Middle Kids
Middle Kids is an Australian indie rock band from Sydney, formed in 2016 by vocalist and guitarist Hannah Joy and multi-instrumentalist Tim Fitz, with drummer Harry Day joining shortly thereafter.[1][2] The trio gained initial recognition with their 2016 debut single "Edge of Town," which has amassed over 48 million Spotify streams as of 2025 and earned praise from figures like Elton John.[1][3] The band's self-titled debut EP followed in 2017, featuring tracks like "Your Love" and showcasing their blend of graceful vocals, rousing hooks, and melodic guitars.[1] Their first full-length album, Lost Friends (2018), won Triple J's Australian Album of the Year J Award and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the ARIA Awards.[2][4] Building on this success, Today We're the Greatest (2021) earned them the ARIA Award for Best Rock Album, despite its release during the COVID-19 pandemic, and featured singles like "R U OK?" that highlighted themes of mental health and resilience.[2][5] Their third album, Faith Crisis Pt. 1 (2024), co-produced by Fitz and Jonathan Gilmore, includes singles such as "Dramamine" (nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 APRA Awards), "Bend," and "Bootleg Firecracker," exploring personal and existential themes with collaborations like Dave Le’aupepe on "All In My Head."[2][6] It received an ARIA nomination for Best Rock Album in 2024.[7] Middle Kids have built a strong international presence through tours, including U.S. dates with Cold War Kids (2017), SXSW performances, a 2023 North American run with Manchester Orchestra and Jimmy Eat World, and a live album recorded by Triple J at Sydney's Enmore Theatre in June 2024.[1][2][8][9] Their music, often drawing from Joy's classical piano background and Fitz's production skills, has been lauded for its emotional depth and accessibility, positioning them as key figures in Australia's indie rock scene.[2][1]Band members
Current members
Middle Kids' core lineup consists of Hannah Joy on lead vocals and guitar, Tim Fitz on bass and multi-instrumentalist duties, and Harry Day on drums, forming the stable trio since the band's establishment in Sydney in 2016.[1] Hannah Joy, the band's primary songwriter, graduated from the Australian Institute of Music with a degree in Composition and Music Production and is a classically trained pianist who began developing her songwriting craft before the group's formation.[1] She met her future bandmate Tim Fitz through mutual friends in 2014, sparking a collaborative partnership that evolved into Middle Kids.[10] Tim Fitz, Joy's husband and the band's producer, contributes bass lines, additional instrumentation, and co-writing to their sound.[11] Raised in Papua New Guinea before relocating to Sydney, Fitz began recording music on an eight-track setup at age 16 and had already built a career as a solo artist prior to joining the band.[1] Harry Day anchors the rhythm section as the drummer, having joined Joy and Fitz in early 2016 to solidify the trio. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a focus on Jazz Performance, Day brings a versatile percussive foundation to the group's indie rock style.[1]Touring and additional musicians
For live performances, Middle Kids frequently expand their core trio into a touring quartet by incorporating guitarist Miles Elkington, who handles lead guitar duties and occasionally contributes on keyboards during select shows.[12][13] This setup has supported their international tours, including dates in North America and Europe following the release of their 2018 debut album Lost Friends.[14] In recordings, the band has collaborated with session musicians to enhance their arrangements. On the 2024 album Faith Crisis Pt 1, Macie Stewart provided string arrangements for tracks 9, 10, and 12, adding orchestral depth to the indie rock sound.[15] The album's closing track, "All In My Head," features guest vocals from Dave Le'aupepe of Gang of Youths, contributing to its intimate, anxiety-tinged narrative.[15][16] Additionally, frontwoman Hannah Joy has arranged live string sections for special performances, drawing on her background in orchestral composition to create fuller, more dynamic live experiences.[17]History
Formation and early releases (2016–2017)
Middle Kids formed in Sydney in early 2016 when vocalist and guitarist Hannah Joy and multi-instrumentalist Tim Fitz, who had met two years earlier and married in 2015, expanded their collaborative songwriting into a full band by recruiting drummer Harry Day, a recent graduate of the Australian Institute of Music.[1][18] The trio's early sessions took place in a makeshift studio above Fitz's garage in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood, where they demoed tracks including the reflective "Edge of Town," inspired by Joy's experiences of isolation and transition.[19][1] This intimate setup fostered a raw, indie rock sound blending Joy's emotive lyrics with Fitz's production touch, laying the groundwork for their debut material without initial plans for a band name.