We’re heading to North America for this one — stepping outside our usual Australian orbit to bring you a slice of folk/Americana from singer-songwriter Odd Marshall. Today, the AU review premieres his pulsing and hypnotic new single “Somebody New,” a moody, swag-rock make-out anthem lifted from his forthcoming sophomore album Seconds, out March 6.
Built around a two-chord groove that smoulders rather than sprints, the track finds Odd Marshall channeling gravel-throated blues flair with a few Howlin’ Wolf-inspired “ooh oohs,” while Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon, The Afghan Whigs) cuts loose with a menacing slide guitar solo that coils around the rhythm like desert heat. It’s sultry, slightly dangerous, and steeped in late-night bar-room intrigue.
“I asked a lady about this new girl at the bar, and she didn’t like the boyfriend so she told me to go for it. It’s a real gossipy song,” laughs Odd Marshall.
That deceptively simple spark — a throwaway line in a dimly lit room — became the emotional engine of the song.
Odd Marshall shared with the AU the following:
“This song came to me early in the period after my decade long hiatus. I’d been pulling up old videos to learn my old songs. At one point this groove-riff came out. I enjoyed how many different ways there were to sing over the same two chords. Also, I was so out of practice, I didn’t really know where to transition. I had just started going to open mics in a town where I didn’t really know anyone apart from the host. I was attracted to a woman I hadn’t seen before and asked the host about her. ‘She’s great, but I hate her boyfriend.’ was the response I got. That brief interaction came out as I searched for lyrics. ‘Somebody told me you need somebody new.’ It’s always a struggle when you are attracted to a stranger. Lives are so complex with past relationships. Is it going well? We could be a better match, but we’ll never know! Life is tragic in this regard.
When I sing, ‘All my algorithms / tell me I’m in love with you,’ I’m thinking about how social media is always suggesting friends for you. If you’re in the same place often enough, the algorithm will pick it up and think, you might make a good couple. Life would be a lot easier if the algorithm just told me who I should go out with. Cut out all the small talk BS. Life happily ever after. Ha!”
That tension between romantic impulse and modern detachment runs right through the lyrics — from algorithm-fed infatuation to the blunt hook: “Somebody tol’ me you need somebody new.” It’s playful, but there’s something bruised beneath the bravado. The groove lingers; the questions hang in the air. Paired with stunning guitar work, this track keeps you captivated from beginning to end.
“Somebody New” is lifted from Seconds, which sees Odd Marshall leaning fully into the guitar interplay of Thorn and fellow Blind Melon alumnus Rogers Stevens — marking the first time the pair have played together outside of Blind Melon. The record also features Rami Jaffee of Foo Fighters and Mathias Schneeberger (The Afghan Whigs) on clavinet, blending alternative, folk-rock and Americana into something neon-lit and restless. It was recorded at the iconic Joshua Tree in California.
If his 2024 debut Sand & Glue (produced by Don Kerr) announced him as a songwriter to watch, then Seconds feels like the sound of an artist fully stepping into his lineage. There are shades of Neil Young in the storytelling grit, echoes of ‘90s alt-rock muscle, and the kind of barroom immediacy that rewards repeat listens.
Seconds is out March 6, and in the meantime, enjoy this spell-binding taste – bound to whet the appetite for more.
You can keep up to date with Odd Marshall via his website, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music
Image supplied by artist
