The Rubens Are Back With Indie Rocker ‘Goanna’

‘Goanna’ is the first track from The Rubens since their 2024 album SODA.

Two years on since the release of their fifth studio album SODA, The Rubens return with their new single ‘Goanna’.

The indie rocker’s latest has a shimmering, summer feel, ushering in a new chapter for the Newcastle five-piece.

Talking about the meaning behind the song, keyboardist Elliott Margin says, “The song is about two chaotic people holding each other up. The wheels have come off and the car is on fire, but the radio is on.”

On the process of writing the song, Elliot adds, “The song started with the line ‘I could keep repeating one night’. I would sing it to myself over and over again, coupled with a whole lot of gibberish. I couldn’t figure out where it was meant to go from there so it lived as a voice note for a long time. Then one day it was in my head again and rest of the song sort of spat out from there.”

‘Goanna’ is accompanied by a dynamic music video directed by Mikey Conlon and featuring Vietnamese-Australian dancer and choreographer Kenny D Pham. Filmed on the NSW South Coast, the clip sees Kenny dancing alongside The Rubens’ six-sided speaker in picturesque locations such as Stanwell Tops, Wollongong and the Coal Coast.

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Comprising the Margin brothers, Zaac, Sam and Elliott, and long-term friends Scott Baldwin and William Zeglis, The Rubens came together in 2011, going on to win triple j’s Unearthed Homebake competition later that year thanks to their single ‘Lay It Down’.

The Rubens went on to win triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2012 and released their self-titled debut album that same year. They’ve since gone on to release four more albums, all of which made the ARIA Albums Chart top four, while their single ‘Hoops’ won the 2015 Triple J Hottest 100.

Having sold out shows nationally and overseas, won two ARIA Awards and supported the likes of Pink, ‘Goanna’ is a welcome return from The Rubens that kicks off their next era.

‘Goanna’ by The Rubens is out now. Listen here.