He’s long been an influential presence on the Australian music scene, and now as Bryan Estepa celebrates the recent release of his recent single “Admit Now, Pay Later”, the acclaimed artist has unveiled its accompanying music video.
Moving to Sydney from the Philippines in the late ’80s, Estepa found fame first as a member of ’90s indie-rockers Swivel. As the years went by, he launched a critically-acclaimed solo career which, in addition to spawning six stunning records, has resulted in beloved live shows across Australia, Japan, the USA, UK, Spain, Sweden, and the Philippines.
Following the release of 2019’s Sometimes I Just Don’t Know, Estepa has returned with his latest single, sharing the melodic “Admit Now, Pay Later” just last week. Produced by, and featuring the talents of, Josh Pyke, it’s a track as catchy and immersive as those created by his heroes, including Wilco, You Am I, and The Beatles, to name a few.
“Bryan’s sense of melody is really strong which informs everything in his songs,” Pyke explains. “His lyrics are really authentic and heartfelt and for me that’s the key of a good song. From there it’s a matter of pushing the boundaries of what the arrangement and sonics can be, to tell those stories.”
“Bryan’s a great writer and collaborator,” he adds. “He’s got a classic pop sensibility but is really open to feedback and experimentation which made my job as producer really fun and free.”
While “Admit Now, Pay Later” serves as the first taste of his studio collaboration with Pyke, Estepa notes that it also heralds a change in his own approach to songwriting. “It’s a song that touches on hindsight and self-reflection,” he notes. “I guess it’s part of the process of understanding and coming to terms with life’s curve balls.”
With the song officially out now, Estepa has also shared the film clip for the track. Shot in Western Sydney, and employing the writing talents of Martin Greguric, and the directorial and filmmaking efforts of Nicholas Banicevic, the tongue-in-cheek video showcases a day in the life of a humble shopping trolley.
A humorous pairing to a gorgeous musical creation, both the track and its video are a testament to Estepa’s status as a widely-unsung hero of the Australian music scene, and gives listeners an idea of what is still to come from this beloved and critically-acclaimed artist.
Bryan Estepa’s “Admit Now, Buy Later” is out now via Rock Indiana/Lilystars Records.
