Words by Anna Macpherson // Image by Will Vallender

If you’re yet to dip your toes into the fruitful music scene that has begun to prosper here in Newcastle, Low Definition are a perfect step into our sea of creatives. This band of Novocastrians have tastefully crafted a unique sound reflective of the plethora of musical inventions the artistic community of Newcastle have lovingly nurtured. It’s a scene swirling with exploration and inspiration

‘Straight West’, the third single from the band’s highly anticipated forthcoming debut album Evolution of an Enigmatic Expression, delves into the subconscious of frontman Jesse Madigan as he navigates the frustrations of stagnation against his immense fear of change.

Without veering too far from the familiar melancholic undertones of the band’s previous releases, this piece unleashes a full-on exploration of psychedelic folk rock. Reverberating guitars play on tension and release, while Madigan’s gentle folk vocals create a yearning flow state. It’s clear the band have pulled inspiration from the scene around them, developing a sound reflective of the Muthi Muthi landscape they lovingly write and record on.

“We recorded the song at our guitarist Paul’s family farm on the Manning River near Old Bar,” Jesse says of the track. “It’s such a special place for us, a great open space and super remote! There’s so much freedom there to get creative. Completely limitless, Completely isolated and completely beautiful.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wg5fo9T7uQ

Produced and mixed by Liam “Snowy” Halliwell and mastered by Mikey Young, ‘Straight West’ draws on Madigan’s love of retro psychedelic influences such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Radiohead and The War on Drugs. This was the first time the band opened their doors to an outside team following their self-recorded debut EP Cult Vulnerable in 2023.

As I sat with Madigan and discussed the piece, it became clear his song writing journey is far from clean cut. His expansive and ever-changing process saw ‘Straight West’ develop from a simple acoustic track inspired by a ‘Karma Police’ jam to an electronic single filled with melodic fuzz and a driving drum line. The original song was developed on vinyl for a Newcastle Fundraiser – Newcastle for Palestine earlier this year.

“Straight West could have been called finished, but Kobe took the drums to a whole new level. You can hear the difference from when they come in at the beginning of the second verse. It’s been reworked and fleshed out so much since that original vinyl,” Jesse says.

He also unravelled the importance of taking a step back from his work to further explore the lyricism. “You write best when you’re feeling. At the time I’m writing I don’t normally know what it is I’m saying. Then months later I can reflect on it and recognise what I was going through at the time”

To coincide with the release, Low Definition joined forces with Novocastrian creative Ella Paterson to develop a haunting, contemplative yet nostalgic music video. Filmed on Paul Galloway’s family property, the band headed into production with little inspiration but the vast and deeply sentimental landscape of the far-north coast. Filled with imagery reflective of rural old-time Australiana, the familiar scenes of dry stretching fields, soft light dappled through native trees and timber houses strike a chord reminiscent of childhood in the country and the strange emptiness of returning home. A story of running away and leaving the city behind in search of something wilder yet instinctual.

The creative freedom handed to Ella Paterson (director/producer), Nikola Jokanovic (cinematographer/editor) Will Vallendar (assistant camera) and Nathan Rathsam (cinematographer) saw the abstract, yet distinct narrative portrayed within this video come to life.

“When the band first approached me and I heard the song, I knew right away I wanted to explore themes of escape and refuge, and to frame this story within the vast, open landscapes of rural Australia,” Paterson says. “When I met up with the rest of the crew, it became clear we all shared the same vision: we wanted to create something that felt both nostalgic and dreamy yet grounded in a sense of journey. I wanted the video to evoke a sense of isolation, raw nostalgia, and the uncanny quality of the land.”

It’s exciting to witness an artist stretch the boundaries of their creative consciousnesses the way Low Definition have in ‘Straight West’. Crafting music less focused on external expectations and more on what feels right, this Newcastle band are stretching their mould. Madigan’s vulnerable and honest song writing alongside Paterson’s dreamy imagery draws the audience towards what may prove to be a new era for the band… and it’s damn catchy.

Head here to follow Low Definition on IG, and find ‘Straight West’ on Spotify here.