AUSTEN RELEASES
ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE
EP ‘SMALL’
Exciting art-pop force Austen has today announced her anticipated second EP, a four-track release aptly titled Small – listen here.
Off the back of her acclaimed single ‘The Fire’, a left-field slice of pop that drew comparisons to Disclosure and Little Dragon (Declan Byrne, triple j), the sophomore EP solidifies Austen’s range as a songwriter, as Small takes the listener on a journey through more moods in four tracks than many would expect from a full length album.
Lead single ‘How To Be Alone’ is an 80’s-tinged, dark synth-pop banger that tugs at your heartstrings and your dancing shoes in equal measure. With raw and personal lyrics that perfectly echo the feelings of the whole world during the past 18 months, despite being written pre-lockdown, it’s now poised to become our 2021 anthem.
In her own words, “’How To be Alone’ is dedicated to the person who told me ‘you need to learn how to be alone’ a month before a global pandemic hit. After 200 days locked down, I’m getting better, but I’m still learning.” The single was co-written and co-produced by Sam Phay, and mixed by Jono Ma (Flight Facilities, Channel Tres), with Austen tapping Ma for mixing duties on the whole EP.
Described as a “rising pop star” (Purple Sneakers), the young songwriter-producer shows that she is an artist unafraid to dance outside the boundaries of pop. The Small EP infuses 60’s nostalgia, house, electronica, and psychedelic synths into the ethereal alt-pop sound that fans know and love her for, with EP track “In The Lake” feeling like the peak of a trip in nature.
It’s been a big few years for Austen, with debut EP Passenger Seat – named after the road trip in the desert with an ex during which it was written – garnering radio rotation and selling out shows in its wake. Her striking live show has seen her tour with the likes of AURORA, Col3trane, Love Fame Tragedy, & The Kite String Tangle, and hit the stage at festivals like Big Pineapple, Yours & Owls, and Splendour in the Grass, cementing Austen as one of the most electrifying rising voices of her kind.
Small EP out now | Official EP artwork below
After a steady stream of singles in 2021, Austen finishes the year strong, leaving us wondering: could there be a Medium or a Large on the way?
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