Last month, Brissie/ Meanjin duo STAHR released their dream-pop, desert-rock cut 'Mother Aura', a song bursting with a commanding sound that is impossible to ignore.
With a nonchalant vocal delivery from Grace Harris, 'Mother Aura' exudes 'cool girl energy', as crunchy, fat desert-rock guitars meld with contemporary pop in an explosion of glittery sound that squeals Wet Leg meets Lola Young. . . yeowww!
"This track explores what it's like to knowingly step into the ego self. It takes a no-holds-barred approach to a night out in Brisbane, where the drinks are flowing, an ex-lover is in every room, and god help anyone who gets in your way," Sam Shepherd shares, describing the track's reckless and self-aware energy.
"It's a little cheesy, completely self-aware, and the perfect opener to the EP." The song also sets the tone for a broader narrative that runs throughout 'BLIP', STAHR's debut EP, that drops next Thursday (26 March).
Grace Harris explains that 'Mother Aura' marks the beginning of a larger emotional arc across the EP. "It's the beginning of our own personal 'BLIP' story where, as the bridge plays out, a question begins to unfold.
"How long can we maintain this façade before we lose sight of the way home," Grace says, noting the theme reflects experiences Shepherd has carried from his history performing in previous rock outfits.
"We're so proud of it, it's got all the feels you're gonna love it 🖤🖤," the band posted last week. "We couldn't be more grateful of the team of people we have around us to make this EP possible, pre-save it now!"
Ahead of a trio of 'BLIP' EP launch shows in SE QLD next month, here Sam and Grace share their vulnerable side, admitting when their own egos leaned into the little red devil on their respective shoulders!
"'Mother Aura' is about the alter ego – the glam, chaotic, slightly unhinged version of yourself that shows up when the lights are bright and the ego's well fed," the duo says.
"We've both had plenty of moments where that version of us made bold decisions. . . questionable decisions. . . decisions that felt iconic at the time and deeply humbling shortly after.
"So in the spirit of honesty (and mild public self-exposure), here are our Top 5 moments where our alter egos absolutely got the better of us."
1: Sugar Daddy Era
Grace: There was a time when I was single and I thought I could try the sugar daddy thing because I was just feeling a little extra one day.
I went on a date with this older man to a fancy restaurant in Brisbane; thank god he paid, I felt sick about it the moment he showed up and I left halfway through and blocked him. Definitely was not for me!
2: Dancing To Your Own Music To Impress The Girl
Sam: I'd just got home from a huge run of dates while playing in a previous band. We were somewhat successful in our own right. I was young and feeling pretty high on my own supply.
That night I had a girl over and long story short, we were both pretty loaded and I decided to start rocking out to my band's music hoping she'd be impressed or something.
She wasn't in the slightest and I never saw her again. Good times!
3: Early Festival Exit
Grace: When I was 18 I lived in Townsville. There was a big music festival that would come every year and I was way too excited, so I pregamed a little hard and then got kicked out, along with my boyfriend at the time, in the first hour of being there.
4: Boys Will Be Boys
Sam: Another night while on tour somewhere in rural NSW; post show, our keys player had two ladies up in the room we were all staying in.
The rest of the band and I proceeded to re-enact our favourite WWE moves while also taking our mattresses and surfing them down the stairs among other various acts of stupidity.
Needless to say they didn't hang around and he was pretty filthy at us. We told him it was an innocent act of fun or something like that. It wasn't. . . We were all just envious he was getting action and we weren't.
5: Bottle Service Girl Privilege
Grace: I used to work in this high-end rooftop bar as a bottle service girl; it felt like the height of success at the time, haha, but I would go in on days off to party there and rack up a pretty nice tab and 'accidentally' forget to pay on my way out.
STAHR open for Velvet Trop at Blutes Bar (Brisbane) on 21 March.
STAHR 2026 Tour Dates
Thu 23 Apr - Mo's Desert Clubhouse (Gold Coast)
Fri 24 Apr - Mirrorball Ministries (Brisbane)
Fri 1 May - The Presynct (Sunshine Coast)
