Born on the sun-soaked shores of Magnetic Island, Tropical Low are quickly proving there’s more to North Queensland than postcard beaches and reef tourism. The trio — Adrian Holds (vocals, guitar), Corey Atkin (bass), and Yeonjoo Lee (drums) — came together through what can only be described as a perfect storm.
Hailing from Adelaide, Melbourne, and Seoul, the three musicians found themselves united by a shared love of sweat-soaked live shows, big choruses, and the kind of unfiltered energy you can’t fake.
It’s a meeting that feels almost cosmic, the calm before something massive. Like the tropical systems that form over the Coral Sea, the band’s chemistry built fast and hit hard. Their sound crashes somewhere between indie rock grit and grunge punch, underpinned by funk grooves and pop hooks that shimmer with coastal warmth. Think Foo Fighters’ muscle meets JET’s swagger with flashes of Spacey Jane’s melodic charm.
In the short time since forming, Tropical Low have gone from garage jams to festival stages. Their debut single “Picture Frames” drew over 20,000 streams and set the tone for their momentum: raw, emotional, and instantly memorable.
That same spirit fuels their debut EP Superstar, released in August 2025. Across five tracks, the band tap into both the heart and heat of regional Australia, from the soaring title track to the funk-tinted “All Kinds of Love”, which earned them a Rolling Stone AU/NZ Song You Need to Know spotlight, confirming what North Queenslanders already knew: this is a band to watch.
We caught up with the rising stars as part of our Up-And-Coming Australian Artists series to find out more about their blossoming career and finding success in the music industry.
Tropical Low’s EP “Superstar” is out now.
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Tell us about your latest album/EP.
It was whirlwind of an experience and a ton of fun to record. It was recorded in the Tablelands at Mountain Kauri Studio with producer Adib Parker (cheekbone). It’s a collection of the five of the best original songs we had in our repertoire at the time. We thoroughly enjoyed the process, and we can’t wait to work with Adib again.
What kind of personality traits and values do you believe it takes to succeed in the music industry?
You’ve got to have confidence and be resilient. I (Adrian) think you have to be confident to take steps into the unknown but also resilient enough to keep making them no matter what setbacks you receive. Also, stay optimistic and don’t take rejection personally.
How would you describe your music to a potential fan?
Our band is a three piece and our music is a good blend of easy listening, melodic indie rock with the occasional in-your-face grunge. If you’re a fan of Hockey Dad, Rum Jungle, or Grand Funk Railroad then you’ll probably dig us.
What are your goals for 2025 and beyond?
This is our first year of releasing music. We’ve only been together for just over a year. We now have our own management team, and played alongside artists such as Hilltop Hoods, DMA’s, Brad Cox, Coterie, Mia Wray, In Hearts Wake, Meg Mac, Custard, Winifred, Jebediah, and Late November.
Our goals for the rest of 2025 are to play the rest of the festivals and shows that we have lined up, like opening for The Vanns this week and maybe another show or two between now and New Year’s Eve, as well as planning for 2026, because we’re going to step things up. Our goals for 2026 include recording and releasing our second EP, and to start venturing interstate as well as showcase at BIGSOUND or SXSW. We’d also like to get on regional touring supports and more metro shows and festival lineups.
