RHODEN | INTERVIEW + TRACK REVIEW
- The Wizard
- Apr 1
- 6 min read
Blending dreamy synth textures with honest lyrics and earworm melodies, Rhoden. is carving out his own space in the indie-pop world. With his latest single OUT OF MY HEAD launching at Nighthawks on April 3rd, the Melbourne-based artist is stepping into a bold new chapter—this time backed by a full live band. In this chat, Rhoden. reflects on personal growth, the power of melody, and why being “unapologetically confident” is his new creative mantra. Whether you’re drawn in by the 80s-inspired production or the emotional depth of his lyrics, Rhoden. is here to make you feel something—and to do it with style. This is a paid partnership with 'Rhoden'.
TRACK REVIEW
From the opening seconds, OUT OF MY HEAD pulls you straight in with a captivating vocal delivery and lush, high-gloss production. The bass line and ambient textures feel like a nod to M83, yet still uniquely Rhoden.—it’s dreamy, emotive, and full of intention. There’s a real sense of space in the mix, giving each melody and layer the room to breathe and shine.
What’s most striking is how this track feels both familiar and refreshing. It sits comfortably in the world of synth-driven indie-pop but brings a distinctly Australian flavour that’s not often heard in this genre. It’s polished, heartfelt, and deeply listenable.
To be honest, OUT OF MY HEAD didn’t just stop me in my tracks—it sent me down a rabbit hole into Rhoden.’s catalogue. But even among the rest, this single stands out as a defining moment. A confident, carefully crafted track that deserves your full attention.
Your new single is launching at Nighthawks on April 3rd—what can fans expect from the show, and how are you bringing this track to life on stage?
I've been playing around with my live set for a while now. I've spent such a long time performing by myself, relying on backing tracks and looping but for this show I've finally got a band backing me up which is super exciting. I grew up playing in bands all the time and there's really nothing like it, the chemistry between band members and how alive that can make a room feel is just intoxicating. I'm really trying to create a live experience that's immersive and memorable.
Your music blends indie-pop with synth-driven nostalgia. When writing a new song, do you lean into that throwback feel intentionally, or does it happen naturally?
It's all pretty natural at this point. One of the first artists my Mum introduced me to growing up was Michael Jackson and I think that imprinted a love of certain melodies and sounds into my brain even before I began writing music. As a teenager I got hooked on The 1975 and LANY, I loved how they'd have these lush synth sounds that were straight out of the 80s but then bring that into a modern-pop context, so that heavily influenced the direction I began to take my music. Now whenever I start writing something new I don't even really think about it. I just trust my instincts and my taste and so far that's worked for me.
Honest lyrics are a big part of your sound. Do you find songwriting to be a cathartic process, and is there a particular lyric from your new single that stands out to you?
Songwriting is definitely the easiest way for me to process what I'm feeling (I've tried journaling but I can never seem to keep it up). OUT OF MY HEAD was written over the course of around 2 years and what it means to me is always changing which I think is a beautiful thing because even now I feel like I resonate with it.
One of my favourite lines from the song is probably "I'm broke still I bend" which plays on that whole "bend till I break" idea. I think a lot of people can relate to when you give everything to someone to the point of falling apart and even while broken you continue to give yourself away. I thought it was a really pointant notion and I'm really proud of that lyric. Though my favourite line to sing live is definitely "karma's a bitch" cause that just has so much attitude which I love.
If rhoden. had to be described as a colour, a feeling, and a place, what would they be and why?
I think right now rhoden. is in a pink era, I got these pink converse sneakers that I wear all the time.
I also fell in love with cherry blossom flowers while I was in Japan last year. The cover art for OUT OF MY HEAD is a photo of some cherry blossoms that I took while I was in Kyoto. It was originally just a placeholder image while I was waiting on my press shots but something about it just stuck with me and I ended up keeping it. So Kyoto is probably the place that resonates most with me right now.
As for a feeling that describes Rhoden. I'd have to go with confident. Going into this new season I told myself I wasn't gonna be timid about my music. I've loved crafting this new sound with my friends and I back it so I'm trying my best to be unapologetically confident about myself as an artist.
The indie-pop scene is constantly evolving. Are there any artists or movements in music right now that are inspiring you creatively?
I'm super inspired by the rising local talent in Australia. If I were to just name a few, I'm currently loving artists like Holly Hebe, Newport, PRETTY BLEAK and Aleksiah. I could go on and on about how important it is to support local artists but I'd honestly be listening to these artists regardless cause they're that good at what they do.
I'm also really inspired by my friends making music. I won't lie, I'm a bit competitive and I have a bunch of friends making amazing music and putting on incredible shows and there's a little gremlin in my brain that goes "you need to match that buddy". I'm well aware it's not the healthiest method of motivation but it works for me (most of the time).
You’ve said your melodies “scratch a brain itch.” What makes a melody hit just right for you, and how do you know when a song is finished?
Trying to get the perfect melody is such a subjective art that requires a lot of practice and I've learnt to rely on my instincts. Something I've always done is I never record my melodies during the writing process. Starting out I just didn't know any better or think to record as I was writing but now I think of it like this: If I write something that's really catchy, I shouldn't need to record it because it'll stick around. If it doesn't stick then it wasn't good enough and I need to try again. Now that I'm a bit older (and others have questioned my sanity) I do sometimes record snippets from time to time but honestly I think my best melodies haven't been recorded until we bring it to the vocal booth to create the demos.
I know when a song is done when it feels like there's nothing left to be said. OUT OF MY HEAD originally didn't have a bridge and I always felt like there was something missing but I couldn't find the words for 2 years. As soon as I got those lyrics it was like everything clicked into place and it all made sense. All that to say it's just a feeling and you'll know in your gut when a song is ready.
If your music could soundtrack any film or TV show, what would be the perfect match?
Might be an unoriginal answer but I think it would be so cool to hear my music in Heartbreak High. I think because it's an Australian show and so many of my favourite Aussie artists have been featured it just feels like a right of passage at this point.
Live shows bring a different energy compared to recording. What’s your favourite part about performing, and do you have any pre-show rituals?
I think for me it's the communal nature of a live show that keeps me coming back to performing. I grew up singing in church and the act of singing together and hearing everyone singing with you has been something that I've been transfixed on forever.
My pre-show ritual usually involves me bouncing around and psyching myself up backstage. There's that Kanye West clip where he goes on and on about how he's a God and I'm always trying to bring that kind of confidence whenever I'm about to take the stage (dude has some questionable behaviour but you gotta respect the confidence).
For someone discovering Rhoden for the first time, which song of yours should they start with, and why?
Well right now OUT OF MY HEAD is the only song that's out in the world but I have some really special songs that I'm keen to show off soon. I've got a song called "say it again" that's really special to me that I think will blow people's socks off but you'll just have to check out the live show if you wanna hear it soon.
Looking ahead, what’s next for you after the single launch? More music, live shows, or any surprises in store?
LOADS more music is on the way. I won't say when the next one is coming out but it's about to get mastered so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Otherwise I'm hoping to do a lot more live shows and I'm currently designing merch which I'm really excited about. I love fashion and design so I'm playing around with some cool ideas that I think people will dig!
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