Tag: Joan & The Giants

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Seb Szabo and Joan & The Giants Team Up For “Figure It Out”

I’m a big fan of Seb Szabo and Joan & The Giants, so I knew their collaboration on “Figure It Out” would be my jam before I even pressed play. Thankfully it’s everything I hoped for and then some. If you need a little break from the pre-Christmas stress, press play. I swear it’ll make you feel better.

“Figure It Out” celebrates the friendship between Seb and Joan & the Giants’ frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth. They shared a stage at a warehouse show last year and became fast friends. Seb was there for Grace when she relocated to Naarm/Melbourne earlier in the year after her long-term relationship broke down. She said working on this song with Seb, “genuinely lifted me out of something really dark and helped me find my voice, and made this the best experience I could have had in this new stage of my life.”

He added “We decided we should have a piece of our individual story in the song – myself as a romantic miscast as a bachelor-type, and Grace exiting a long-term relationship and being single for the first time in years. We both I think found ourselves in life situations that we didn’t necessarily ask to be in, but we were having a laugh together while making the best of it all – leaving chaotic voice messages about bad dates and unsuccessful attempts at flirting with strangers. It’s such a blessing to have friends like that – they make everything easier.”

Seb recently wrapped up some solo dates while Joan & The Giants blew crowds away supporting The Fray. I know they’re probably taking some downtime, but could we get them to team up for a tour next year? Please make it happen!

Photo credit: James Morris

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“The Five Stages of Grief” – Joan & The Giants

We all need a little sad girl music every now and again, right? If you agree, wrap your ears around The Five Stages of Grief, the gorgeous new EP from Joan & The Giants.

This is a really personal collection of songs which explores the end of the nine-year relationship between frontwoman Gracie Newton-Wordsworth and the band’s former guitarist Aaron Birch. Gracie wrote some songs on her own and some songs with Aaron as they attempted to process their feelings.

Gracie isn’t afraid to lay her emotions bare here. The lyrics are raw, revealing sorrow, anger, and eventual acceptance and she moves through the grief of her relationship breakdown. Bandmates Riley Sutto and Liam Olsen take on gentle supporting roles, ensuring Gracie’s lyrics and voice shine brightest.

The Five Stages of Grief is a powerful snapshot of a relationship breakdown and what comes next. It’s out now. Thankfully Joan & The Giants have plenty to look forward to with sold-out shows supporting The Fray and their own headline tour on the horizon.

18 September 2025 – The Espy Gershwin, Euro-Yroke/St Kilda
27 September 2025 – Vic on the Park, Eora/Sydney (FREE)

Photo credit: Britney Long

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & Giants Drop “Still Breathing” Ahead of Naarm/Melbourne Move

I’m convinced that everything Joan & The Giants touches turns to gold. “Still Breathing,” their first release for 2025, is another fabulous indie-rock track from this Aussie trio. Born from a jam session, this heartfelt release packs a serious emotional punch.

“The lyrics really speak about an inner war, trying to fight for the people you once were but knowing you have to let it all go – ‘But some things are best kept in the past, and I know we weren’t built to last’,” explained the band’s frontwoman, Grace Newton-Wordsworth.

2025 is set to be a massive year for Joan & The Giants as they prepare to say goodbye to their home in Boorloo/Perth and base themselves in Naarm/Melbourne. They’ve already played their first international shows at SXSW, but they’ll be back on home soil for a string of shows soon, including a big WA farewell. If you live there, make sure you give them the send off that they deserve!

21 March 2025 – Metropolis, Walyalup/Fremantle (supporting Lake Street Dive)
17 April 2025 – Red Earth Arts Festival, Ngarluma Country/Karratha
3 May 2025 – Farewell WA Show @ The Bird, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Channel the Rage With “How Could You?”

Everything Joan & The Giants touch seems to turn to gold, and their latest single is no exception. “How Could You?” is a fabulous indie-rock track that perfectly encapsulates the heartache that comes with a major betrayal.

“When a person breaks all the trust you once had in them it isn’t just sad, it’s completely chaotic,” vocalist Grace Newton-Wordsworth shared. “I was going through life still doing all the things I have to do like working multiple jobs, playing shows, seeing friends and family – whilst internally, I was screaming.”

If you love their music and want to get your hands on some exclusive merch, preorder a copy of their new limited edition vinyl. There’ll be just 100 copies of this exclusive 7-inch featuring Joan & The Giants and Seb Szabo’s Baked Sessions recorded in Collingwood in June. Pre-order a copy here to make sure you don’t miss out when they’re released on November 8. That same day they’ll also be part of Western Australia’s massive Blues at Bridegtown festival, which runs from November 8 to 10.

