sugarwife return with hopeful new single ‘Getting Closer’
A jangly indie-rock anthem about surviving burnout and starting again
After years spent quietly refining their sound, Boorloo/Perth indie outfit sugarwife return with Getting Closer, the first glimpse into a long-awaited new chapter. Arriving on 21 August, the single blends shimmering indie rock, dream-pop textures and bittersweet Australiana into a song that finds hope in exhaustion.
Having remained together since 2017, sugarwife have never been a band in a hurry. Following the release of their debut album Ablations in 2022, the six-piece have continued writing, recording and evolving, emerging with a more expansive, emotionally resonant sound that draws from influences including Bright Eyes, Jeff Buckley, Fontaines D.C., Slowdive and Blur. The result is music that feels both intimate and widescreen. Equal parts melancholy and momentum.
At its core, Getting Closer captures the strange contradiction of beginning again while carrying the weight of everything that came before.
"Getting Closer is a song about starting a new year full of fresh ambition while being grounded in reality and blunt self-awareness. It's all burnt-out lyrics hidden in hope-filled jangle."
That emotional push-and-pull extended into the recording process itself. What began as another song slowly became a reflection of the band's own experience, with life repeatedly interrupting progress until the recording eventually mirrored the patience and perseverance at the heart of the lyrics.
"The recording process for this song was fairly emblematic of its themes; I knew it took longer than it was ever supposed to take, but life kept getting in the way."
Written by frontman Damien Goerke and produced, mixed and mastered by Goerke alongside recording by Ryan K Brennan, Getting Closer showcases sugarwife's collaborative approach. Featuring lush arrangements from Bridget Cleary, Jamie Gallagher, Mark Neal and Anthony Pugliese, alongside guest backing vocals from Veronica Zurzolo, the single balances warm guitar-driven hooks with dreamy textures and quietly devastating lyricism.
While comparisons can be drawn to the emotional openness of The Go-Betweens, Jeff Buckley, Manchester Orchestra and Fontaines D.C., sugarwife carve out a space that's distinctly their own, where jangling guitars soften existential reflection, and vulnerability feels quietly defiant.
Getting Closer also marks the beginning of the band's second album campaign, signalling a fresh era after years spent writing, recording and simply sticking together. For sugarwife, success isn't measured by algorithms or trends, but by genuine connection.
"We just want these songs to be heard. To know they've connected with strangers, to play more shows, and to finally feel like this new era of sugarwife has begun."
To celebrate the release, sugarwife will launch Getting Closer live at The Bird in Boorloo/Perth on 28 August. More info available HERE
Sugarwife’s new single ‘Getting Closer’ is out 21 August via Auxiliary Records.