After building real buzz for their live shows, Eora/Sydney-based indie-rock act Civic Video recently dropped their debut EP Making Room For Others. If they felt any nerves heading into the studio, I can’t hear them. This is one of the most confident and compelling indie-rock recordings I’ve heard in some time.
I’ve been listening to Making Room For Others for a couple of weeks, but it’s taken me a while to put my fingers to the keyboard. Not because I didn’t want to share it with you, because I certainly did. But I wasn’t ready to dissect it, to move from the phase of just enjoying it as a music lover to thinking about it as a critic. I didn’t want to analyse why I love this EP so much. I just wanted to rock out.
Frontman Zac Newton-John’s voice anchors this music. When he sings, you believe him. While some rock vocalists want to show listeners all their tricks, Zac is more restrained, delivering lyrics with heart rather than maximum power or acrobatics. He might be the man out front, but Civic Video are a tight, cohesive unit rather than a vehicle for their frontman. I found myself noticing the important contributions of the players as I listened. The snaky bassline of the opening track “Get Back to It” excites, the electric guitar and drums that bring an intensity to “Say It Out Loud” impress, and with every track that follows I fell a little more in love.
Like Gang of Youths, Holy Holy, and The VANNS, Civic Video have a knack for creating addictive indie-rock. I got to know these songs a couple of weeks ago, but I’m still pressing play. The choruses of songs like “Just Like You” and “Daisy” are so incredibly catchy, but they’re supported by stellar verses. By the time the EP reaches its epic title track, I’m powerless to resist one more listen.
Making Room For Others is out now. Civic Video are currently touring the EP along the East Coast, and they’ve got a couple of special events in store for fans outside those cities. Tickets are on sale now for their remaining shows:
23 October 2026 – La La La’s, Dharawal/Wollongong
24 October 2026 – Metro Social, Eora/Sydney
30 October 2026 – The Rions Halloween Special @ Cloisters at UniBar, Tarntanya/Adelaide
8 November 2026 – Spaced Out @ Gage Roads, Walyalup/Fremantle
13 November 2026 – Bergy Bandroom, Naarm/Melbourne
Main photo credit: yeahrad via Good Intent