Press Club Explore New Album 'To All The Ones That I Love' Track By Track

The last time we received a new album from Naarm/Melbourne outfit Press Club might have been back in 2022, but time has not wearied the exciting collective, who have come bursting out of the gates with their latest effort, To All The Ones That I Love.

Their fourth album, the record officially releases on May 2nd, and it’s something of an exciting step forward for the band.

Having recorded the record at Press Club’s own Footscray studio with guitarist Greg Rietwyk on production and mixing, the record is described as encapsulating the maturity of the band through a genre-shifting excurison across introspection, growth, change, and learning from past mistakes.

It captures the trademark exceptional musicality of what Press Club have become known for, and filters it through an older and wiser group as they continue to grow, not only as acclaimed musicians, but as people, too.

Still, it has a foot in the past as well, with the likes of the album’s title track being traced back to recording sessions for their 2018 debut Late Teens, indicating that Press Club are as much about moving forward as they are about ensuring that all facets of their creative process are showcased and appreciated when the time is right.

To celebrate the forthcoming release of the band’s new album (and their upcoming Aussie dates before they head off to the UK and Europe for a few months), Press Club – that is, Natalie Foster, Greg Rietwyk, Frank Lees, and Iain MacRae – took a deep dive into the ten tracks that make up their new album, inviting the listener into its composition, inspirations, and secrets.

1. I Am Everything

I Am Everything is about the way we carry both light and darkness within us. It reflects on the struggles we face, the vulnerability that comes with being human, and the strength we find in pushing through challenges. Life can be difficult and overwhelming, but it’s also full of meaning and value if we’re willing to look for it.

There’s a deep need for connection running through the song—a desire to be seen, heard, and understood. It captures the universal experience of battling with inner conflict, confronting doubts and regrets, and finding a sense of purpose in the process. At its core, it’s about the beauty of embracing both the highs and lows of the journey and discovering the gold hidden in life’s challenges. (Natalie Foster)

I Am Everything came about in a funny way from a songwriting perspective, Greg recorded the little one bar acoustic guitar part and was just looping it over and over, Frank had to leave the studio for the day and we were desperate to continue working on the song, so he recorded an entire song's worth of drums, improvising the song structure as he went along.

This ended up on the album unchanged and we built the rest of the song around that take. I love the atmospherics on this song and it was particularly fulfilling to experiment with subtle and not so subtle vocal effects. (Greg Rietwyk)

2. Wilt

Wilt is vibrant and introspective. It's Press Club's take on an ‘80s New Romantics style with our signature impassioned holler. It explores identity, self-doubt, and the overwhelming nature of modern life, with Nat wrestling a sense of disconnection and a desire for renewal. Turning monotony into an anthem, the song takes you on a journey of highs and lows, dynamically drawing you into its powerful climax.

Greg's guitar, including the Johnny Marr-inspired solo, feels nostalgia-fresh, while the intensity of the hits leading into the last chorus give the song a punch of personal growth and redemption. Wilt combines thoughtful songwriting with a sound that slaps and resonates the ears, leaving you feeling uplifted and introspective at the same time. (Frank Lees)

3. Champagne & Nikes

When we set out writing Champagne & Nikes we wanted to create something that had a similar energy and feeling to some of the songs we wrote when we first started writing together for Late Teens. I think we nailed that intent. It was pretty fun to just blow the barn doors open and get back to the bare essentials of what I think Press Club is. (Iain MacRae)

The song is about Natalie and Iain witnessing a chaotic moment of mayhem at a bottle shop while buying Guinness for a recording session. Outlandish and erratic behaviour of someone else in the store, interacting with the person behind the counter. 

As the person’s mania grew wilder the queue for beer grew longer and longer, to a zenith where the spectacle had an impatient audience of 30 thirsty people. Natalie instantly started writing down lyrics about this vibrant lad's behaviour in the moment, and by the time the pair were back at the studio, the skeleton of Champagne & Nikes was fully fleshed.

4. Wasted Days

Maybe it's a little more simplistic than other Press Club songs, but it just had this really liberating energy from the very start. We didn't want to short change the song's positivity when we were coming up with a concept for the music video. We really wanted to keep that essence of positivity alive. We decided to team up with our longtime mate and collaborator, Nick Manuell to capture us wasting days together.

