AUSTEN TAPS JONO MA FOR NEW ANXIETY ANTHEM ‘WORSE THINGS’
Photo Credit: Rose Pure (@rosepure)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO "WORSE THINGS"
Melbourne-via-Brisbane artist Austen kicks off a new chapter with the release of her latest single, ‘Worse Things’. Featuring a more DIY-approach and more organic instrumentation, Austen leans further into the indie pop sounds inspired by the likes of Lily Allen or Sky Ferreria, channeling her idols to create a wholly authentic and genuine sound.
An unapologetic and unafraid ode to anxiety, Austen steps into her own more than ever before with a newly reinvigorated sense of artistic integrity with ‘Worse Things’. Written with Luke McDonald (The John Steel Singers, Holiday Party) and extra production and mixing duties by Jono Ma (Jagwar Ma), ‘Worse Things’ sees Austen take a peculiar and curious look at tackling her mind, honing in on that particular moment when someone tells you that "worse things could happen!" as a way to console or comfort someone on the verge of a panic attack.
Austen said of the single, "It’s kind of turned into my mantra lately, so it feels especially fitting and cathartic to release this now. To me the song feels like looking at my anxiety through this nostalgic, rose-tinged lens and being able to detach from it for a few minutes."
Jono Ma said, "The thing that caught my attention about Austen was something that I’ve always been drawn to in pop. I like music that has one eye on the past and one eye on the future. It’s a tricky thing to do well but I think Austen has managed it. There’s this sense of 'retro-nostalgia' while still remaining bold and forward thinking."
Alongside ‘Worse Things’, Austen also debuts a brand new official video as well. Made in collaboration with Rose Pure and with makeup by Melbourne drag artist Blaze Edwards, the pair took advantage of the brief lifting of restrictions in Melbourne to create the clip, even managing to fit in a visit to the aquarium. "The most relaxing place we could think of to film for a song about panic attacks," Austen said.
With a steadily growing list of accolades that includes triple j support for her 2019 single ‘Anthem’ as well as reaching the finals of triple j unearthed’s #DIYSUPERGROUP competition with her Wolfjay-collaboration, ‘Very Soon, Very Frequent’, Austen’s star continues to rise. Having also previously supported the likes of The Kite String Tangle, Running Touch, Col3trane, Nyxen, and Love Fame Tragedy, Austen enters the second half of 2020 with a new weapon in her arsenal: knowing who exactly who she is. And with plenty more on the way, Austen arrives with a solidified identity and ready to go.