[18] The band's first breakthrough came with the independent upload of "Edge of Town" to Triple J's Unearthed platform in May 2016, which quickly earned high rotation on the station and praise for its urgent, guitar-driven energy, amassing over 2.5 million Spotify streams by the following year.[20][21] This exposure led to their live debut in mid-2016 at small Sydney venues, followed by winning FBI Radio's Northern Lights competition in September, securing a slot at Iceland Airwaves and international gigs at New York's Mercury Lounge and Los Angeles' The Echo.[1] In January 2017, Middle Kids signed with EMI Music Australia for domestic distribution and Domino Recording Company for North America, enabling the release of their self-titled debut EP on February 17, 2017.[22][23] The six-track EP, Middle Kids, captured their nascent style with standouts like the anthemic "Never Start" and the introspective "Doing It Right," receiving positive early reviews for its heartfelt songwriting and dynamic arrangements, further boosted by Triple J airplay that positioned the band as rising stars in Australia's indie scene.[24][21][20]Lost Friends era (2018–2019)
Middle Kids recorded their debut studio album Lost Friends primarily in their Sydney home studio, with production handled by band members Tim Fitz and Hannah Joy.[25] The album was released on May 4, 2018, through Domino Recording Company in Australia and the UK, and via Lucky Number Music elsewhere, marking the band's first full-length project following their 2017 self-titled EP.[26] It debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart, establishing the band's breakthrough in the Australian indie rock scene.[27] Leading up to the album's release, Middle Kids issued several key singles that built anticipation and showcased their melodic indie rock sound. "Mistake," released in February 2018, became a standout track, earning a spot in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018 at number 21 and featuring an official music video directed by Onil Kotian. This was followed by "On My Knees" in April 2018, which highlighted themes of imperfection and resilience, accompanied by a music video that emphasized the band's dynamic live energy.[28] "Bought It," also released in April, served as another promotional single with its anthemic chorus, further amplifying radio play and streaming momentum ahead of the album launch.[29] Earlier single "Never Start" from the 2017 EP was reincorporated into Lost Friends, reinforcing its role in the band's rising profile.[30] The Lost Friends era saw Middle Kids embark on extensive touring, including a national Australian headline tour in March and May 2018 to coincide with the album's release, spanning venues like Oxford Art Factory in Sydney and Howler in Melbourne.[31] Internationally, they supported larger acts such as Bloc Party on a European tour in late 2018, The War on Drugs during Australian dates, and Local Natives and Cold War Kids on select North American shows, expanding their audience across continents.[32] By 2019, the band continued headline runs like the "New Songs For Old Problems" tour, performing at major venues including Enmore Theatre in Sydney and Forum Melbourne, solidifying their live reputation.[33] Lost Friends received widespread critical acclaim for its blend of introspective lyrics and energetic instrumentation, with Pitchfork praising its "radiant, anthemic indie rock" that balanced doubt with clear execution.[34] The album's success culminated at the 2018 J Awards, where it won Triple J's Australian Album of the Year, beating nominees including Amy Shark and Courtney Barnett, and highlighting the band's impact on the local music landscape.[35] This recognition, coupled with ARIA Award nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Independent Release, underscored Lost Friends as a pivotal work in Middle Kids' career.[4]Today We're the Greatest and pandemic years (2020–2022)
The recording of Middle Kids' second studio album, Today We're the Greatest, began in mid-2019 in Los Angeles with producer Lars Stalfors, building on the band's extensive touring momentum from their debut Lost Friends. Although principal tracking was completed by November 2019, the global COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted post-production and release plans, as lockdowns and travel restrictions in Australia and internationally made traditional promotion and touring uncertain, leading to a delayed rollout until March 2021.[36][37] The album's themes center on resilience amid personal vulnerability and everyday chaos, reflecting frontwoman Hannah Joy's experiences with new parenthood and emotional introspection, often conveyed through a mix of hopeful angst and raw honesty. Tracks like "R U 4 Me?" capture frantic urgency in questioning relationships during uncertain times, while "Stacking Chairs" explores the endurance of love through domestic trials, with elements of home-based refinement adding intimacy to the production process amid pandemic isolation. Released on March 19, 2021, via EMI Music Australia and Domino internationally, the record debuted at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and achieved notable streaming traction on platforms like Spotify, where it amassed millions of global plays shortly after launch.