UK duo Good Neighbours are all about timing and right now, theirs couldn't be better.
Off the back of breakout tracks like 'Home' and 'Keep It Up', Oli Fox and Scott Verrill return to Australia this week for another round of high-energy, heart-on-sleeve shows – and yes, they've already picked a favourite city to visit. "Perth," they say, almost in sync.It's not their first time down under, but it might just be their most meaningful yet. "We came last year briefly and we played three gigs and they were amongst our favourites of the year," Oli explains.
"We've always had a really good listenership in Australia. . . the songs are doing well, people keep messaging us, asking us to come and play, so it felt like the right time."
Before they were bandmates, Oli and Scott were solo artists navigating their own lanes. So what changed when they finally started working together? "We're better now," Oli says.
"Everything we did before was quite planned and we had really specific goals. This time, we didn't have any intentions, we were just writing whatever felt right and making whatever noises felt good as a person, as opposed to what was trendy."
When asked whether themes of belonging and identity are intentional, they're quick to shrug off any grand concept. "It was more what came out with the melodies," Oli says, "but we've sort of solidified ourselves as a coming-of-age act and that's what people are drawing from.
"There's an open conversation in the lyrics, and it's been nice seeing how they help people through tough times." Scott adds: "Fans will come up and be like, 'this song helped me through this period'. That's where we're coming from now with the lyrics."
That raw, unpretentious spark inspired 'Home', a demo-turned-phenomenon that quietly exploded into the most-streamed debut single of 2024. It's clocked over 450 million streams, hit the charts in 13 countries, and went platinum in the US after an 11-week stay on the Billboard Hot 100.
Still, despite the numbers, the duo say they're not trying to recreate viral moments. "We just threw up the chorus of 'Home' on TikTok as an idea. Now we use social media to see what people connect with, then build from there instead of spending forever perfecting something no one hears," Scott explains.
That spontaneity paid off again with 'Keep It Up' an uplifting anthem that, ironically, came from a total breaking point. "We were both working part-time jobs," Oli says.
"I think I'd just been fired from my fourth job. Music was the dream, but we only got to do it on a random Wednesday afternoon when we didn't have a shift. That song sounds really positive, but when you dig into the lyrics, it's kind of an 'F you' to everything. It's about boiling down everything that was happening socially and work-wise in our lives."
Then there's 'Ripple', a track that goes even deeper. "It's about my best friend from home who lost his dad," Oli shares. "He was like my second dad, but my friend always avoided the conversation around grief. 'Ripple' is like saying: 'it's okay if you want to talk about this now, we're here.'"
Onstage, it's all hugs, stretches, and pre-show pep talks. "We're older and like, creekier," Scott laughs. "If there's one thing I'd advise any band: stretch before you go on. The adrenaline hits, you throw yourself around, and the next morning you're like, 'what did I do last night?'."
As for the weirdest thing on their tour rider? "Fresh white socks. It's so good. You always need them." As for their Australian shows, the duo are keeping things fast and loud.
If you're new to Good Neighbours, they've got the ultimate five-track starter pack: 'Keep It Up', 'Home', 'Weekend Boy', 'Ripple', and 'Starry Eye'. Play it front to back before you see them live, and you'll understand why Good Neighbours aren't just your next indie-pop obsession, they're the ones narrating your inner monologue.
Good Neighbours 2025 Tour Dates
Tue 13 May - Max Watts (Melbourne)Thu 15 May - Manning Bar (Sydney)
Fri 16 May - The Triffid (Brisbane)
Sun 18 May - Freo.Social (Fremantle)
