The four piece are queer front-woman Grace Newton-Wordsworth (who grew up on an organic farm in regional Western Australia) alongside members Riley Sutton, Chris Mackenzie and Liam Olsen.

“I wrote ‘Mamma Don’t Cry’ several months after leaving an abusive relationship and moving into my first share house — which quickly became my safe haven,” says Grace. “I remember writing it on a warm WA afternoon in our rumpus room, not long after a really difficult conversation with my mum. We’d gone for coffee in Fremantle, and that’s when I finally told her what I had been through. She broke down in tears, heartbroken that I hadn’t told her while it was happening. But the truth is, when you’re in it, you don’t really tell anyone. It takes every ounce of strength just to stop excusing it—and even more to finally walk away. This song didn’t come from a place of victimhood. If anything, it came from a time when I discovered just how strong I really was—and I’m proud of that. I felt like a butterfly leaving the cocoon, slowly finding freedom, peace, and a sense of self again.”

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With up-tempo melodies, mournful vocals, and transient guitar, ‘How Could You?’ is a track straight out of a coming-of-age movie. The soft, analogue quality of the song melts away in this musical journey through emotions, the bittersweet tune melting into anger with a grand finale of electric guitar and thrashing drums.

The heartfelt and emotive vocals of Grace Newton-Wordsworth twists and warps along with the guitar, transcending from a major to a minor key to end the song with a heavy, distorted energy. The upbeat tempo and the despairing lyrics contrast beautifully until they finally match together at the end of the song in a display of catharsis. This symbolism is intentional, with Grace sharing:

“When a person breaks all the trust you once had in them it isn’t just sad, it’s completely chaotic. I was going through life still doing all the things I have to do like working multiple jobs, playing shows, seeing friends and family – whilst internally, I was screaming.”

This song was written to contrast with itself and reflect the way the outside doesn’t always match the inside, with boppy and bright melodies contrasting the lyrical content of the song. Focusing on the feeling of betrayal that comes when you least expect it, this song takes you through the journey and processes the emotions, ending loud and unapologetic in the rage of it all.

Accompanying the track is their delightful studio music video, which captures their charm and infectious energy as they dance along. Shot by Isabelle Haubrich, the self-directed video is absolutely adorable and a joy to watch.

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Having a knack for unbottling emotions –stirring laughter and joy while also drawing tears– Joan & The Giants continue to shine with their care-free indie-rock with ‘Born In The Wrong Time’. Twirling in a hazy kaleidoscopic summer of love, ‘Born In The Wrong Time’ is upbeat and vibrant as it romanticises a bygone era of simpler times. Instilling an air of old school rock n’ roll with chugging palm-muted guitar and full-band rock hits, the track is punchy, triumphant and an absolute ear-worm.

Dreaming of living in a different era, ‘Born In The Wrong Time’ is about not fitting in and wanting to escape to the past where things seemed easier and ideologies were more aligned. Grace Newton-Wordsworth states:

“Raw in its bones, ‘Born In The Wrong Time’ is a song about tapping out from the modern world and yearning for a time when things were a bit more simple. Lyrically, I wrote this song about feeling like an outsider throughout every stage of my life. From being misunderstood throughout childhood, to never quite feeling part of whatever adulthood is – everything has always felt a little disconnected, like I’m an old soul trapped in this body.”

It’s quite easy to look back and wish to have been there with some of music’s biggest heroes for some of the most iconic movements in the last century, especially with the way the world can feel today, as Aaron Birch adds:

“‘Born in the Wrong Time’ was written with iconic music festivals like Woodstock ‘69 in mind, and it’s an exploration on how sometimes being in the modern world with all the social media and modern distractions can be intoxicating and make you feel really small as a person.”

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Fittingly, with the good news and high-spirited energy surrounding Joan & The Giants, ‘Good Time’ is, as the title suggests, all about having a good time. As a lush and euphoric indie rock trip, ‘Good Time’ captures the essence of letting go, unwinding, and experiencing the pure joy of a moment.

