The Empty Threats Share New Single ‘want someone’

This is the fourth and final single from the band’s forthcoming sophomore album, happy birthday.

Image Nash Blight

The Empty Threats are gearing up for the release of their sophomore album happy birthday, but before the album drops, the noise punks have shared the record’s fourth and final single, ‘want someone’.

A fierce explosion of post-punk giddiness with plenty of reverb and Grace Vandals’ dreamy backing vocals, ‘want someone’ is another brilliant showcase of The Empty Threats ever ever-evolving sound.

The track arrives on the back of the previously released singles ‘phone call’, ‘the one’ and ‘bus stop’, with happy birthday shaping as one of the must-hear albums of 2025.

The Empties have called the album, which arrives Friday 12 September via Anti-Dismal and Short Corner Records, a “celebration”, with happy birthday described as an introspective exploration of the “pleasures and anguish of romance, friendship and one’s own inner life.”

Recorded and produced by guitarist Matt Schultz, the album was written over the course of two weeks at an old sheep ranch in the Flinders Rangers. The area was so remote that the band had to run a generator just to power their instruments!

The band, comprising Stu Patterson (they/them - [vocals/saxophone/clarinet]), Matt Schultz (they/them - [guitars]), Lenny Regione (he/him - [bass guitar]), Michael Bond (he/him - [drums]), Alex Dearman (him/him - [guitar]) and Grace Vandals (she/her - [vocals /guitar/synth] with contributions from former member Venus (they/them- guitar/backing vocals), emerged from the writing and recording sessions with 15 songs that became happy birthday.

“It really felt like one of those ‘go to the desert and lose your mind’ kind of thing,” says Patterson of the making of the album.

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In support of their new album, The Empty Threats have announced a run of four album launch shows before they head on tour across Europe in October.

The Empty Threats hit Newtown’s Waywards Ballroom on Friday 12 September, Wollongong’s Dicey Riley’s on Saturday 13 September and Adelaide’s Jive on Saturday 20 September, with the final date at Melbourne’s Bergy Ballroom on Thursday 25 September.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now via linktr.ee/theemptythreats.

One of Australia’s most exciting acts to emerge in the past few years, The Empty Threats have been on a roll since the release of their 2023 debut record Monster Truck Mondays, with the band winning several awards at the SA Music Awards, receiving co-signs from Rolling Stone and KEXP and performing showcases at BIGSOUND and the UK’s The Great Escape.

The Empty Threats have also toured the globe regularly and performed at festivals such as Camp A Low Hum, WOMADelaide and Yours & Owls, along with supporting everyone from BENEE to ICEHOUSE.

Catch The Empty Threats at Jive on Saturday 20 September. Tickets on sale now via moshtix.com.au. happy birthday arrives Friday 12 September via Anti-Dismal and Short Corner Records. Pre-order here and pre-save here.

The Empty Threats happy birthday Australian Tour Dates 2025

Friday 12 September – Waywards Ballroom, Newtown, NSW

Saturday 13 September – Dicey Riley's, Wollongong, NSW

Saturday 20 September – Jive, Adelaide, SA

Thursday 25 September – Bergy Ballroom, Melbourne, VIC

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