Letters To Lions Return Stronger Than Ever
After a seven-year hiatus, indie rock outfit Letters To Lions made a surprise return in 2024. Refuelled and refocused, The Note chatted to singer and guitarist Adam Newling about the band’s reunion, new single ‘Easy Honey’ and what the future has in store for Letters To Loins.
Words Tobias Handke // Image Anni Cameron
Letters To Lions gained a large cult following during the mid-00s, and just when it seemed the band was on the verge of breaking through, you decided to go your separate ways. How hard was it to end the band, and did you ever foresee a future where Letters To Lions would return?
At the time we had been hitting it pretty hard and were really burnt out, and we’d been working with some dodgy people. The intention initially was just to have a break for a couple months, and a couple months turned into about a year and a half before we knew it. That's when we decided we’d do one last show and pack it in, it felt right for where we were at the time. I think if we’d pursued it further while carrying such heavy hearts, it would have just turned to resentment.
No, we never saw this (the return) coming. Haha. We’d joked about it through the years on the rare occasions that we’d catch up, but I don’t think any of us believed it.
During the hiatus, did you continue to write music, or did you take a break from it all and reassess things?
Yeah, for the most part, we all continued here and there in our own capacity. I went on to play guitar in Ruby Fields’ band before starting a solo project as Adam Newling. Joel was part of an indie duo called Richard Hummingbird. Jackson started producing and mixing records for other indie artists and Curt started a punk band Big Modern, as well as playing in Kitten Heel.
What was the thing you missed most about the band during those years?
Probably the brotherhood that we share. In those formative years, we spent so much time together, and I don’t think we realised how much we missed it until we got it back.
Letters To Lions reunited in 2024. What was the decision behind this?
The seed was planted by our friend Callum, who is now working as the band’s booking agent. He and Adam had only just met before going to a bowling alley in downtown LA when he said he was a fan and asked if they would ever get the band back together to play a festival he booked on the Gold Coast. Adam said absolutely not. After about four hours of bowling, beers and Callum’s pestering, Adam agreed to flare up the old group chat. The next morning, I woke to some eager replies, and LTL was back!
How are you approaching being in the band today as opposed to when Letters To Lions first got together?
Just with age and maturity and communication. We aren't doing anything wildly different, but at the same time, completely different. We were 16 when we started the band and we are all now in our 30’s. It’s mostly mindset.
What’s the biggest lesson you have learned during the band’s initial run that has helped since you got back together?
One of the fundamental differences or lessons we have gained is really just how we view the project. There’s pretty regimented guidelines of what we know works for us and what doesn’t, our goals are all pretty aligned with where we want this to go and what we want to achieve.
You released the Seven Years EP last year to great reviews. You can really sense the joy and fun you guys are having playing together again. How good did it feel to be back writing and recording music with Letters To Lions?
SO DAMN GOOD!
One of the band’s recent singles is ‘Spare Change’, a vibrant two-minute indie banger exploring the band’s demise. Was it cathartic to put your frustrations on wax for all to hear?
Yeah, it really was. We'd been experimenting sonically with the world of LTL since our return, so while the sound of that song for us was quite left of field, it felt nice to use that as a foreign vessel to be quite pointed in the lyrics. We had a lot of whiplash from working with shitty people when we were young and didn't know any better, so songs like this help for moving forward.
Another great track is your latest single, ‘Easy Honey’. It’s been described as a kind of sequel to ‘Spare Change’. It’s got a real uplifting vibe to it and is one of those songs I can imagine goes off live. Talk us through the writing of the song and how important it is to share your truths through song.
Yeah, we love playing this song. Writing it just kind of happened. I wrote this song after writing ‘Spare Change’. I think it happened unintentionally, it wasn’t until after I read the chorus lyrics in whole [that] I realised I hadn't gotten it all off my chest in ‘Spare Change’, which goes to show, unconsciously I needed to speak this truth through the song. I was particularly pleased with the “BREAKING BREAD IN THE UNDERWORLD” line, it's just so fun but also poignant.
You recently toured the UK and performed a run of sold-out shows. It must be incredible to sell out shows in another country, especially after so many years away. What was the tour like, and any highlights you’d like to share?
Mate, that tour was unbelievable. Way beyond anything we could have expected or hoped for. London was a highlight that was the first to sell out and the last run of the tour, so going into it was super buzzy. We got there for our check and people were lining up at the door, which was ludicrous to us.
Did that tour give you the conviction you needed to know that getting the band back together and pushing on was the right thing to do?
1000% reconfirmed that we are on the path we are meant to be on.
When it comes to international crowds and Australian crowds, what are the main differences? Is one better than the other?
I think for our shows, Aussie shows are heaps rowdier. It actually put into perspective just how rowdy Aus crowds are [compared] to overseas. Haha.
You’re hitting the road in June for a national tour. How excited are you to be back home playing shows, and what can Adelaide fans expect from a Letters To Lions gig?
We are pumped! This thing is just snowballing and we are here for it. Can't wait to be back in Adelaide! Yous can expect the best version of LTL you'd have ever thought possible. We're gonna bring it.
Finally, what does the rest of 2026 have on the cards for Letters To Lions? Can we expect an album sometime soon?
We’ve been writing incessantly and experimenting a lot with what we think the future sound for LTL will be. We've just finished up a bunch of songs, and I think we are just too keen to put them out, so we will bundle them as an EP.
2027, expect the album. There it is.
Catch Letters To Lions at The Austral on Friday 19 June. Tickets on sale now via moshtix.com.au.
