Premiere: Poison Oak Drop New Single, ‘Tell Me’
Today we are thrilled to bring you the exclusive premiere of Tell Me, the latest single from Townsville’s rising indie-punk rockers Poison Oak. Available everywhere tomorrow, this powerful new track marks the second release from their anticipated upcoming album, showcasing a potent blend of anthemic energy and raw emotion that defines Poison Oak’s unique sound.
Tell Me dives deep into the struggles of feeling spiritually and mentally lost, even when physically present. With lyrics capturing a haunting sense of disconnection and the weight of daily pressures, Poison Oak explores the experience of watching someone you know become a shadow of their former self. Set against driving punk riffs and urgent vocals, the song confronts the repetitive routines of suburban life and the expectations from society, family, and friends, that can push individuals to the edge.
“For Tell Me, Ray came up with the main idea for the song. He had the chords for the verse, which followed this picking motion. He also had chords for the chorus, and the main part of the melody on guitar, which he played for me (James). He said, I want you to sing this – ‘Tell me where do you go’, that follows this guitar melody, but sing the first part in chest voice, then flick over and sing the second part of the phrase in a high falsetto. I basically said, “yeah sure, that’s just going to take me half a decade to master”. However, it was such a good melody that we just persisted and it came together naturally.
Tell Me is a song about asking where someone has gone, not necessarily in a physical sense, but in a spiritual and mental sense. They’re present, but not the person they used to be. The song reflects on the struggles they have experienced, feeling trapped in a cycle of routine and disconnection within the suburbs, where everything looks familiar but feels empty. Dealing with the pressures of everyday life, like expectations from family or society, while facing internal struggles that others don’t see. Hence leaving them to be disconnected from who they once were.
The song also reflects on how the weight of past events, family struggles, economic challenges, and personal disappointments leave a mark on their communities and its people. They’ve learned to carry on with a brave face, but underneath, they’re dealing with doubts and memories that resurface during quiet moments. Walking the same streets, they’re constantly reminded of these stories and the resilience it takes to keep going but find comfort in remembering that others have also faced these struggles, creating a shared connection.
Their friends from the outside then ask, “Tell me, tell me where do you go”, when they disappear from their inner self.” – Poison Oak.
This latest release cements their reputation as an indie-punk force, blending lyrical introspection with a powerful soundscape. Catch the exclusive first listen of Tell Me here on AAA Backstage, and experience this compelling new track before it officially drops. Stay tuned as Poison Oak continues to make waves in the indie music scene.