Sydney's smallways. shift away from alt punk stylings and go dark wave on new single, 'Social Experiment'

Sydney’s two-piece alt-punk duo, smallways. mark their return for 2025 with the experimental bent of new single, ‘Social Experiment’. The new track is a step away from their more amped-up punk approach, adopting a more electro/dark wave approach, pushing their own sonic capabilities and artistic stylings.

The duo have always playfully experimented with bass and drum as a foundation of their music, with the intention of not only being a punk outfit, but exploring different styles and solo works through the smallways. identity.

On “Social Experiment”, bassist/vocalist Teriece takes the reins, steering smallways. into darker, more unsettling territory. A warbling synth bass slithers beneath a stark kick and snare, while Reznor-esque keystrokes pulse with an eerie tension. It’s minimal but calculated—every sound feels surgically placed to unnerve.

Teriece’s layered vocals strip away warmth, leaning into a robotic detachment that mirrors the track’s cold, clinical nature. There’s a duality at play here—good and evil speaking in unison, the same words twisting between sinister and sincere.

A step sideways from smallways.’ usual frenetic punk energy, “Social Experiment” trades chaos for calculated intensity—proof that menace doesn’t always need speed to hit hard.

Discussing the lyrical content, Teriece explains that the song is personal, exploring the relationship with herself, her family, friends, and the world around her.

 “It’s about the discovery of finding strength in who you are and what you want to do. Sometimes the way of the world and particular people can make you feel like who you are is incorrect and you might even be convinced that’s true for a while, so you try to change and mold yourself to fit some picture that isn’t you. It can make living feel like it’s for someone else. There’s a point you realise it’s all a bit silly and you need to live for yourself and listen to that inner voice. It’s the key to finding your own fulfilment.”

 “Society tells us that finding your voice as a woman can often be depicted as aggressive, erratic and emotional. It is a very real constant battle. It can be isolating and make you feel alien. That process in finding yourself can involve having to confront people or letting people go that aren’t good for you or good for where you’re going and that can be family, friends or otherwise.”  

The track climaxes with an assertive chant, which demands acceptance, but also referencing the state of the world, and the populations’ lack of attention to social issues that can and should be resolved (ie homelessness and hunger) - but the overall deeper meaning behind ‘Social Experiment’ is there for those to unravel and interpret as they please.

‘Social Experiment’ is out now on all streaming platforms.