Sydney alt-rock outfit Second Idol have teamed up with us to give you their newest video for atmospheric new track “Spineless Wonders”, out on October 3rd via Gloomshift Records. The track comes with a remix by labelmates Inaugural and follows the band’s growing reputation for sharp-edged songwriting that pulls no punches.
Singer and guitarist Kate Farquharson explains how the song took shape: “It began as a slinking and syncopated gothic instrumental. There was something sinister and sinuous about it. I began penning lyrics that twisted through the melody, alluding to power, control and corruption. Inherent to the song is a critique of the ‘Spineless Wonder’, which can be interpreted as a cowardly spectacle or the ill repute of individual cowardice. In this song, the people regarded as ‘spineless’ are politicians and individuals in exploitative positions of power. Here, the individual is void of consequence, and through corruption proceeds to ‘wander free’.”
“We went into creating this video with Jack Fontes with some classic and modern gothic rock inspirations such as Bauhaus and Chelsea Wolfe. I’d long admired Jack’s body of work and vision, and working together we were motivated to visually echo the dark and twisting nature of the song. Central to the song is themes of deception, power, restriction and control. Jack suggested the idea of a dominatrix interrogation narrative scene as a way of carrying these themes. Given our penchant for the dark and subversive it was a no brainer. It’s equally sinister and seductive, dismal and scathing and plays into obfuscation and intrigue.” – Kate (vocalist/guitarist)
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Clayton Segelov, with recording handled by Segelov and Angie Watson at The Brain Recording Studios in Sydney, “Spineless Wonders” places itself firmly in the tradition of bands that take aim at power structures through unsettling sound. Artwork design comes from Lucy Howroyd with photography by Valerie Joy.
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Second Idol’s lineup — Farquharson (vocals, guitar), Theia Joyeaux (bass), Sunny Josan (guitar), and Afeef Iqbal (drums, percussion) — represents a mix of cultural backgrounds that feeds directly into their work. Kate is Sri Lankan/Scottish, Sunny Palestinian/Indian, and Afeef Pakistani, all second-generation Australians. The group’s lived experiences across gender identities and sexualities form part of the band’s lens on authority, corruption, and identity.
Second Idol’s own inspirations feed directly into how “Spineless Wonders” took shape. Drummer Afeef points to Fleshwater’s “2000: In Search of the Endless Sky”: “Nostalgia driven shoegaze with a heavy twist. It’s like Deftones on steroids and the drummer is ridiculously talented, turning what could be simple grooves into what almost feel like their own melodies. This band was a big inspiration with my writing on ‘Spineless Wonders’ with how the drummer performs his drums in a way that can be sung along to, almost acting as a counter-melody to all the other elements going on around them.”
The rest of the band added their top albums of 2025 so far. Kate listed The Murder Capital “Blindness” — “Already a fan, I was greatly anticipating this album. It feels like a mirror of our times, full of urgency, pathos and hope.”
The Horrors “Nightlife” — “A gripping, almost post-apocalyptic and cinematic record… this album made me fall in love with them again and had me hooked from the first listen.”
Garbage “Let All That We Imagine Be the Light” — “Shirley Manson is an endless source of inspiration… the darkness and search for hope in this album feel equally overwhelming and life-affirming.”
Jehnny Beth “You heartbreaker, You” — “Utterly daring and fearless… her artistry and this record are formidable and full of grit.” and No Joy “Bugland” — “Equally soothing shoegaze and a bit batshit bonkers… one of my favourite contemporary shoegaze artists.”
Theia pointed to Ditz “Never Exhale”: “Dark, scary and distorted as hell with aggression and grit.” Sunny chose Dead Pioneers “PO$T AMERICAN”: “A collision of guttural punk energy and spoken-word urgency, confronting the scars of inequality, racism, sexism, homophobia, colonialism and late-stage capitalism within a country flirting with fascist solutions.”
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The track sits comfortably next to a lineage that includes Placebo, Sonic Youth, Siouxsie and the Banshees, PJ Harvey, Savages, and The Cure — uncompromising artists who used sound as both confrontation and critique. At times, Farquharson’s presence recalls the magnetism of Melissa Auf der Maur, with a delivery that sharpens into Placebo-like immediacy in its closing.
Second Idol’s live set has already left its mark across King Street Crawl, Vivid Sydney, and TRANSGENRE festivals, alongside shows with The Murder Capital, Baxter Dury, Jen Cloher, Arse, Battlesnake, Cry Club, Teenage Joans, and Harry Howard. Their next appearances include TRANSGENRE Vol. II at The Red Rattler in Sydney on September 27th, and two dates supporting Porpoise Spit’s album launch tour: October 10th at Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney and October 11th at La La La’s in Wollongong.
With “Spineless Wonders” out, Second Idol are already looking further ahead. Their debut LP is currently being pressed on 12” vinyl, set to mark the next major step in their catalogue. A run of shows across NSW, ACT, and VIC will close out the year, alongside Kate’s role as co-organiser of Loud Women Festival Australia, the local chapter of the long-running UK movement. Looking into 2026, the band are preparing for a full national tour.