Beaming with an exhilarating sense of freedom, the dreamy anthem is soaked with layers of flourishing guitars, full-bodied bass and Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s stunning vocal delivery with lyrics that imbue ecstasy and that token sense of enchantment JATG are known for. Infused with warm, buoyant vibes, the track is set to become a soundtrack for late-night drives, moonlit ocean dips, and the intoxicating rush of first love. Grace Newton-Wordsworth talks about the track:

“‘Good Time’ is about being madly in love and letting go of control. This indie guitar-soaked summer song is a sexy ride, and it’s the first time I’ve let myself get sexy and feel sexy in a song. I just love the way it makes me feel, and I hope it brings some good times to people.”

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Like the final call in a relationship, when the stomach sinks, the muscles cramp, and the air becomes thick and hard to breathe – ‘Beg’ is a paralysing story of unrequited love. With their signature indie-rock sound adorned with sprawling, fuzzed-out guitars and enriching synths, ‘Beg’ is filled with passion and pain.

Grace Newton-Wordsworth pleas with her dulcet tones drenched in desperation and her knee-trembling natural vibrato to the indie-rock backdrop characterized by the band’s judicious restraint – gradually crescendoing into an irresistibly captivating fervency.

Reflecting on the origins of ‘Beg’, Grace Newton-Wordsworth shared, “‘Beg’ was written about a breaking point in my own relationship where we had two choices: either fight to make it work, or it’s over. You shouldn’t have to beg for someone’s love, and this song is about those last moments when you really don’t want to walk away from the person you love most in this world, but everything in your body and soul is telling you, you might have to.”

For the B-side, ‘Narcissist’, the band embraces a stripped-back approach, allowing Grace’s poignant lyrics to take centre stage. Pairing perfectly with ‘Beg’ as a soundtrack for a breakup, the song is a reflection on heartbreak and the loss of a once-cherished relationship. Grace’s vocals gently float through the melancholic journey while the band provides a subtle yet powerful musical backdrop.

“I wrote this song on acoustic guitar and it was one of those experiences where the lyrics all came in about 10 minutes and the story was just there – it was complete”, Grace states on the songwriting process. In the studio, it was fitting that they kept things simple, as she continues, “It was recorded raw in 1-2 takes and we kept it quite stripped back, which allowed space for the vulnerability of the lyrics to powerfully creep through.”

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Starting life on an acoustic guitar, Joan & The Giants constructed ‘Sleep Alone’ from just the bare-bones of instrumentation; more reminiscent of a country-ballad than the alternative-pop heater heard today. Once the band was added, it grew to become larger than the initial output, with producer Dylan Ollivierre (Meg Mag, Tia Gostellow, Holy Holy) partnering with the band to guide its progression. He was able to keep the band in check and push them to complete the song; having full faith in Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s sad and haunting message. Acclaimed engineer Ryan Mill (Tones & I, Angus & Julia Stone, Thelma Plum) went on to mix the track, with mastering by William Bowden (Children Collide, Empire of The Sun).

Grace had this to say on the track: “Sleep Alone’ is about feeling attached to someone that doesn’t make you feel appreciated or seen. You feel like you’re running in circles, canceling plans, waiting up for a message – all for someone who doesn’t really care. Then when they are there, it can also feel so good it’s suffocating, like it haunts the spaces you live in. The scent on the pillows, the memories that creep in the spaces around you. This song is about wanting someone so much, it’s toxic and you’d rather not sleep than sleep alone longing for someone’s touch. I love the references to the hauntings, burying secrets in a graveyard, the morgue – it all feels heavy, which is exactly what it felt like to write this song about real moments in time.

“This song was one of the most challenging songs we have ever recorded. It’s funny because I wrote it entirely on acoustic guitar, and it sounded very country. When we showed it to our producer Dylan Ollivierre, he definitely had some ideas for a different vision that was much more alt-pop produced, which was perfect for us. We recorded this song during one of the most difficult periods of my life, and I nearly gave up on it altogether, but thankfully Dylan kept checking in and encouraging us to tackle it and keep going. It’s great having a producer that has your back, and mentors you along the way. I have never thrown myself so hard into the vocals, and literally just put all my sadness and heaviness into them – it was cathartic. You’ll hear that in the screamo part at the end haha”

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Off the back of their successful debut EP Me & You, ‘Cool Kid’ is a celebration of embracing one’s whole identity. Bouncing beats, classic indie-pop guitar licks and delicious chant-worthy lyrics create a flurry of goosebumps and sing-along goodness.

