South Australia's Axe & The Ivory deliver a heartfelt journey through love and loss on latest single, 'Strangers'

Billed as one of South Australia’s bands to watch, indie-folk quintet Axe & The Ivory have released an emotionally-charged new single, ‘Strangers’ - a poignant track that delves into the bittersweet realisation that love and relationships are distinctively seperate entities, wrapped in the band’s signature melodic folk charm.

The new track sprang from a personal vignette of love's complex tapestry, capturing the humour and pain of moving on.

‘Strangers’ blends uncertainty with sweetness right from the get-go, with the reversed tones adding an uneasy feeling, while vocalist Rosie softens the take while also breaking hearts. It’s a building, gorgeous indie-folk gem, using a splash of pop modernity, with piano, banjo and multiple guitars interweaving creating a stunning, captivating sonic patchwork.

The single's narrative begins with a candid moment of vulnerability, sparked by a neighbour's jest as the songwriter was ending a long-term relationship. This usual benign interaction birthed the line, "I guess there’s a lot of transparent things we can’t see through," encapsulating the clarity often only found in retrospection.

Axe & The Ivory, for fans the Camille Trail, Fleet Foxes, Phoebe Bridgers, Jordie Lane, Paper Kites, and Gregory Alan Isakov, are renowned for their enchanting harmonies and lyrical prowess, have intricately arranged the single to resonate with anyone who's navigated the winding roads of love.

Sonically “Strangers” is a moving indie-pop single with creative folk undertones, resonating through unassuming banjo and piano parts that journeys with the listener through the emotive lyricism and is stamped by the deft touch of award-winning engineer Mario Späte (Megan Washington, Elsy Wameyo, Ziggy Ramo, MANE).

Axe & The Ivory is gearing up to grace stages at major Australian festivals, including Woodford Folk Festival and Cygnet Folk Festival. The band's lineup - Ben Lovell, Rosie Roberts, Paul Cooper, James Lovell, and Mark Oosterveld - brings a dynamic energy that seamlessly blends influences from Alabama Shakes to Taylor Swift, creating a unique sound that's both familiar and innovative.

With "Strangers," Axe & The Ivory invite listeners to ponder the profound question: what would it be like to meet a once-intimate partner anew, without the history and closeness that once defined the relationship? It's a song that promises to touch the heart and stir the soul.

‘Strangers’ is out now on all streaming platforms, and if you’re heading to this year’s Woodford Folk Festival, they’re be performing 5 shows over the duration of the event (Wed Dec 27, Thurs Dec 28, Sat Dec 30, Sun Dec 31, and Mon Jan 1)