Sydney based duo Salarymen release the new single ‘If You Want Me’, taken from the upcoming debut album Take It Or Leave It.
Four years in the making, this beautifully, heartfelt duet captures the raw ache of lost love with cinematic beauty. The oldest song on the album, ‘If You Want Me’ has been a staple of the pair’s live set for some time and quickly became the track fans most wanted released. Now, Renee de la Motte and Thomas Eagleton deliver this vintage-laced psych-pop ballad, channeling the dreamy melancholia of Beach House with the psychedelic theatrical flair comparable to The Last Dinner Party, Fleetwood Mac and the new album from Wolf Alice.
“‘If You Want Me’ is the most emotional track we’ve ever written. It’s about two people who can never really let go of their past, and how your world can be flipped upside down after parting ways. Thom and I are essentially playing the guy/girl who are admitting that they’ve wronged each other, and lamenting the fact that it’s over,” explains de la Motte.
Capturing a romantic undercurrent whilst displaying some affecting musicianship, fusing crooner-esque melodies with sharp guitar lines and atmospheric production, ‘If You Want Me’ is a masterclass in romantic longing, fusing 50s-inspired duet sensibilities with 00s indie sophistication. The single sets a melancholic, warming tone ahead of the upcoming albumTake It Or Leave It, an album that chronicles the lifecycle of a long-term relationship. From intertwining lives to inevitable cracks and clashes, Salarymen explore the compromises, identity struggles, and emotional questions that define love.
“It’s a raw, emotionally charged album about compromise, identity, and the question we all face in relationships: how much of yourself are you willing to give up — and how much is too much?” says de la Motte.
Engineered by Antonia Gauci (GAUCI, Kučka, Vallis Alps, The Buoys) and mixed by Tony Buchen (Smashing Pumpkins, G-Flip, Troye Sivan, Montaigne), the upcoming album’s striking cover features hand-drawn manga artwork by Tokyo-based artist Teasheen Chua, depicting Thom and Renee as emotionally-frayed lovers in a dimly lit ramen shop—a nod to the band’s name origin.
Having toured with Royel Otis, San Cisco, Ball Park Music, and Meg Mac; performed at SXSW Austin and The Great Escape through 2024, the pair completed a sold-out UK tour and embarked on their first tour of Japan. Festival appearances included Lost Paradise, Mountain Goat Valley Crawl, and The Gum Ball, sharing stages with The Lazy Eyes, Pacific Avenue, Eliza & The Delusionals, and The Vanns.
Continuing their winning streak into 2025, ‘If You Want Me’ represents Salarymen at their most powerful and emotionally resonant as the prepare to release their long awaited full length debut.
Listen below:
