News · 1 May 2026

Trials Drops Debut Album ‘hendle’

The rapper has also shared new single ‘cool world’.

Adelaide-born rapper, songwriter, producer and all-around good guy trials has today released his hotly anticipated debut album, hendle.

trials lays his soul bare across the 10-track release, telling his story of a childhood built on displacement, domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse and the carceral system. “It’s unashamedly me and my story in all its fractured pieces,” he says.

“A solo record is something I’ve always needed to do as these topics speak to so many people, but it was important that I told my story my way alone…Our lives are often defined by one thing when it’s a whole palette of events that make up the picture,” trials openly shares.

“The racism that I encountered growing up here and abroad is a part of who I am in broad strokes. The displacement, domestic and other violence I encountered is another. Each one is another layer to the picture I’m painting of a life built on adversity but also standing on strength.”

hendle is entirely produced, written, performed, recorded and mixed by trials, with the multi-talented artist also playing every instrument on the album. Having already shared the singles ‘what’s the colour of love?’, ‘you could never hate me (like I do)’, ‘whistle while i walk’, ‘pollywaffle’, ‘be an adult (have a breakdown)’, and ‘…then i got dressed’, the album’s focus track is the funky ‘cool world’.

“The lyrics revolve around performative responses, being aggressively polite for the sake of your sanity,” trials says of the song.

After joining up with good mates Hilltop Hoods for their sold-out 10-date national tour in support of their latest album Fall From the Light, trials is excited to launch his own record with a special show at Sydney’s City Recital Hall as part of Great Southern Nights on Wednesday May 13.

what’s the colour of love is not only an album launch show, but also an exhibition of the album artwork inspired by the songs on the record. The night will feature trials in conversation, going deep into the creative process and the stories behind hendle, while also performing songs from the album live.

trials is also playing Snow Machine Festival in Queenstown, New Zealand from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 13 September, with more live dates to be announced in the coming months.

hendle by trials is out now on Island Records Australia. Listen here. Check out the album artwork and tracklisting below.