News: With members of Died Pretty, Decline of the Reptiles and Glide, Joey's Coop emerge with new album, a tour and thrilling single 'In The Pines'.

There are some musicians who never seem interested in chasing relevance because they’ve spent their careers creating music that simply exists outside of trends. Joey’s Coop fall squarely into that category.

Featuring an enviable line-up including Brett Myers (Died Pretty), Mark Roxburgh (Decline of the Reptiles), Marc Lynch (Glide) and Lloyd Gyi, the Sydney outfit have quietly built a catalogue that deserves far wider recognition than it has received. That may finally change with the release of their compelling new single ‘In The Pines’, the first taste of forthcoming album ‘Sawdust Memories’, due on 3 July.

The band’s own description remains one of the most accurate summaries imaginable: “Mix a touch of the Velvets, a reasonable dose of melodic pop, add a good shot of alternative country and follow it with a blues chaser (with a nod to the Stones) and your halfway there.” It’s a neat shorthand for a sound steeped in decades of guitar music yet never beholden to nostalgia.

For those familiar with Myers’ shimmering work in Died Pretty or Roxburgh’s pivotal role in Decline of the Reptiles, Joeys Coop feels less like a side project and more like a natural continuation of the musical conversations both artists have been having for over forty years.

Having previously released two albums through the much-missed Citadel Records, the band are now taking the independent route with ‘Sawdust Memories’, handling the release themselves while preparing for an extensive national tour and even launching their own Sawdust Memories Wine Selection to help fund the journey – order here.

It’s an approach that speaks volumes about the enduring DIY spirit that has always underpinned Australia’s underground music scene.

With album launch dates, festival appearances and a lengthy run of shows already locked in, Sawdust Memories looks set to introduce Joeys Coop to a whole new audience—one that may well wonder where this band has been hiding all these years.

There’s an effortless confidence running through the single ‘In The Pines’ that only comes from musicians who have long since abandoned any need to prove themselves.

Rather than chasing immediacy, Joeys Coop allow the song to unfold patiently, built around chiming guitars, understated rhythms and a melody that quietly embeds itself after just a couple of listens. It’s the sort of songwriting that values atmosphere as much as hooks, creating a rich emotional landscape that feels simultaneously expansive and intimate.

Brett Myers’ unmistakable guitar work remains a masterclass in restraint. Every note serves the song, weaving subtle textures that recall the luminous melancholy of Died Pretty without ever sounding like an exercise in revisiting the past. Around it, the band create a warm, organic sound that feels lived-in rather than polished.

Mark Roxburgh’s vocal delivery carries the easy authority of someone telling stories rather than performing them, lending the track a reflective quality that sits comfortably somewhere between alternative country, jangling guitar pop and classic Australian rock. Echoes of The Velvet Underground, Big Star, Wilco and The Rolling Stones are certainly present, but they emerge naturally through decades of shared musical DNA rather than obvious imitation.

What makes ‘In The Pines’ particularly compelling is its refusal to overstate itself. It trusts the listener to settle into its groove, rewarding attention with layers of melody and understated beauty that continue to reveal themselves over repeated plays.

At a time when so much music competes for instant gratification, Joeys Coop have delivered something refreshingly patient—a song that values craft, experience and emotional honesty above fleeting impact.

If ‘Sawdust Memories’ maintains this level of songwriting throughout, it promises to be one of the more quietly rewarding Australian releases of the year.