Second Idol, one of the most compelling new voices in Australia’s alternative scene, today release their debut album Mongrel, arriving on vinyl and digitally through Gloomshift Records. The record marks a significant step for a band whose work has consistently pushed at the edges of genre, identity and purpose, and whose voice feels increasingly essential in the current landscape.
Stream Mongrel HERE. Buy Mongrel vinyl HERE.
Mongrel examines the complexities of identity in a fragmented, polarised world. Its songs move through themes of feminism, gender, postcolonialism, imposter syndrome, multiculturalism and heartbreak — a portrait of what it means to navigate contemporary life while carrying multiple histories at once. Rather than presenting a singular narrative, the album leans into contradiction and vulnerability, embracing the idea that identity is layered, shifting and often messy. It’s a record that consolidates the band’s sound while offering a clear, deliberate articulation of their values.
Second Idol’s story has always been shaped by multiplicity. The trio — Kate (Sri Lankan/Scottish), Sunny Josan (Palestinian/Indian), and Afeef Iqbal (Pakistani) — draw on their own cultural and personal experiences to create music that aims not just to entertain, but to question and confront. Their approach sits comfortably alongside the lineage of artists like Placebo, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey and Savages, whose innovation and intent are echoed in Second Idol’s work.
The band’s commitment to independence extends to the release itself. Wanting Mongrel on vinyl, they turned to crowdfunding — a process that left them unsure whether their audience would rally behind such an ambitious step. As Kate notes, the campaign brought its own anxieties, particularly around whether their art had reached the people they hoped it had. Those doubts were quickly dispelled. Support from fans in Australia and abroad exceeded their goal, reflecting the genuine connection the band has built.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Clayton Segelov with engineering by Angie Watson at The Brain Studios in Sydney, Mongrel arrives as a confident first statement — one that acknowledges the uncertainty of the world it was made in, while asserting the band’s identity with clarity and intent.
Catch Second Idol at the following shows:
Maggie Pills Album Launch
Gang Gang Café,
Ngunnawal/Canberra
Saturday 6th December 2025
LOUD WOMEN FESTIVAL
Crowbar, Eora/Sydney
Sunday 7th December 2025
LOUD WOMEN FESTIVAL
Bergy Bandroom,
Naarm/Melbourne
Sunday 14th December 2025
