The search for validation has a way of sneaking up on even the most self-assured among us — that quiet, gnawing need to be told we’re actually wanted. On his new single “Tell Me You Love Me”, Meanjin/Brisbane artist Harley takes that feeling and spins it into something you’ll be powerless to resist: a punchy, euphoric slice of indie rock built entirely around being sung back. We’re thrilled to be premiering it today, ahead of its release this Friday, June 19.
Layers of guitars, airy synths and driving rhythms keep “Tell Me You Love Me” in constant motion, each section landing bigger and bolder than the one before. There’s the anthemic lead guitar lines, that feel-good groove, the impassioned cries of the title refrain. The result is flat-out infectious — the sort of chorus that lodges itself in your head before the song’s even finished. The guitar work, in particular, is top-notch.
Beneath that bright, breezy exterior, though, there’s a real ache — and it’s a contrast that gives the song its pull. “Tell Me You Love Me” is written from the perspective of a lover pleading for reassurance, tracing the self-doubt that creeps in when affection starts to feel uncertain, all wrapped in a production that sounds anything but anxious. Like so many great pop songs, it artfully tells more than one story.
Speaking on the track, Harley shares:
“‘Tell Me You Love Me’ is a search for validation and fulfilment. Something I think we all feel but instead put on a brave face and ignore. However, I love when songs have double meanings and can be interpreted by the listener in multiple ways. I think for me the song serves in the light of a musician searching for fans and validation. Seeking sold out shows, people who truly connect with the music and perhaps the strength to be unapologetically goofy and weird.”
“Tell Me You Love Me” is Harley’s first release of 2026, and a strong reintroduction for anyone who’s been following the project since he launched it back in 2021. Across singles such as “Depths”, “Those Eyes”, “What Do I Know” and “Give Me Something”, he’s steadily sharpened a sound shaped by indie rock, folk and blues — while building a genuine presence on Southeast Queensland stages, sharing bills with the likes of MODELS and MARVELL and playing Bluesfest in 2024.
For now, ‘Tell Me You Love Me’ is out this Friday, June 19 — just be ready to sing it straight back. And be sure to pre-save it HERE.
You can keep up with Harley via TikTok, Bandcamp, Instagram, Facebook, Apple Music and Spotify
header image credit: Darcy Goss Media