This single is super-charged as lead woman Grace Newton-Wordsworth wears her heart on her sleeve. Powerfully supported by bandmates Aaron Birch, Riley Sutton and Liam Olsen, ‘Cool Kid’ is a track based around the aftermath of coming out. Grace states regarding the track:

“Coming out as bi-sexual was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done as I grew up with a lot of shame surrounding my sexuality. I was raised in a loving home, but my parents also had intense Christian beliefs, and I was taught that being gay or queer is a sin and could lead to serious consequences. Thankfully I met some queer friends who encouraged me to open up to who I am and be proud of my sexuality.

“I think my entire life I have always been a bit of an outsider and gravitated towards people that feel the same. I grew up on an organic and bio-dynamic farm, my parents are Christian hippies and weren’t very accepted in the town I grew up in. My life was unconventional and other kids just didn’t really understand me. I was rejected, left out and bullied and definitely never a ‘Cool Kid’.”

Wrapped in an energetically eccentric soundtrack, the warming track captures the emotional challenges faced while navigating life. For those who have been made to feel small and are carrying around the weight of being bullied and pushed aside, Joan & The Giants have pieced together the perfect anthem to cry, dance, laugh and cry again to.

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A rebellion against modern grind culture and the mentality of ‘living for the weekend’, this track reflects the band’s changed philosophy to live every day with the same enthusiasm: live like you’re 17, fall in love but never fall in line, and spend time with someone whenever it feels right – because why should we only reserve our joy for days that the capitalist calendar dictates? With a melody that seeps in and sticks, earnest drums and cherry-sweet vocals, this is a tune dripping in emotive lyricism and honeyed rhythms, guaranteed to charm ears and dazzle hearts everywhere it’s heard.

During the pandemic’s beginning, Gracie found a sense of freedom from routine and tapped into this liberating feeling for ‘The Weekend’. She explains: “There was an excitement and a lack of responsibility that was so refreshing and turbulent. I think when we started getting back to reality and going to work and grinding to push a music career again, that pressure and ‘baggage’ came back onto my shoulders, and I really didn’t want to live purely for ‘the weekend’ or wait for a Friday night to feel some kind of relief.”

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With partners and longtime collaborators, Grace Newton-Wordsworth and Aaron Birch at the helm, Joan & The Giant’s music is often inspired by personal experiences shared within a loving relationship, which is the key focus of their new single ‘Home Song’. Written as love letter to Aaron during an incredibly difficult period of loss, ‘Home Song’ swoons with a delicate warmth as gentle acoustic guitar melodies combine with heartbeat percussion and sweet, soulful vocals. Then, the chorus opens up in a celebration of love with big drums and intricate synth notes, melding folksy guitar strumming with an epic vocal release.

Radiating with an overwhelming feeling of love, ‘Home Song’ puts everything into perspective, acting as a reminder not to take anything for granted, as Grace reflects: “‘Home Song’ was written on a Sunday in June 202I. Aaron and I had a pointless fight over nothing (probably the dishes), then he saw all of these missed calls on his phone and found out his grandma was seriously ill and he needed to fly to Broome immediately to say goodbye.

“When he flew away, it put everything into perspective and I just wanted to take the pain from his chest and hold it for a while. It taught me to not take anything for granted, and to hold the people you love close… So this song is for Aaron, my home.”

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Joan & The Giants are manipulating time and tugging at heartstrings in ‘Slow Motion’, wrapping us in an intoxicating indie-pop atmosphere that shivers with the delicate intensity of falling in love. Accompanied by swooning riffs and a thumping drum heartbeat, Grace’s elegant vocal delivery radiates with the warmth of a whispered breath as the candlelit verse opens up to an enveloping chorus, joined by the serenading strum of an acoustic guitar. Tinged with rose and blurry around the edges, ‘Slow Motion’ culminates in a swirling instrumental that conjures its own romantic scene, as time slows and the feeling of falling in love explored in the track becomes so palpable that it could take your breath away.

With Joan & The Giants founders Grace Newton-Wordsworth and Aaron Birch known for drawing inspiration from their personal lives in their songwriting, ‘Slow Motion’ is an intimate song detailing the all-encompassing feeling of falling in love, as Grace explains: “‘Slow Motion’ was written about falling in love when you least expect it. The intoxicating feeling of a smokey, dim-lit room moving in Slow Motion. Time starts to fall away and your whole body is focused on breathing someone in and embracing a new part of yourself.”

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