STAHR balance tenderness and defiance in driving pop rock single, 'Loving Friend'

Meanjin/Brisbane duo, STAHR push a hypnotic kind of ache that pulses through their latest single, ‘Loving Friend’, which is out now. The new track fuses grit with confident swagger, with the dream pop and desert rock duo walking a line between tenderness and defiance.

For those new to STAHR, the duo made their debut in 2024 with ‘The Heat’ and have since built on their blend of pop and rock. Fronted by Grace Harris and Samuel Shepherd, they trade vocals over intoxicating grooves decorated by fuzzed guitars and smouldering rhythms.

After a run of dynamic releases and support slots for the likes of Boy & Bear, Olympia and Jacob Fitzgerald, ‘Loving Friend’ marks their fourth single of 2025 and another confident stride forward.

STAHR have carved out a driving slice of FM rock with ‘Loving Friend’, a track loaded with pop sensibilities and an easy sense of familiarity. The production feels wide open without ever tipping into clutter, letting each element breathe. There’s a touch of later-era Eskimo Joe in the way it pushes forward—big, stadium-leaning energy without the theatrics.

‘Loving Friend’ pulses with loud sincerity but never slips into pompous territory. It’s a big, radio-ready moment that puts the duo’s songwriting chops front and centre. A solid win from STAHR.

‘Loving Friend’ moves with a fierce and hypnotic stride. Sweltering guitar riffs spark with smooth strut, giving way to Samuel Shepherd’s lead vocal, anchored by a driving drum groove. The track shifts between bold confidence and meaningful reflection to a heartfelt confession in the chorus, bursting with lush synths and layered harmonies. Every beat carries purpose, yet beneath its bravado lies something deeply human, balancing power with vulnerability.

With lyrics that are tender despite the frustration, the track paints the end of a friendship filled not just with regret but with hope. It captures the ache of watching someone unravel while still believing in their light, carrying an undercurrent of empathy and understanding that sometimes love means wishing someone well from afar.

Taking the higher road, ‘Loving Friend’ and its core message feel deeply human and universally relatable. It carries anger and pain, but it’s a reminder to let things go, to stop carrying the weight of what’s already behind you. People change, paths diverge, and sometimes the kindest thing we can do is move forward with love instead of resentment.

Unbottling all the feels with grit and vulnerability, ‘Loving Friend’ from STAHR is out now on all streaming platforms.