of Meat Stephen Goodhew Marlon Williams — Te Whare Tīwekaweka I bought this album for my mum and myself as we have recently started exploring our Māori heritage. Marlon makes us feel invited into this journey with this gorgeous album. Learning language is the portal into understanding a culture. I'm also learning songs from this with my kids to keep this journey alive for the next generation. Listen to it all. Be emotional. This album is good for your soul, whatever journey you are on. Listen: Rere Mai Ngā Rau Dylan Lewis Wretch 32 — Home? Home? is an apt title for this album. Not because I've lived in the UK, nor lived the Black Brit experience, but because the lyrics and production feel super comfortable and familiar, and it warms your heart with each listen. Maybe it's because Wretch — seven albums and 17 years into his career — is now stepping into elder-statesman territory and knows exactly who he is and how he wants to present himself? Either way, it's such a dope and well-crafted album. Listen: Home Sweet Home
ABC News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Chasing Ghosts make an art of catharsis
Led by Thungutti man Jimmy Kyle, five-piece indie-punk band Chasing Ghosts have made an art of catharsis through raw lyrics, and powerful riffs. Together they discuss their latest album, and play live in the studio. Plus, with NAIDOC Week just around the corner, Garuwa co-founder Kieran Satour kicks off a special series to celebrate this year's theme "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy". And for Word Up, Stuart Joel Nuggest shares the Jingili name for a place north-west of his hometown of Elliot, NT. This episode contains reference to suicide. If this discussion raises any problems for you, support is available by calling 13 YARN on 13 92 76, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
ABC News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Chasing Ghosts's new album is raw and riff heavy
Known for blending raw emotion with fierce honesty, Chasing Ghosts are known for blending raw honesty, with heavy riffs. And their new album Therapy is loaded with an even deeper level of vulnerability. Jimmy Kyle, Chris O'Neill, Josh Burgan, Rohan Welsh, and Benny Clark head into the studio to discuss the album, and what drew them together as a five-piece indie-punk band. This story contains reference to suicide. If this discussion raises any problems for you, support is available by calling 13 YARN on 13 92 76, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