[36][38][39] In response to Australia's stringent lockdowns from 2020 to 2022, Middle Kids adapted by participating in virtual performances, including an appearance at the Isol-Aid Instagram Live festival in March 2020 alongside other Australian artists, and a full-set remote session for KEXP's "At Home" series in March 2021 featuring songs from the album. Limited live activity resumed with a socially distanced intimate theatre tour in May 2021 across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, incorporating string and brass ensembles while adhering to capacity restrictions. The album's critical and commercial reception culminated in a win for Best Rock Album at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, underscoring its impact despite the era's challenges.[40][41][42]Faith Crisis Pt 1 and recent developments (2023–present)
In October 2023, Middle Kids announced their third studio album, Faith Crisis Pt 1, which was released on February 16, 2024, via Lucky Number Music.[43][44] The album, co-produced by Tim Fitz and Jonathan Gilmore and recorded in Eastbourne, England, explores themes of personal doubt, yearning, angst, and the struggle to find belief amid turbulent times, serving as a narrative of heartbreak, healing, and questioning one's convictions.[45][46][47] Leading up to the album's release, the band issued the Terrible News EP on January 11, 2024, featuring the title track as a single that critiques overwhelming negativity and urges escape from external opinions through playful indie rock energy.[48][49][50] Later that year, in October 2024, Middle Kids performed a cover of Oasis's "Champagne Supernova" for triple j's Like A Version series, delivering a raw, emotive rendition that highlighted Hannah Joy's vocal range and the band's dynamic instrumentation.[51][52] In June 2024, Middle Kids played a sold-out headline show at Sydney's Enmore Theatre as part of their national tour supporting Faith Crisis Pt 1, which was later captured in the live album triple j Live at the Wireless – Enmore Theatre, Sydney 2024, released on September 27, 2024, encompassing 21 tracks spanning their catalog with high-energy performances.[53][54][55] Entering 2025, the band contributed a cover of Broken Social Scene's "Cause = Time" to the tribute album Anthems: A Celebration of Broken Social Scene's You Forgot It in People, with their cover released on May 29, 2025, ahead of the album's release on June 6, 2025, infusing the track with driving guitars and understated emotional delivery to emphasize its tension and introspection.[56][57][6][58] They also announced performances including a headline slot at Twilight at Taronga on March 1, 2025, at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, supported by Egoism, continuing their active touring schedule.[59][60]Musical style and influences
Genre and songwriting
Middle Kids are classified as an indie rock band with alternative rock elements, featuring jangly guitars, layered instrumentation, and Hannah Joy's emotive, expressive vocals that blend toughness and tenderness.[61][34][62] Their sound emphasizes melodic hooks and atmospheric textures, creating a radiant and anthemic quality that balances introspective depth with accessible pop structures.[61][34] Joy's lyric-writing style is deeply personal, drawing from her own experiences to explore themes of relationships, mental health, childhood trauma, and emotional vulnerability.[63] She often begins songs in a flow of raw emotion, shifting from more conceptual early efforts to direct reflections on love, healing, and self-doubt, as seen in tracks addressing alcohol dependency and interpersonal dynamics.[63] This approach results in lyrics that are wittily introspective yet universally relatable, prioritizing emotional authenticity over abstraction.[63] The band's songwriting is a collaborative effort involving all three members, with Joy typically initiating songs or fragments on guitar before refining them with input from bassist Tim Fitz and drummer Harry Day.[64] Fitz plays a key role in production, co-developing demos and emphasizing layered arrangements that incorporate multi-instrumental elements like slide guitar and driving rhythms to build rich, textured soundscapes.[64][62] This process allows for experimentation, such as adapting raw rock ideas into more nuanced forms.[64] Over time, Middle Kids' compositional approach has evolved from the raw, energetic indie rock of their early material to more polished arrangements in subsequent releases, incorporating subtler dynamics like piano ballads and electronica-infused pop elements while retaining core melodic drive.[64] For instance, initial thrashy '90s-inspired demos have been transformed through group refinement into emotive, production-enhanced tracks that highlight vocal lushness and instrumental depth.[64] This progression reflects a growing emphasis on emotional clarity and sonic sophistication without losing the band's foundational immediacy.[64]Influences and evolution
