Gold Coast genre-bending punk outfit Radolescent bring together the best of the old music world and the new with their unique amalgamation of punk-infused music coupled with a new wave mentality that has seen the band gathering hundreds of thousands of streams across the major platforms.
After initially being unable to tour their debut album in 2019 because of the pandemic, Radolescent instead concentrated on the new wave of music tools to ensure their music reached an audience which led to national tours, festivals and sold-out shows at some of Brisbane’s most iconic venues.
The band have returned with their new single Tough, a fiery punk ballad of sorts that addresses issues of trust in a relationship.
Vocalist/guitarist Isaac Atkinson sat down with HEAVY to discuss the new single.
“It’s been really good,” he said of the early reception for Tough, which was released last month. “We’ve been getting lots of good feedback. We’re stoked to see it landing in heaps of people’s playlists, it’s probably one of our most popular organic songs with our audience. Pretty stoked to get it premiered on JJJ and the film clips been on Rage now, so heaps of good response.”
The term fiery punk ballad sounds a little too conflicting to be used to describe a song, and when HEAVY point out the words punk and ballad should never be used in the same sentence, Atkinson smiles in agreeance.
“Yeah,” he laughed. “We’ve been a punk band for years, but as we’re getting older, we’re probably chilling out a bit. I don’t wanna swear my head off as much as I used to any more, I’m not as angry, so it’s more of a ballad for us but at the same time it’s really fast-paced with a pretty ripping guitar solo at the end. It’s a ballad. It’s our version of a ballad, I guess you could say.”
In the full interview, Isaac talks about the slide guitar in Tough, the film clip and shooting it, future music, not being able to tour their debut album from 2019 because of COVID, their upcoming East Coast run of shows, making music for enjoyment and more.
RADOLESCENT TOUR DATES
Friday 23rd September, The Zoo Brisbane Ticket link
Supports: Sunday Sesh, The Splints
Friday 7th October, Cherry Bar, Melbourne Ticket link
Supports: Radium Dolls, The Darrans
Sunday 9th October, Mary’s Underground, Sydney Ticket link
Supports: Radium Dolls, The Darrans
Friday 21st October, The Northern, Byron Bay free entry
Supports Radium Dolls, Sunday Sesh
Sunday 23rd October, Vinnies Dive, Gold Coast tickets
Supports Radium Dolls, Sunday Sesh
