Magan-djin/Brisbane’s Lottie McLeod shows off her lighter and more playful side on new single ‘Wednesdays at the Waterloo’ - a song that sprung up organically about losing at pub trivia due to a wordless crush on your teammate. The track (and the accompanying music video) takes the warm, indie-pop/alt-country sounds of previous single, ‘Sunburnt’ to starry-eyed heights.

The new music comes as McLeod is set to embark on tour in October across so-called VIC, NSW and QLD in support of her forthcoming The Boathouse EP; also recently announced as local support for Harlan Goode. The Boathouse EP - which will include previous singles 'Important To You' and 'Sunburnt' - is out Friday 25 September (pre-save here).

With its light-hearted indie-pop/alt-folk bounce and Lottie McLeod's wry-yet-rose-tinted breathless vocals & lyricism - almost following the circular rhythms of what it's like to have a crush's name going round your head - 'Wednesdays at the Waterloo' and its tongue-in-cheek clip paint the picture of a ultra-specific situation: doggedly losing each week at pub trivia just to spend time with an unknowing crush. Thanks to Lottie McLeod's "reputation for turning hyper-personal moments into something painfully recognisable" (Backseat Mafia UK), her sharp-yet-warm pen renders 'Wednesdays at the Waterloo', at its core, into a song about being left wordless by someone, wanting to tell them how you feel but it never seems like the right time, and choosing - with a self-aware smile - to keep quiet about it, knowing that can't last but getting a little lost in it all anyway.

Utterly relatable and packed full of wry wit, Lottie McLeod takes a seemingly ordinary moment and transforms it into a playful slice of alt-country-tinged indie pop with 'Wednesdays at the Waterloo'. Bouncing, dry drums, interweaving guitars and banjo, a delightfully rubbery bass that shifts effortlessly between electric and upright, and the occasional flutter of flute all dance beneath McLeod's saccharine husky vocals, creating a warm, effortless charm. McLeod has an uncanny knack for finding the humour and heart in the mundane, turning familiar weekly rituals into moments that feel universally shared. Once again, she proves herself a gifted storyteller, turning the small, everyday moments of life into something deeply relatable, irresistibly catchy, and brimming with personality. 

Pouring out unexpectedly during a session with producer Josh Beattie (Dami Im, Serendipiti - also on acoustic guitar, synth, banjo, piano, bass guitar & double bass) at 4000 Studios on Turrbal/Jagera Country in Magan-djin/Brisbane, 'Wednesdays at the Waterloo' continues both the poppier and subtle alt-country elements found in McLeod's previous single 'Sunburnt' via its lilting, sugary punch and softly intermingling instrumentation, with crisp drums (Cody Costa) alongside banjo, flute (Gabrielle Emery) and subtle pedal steel (Ben Mereki). The track's hyper-literal, break-the-fourth-wall music video shot on Jagera & Turrbal land - co-written by Lottie McLeod and director Adam Potts (FELONY., Emeree) - sees McLeod dip into her self-described "wannabe comedian" aspirations, flanked by friends like Lyric and Meiia with actor Jarrod Gildea (Elvis, Thor: Ragnarok) co-starring as her oblivious teammate and crush.

Lottie McLeod says of the song and video, "'I want people to listen to this song and feel joyful - it's so nice to do something light. 'Wednesdays at the Waterloo' was written about the very serious topic of doing terribly at trivia because you’re too busy crushing on someone in your group. Look, I have a lot of crushes and it’s all very harmless and this person is actually my friend, so I’m sure he will find it amusing when he hears it! The production elements have really brought the vibe of it to life, the video is equally as fun. We shot it at my local bowls club, Camp Hill. The staff are very supportive, and it worked really well with Adam’s set design and the thrifted costuming. I got my friends to play other trivia teams - they are all artists, and it shows! I have honestly laughed every time I watch it, just watching their expressions - I feel like we have an excellent concept for a new TV series with the characters in this video. Adam Potts, who brought it to life has done such a beautiful job. My crush in the video, played by Jarrod Gildea, has just nailed the brief. 'Wednesdays at the Waterloo' is a very unserious song and I hope people feel like they can listen to it, sing along and just feel good. I can’t wait to play it live!”

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.

McLeod is already a songwriter for artists like Mathilde Ann, Dizzy Dayz and more, showcasing a skill beyond her years. 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.

‘Wednesdays at the Waterloo’ is out now on all streaming platforms, while ‘The Boathouse’ EP arrives on September 25.