Middle Kids' sound draws from a range of indie rock and alternative influences, including the expansive, community-driven ethos of Broken Social Scene, whom the band has cited as a major inspiration for their collaborative and spontaneous approach to music-making.[57] In May 2025, the band released a cover of Broken Social Scene's "Cause = Time," highlighting their continued appreciation for the group's sound.[56] Other key touchstones include the raw energy of Pixies and the lo-fi grit of Pavement, alongside specific albums like Arcade Fire's Funeral and The Strokes' Is This It, which shaped vocalist Hannah Joy's songwriting sensibilities.[65] Within the Australian indie landscape, the band emerged alongside acts like Courtney Barnett, sharing a scene that emphasized introspective lyrics and guitar-driven dynamics, though Middle Kids carved a distinct path through their emotive, anthemic style.[66] The band's sonic foundation reflects the complementary backgrounds of its core members. Hannah Joy, a classically trained pianist who graduated from the Australian Institute of Music in composition and music production, brings a structured melodic sensibility informed by influences like Mozart and Bach, blending precision with emotional depth in her vocal and guitar work.[1] Her early intense training in classical music, though leading to burnout, evolved into a broader appreciation for improvisation and diverse genres, allowing her to infuse Middle Kids' tracks with layered harmonies and dynamic phrasing.[67] Bassist and producer Tim Fitz, with his roots as an established indie solo artist who began recording on an eight-track at age 16, contributes a production expertise honed in Sydney's indie circuit, emphasizing organic builds and textural subtlety that grounds the band's indie rock core.[1] This fusion of Joy's formal training and Fitz's grassroots indie experience has driven the band's ability to balance accessibility with experimental flair across their catalog.[65] Over time, Middle Kids' style has evolved from the guitar-centric indie rock of their 2018 debut Lost Friends, characterized by radiant, anthemic hooks and clear-eyed execution, to more expansive arrangements in later works.[34] Their 2024 album Faith Crisis Pt 1 marks a notable shift, incorporating increased electronic elements through co-production with Jonathan Gilmore, who elevated tracks with innovative synth textures and rhythmic pulses, reflecting a refreshed awareness of the band's creative strengths.[68] This progression highlights a move toward greater sonic tension and collaboration, moving beyond the debut's rock focus to embrace pop-inflected production while retaining emotional introspection.[69] Personal life events, particularly parenthood, have profoundly influenced the band's thematic maturity and creative process. For Joy and Fitz, becoming parents introduced isolation and raw vulnerability that permeated Faith Crisis Pt 1, with motherhood shaping lyrics on self-doubt, clarity, and relational growth—Joy has described how her "heart is so raw" in this phase, informing the album's deep dives into faith and identity.[69] Recorded amid weekend sessions over two years while raising their young son, the record captures this "unique beast" of balancing family demands with artistry, fostering a more reflective evolution in their songcraft.[68] This adaptation has not only matured their themes but also reinforced the band's resilience, turning personal milestones into catalysts for artistic growth.[70]Discography
Studio albums
Middle Kids have released three studio albums to date. Their debut album, Lost Friends, was released on 4 May 2018 through Domino Recording Company. Produced by band member Tim Fitz, the album peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It has no ARIA certifications. The band's second studio album, Today We're the Greatest, came out on 19 March 2021 via Domino. Produced by Lars Stalfors in Los Angeles, the record explores themes of vulnerability, introspection, depression, and personal worth amid daily life and political turmoil. It achieved commercial success by reaching number 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and has no ARIA certifications. Associated singles include "Questions" and the title track. Faith Crisis Pt 1, the third studio album, was released on 16 February 2024 by Lucky Number Music. Co-produced by Tim Fitz and Jonathan Gilmore and recorded in Eastbourne, United Kingdom, it delves into emotional conflicts between head and heart, motherhood, and self-rediscovery.[43] The album received positive critical reception, including a 7/10 score from The Line of Best Fit for its personal and professional crisis explorations.[71] It debuted at number 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking strong sales performance, though specific sales figures are not publicly detailed, and it has no ARIA certifications to date. Key singles include "Dramamine" and "Bootleg Firecracker".Extended plays