We went out and did daft things. We spent a day in a 1966 Mustang convertible, hired a boat, just genuinely had a laugh. I think myself and the band particularly appreciated these leisure days, because we're in the middle of a 44 date, 11 week tour. So blowing off some steam and not taking life too seriously was beaut! (Iain MacRae)

5. No Pressure

Back in 2022 we went on the road, in regional South Australia, with Guts Touring and saw some places that most people wouldn't even get close to. The tour took us back to the reason we started in the first place. Writing music, playing shows and being in a community of like minded people. The effortlessness and enjoyment that came from taking the pressure off ourselves was really inspiring.

We had the realisation that all outcomes, particularly those pertaining to creatively, are better when you don't take yourself so seriously. It's something we are striving for in our next batch of songs. And in our touring and in life in general. No pressure.(Natalie Foster)

6. Vacate

Vacate was written with the intention of a long repetitive form, one that builds on itself the entire time. Sonically inspired by the atmospheric guitar parts played by Robert Fripp on Heroes by David Bowie, and the staccato deep lead guitar lines that appear across the New Order and Joy Division catalogues.

7. To All The Ones That I Love

​​To All The Ones That I Love – the record’s title, focus track – returns to Press Club’s origins. Originally recorded as a track for their debut album, 2018’s Late Teens, then titled ‘Heart Attack’ the track did not make the cut.

With fresh eyes and ears, Press Club decided to revisit the song, stripping it back to the essentials from the original recording as they recognised the magic existing in those original takes. Experimenting with structure, melodies and lyrics ​​To All The Ones That I Love emerged as an exciting feature, soon to become a favourite to all who listened. 

8. Tightrope

Tightrope is about hitting that point where you’re done trying to fix things, becoming frustrated and numb taking on everybody else's thoughts, worries and expectations. It’s that feeling of barely holding it together, like you’re walking a tightrope on the edge of a breakdown. Musically, it's a bit of an ode to The Hives, written after meeting them at Hurricane festival in Germany. 

Tightrope was built around the guitar riff in the verse. It had a particular punctuation that sort of informed what the overall feel of the chorus was going to. It was one of those songs that came together pretty organically on its own, we didn't have to bang our heads against our instruments for a week or anything. (Iain MacRae)

9. Staring At The Ceiling

Staring At The Ceiling is a raw, emotionally charged number from Press Club that elicits the desperation to break free from a cycle of self-doubt. Nat's lyrics explore the conflict between self-worth and the pressure of external expectations, battling a sense of being "second-tier" while finding meaning and satisfaction. The song’s dynamic shifts between the verses and choruses create a powerful dichotomy, from vulnerable moments to the explosive release of energy of the gang vocals in the chorus.

The intro, which could be a song unto itself, builds to a gut-drop of a first verse. The drums roll with the punches and haymakers you with that fill into the final chorus. The dueling guitar at the end, channeling Thin Lizzy, brings the song to a galloping finale. Staring At The Ceiling is a track that blends frustration with empowerment, picking you up in a whirlwind of emotion that throws you around and brings you peace.

10. Desolation

Desolation is one of our most experimental tracks to date, pushing boundaries with atmospheric production and unconventional instrumentation. Nat tries to capture the fleeting nature of hope and the suffocating presence of fear and hate. The song is unique for the band, defined by synthesizers, distorted vocals, and eerie high-pitched piano stabbing in the chorus. The production is intricate, with layers of effects and textures that create a haunting, dystopian atmosphere.

The bridge stands out on its own in the cold, no guitars, flying through space. A potent mix of sonic experimentation and wholehearted depth, culminating in a track that feels as unstable and conflicted as the emotions it conveys. The result is a song that challenges both the listener’s expectations and emotions, leaving a lasting impact long after the abrupt conclusion.

Press Club’s To All The Ones I Love is set to release on May 2nd, with pre-orders available now.

Press Club 2025 Tour Dates

May 3rd – The Tote, Naarm / Melbourne, VIC (All Ages Show)

May 3rd – The Tote, Naarm / Melbourne, VIC (18+)

May 23rd – The Sound Doctor, Kuarka Dorla/Anglesea, VIC