Indie-pop trio The Million hail from NSW’s Central Coast. . Managed by War Road Management – the team behind Nothing But Thieves, The Wrecks, and founders of Drive-Thru Records – The Million today have released their first single through Island Records Australia, the soulful and catchy ‘Somebody Better’.

LISTEN TO SOMEBODY BETTER SINGLE

‘Somebody Better’ is grounded in funk and R&B sensibilities, while remaining fundamentally pop, reflecting the specific dynamics of The Million. It is the ultimate example of making good out of a bad situation. After enduring mind games and an unhealthy dynamic with an ex-partner, the band’s vocalist and guitarist Jacob Thomas met his current girlfriend – herself coming out of a toxic relationship – and imagined what would happen if their respective exes got together.

Formed in 2015, Jacob and Jay Stewart met in high school, and the two were forced to come together in a school band. Initially opposed to one another due to music genre taste differences, they have been musically inseparable ever since. Past members came and went before Jacob reconnected with bassist Tamon at a Paramore concert after losing touch throughout their teens.  A passionate fan of hip hop and jazz, Tamon was the ultimate missing piece to the puzzle, adding another layer of musical influence and inspiration.

In its infancy, the band encountered a common scene in their small hometown music community: a prevalence of punk and hardcore acts, with little space for an indie-pop trio that deemed a crowd dancing and singing along as a sign of success. “We got put on a lot of pop-punk lineups, even though we were playing pop music,” Tamon recalls, to which Jacob adds, “We didn’t really fit in, but the crowds got into it anyway.”

With a growing online fanbase, The Million celebrated the release of their 2017 debut self-released EP Hydration Station with a sold-out east coast tour that emboldened them to continue to experiment with their sound and influences. Fast forward to 2019, the trio recently signed with War Road Management and a global deal with Island Records Australia.

Somebody Better is representative of a more mature direction for the band. “Our earlier stuff was all about the vibe and energy, whereas now with Somebody Better and the other new songs we’ve recorded, we’re combining those elements with a narrative focus. It brings a deeper meaning to the music.”

Now with a thoughtful new direction and the same infectious indie-pop sensibilities they’re ready to transform heavy subject matter into one big dance party.

SOMEBODY BETTER RELEASE PARTY 
Oxford Art Factory (Gallery Bar) | Thursday August 29 | Doors 6PM