Middle Kids' debut extended play, Middle Kids, was released on 17 February 2017 through Remote Control Records. The EP comprises six tracks—"Your Love", "The Edge of Town", "Never Start", "Fire in Your Eyes", "Old River", and "Doing It Right"—and served as the band's initial foray into recording, capturing their raw indie rock sound.[24] The lead single "The Edge of Town" earned high rotation on triple j, Australia's national youth radio station, which propelled the band to early prominence in the local music scene.[21] Initial streaming success was notable, with "The Edge of Town" accumulating over 22 million plays on Spotify by mid-2019, alongside millions for other tracks like "Never Start" (6.7 million) and "Your Love" (2.8 million).[72] The band's second EP, New Songs for Old Problems, was released on 24 May 2019 via Domino Recording Company. Produced by Tim Fitz at the band's Sydney studio, it features six tracks—"Beliefs and Prayers", "Salt Eyes", "Needle", "Real Thing", "Call Me Snowflake", and "Big Softy"—exploring themes of growing pressures and resistance to change. The EP peaked at number 31 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[73] The band's third EP, Terrible News, arrived in 2024 as a digital collection of recent singles tied to their album Faith Crisis Pt 1. It features six tracks totaling 19 minutes, including "Terrible News", "Bend", "Dramamine", "Highlands", "Bootleg Firecracker", and "Your Side, Forever", functioning as a transitional release that bridges the album's themes of personal crisis and renewal into ongoing developments.[48] Released amid the band's active touring and creative evolution post-Faith Crisis Pt 1, the EP highlights Hannah Joy's introspective songwriting and the group's evolving production, with "Terrible News" addressing resilience amid negativity.[50]Singles as lead artist
Middle Kids have released a series of singles as lead artist, many of which served as lead tracks for their albums and received promotion through official music videos and radio airplay on stations like triple j. These releases have showcased the band's indie rock sound and contributed to their growing popularity in Australia and internationally.[74][2] Their debut single, "Edge of Town", was released in May 2016 ahead of any album, accompanied by an official music video directed by Jordan Strafer that depicted a narrative of escape and longing, and it garnered substantial radio play on triple j, marking the band's breakthrough.[75][74] In January 2017, "Never Start" followed as a pre-album single from their self-titled EP, featuring an official video directed by Emile Grapton and exploring themes of hesitation in relationships; it further built anticipation for their early work through strong streaming and airplay performance.[76][74] To promote their 2018 debut album Lost Friends, the band issued "R U OK?" as a key single, which addressed mental health awareness and received radio support, aligning with its introspective lyrics.[74] In support of their 2021 sophomore album Today We're the Greatest, "Soma" and "Rerun" were released as singles, with "Soma" highlighting the band's evolving production and "Rerun" emphasizing repetitive emotional cycles in its arrangement.[74] "Bend" served as the lead single for their 2023 album Faith Crisis Pt 1, released in November with an official music video that captured the song's themes of resilience and flexibility amid personal turmoil.[77][74] Most recently, in January 2024, "Terrible News" was released as an original standalone single (also included on an EP of the same name), featuring an official video and critiquing overwhelming media negativity, which helped maintain the band's momentum post-album.[78][74]Awards and nominations
ARIA Music Awards
Middle Kids have received recognition at the ARIA Music Awards for their breakthrough debut and subsequent albums, highlighting their impact in the Australian rock scene.[79] In 2018, the band earned a nomination for Best Rock Album for their debut album Lost Friends, acknowledging their rapid rise following its release earlier that year.[79] The group achieved their first ARIA win in 2021 for Best Rock Album with Today We're the Greatest, their sophomore release that captured themes of hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] This victory came during a ceremony where the album was praised for its resilient energy and production, marking a significant milestone in their career.[42] In 2024, Middle Kids received another nomination for Best Rock Album for Faith Crisis Pt. 1, their third studio effort exploring personal and relational turmoil through introspective lyrics and dynamic instrumentation.[80] Although they did not win, the recognition underscored the album's critical acclaim and its role in evolving their sound.[81]| Year | Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Best Rock Album | Lost Friends | Nominated |
| 2021 | Best Rock Album | Today We're the Greatest | Won |
| 2024 | Best Rock Album | Faith Crisis Pt. 1 | Nominated |