Australian punk trio Scared of Sharks was founded in 2016 by the duo of brothers Taylor Schwifty and Jack Malolakis in their hometown of Mogareeka before relocating the band to the coastal region of Illawarra to take advantage of a stronger music scene. After Malolakis departed the band in 2022 to have adventures in Europe, however, Schwifty remained determined to move the project forward and recruited Tim Shady on drums and Louis Crouton on bass. Building a name for themselves with their engaging and exhilarating live performances, they’re finally ready to capture that energy on their debut EP, Double Happiness, which came out last month.
“We Reckon this EP is not quite good as Double Happiness Cigarettes, but better than the 1994 film of the same name,” says the band about their first release. With a unique sound that combines a brash punk sound with the deep beauty of post-punk melodies, Double Happiness is about as strong of a first step forward as any band can take. One particular highlight is the EP’s lead single, “Last Train to Wyong,” a quirky and angular track based on the time when drummer Tim Shady, after over indulging at a rave, lost his keys, phone, and wallet and got on a train heading in the wrong direction. With songs full of both whimsy and punk rock excitement, Double Happiness is going to worm its way into your heart and never let go.
Check out the EP below.
Listen to the album on streaming services here. Follow Scared of Sharks on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
Photo courtesy of Scared of Sharks
