Created In Partnership With Mentos
A four-piece punk-rock group hailing from Canberra, Sonic Reducer has been on an upward climb ever since their debut.
Winning the 2024 Artist of the Year and Best Live Act at the Canberra Music Awards on their first EP SKEWBALL, the band has since released two more EPs and is set to travel again, supporting Japanese art-rock band Betcover!! on the Australian leg of their international tour.
On their new EP Living Room, the group has been exploring their musical repertoire, moving further away from the fast and loud stylings, often associated with their punk predecessors. Previously compared to The Clash and Arctic Monkeys, their melodic stylings and melancholy vocals have permeated Australia’s emerging musical landscape, carving out a unique position and acting as a launching pad for this punk-rock group’s assured success.
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Now, as the newest addition to the Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26, curated by Rolling Stone AU/NZ, group members Cormac, Lachlan, Ryleigh and Lily sat down with Rolling Stone AU/NZ and quickly maintained the old punk tradition of anti-establishment — calling out greedy conglomerates and the need to support emerging artists.
Who are you and where are you from?
We are Sonic Reducer, from Canberra, Australia.
Describe your fresh sound in 3 words:
Our fresh sound in three words: minty, bombastic, loud.
Tell us about your latest release.
Our latest release is our EP Living Room. It’s definitely the biggest step we’ve taken musically so far and we’re all very proud of how it turned out. It definitely has the most melodic songs we’ve recorded so far, as we’ve always leant to a louder and faster sound. It was a really rewarding experience writing and recording the EP, and being able to see how we play together without leaning to our more usual sound.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
If we could collaborate with any artist, it would be DEVO — the best band on the planet.
What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far on your musical journey?
The biggest lesson we’ve learned so far is to maintain basic hygiene in the car, get eight hours of sleep, and eat your veggies.
What’s your dream venue to play?
A dream venue to play is the theatre from “The Blues Brothers”. I think the inside and outside of the venue are two separate places in the movie, so either would be grand. It was Cormac’s favourite movie as a child. Maybe one day we’ll all get matching finger tattoos.
What’s coming up for you in 2026, and beyond?
In 2026 you can expect to see us continuing to play more shows around Australia and working on new music
What’s one thing you think the Australian and New Zealand music industry needs right now, and why?
The Australian music scene needs more support for local venues and musicians, and fewer greedy conglomerate companies driving up ticket prices and destroying the soul of music.
What does it mean to you to be part of the Rolling Stone and Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26?
It means a lot to us to be part of the Fresh Sounds Class of ‘26, mainly because we are joined by such an amazing and talented company of artists.
Why is it important to support emerging Australian and Kiwi artists?
It’s important to support emerging Aussie artists because otherwise they’ll perpetually be “emerging”, and never actually emerge.
Follow their journey through the Fresh Sounds Class of ’26 and beyond here.
