Radio Free Alice unveil their debut album 'What's In Between'
Today, Australian new wave/post-punk band Radio Free Alice have released their long-awaited debut album, What’s In Between, via Atlantic Records. Eleven songs evoke the sound of a band that knows exactly what it wants to be: hook-laden yet self-aware, full of humor and a strange kind of joy, and unashamedly massive in its ambitions. Led by the wryly amusing Noah Learmonth alongside guitarist Jules Paradiso, bassist Michael Phillips and drummer Lochie Dowd, the Melbourne band made the record across three continents with Peter Katis (Interpol, The National), Ewan Pearson (Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand) and Finn Billingham — Stream.
Today’s release follows a breakout run that took the band from six sold-out London shows to Governor’s Ball, Reading and Leeds, and from Geese and The Killers support slots at home to three sold-out nights in New York. A coming-of-age soundtrack for fans carving out their own stories, it cements them as one of 2026’s most significant breakout bands.
RFA has been rolling out singles from their album over the last few months, only officially announcing it with the single “Crying With You” in late August. Stirring up noise the best way they know how, the band has been treating fans to surprise pop-up shows across London, Los Angeles, Sydney and Melbourne. This past week has seen them perform stripped down sets in record stores in Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York City.
Earlier this month, the band shared the last album preview with “Big Ideas” featuring Rachel Brown of Water From Your Eyes. The song debuted live at the band’s free, DIY pop-up show in LA. Performing outside of an art gallery in Chinatown, fans flocked to get an early listen to the band’s new music. The song went on to earn RFA their biggest streaming day to date and received support from Paste, Stereogum, FLOOD and many others — Stream / Watch the video.
What’s In Between is a record that understands that rapture and ruin are often unlikely bedfellows; a record built for finding your tribe in mosh pits and on dancefloors. Radio Free Alice’s first album rings with the giddy spirit of a classic indie debut and, for Learmonth, that’s the whole point.
“I find it disappointing that sometimes, in indie music, there’s this attitude that small and lo-fi equals credible. If the vocals sound like they were recorded on a Nokia, then it's interesting. Personally, I think that's all just bullshit,” he says. “I think being big is ambitious and exposing and risky. When you do the lo-fi thing, you can hide behind it and say ‘Oh, we weren't trying that hard’. But we really want these songs to to be fucking banging. There’s more on the line. And if you don’t agree, you can't say we didn't try.”
Along with today’s album release, RFA has released an official video for “The Intersection.” Directed by Kevin Lombardo, the band is on full display in an art gallery - being scrutinized and sold while trying to perform — Watch.
Learmonth shared, “‘The Intersection’ is a story about someone keeping up a relationship in the outside world while receiving treatment in a mental hospital. It’s a love story, really. It’s a love song. It’s definitely our poppiest song to date and a part of that makes us a little nervous... but I think we find that exciting. We’re a band that doesn't want to be afraid or insecure about being boldly melodic.”
WATCHTHE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “THE INTERSECTION”
Keeping the unrelenting buzz of their live shows going, the band has had a jam-packed festival season performing everywhere from Gov Ball to Reading Festival to Riot Fest and Austin City Limits. Next week, RFA will kick off their extensive UK/EU tour. So far for 2027, the band has announced their return to the states for Noise Pop Festival, Innings Music Festival and Treefort Music Festival. Fans can keep an eye out for more dates very soon. All upcoming tour dates can be found here and below.
RADIO FREE ALICE LIVE
2026
NOVEMBER
4 —Copenhagen, DK — Ideal Bar at Vega
6 — Berlin, DE — Frannz Club
7 — Hamburg, DE — Turmzimmer (SOLD OUT)
8 — Cologne, DE — Helios37 (SOLD OUT)
10 — Amsterdam, NL — Tolhuistuin (SOLD OUT)
11 — Brussels, BE — Botanique Rotonde (SOLD OUT)
12 — Paris, FR — Point Ephémère (SOLD OUT)
14 — Bristol, UK — Thekla (SOLD OUT)
15 — Birmingham, UK — O2 Institute2
17 — London, UK — Electric Ballroom
18 — Leeds, UK — Brudenell Social Club (SOLD OUT)
20 — Manchester, UK — Academy 2
21 — Glasgow, UK — Art School
22 — Belfast, IE — Ulster Sports Club
24 — Dublin, IE — Button Factory
27 — Barcelona, ES — Sidecar (SOLD OUT)
29 — Paris, FR — Point Ephémère (SOLD OUT)
30 — Paris, FR — Point Ephémère (SOLD OUT)
2027
FEBRUARY
24 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop (Noise Pop Festival)
27 - Tempe, AZ - Innings Music Festival
APRIL
1 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Festival
All tour dates here
Watch video
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