Created In Partnership With Sprout
The Jungle Giants have reached legendary status. Having met as students at Brisbane’s Mansfield State High School, the four-piece launched onto the Australian music scene in 2013 with the single “I Am What You Want Me to Be” and their debut album, Learn to Exist.
Thirteen years on, the band are now a fixture of festival lineups both locally and globally and have grown from defining Australia’s indie pop scene in the 2010s to experimenting with electronic and dance music on 2021’s Love Signs and the latest album, Experiencing Feelings of Joy.
Lead singer Sam Hales shared with Rolling Stone AU/NZ in March that their 2026 album was born from a period of creative burnout and a rough heartbreak.
“I’d overextended and kind of cooked it, but I really found myself,” he shared. “That’s where the joy comes from, having this unwavering hope even after experiencing adversity.”
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After more than a decade at the forefront of the Australian music scene, Sam sits down with Australian tech brand Sprout — who are on a mission to grow Australia’s homegrown sound — and Rolling Stone AU/NZ to share his advice for the next generation of Australian musicians.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out?
Sam Hales: I really loved my attitude going into music. I planned out everything and was really proactive. One thing I’d add (after discovering it later on) is it’s super important to have a healthy work-life balance. I experienced a pretty insane burnout a few years ago, and I’ve come to learn some new tricks to help prevent it. I’d teach myself those tricks early on for sure.
What practical lessons have you learned along the way about turning music from a passion into a sustainable career?
Have a plan, find the right team who believe in and support you, and build it from the ground up. Spend less time worrying if it’s going to work, and start spending that same amount of energy on how to get it going. It’s about getting the fundamentals there, forming the right base around you.
What do you think separates musicians with lasting careers from those who have a breakout moment and disappear?
I think a huge part is knowing what you’ve done. Learning song craft is a journey, but it helps to know what you’re adding and taking away in an arrangement. It’s also important to know that production and engineering are extensions of songwriting. Some people think they’re totally separate things, but I disagree. They extend your intentions, and they help get the message across.
Another major part of being in a band is communication. We all love each other, and we have our good days and bad days, but we can always talk it out. That’s a major part of longevity.
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The Jungle Giants have continued to evolve while maintaining a distinct identity. How do you balance pushing yourself creatively while staying connected to the audience that’s supported you from the start?
I think it’s about understanding what the audience is connected to in the first place. I used to be really scared of evolving my sound, but one day I made the decision to be true to myself, and I never looked back. People are connected to you as an artist, and they put their trust in you to love what you’re making. Sounds can change, but I like to give my audience credit; they also hear the songcraft and the love behind the changing sounds. That’s what I think stays super consistent.
What do you think young musicians need to understand about building a music career?
Make songs, focus on the music. That’s what it is fundamentally all about.
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There’s a lot of pressure on new artists to constantly create and stay visible. How do you protect the creative process and avoid chasing trends?
I think it’s about listening to music and moving with what you love at the time. If you make something you love, and really nail it, no matter how wacky or explorative, you’re killing it. That’s how trends work; someone has to do it first.
What excites you most about the next wave of Australian artists coming through right now?
I just love meeting new Aussie artists. I’m finding so many artists doing interesting things. It’s so inspiring. I think for me one of the most exciting things is the production behind the projects; so many new artists are producing them themselves, it’s so fresh and exciting.
If you could give one tip to local musicians in the year 2026, what would it be?
Make a body of work, and put as much energy into getting it to as many people as possible as you did making it!
Want to hear more from Sam Hales and the next wave of homegrown artists? Head to Rolling Stone AU/NZ and Sprout’s video series, The Greenhouse.
