'Expand Beyond Our Own Scene': Perth's Ten Cent Tiger Go International With '8 From 4'

Perth punk outfit Ten Cent Tiger are back with new music – and depending on how you look at it, they’re not doing it the traditional way, or they’re going back to the deep, dark recesses of punk’s history. 

Instead of surrendering a couple of tracks to the viral lottery of an algorithm, they have decided to lean into punk’s global reach, teaming up with three American acts – Georgia's Father Fury and North Carolina groups Oort Patrol and Record Highs – for the new split 8 From 4, released this month via Boared To Death Records and Wreckoning Cru Records.

"This isn’t just another release," Boared To Death boasted upon its announcement. "8 From 4 is a sonic collision of scenes, countries, and creative fury featuring eight tracks from four fearless punk acts pushing their sound (and your speakers) to the limit."

“We convened in the studio earlier this year to work on some tracks,” frontwoman Vez Litten explains.

“We put out two of them – Growing Pains and Autophobia – but for these other two (Misshapen Platelets and Our Greatest Escape) we thought, ‘Releasing music isn’t the same... what else should we do with this?’”

That’s where connections kicked in. Guitarist Matt Rickwood reached out to an old friend, Scotty Sandwich, who formerly ran Death To False Hope Records and now heads up the newly-renamed Wreckoning Cru. Through that connection, Ten Cent Tiger earned their spot on the split.

It sees the band rubbing shoulders with some serious punk pedigree. Mikey Erg – famously of The Ergs! -– was originally tapped to be involved, but had to bow out due to touring commitments with Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!. The other bands included are all on the up in their respected States.

“We really liked the idea of doing something more international,” Vez said. “It gave us the chance to connect with other bands doing similar things in different countries – and expand beyond our own scene.”

Both Ten Cent Tiger tracks on the split have a nostalgic, mid-'90s summer energy, perfect for soundtracking old skate videos. 

Despite being a relatively newer name, the songs exude serious experience from the quartet, reflecting its collective punk veteran status.

Vez was in the beloved outfit, Lionizer, with members also coming from cult outfit Alex The Kid. 

“Perth is such a close-knit community, but breaking out can be tough, especially for newer bands without the budget to tour the east coast,” Vez noted. 

“A lot of our friends’ bands are going to Europe now – like Press Club and Rat Salad – there’s a bigger scene and a real appetite for Aussie punk overseas.

“We’re too disconnected at the moment – everyone’s in their little bubbles. Punk’s been an amazing way to connect without words. So it’s cool to spread that camaraderie beyond borders.”

The split is likely the only US connection Ten Cent Tiger will have for the foreseeable future (“I have hesitations about actually going to the US as a queer woman – it’s not super safe and politically very unstable,” Vez admits), but the band's place on the split is another feather in their steadily growing cap, with Ten Cent Tiger having recently appeared on bills alongside established acts such as Frenzal Rhomb and The Smith Street Band.

With the world looking increasingly unstable and divided, there’s perhaps never been a better time to be in a punk band.

After all, the genre emerged from the grey dirge of '70s Britain, a society grappling with economic hardship and a new wave of conservatism.

Artists like The Clash and The Sex Pistols tore up the rule book – and society again feels ripe for disruptors like Ten Cent Tiger.

Boared To Death described the collaboration as a "celebration of punk’s global reach," underlining the communal nature of the project.

"Recorded across continents and united by pure DIY spirit, 8 From 4 is proof that punk thrives on connection and defiance," they explained. "From fast-paced chaos to melodic grit, every song is a spark in a worldwide fire."

To celebrate the release of these new songs, Ten Cent Tiger are hosting a launch show on November 8th at Seasonal Brewing Co. before focusing on their next release – a cover of Chicago acoustic punk outfit Sundowner’s Steal Your Words for an upcoming Pee Records compilation.

In a world where artists are constantly trying to blab their way onto editorial playlists or get attention via cheesy TikTok videos, Ten Cent Tiger is taking the road travelled by their musical forebears: via physical releases for a real-life community. 

Based on this split, they're all the better for it.

Ten Cent Tiger – 8 From 4 Split Launch

Saturday, November 15th – Seasonal Brewing Co., Perth, WA