Sydney's Chuck Sics drops lush indie / alt pop anthem in 'I've Been Thinking' - announces upcoming debut EP

Sydney-based multi-instrumentalist, Chuck Sics returns with a taste of his upcoming debut EP in the the introspective yet unwavering lush indie anthem, ‘I’ve Been Thinking’. This is the third track to come from the debut EP, ‘Slipstream’, due for release on September 23.

With hypnotic hues a la Radiohead and Tame Impala, fused with Chuck Sics’ increasingly trademark knack for conjuring relatable lyrical fare, ‘I’ve Been Thinking’ was self-produced and mixed by Chuck Sics himself, showcasing a crunchy yet volatile creative aesthetic while detailing the frustrations and realities of procrastination and feeling overwhelmed by the world. “I've Been Thinking is essentially a song about procrastination,” shares Chuck Sics. “It’s about feeling like you’re stuck thinking about life instead of living it, and keeping that locked inside your mind.”

“For me, it’s particularly relevant to writing, recording and releasing music,” Chuck adds. “You can think about a song for a long time: about how it's going to sound, and how it will be received etc. I end up living in a fantasy world where the song exists before I’ve done the hard work to make it.”

‘I’ve Been Thinking’ is a lush ride through nostalgia-tinted pop rock and shimmering modern alt-psychedelia. You can hear echoes of later Beatles and Tears for Fears in its melodic lift, while flashes of Tame Impala’s kaleidoscopic swirl colour the edges—but Chuck Sics refuses to sit neatly in any box. Instead, he stitches together past and present into something that feels both timeless and fresh. The track is irresistibly catchy, yet expansive, like a magical mystery musical carpet ride that soars high before drifting through technicolour skies. It’s the sound of an artist revelling in freedom, painting with every shade they want, and inviting you to come along for the trip.

Marking Chuck’s third single release following his debut single ‘Redo’ which dropped earlier this year, as well as more recent track ‘M.A.D’, 'I’ve Been Thinking' will join both previous singles on Chuck’s upcoming debut EP 'Slipstream' due out next month, with the five-track release primed to ruminate on dread, self-analysis and beyond.

“The EP explores themes of dread, self-analysis, sleep (or lack thereof), and reflection,” shares Chuck. “I’m trying to express that I don’t think of myself as a reliable narrator, even of my own emotions. I think that there’s a healthy amount of self-doubt, but for me what tends to happen, the result turns into dread.”

Picking up the trumpet in primary school, Chuck Sics’ musical evolution soon led him to the piano, before the floodgates burst wide open via finding the guitar at the age of 12, followed by bass, singing, and the occasional foray into drums. Dreams of becoming a concert pianist soon gave way to rock’n’roll persuasions, and, ultimately, a solo career that now finds Chuck in 2025 weaving lush and atmospheric soundscapes into stories soaked in poignant and authentic introspection. Offering listeners a journey through creativity and self-discovery, Chuck’s lyrics and musical proficiency was most recently on full display in a live setting with his band at The Trocadero Room in Sydney. But it’s via his upcoming debut EP 'Slipstream' that Chuck Sics’ creative magic will enamour far and wide; a labour of love that has itself been five years in the making, and one Chuck is entirely ready to share with the world at long last next month.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Chuck shares. “I worked a lot of (nocturnal) hours putting all of these songs together over the course of 5 years. “I’ve Been Thinking” was the first song I finished for this record, and it laid the groundwork for the aesthetic and vibe of everything I wrote from there onwards.”

‘I’ve Been Thinking’ is out now on all streaming platforms, while the debut EP, ‘Slipstream’ will drop on September 23.