Photo credit: Isabelle Haubrich Photography

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Release “Feels Like Heartache” Ahead of Belinda Carlisle Tour

Sometimes a beautiful song doesn’t hit you immediately. If it’s too subtle, it can lost in all the noise of the day-to-day. But when it does hit you, when it catches you in a moment of quiet, the payoff is so rewarding. That’s how I’m feeling about “Feels Like Heartache,” the latest single from Joan & the Giants. It’s such a beautiful, bittersweet ballad about a doomed romance moving towards its inevitable demise.

“’Feels like Heartache’ is the most deeply personal and honest song we’ve written,” lead vocalist Grace Newtown-Wordsworth said. “It’s centred around longing for the person you love more than anything but knowing it’s an addiction and isn’t good for you. Being brutally honest isn’t easy, but honesty to us is a very important thing, especially in our songwriting.”

Joan & The Giants usually headline shows these days, but they’re stepping into the support role on Belinda Carlisle’s upcoming tour, which kicks off in their hometown next month. Here are all the dates you need for those gigs:

18 September 2024 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT)
20 September 2024 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Belinda Carlisle)
21 September 2024 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT)
24 September 2024 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT)
27 September 2024 – Anita’s Theatre, Dharawal Country/Thirroul (supporting Belinda Carlisle)
29 September 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT)
30 September 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney (supporting Belinda Carlisle)
3 October 2024 – Twin Towns, Goodjinburra Country/Tweed Heads (supporting Belinda Carlisle)
5 October 2024 – The Tivoli, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT)
6 October 2024 – The Tivoli, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Belinda Carlisle)

Photo credit: Isabelle Haubrich Photography

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Get Nostalgic With “Born in the Wrong Time”

As a teen I was convinced I was meant to be hanging out in the Haight-Ashbury district in the 60s, not in suburban Newcastle in the 90s. So I’m relating hard to Joan & The Giants’ latest indie-rock bop, “Born in the Wrong Time.”

“Raw in its bones, ‘Born In The Wrong Time’ is a song about tapping out from the modern world and yearning for a time when things were a bit more simple,” explained the band’s vocalist Grace Newton-Wordsworth. “Lyrically, I wrote this song about feeling like an outsider throughout every stage of my life. From being misunderstood throughout childhood, to never quite feeling part of whatever adulthood is – everything has always felt a little disconnected, like I’m an old soul trapped in this body.”

“‘Born in the Wrong Time’ was written with iconic music festivals like Woodstock ‘69 in mind, and it’s an exploration on how sometimes being in the modern world with all the social media and modern distractions can be intoxicating and make you feel really small as a person,” added guitarist Aaron Birch.

Fresh from supporting megastar P!NK at Optus Stadium, the Boorloo/Perth band are heading out on their own headlining tour to support the single’s release. It all kicks off in Naarm/Melbourne tonight, so don’t stall on those tickets.

15 March 2024 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne
16 March 2024 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
23 March 2024 – Hyperfest, Boorloo/Perth
30 March 2024 – Mojo’s Bar, Walyalup/Fremantle

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Bring Summer Vibes With “Good Time” Single

Joan & The Giants have just dropped their latest single “Good Time”, and it’s an absolute summer anthem. It’s an easy, breezy number that has me thinking of carefree moments like highway drives and bonfires on the beach.

“‘Good Time’ is about being madly in love and letting go of control,” said the band’s frontwoman, Grace Newton-Wordsworth. “This indie guitar-soaked summer song is a sexy ride, and it’s the first time I’ve let myself get sexy and feel sexy in a song. I just love the way it makes me feel, and I hope it brings some good times to people.”

Joan & The Giants will play a few shows this month to warm up for their massive slot supporting P!NK in March. If you don’t have tickets to the stadium shows, make sure you catch them at one of their free gigs!

19 January 2024 – Froth Craft Brewery, Goomburrup/Bunbury (FREE)
20 2024 – Settlers, Wooditup/Margaret River (FREE)
21 2024 – Caves House Hotel, Wooditup/Yallingup (FREE)
1 March 2024 – Optus Stadium, Perth (supporting P!NK)
2 March 2024 – Optus Stadium, Perth (supporting P!NK)

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Release Fantastic New Single, “Beg”

The always fabulous Joan & The Giants have just dropped a fantastic new single, “Beg.” As if that wasn’t exciting enough, it comes packaged with an old-school B-side, “Narcissist.” Get your ears around them both, because they’re brilliant.

