Australian art-rock risers The Great Emu War Casualties have announced their debut album Public Sweetheart No.1, set for release on 27th March, alongside the arrival of its latest single Donut.
The Great Emu War Casualties
Building on the momentum of their Permanent Resident EP, the Melbourne-based band continue to sharpen a sound that blends nervy art-rock instincts with the rush of modern indie. Across Public Sweetheart No.1, they balance jittery grooves and sunlit melodies with moments of melancholy, self-reflection and off-kilter humour, all while keeping the immediacy of sharp, hook-driven songwriting firmly intact.
Described by the band as a deeply personal record, Public Sweetheart No.1 presents The Great Emu War Casualties as emotionally exposed, slightly unhinged and fully self-aware. It’s an album that leans into contradiction: upbeat guitars sit beside anxious lyrics, and moments of regret blur with acceptance. There’s a restless energy running throughout, but also a sense of clarity that comes from stripping things back and facing uncomfortable truths head-on.
Frontman Joe Jackson explains: “Public Sweetheart No.1 is a blunt, honest self-assessment of my own behaviour over an extended period of time and the various ways in which I have affected the people closest to me. I’ve at least tried to make it catchy in order to better live with myself. It’s about going back to basics and choosing honesty over chaos – an anthemic apology, with a bit of ‘sorry, not sorry’ sprinkled on top.”
The newly released Donut captures much of the album’s spirit in just three minutes. Jangly guitars and sweet harmonies nod to classic power-pop, while subtle synth textures drag the sound firmly into the present. Lyrically, it drifts between surreal humour and genuine introspection, embracing the idea that not having everything figured out might actually be okay.
Jackson adds: “Donut is my attempt at writing a three-minute autobiography. It’s about everything and nothing at the same time – longings, regrets and dreams. Structurally it’s a total rip-off of my favourite bands, and I still haven’t found the time to grow into a real boy.”
The album was written by Joe Jackson and Saskia Clapton, with production handled by the band alongside Wayne Connolly, whose work brings cohesion and warmth to the record’s shifting emotional tones.
Formed through a winding journey that spans continents, The Great Emu War Casualties are anything but conventional. Jackson and Clapton first crossed paths overseas before relocating to Melbourne, completing the line-up with drummer Bibek Tamang and vocalist/synth player Cat Sanzaro. Their name, taken from a famously disastrous moment in Australian history, reflects the band’s taste for the absurd and their willingness to embrace chaos with a knowing smile.
With Public Sweetheart No.1, The Great Emu War Casualties position themselves as a band unafraid to be vulnerable, self-critical and catchy all at once — a debut that feels both cathartic and quietly confident.
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