THE RIONS have shared their highly anticipated second EP ‘Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be’, ahead of their biggest-ever Australian headline tour, which kicked off this month.
The follow-up to their coming-of-age debut EP ‘Minivan’, ‘Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be’ encapsulates the band’s transformation from high school ones-to-watch, to the self-assured band they’ve now become.
The four-piece will be playing at Magnums Hotel, Airlie Beach, this Sunday, October 27, 2024.
Unveiling three new songs with the EP, The Rions continue to break new ground, deftly balancing the infectious accessibility of their pop rhythms and the emotional depth of their lyrics.
New song ‘Passionfruit’, written in a session with frequent collaborator Chris Collins (Matt Corby, Skegss, Middle Kids), takes cues from the smooth synths of The Killers and the grunge-tinged guitar tones of The Strokes, as the band romanticise their experience of touring and exploring a new city each night.
Also featured on the EP is the stand-out track ‘Friend’, which sees the band draw upon a soulful, country aesthetic to convey the heartbreak of a relationship that’s run its course (“And I’ll love you softly / But I’ll love you as a friend”).
The serendipitous piano ballad ‘The Part’ closes the EP with a raw display of vulnerability.
The Rions’ unapologetic honesty permeates throughout the project, evident since their first previews of the EP in recent singles ‘Sweet Cocoon’ and ‘Physical Medicine’ – both of which peaked at #1 most played on Triple J.
Firmly establishing their proficiency for anthemic indie-rock songwriting, and steadfast in their commitment to sincerity and humility in their storytelling, the band said:
“For our second EP, we wanted to approach it with raw authenticity. This is the most genuine we’ve ever been with our stories, and we’re thrilled to share it with you all.”
From three consecutive years of Triple J Hottest 100 entries, Rolling Stone Award nominations, back-to-back sell-out tours, and their international debut in Aotearoa/New Zealand earlier this year, The Rions have emerged as one of the country’s most in-demand acts.
Having recently arrived home following their debut UK and Europe tour, co-headlining with Pacific Avenue, The Rions have hit the road for their Happiness In Places national headline tour.
The massive 21-date run will see the band hit capital cities and regional hotspots around the country, before ending the year with festival sets at ‘Beyond the Valley’ and ‘Lost Paradise’.
Happiness In a Place It Shouldn’t Be by The Rions is out now – buy/stream it here.
Photo credit: Jack Moran.
