Magan-djin/Brisbane’s Lottie McLeod returns with a brilliant searing new single, ‘Sunburnt’, which ties in with her announcement of the forthcoming The Boat House EP - an intimate coming-of-age ‘for people who love to feel deeply’ release. This EP will feature ‘Sunburnt’ and previous single, ‘Important To You’, and will drop on September 25th.

The new single, and the upcoming EP, draws from indie, alt-pop, folk, and beyond - signalling a young artist coming out of her shell, stepping into the confidence to follow her own path and express herself openly, making McLeod’s much-praised ability to make the personal feel universal stronger than ever.

The announcement and new music lands ahead of support slots with Pierce Brothers and follows a high-profile support for suzi - as well as The Boat House EP's recently released lead single 'Important To You', Lottie McLeod's first release since her signing to ABC Music joining labelmates Emily Wurramara, Playlunch and more - which enjoyed full adds to triple j & triple j Unearthed and more - all off the back of a huge 12 months for the young artist with the release of her 2025 critically beloved debut EP Bug and a widely-adored live televised performance for triple j's 50th birthday

Alt/indie-pop yearner 'Sunburnt' taps into the universal experience of craving someone or something that isn't right for you; a continuation of Lottie McLeod's superpower: turning hyper-personal experiences into something that resonates widely. Written on her bedroom floor - like much of McLeod's music, including the EP's lead single 'Important to You' - while sporting a sunburn of her own after a day at the beach and pining for a short-lived romance that ended very suddenly, 'Sunburnt' spotlights the young artist's poppier and moodier sensibilities - somewhat of an older sister to 2025's 'Ruin A Good Thing' as it chugs along a tranquil groove with Lottie McLeod's sarcastic "doo doo doo's" and ever-maturing pen stirring an undercurrent of sincerity that doesn't shy away from life's weirder, gut-led feelings in lyrics like: "I wanted to be the one to peel off all your dead skin" - which she describes as "disgusting, but that's the point!".

On ‘Sunburnt’, Lottie McLeod showcases a more mature take on the alt/indie-pop sound she has been steadily refining across previous releases. Her witty, heart-on-sleeve lyricism takes centre stage, delivered through sweet yet husky vocals and supported by a rhythm section that feels both tight and effortlessly relaxed, alongside muted acoustic strumming. It's the addition of subtle woodwind textures, however, that elevates the track beyond contemporary indie-pop conventions and into something far more timeless. With its understated charm and natural ease, ‘Sunburnt’ feels as though it could comfortably exist in any decade from the 1970s to today—a testament not only to its tasteful production, but to the enduring strength of McLeod's songwriting.

Produced by Josh Beattie (Dami Im, Serendipiti) at 4000 Studios on Turrbal/Jagera Country in Magan-djin/Brisbane, McLeod's gentle-yet-weighty vocals float reflectively, crying out for clarity in the song's "devastating" second verse, amongst lilting saxophone from Jame Prendergast, darkly atmospheric electric guitar via Blade Hooper, Jesse Carroll (Karl S Williams) on warm, crisp drums that drive then subtly roll and crash with the song, with Beattie also lending talents to keyboards, bass and thrumming acoustic guitar - all backed by a delicate echo of BVs provided by Grace Jones (EMEREE), Hooper & Beattie.

Lottie McLeod says, "'Sunburnt' is about a person I was seeing for not even a month; I felt such a strong connection with this person but I also hardly knew him. I had just gotten back from a beach day with my mum, a little sunburnt - I'm a sucker for metaphor. I liked this guy. A LOT. Talking everyday, dates, future planning, dinner with the parents. Our last date was the closest I had ever felt to him - I spent the night and the next morning he asked to go to breakfast that weekend, where he ended things. I was so disappointed and confused, I really wanted to know him on a deeper level, see his ugly side, have some sort of future with him. He never gave me a chance to show him how beautiful it could’ve been, but I knew it was something I just had to let go because there was nothing to hold on to. There was this self reflection at the time, asking myself “why would I try to win back a stranger… That would be silly!” - I wrote this song instead.”

Titled after the Manly Boathouse on Quandamooka Country where Lottie McLeod has shared deep, important conversations with the people in her life, The Boat House EP signifies an artist - and human - coming out of her shell, as she thrusts off her role of "peace-keeper by nature" and steps into the confidence to follow her own path, "use my voice and be less afraid of conflict". With 7 tracks - each inspired by a relationship from the past 2 years of McLeod's life - drawing from alternative sounds, indie-pop, folk, alt-country and more, written diaristically (mostly on the floor) with thoughtful, emotive lyricsm, The Boat House EP feels like listening in on and sharing in those serious, intimate conversations across Lottie McLeod's experiences of being a self-described recovering people-pleaser, modern dating and ill-fated romance, and bodily autonomy - not without its lighter-hearted moments, like using pub trivia as an excuse to hang out with a crush.

Produced across two studios in so-called Australia and Turtle Island/USA: North Carolina's Stadium Heights Sound on the land of the Catawba, Cheraw, Eno, Occaneechi, Shakori, Tuscarora and Lumbee peoples with Caleb Wright (Samia, Charly Bliss, Hippo Campus - who reached out to Lottie as a big fan of her 2025 single 'The Line'), and 4000 Studios in Magand-jin/so-called Brisbane on Turrbal/Jagera Country with Josh Beattie, The Boat House EP will resonate with those "who love to feel deeply", who never fail to play close attention to lyrics, and fans of Samia's 2025 Bloodless album, Phoebe Bridgers, Sydney Ross Mitchell or Charlie Hickey. In a sweet nod to the family ties that keep her safely moored, mother Carrie McLeod lovingly documents her daughter across the EP's official photoshoots.

Lottie McLeod is a lover of getting off the bus/train three stops too early just because she can, stained glass, soft blankets, lamps and crosswords. Hers is thoughtful music inspired by the transportive, raw and occasionally uncomfortable emotional universes of Lizzy McAlpine, Phoebe Bridgers and Ethel Cain - with a talent for capturing common human experiences in heart-achingly personal ways that still sound unique to her. Tapped to perform at triple j's 50th birthday show on the so-called Gold Coast/Yugambeh Country alongside Mallrat, Jem Cassar-Daley, Darcie Haven and more, since her debut in 2023 McLeod has developed an already-formidable live resume that includes a co-headline national tour with Lovelovelove, festivals and events like BIGSOUND, Spring Rain and supports like suzi, Telenova, Mia Wray, Chris Lanzon, Annie Hamilton, Peach Fuzz, Asha Jeffries, Matthew Ifield and many others.

Immersed in the arts since childhood, McLeod's solid creative foundation shines through more strongly with every release and development, winning her multiple awards, praise and accolades. She was spot-lit as triple j Unearthed Feature Artist last year thanks to her Bug EP, 2025 also saw McLeod named Emerging Artist of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards - where she was a finalist for the Folk Award and recipient of their Billy Thorpe Scholarship in 2024 - and named a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition and Happy Magazine's Needle In The Hay.

In 2026 with The Boat House EP, Lottie McLeod truly steps into herself, as she continues to generously share the lessons she's learning in life with a stamp of vulnerability that can only come with her own combination of hindsight and mindfulness.

‘Sunburnt’ is out now on all streaming platforms, with ‘The Boat House EP’ arriving on Friday September 25th.