Currently courting audiences in London, Melbourne’s post-punk duo HighSchool have shared a brand new song “August 19”.
Known for a sprawling gothic sound that’s been likened to Beach Fossils and The Cure, the band takes a nuanced turn with this brooding release, delving further into the realm of bedroom pop.
Highlighted by a low-slung bass and a subtly driving snare, lead singer Rory Trobbiani sings about the torment of an adolescent crush, and the song simmers with nostalgia and heartache.
Trobbiani shares, “’August 19′ was the last track we wrote for the EP and will be the first to be released. It came together so quickly and naturally, we felt it was best not to mess with it and over work it. The title was the date we wrote it. It was saved as a voice memo on my phone and the title never changed.”
The accompanying lo-fi music video, directed by Trobbiani and featuring cinematography by Gabriel Monteregge, complements the moody track.
“In a general sense, the clip explores overarching themes of warped perceptions of self and the disparity between expectations and reality, a concept that runs throughout the entire EP. It follows our misfit protagonist (Peter Mervai) as he gets ready to go out before taking to the bustling neon-lit streets looking for some nighttime adventure,” the duo add.
Made up of Trobbiani and Luke Scott (and until recently Rory’s sister Lilli Trobbiani, who is currently focusing on completing her studies), HighSchool delivered their infectious six-track debut EP, titled Forever at Last, in 2021.
They’ve been busy in their new England home too, playing shows with CHVRCHES, Mitski, NewDad and Wet Leg, as well as appearing at various big festivals.
HighSchool are fully beginning a new chapter: alongside today’s single comes the news that the duo has signed to [PIAS] Australia. They also have a new EP in the pipeline, which sees them collaborating with rising London producer Finn Billingham (Sam Akpro and Sunken) and engineer Philippe Weiss (Madonna, Nas, Drake, Earl Sweatshirt), with mastering by Blur and Depeche Mode producer Ben Hillier.
HighSchool’s “August 19” is out now via [PIAS] Australia.
