PANIA Returns With First Single Since 2023, 'Switch Sides'

It’s been a couple of years between drinks for Naarm/Melbourne R&B musician PANIA, but she’s back in the game with the release of her latest single, Switch Sides.

Bold and commanding thanks to its dark instrumentation and the hypnotic beat of Warrane/Sydney producer aywy, Switch Sides arrives following something of a year of reflection for the acclaimed PANIA, with the track seeing her go a bit deep as she focuses on some previous tribulations, and the confusion of fractured relationships experienced amidst her trailblazing ascent.

“Switch Sides is about coming to terms with the people I’ve lost along my journey,” she explains. “Being a confident, ambitious woman with potential in Australia seems to have been a threat to some, and I’ve had people turn on me the moment they felt intimidated.

“From lies and attempts at public humiliation online from strangers and people I called friends, and even gatekeeping within the industry – it’s all been deeply hurtful, but I never spoke out about it until now.

“This song channels all of that hurt and all of that energy,” she adds. “I feel the song is a bold statement: I’ve learnt to protect my energy so you’re either with me or against me, pick a side.”

It’s a cathartic, welcome, and triumphant return for PANIA, who has been largely absent from the new releases schedule over the last year.

Having released her debut single back in 2020, a string of singles preceded her burnt ur clothes & changed the addy EP in 2022, which was in turn followed by her WE STILL YOUNG EP the following year. While the latter EP scored a nomination for Best Soul / R&B Release at the 2024 ARIA Awards, her track P STANDS 4 PLAYA was nominated in the same category the previous year.

In December, PANIA appeared on the MELODOWNZ single Directions, but Switch Sides arrives as her first piece of solo music in almost 18 months. Needless to say, diehards are eager to see where this new era takes her.