If you’re struggling to get through the working week, give yourself a moment to crank up “So What!”, the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne-based emo pop-punk act Cordiform.
I don’t throw the term perfect around lightly, but this might just be the perfect pop-punk song. Its energetic intro piqued my interest, but those relatable lyrics delivered so convincingly by James Hibble assured me these guys are the real deal. Then when the intensity of those drums went up a notch to match the power of Liam Nolan’s grittier vocals in the second verse, my adoration went to another level. “So What!” is anthemic, perfect for singing along to when life gets too much.
“[So What!] was one of the first songs we started working on after we released our debut EP, Growth & Despair, in October 2023,” Liam said. “The original idea was Tim Irwin’s [drummer] really early in writing, always looking at it wondering how we would use it. It went through a lot of changes but the foundations were always linked back to the original demo. It took working with [producer Ionei] Heckenberg to really pull a chorus together that felt big enough to give the energy to the song we thought it deserved.”
Ionei also shot, directed, and edited the music video for “So What!” with Jaydon Colvin. The clip sees the band coming together with Cordi Club, their playful take on Fight Club. While it’s lighthearted, it also emphasized how even the most mundane things can become meaningful when they’re shared.
“Working with [Jayden and Ionei] was so effortless,” Liam enthused. “They really took our ideas and our lack of experience and really guided us through a massive day. They are so energetic and uptempo with their work and they really want you to walk away with the best product possible. It was something like 36c when we filmed that day and everyone was struggling under all the lights in the cramped spaces but they never showed it, even if we did.”
Cordiform are wasting no time celebrating the release of “So What!”, kicking off an epic East Coast tour supporting Chasing Ghosts tomorrow. Tickets are still available, so get on it!
6 June 2025 – The Austral, Tarntanya/Adelaide
7 June 2025 – Volta, Ballaarat/Ballarat
8 June 2025 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne
13 June 2025 – Oxford Art Gallery, Eora/Sydney
14 June 2025 – Greaser Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
9 August 2025 – 2 Pizza 2 Planet Festival @ Stay Gold, Naarm/Melbourne
Photo credit: Tony Tailor