“‘Beg’ was written about a breaking point in my own relationship where we had two choices: either fight to make it work, or it’s over,” recalled Joan & The Giants’ frontwoman, Grace Newton-Wordsworth. “You shouldn’t have to beg for someone’s love, and this song is about those last moments when you really don’t want to walk away from the person you love most in this world, but everything in your body and soul is telling you, you might have to.”

As for “Narcissist,” Grace said “I wrote this song on acoustic guitar and it was one of those experiences where the lyrics all came in about 10 minutes and the story was just there – it was complete. It was recorded raw in one to two takes and we kept it quite stripped back, which allowed space for the vulnerability of the lyrics to powerfully creep through.”

Fresh from dates supporting home state heroes Eskimo Joe, Joan & Giants have a few more local gigs. Catch them anywhere you can!

18 November 2023 – WAM FEST – Museum Stage, Boorloo/Perth
24 November 2023 – The Bird, Boorloo/Perth (“Beg” launch)
9 December 2023 – Music in the Park @ Bramston Park, Oor-dal-kalla Country/Burns Beach (FREE)
17 December 2023 – Sunday Music @ Fremantle Arts Centre, Walyalup/Fremantle (FREE with Stacey Ann)

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Impress With “Sleep Alone” Single

I think Joan & The Giants are one of the best bands on the local music scene. I seem to fall a little more in love with them with every release. “Sleep Alone” is no exception. If you’re yet to discover how brilliant this band is, let yourself get swept up in this dreamy rock ballad. Vocalist and songwriter Grace Newton-Wordsworth said the song was inspired by the repression she felt growing up.

“I loved most of my childhood, but there were definitely some difficult times where I felt quite trapped in my body – I grew up in a loving but intense Christian home and while I still hold onto a lot of the core kind values, there were some parts of my childhood experience that were incredibly suffocating,” she admitted. “I spent years hiding my sexuality, and parts of myself that I still struggle to be open with. The line ‘You take me back to when I was a kid, begging for someone to save me. It leaves me frozen, trapped in the morgue again’ – I feel like sometimes relationships can bring a lot of sadness to the surface of things you’ve been holding onto your whole life. When you finally meet someone who you open up to, a lot of wounds can be opened with that.”

Joan & The Giants are just about the wrap up their first headlining tour, but you can catch the at their final show tomorrow night at The Bird in Boorloo/Perth.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Ashlyn Burley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Joan & The Giants Release Nostalgic New Anthem, “Cool Kid”

Boorloo/Perth alt-pop act Joan & The Giants have just dropped their fabulous new single “Cool Kid,” and I know you’ll want to listen. The fabulous nostalgic ‘90s sound grabbed me from the get-go, but it’s the powerful lyrics exploring frontwoman Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s feelings about coming out that have really stayed with me.

“Coming out as bisexual was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done as I grew up with a lot of shame surrounding my sexuality. I was raised in a loving home, but my parents also had intense Christian beliefs, and I was taught that being gay or queer is a sin and could lead to serious consequences. Thankfully I met some queer friends who encouraged me to open up to who I am and be proud of my sexuality,” she explained.

“I think my entire life I have always been a bit of an outsider and gravitated towards people that feel the same. I grew up on an organic and bio-dynamic farm, my parents are Christian hippies and weren’t very accepted in the town I grew up in. My life was unconventional and other kids just didn’t really understand me. I was rejected, left out and bullied and definitely never a ‘Cool Kid’.”

Joan & The Giants are touring all over the country next month to support the release of “Cool Kid.” Check them out at a venue near you:

5 July 2023 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle (FREE)
6 July 2023 – Royal Hotel, Gadigal Country/Bondi (FREE)
7 July 2023 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
8 July 2023 – Bucketty’s Brewery, Garigal Country/Brookvale (FREE)
9 July 2023 – Yulli’s Brews, Gadigal Country/Alexandria (FREE)
12th July 2023 – The Retreat, Bulleke-bek/Brunswick (FREE)
14th July 2023 – The Espy Basement, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda
15th July 2023 – Gods Bandroom, Boon Wurrung Country/Mornington
16th July 2023 – Post Office Hotel, Arrarrkbi Country/Coburg (FREE)
21 July 2023 – Froth Brewery, Noongar Country/Bunbury
22 July 2023 – Hally’s Bar, Undalup/Busselton (FREE)
23 July 2023 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Quedjinup/Dunsborough (FREE)
5 August 2023 – The Bird, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR