In a time of swipe-right love and shallow hookups, Wattmore's latest single, "Romantic Side," cuts above the noise with the muscular grit of brute honesty and a lot of attitude.
After their debut, "Circus Life," came out of nowhere and out of the box. It was a bit of a smash, and Newcastle's brothers Boak Aiden and Kai aren't staying safe. Instead, they're doubling down on their signature combination of alt-country grit and Americana swagger. "Romantic Side" is a catchy follow-up and a mission statement.
With lyrics that cut to the quick with a biting, tongue-in-cheek wit focused on the strange absurdities of "Not A Love Song," treads the line between sarcasm and sweetness. Co-written with veteran hitmaker Allan Caswell, "Romantic Side" is pure genius storytelling. It's cool without being cold, clever without being cynical, confident without being cocky, bold without being brash.
It's an adrenaline shot in the arm of the genre. Lindsay Waddington's production at LWM House Studios layers the song in warm, twangy textures, but there is enough of a rock-and-roll bite that it never sounds too squeaky clean. That punk snarl is in the delivery, riffs, and refusal to sugarcoat the song's message. And if it feels like the musicians behind the scenes are having a ball, they are Wattmore, who has become a magnetic attraction for Australia's finest country session players.
"Romantic Side" isn't a bid for trendiness. It doesn't play by the rules of Nashville pop. And that is precisely why it works. The amusement park and costume party valve clear, but our senses and souls are doing better for those severed experiences, those encouraging wounds.
Wattmore might be the new kid on the block, but with "Romantic Side," they've shown that they came to stir things up. Expect more twan, more attitude, and more from these two brothers who obviously aren't afraid to talk or in their truth.
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Reviewed by LyricalOdyssey Music
on
June 17, 2025
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