Surf Coast Rockers Savage Honey Unveil Debut Album ‘Darling’

It's a raw, heartfelt journey through love, loss, and growing up.

Torquay’s own indie-rock torchbearers, Savage Honey, are ready to make waves with their highly anticipated debut album, Darling, dropping 8 June 2026. A bold collision of classic rock swagger and modern indie grit, the album is a deeply personal, sonically rich chronicle of a band finding their voice and capturing the chaos, joy, and heartbreak of youth.

Hear the latest single and album releases here.

 

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Formed along the sun-drenched Surf Coast, Savage Honey—Dominic Paver (rhythm guitar, vocals, songwriter), Jacob Hunniford (lead vocals, bass, songwriter), Joshua Young (drums), and Jay Rose-ham (keyboard)—draw from a tapestry of influences, weaving the storytelling of Irish ballads, the soul of blues, and the raw punch of 70s rock. Think the spirit of Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Lynyrd Skynyrd meeting the fresh energy of The Terrys, Spacey Jane, and Pacific Avenue. The result is a sound that is nostalgic yet entirely their own.

Darling is, at its heart, a coming-of-age record. It is reflective, celebratory, and unafraid to bare the messy, beautiful truth of life. “Darling is the first album Savage Honey is releasing. It’s a series of songs written during our first year together as a band. From love and heartbreak to family struggles and joyous nights dancing with friends, it is all there. The album captures the highs and lows, and each song is a snapshot of that wild, transformative year,” the band explains.

The album was recorded across two breathtaking locations. The journey began in a secluded loft in the Otway National Park, where the band locked into the bed tracks while morning swims in nearby waterfalls set the tone for creativity. Evenings were spent around the fire, sharing beers, cards, and stories. The process was completed at Sing Sing Studios in Northcote, under the expert eye of producer Aaron Dobos, with contributions from Savannah Higgs (drums), Alex Mathieson (keys), and Sunny Thapa (lead guitar).

Savage Honey’s live reputation has been building steadily, with festival slots at Party In The Paddock, Here Comes The Sun, Feastival, Flock to the Fields, and Volleyfest, plus national tours supporting their earlier singles. Sharing stages with Pacific Avenue and The Terrys, and a special collaboration with Finchy, the band has proven themselves as a Surf Coast act to watch. Their headline show at the Torquay Hotel solidified their place as one of Victoria’s most exciting indie-rock exports.

With Darling, Savage Honey step confidently into the next chapter of their story, delivering a debut that is raw, honest, and unmistakably theirs. It is an album that signals the rise of a band set to leave a lasting mark on the Australian indie-rock landscape.

Savage Honey’s debut album Darling drops 8 June 2026. Keep up to date with all Savage Honey news here.