Exclusive Track Premiere: ‘Painted in Gold,’ Strange Talk

An electronic dream backed by glittering melodies and heavy bass, it’s appropriate that the newest track from Australian duo Strange Talk is called “Painted in Gold.” Beneath the rooftop-party-ready ethereal melodies, however, lurks a lyrical bleakness and despair, reminiscent the rock classic “Paint it Black.” The song, which is premiering below, “is really about chasing the dream and all the shit you go through to get there,” according to Gerard Sidhu, one half of Strange Talk. “It’s about what we’ve been through over the last year to be in this position to put out new music and keep doing what we love.”

Originally a quartet with a specific focus on indie pop (opening for the likes of Foster the People and Neon Indian), Strange Talk underwent a transformation during the past year. The band dissolved after rediscovering a passion for contemporary electronica, with only Sidhu and Stephen Docker remaining. Now, the pair is reemerging with an EP featuring sounds evocative of a collaboration between Daft Punk, Flume, Phoenix, and Deadmau5—a heavily synesthetic experience with undertones of disco.

“Painted in Gold” is the first release from the duo’s soon-to-be-titled EP (due out October 16), and although Sidhu and Docker find inspiration in just about anything, certain themes recur. “We like exploring love, both the happy and dark side, and also happy feel-good vibes,” continues Sidhu. “We like telling stories in our music; we always come up with a basic idea and write a beginning, middle, and end around it.”

STRANGE TALK’S EP WILL BE OUT OCTOBER 16 VIA WIND-UP RECORDS. FOR TOUR DATES AND MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE DUO’S WESBITE.