Australia’s Rum Jungle announce debut album Recency Bias Out 21st February 2025 & share new single ‘Don’t Be A Stranger’.
After a packed UK/EU tour, including a sell-out London’s Village Underground, Australia’s Rum Jungle announce debut album Recency Bias out 21st February 2025. This comes with new single ‘Don’t Be A Stranger’, which joins previously released tracks ‘Weather’s Better’ and ‘Chauffeur’.
Hailing from the coastal alleyways of a steel city, Rum Jungle brings gritty alt-rock anthems, heartfelt ballads, and everything in-between - songs that capture a magnetic, introspective, and hyper-reflective state of mind. New album Recency Bias is a reflection of the band’s evolution, creativity, and the inevitable pull of recent experiences that shape every artist.
With pop melodies, psychedelic guitars, and chilled groove beats, their sound delivers a sweet and loveable vibe. The four-piece have quickly built a global fanbase, leading to sold-out shows across the UK, Europe, and Australia. They’ve showcased their surf-rock-alt-pop mastery at The Great Escape, Reeperbahn, and SXSW (Sydney).
‘Don’t Be A Stranger’ captures the feeling on the flight home from a tour, and the excitement but almost worry of seeing someone you love after such a long time away, hoping they won’t be a stranger.
Vocalist and guitarist Benny McIntyre says of the single,
“This was a tune that went through a bunch of different versions before it made it to all the lads. It really took shape once that riff was added, we had the skeleton then Maje ripped this mad riff, originally in a different spot which we then shifted to fit there and it became the best part
of the track.”
“We’re hoping this can be a huge track to play live and having rehearsed it a bit now it’s already so fun to play. Hope people listened feel just as good as I do every time I hear the riff come in for the first time.”
Recency Bias was born out of the band's realisation that their newest creations always seemed to overshadow the older ones—a phenomenon every songwriter knows all too well - but this marks a pivotal moment that the whole band loved what they had done, even after years together and various EPs.
It’s an eclectic fusion of diverse influences, experiences, and sounds that the band has collected over time, with some songs sitting in their minds for years with others coming just hours before hitting the studio. Rum Jungle set out to push their boundaries with Recency Bias, and the album reflects their desire to showcase their range - from mid-2000s indie guitars, slow ballads, punk energy, hyper-pop production, and even some 60s-inspired elements.
Recorded with Simon at Lakehouse Audio on the Central Coast of Australia, the album was born from weeks of experimentation and refinement, where they spent weekends on tour, but spent their weekdays there. The laid-back vibe at Simon’s studio, nestled in the peaceful surroundings of his home also made an impact, with his family around, chickens, and even a cat named Pinky as a welcome home from being on the road.
At its core, Recency Bias is an album that captures the essence of four musicians, each with their own influences, coming together to create something they are truly proud of. As Benny puts it,
“What’s special to us is that we’ve come out the other end with something we each love and are extremely proud of.”
Photo by Joe Puxley
AUS Tour Dates
THU 13 FEB, 2025 | MEOW | WELLINGTON, NZ
FRI 14 FEB, 2025 | WHAMMY BAR | AUCKLAND, NZ
SAT 15 FEB, 2025 | THE YARD | RAGLAN, NZ
SUN 16 FEB, 2025 | DARK ROOM | CHRISTCHURCH, NZ
FRI 21 FEB, 2025 | LIBERTY HALL | SYDNEY, NSW (AA)
SAT 22 FEB, 2025 | THE CORNER | MELBOURNE, VIC (18+)
SAT 1 FEB, 2025 | THE TRIFFID | BRISBANE, QLD (AA)
THU 6 MAR, 2025 | YMCA HQ | PERTH, WA (U18)
FRI 7 MAR, 2025 | FREO SOCIAL | PERTH, WA (18+)
SAT 8 MAR, 2025 | THE GOV | ADELAIDE, SA (AA)
SUN 9 MAR, 2025 | ALTAR | HOBART, TAS (18+)
Recency Bias
Out 21st February 2025