Peking Duk Are Not Breaking Up, Announce New Album

While Peking Duk have released hit singles for over a decade, an album has never eventuated—until now.

Peking Duk frightened fans with a post on social media today (25 March), where, for the first two slides, they had punters convinced that they’re breaking up.

However, the pair will not be disbanding. The Australian electronic music duo, fronted by Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles, have confirmed that a new album is on the way. Their long-awaited debut album, in fact.

But they didn’t announce the album in typical fashion. Instead, they shared a post on social media with “a statement regarding the future of Peking Duk”, which always indicates bad news, right?

Their statement continued, “After 16 amazing years, Adam and I have made the difficult decision to end this chapter of our lives.

“We have cherished every moment of this journey with you. Every sweaty club show and every festival we’ve headlined has truly been a dream come true. But deep down we know it’s time for us to evolve.”

In the third slide, they changed their tune: “So, we finally made a move we thought we’d never make. WE RECORDED AN ALBUM.”

Reacting to the group’s post, fans shared their fears about Peking Duk breaking up.

“This is cruel, and slightly confusing,” wrote a fan on Facebook. They weren’t alone: others quipped about seeing “last shows” and expressed being “SCARED FOR A MINUTE!”

Even Abbie Chatfield - Australian media personality and television host, and Hyde’s partner - wasn’t immune. “Okay, this even scared me,” she wrote.

“Noooooo.. We were about to book you for an epic gig in 2028,” wrote another fan on Instagram. Someone else responded, “I GOT SO SCARED FOR A MINUTE.”

The resulting album, Paradise, will be released on Friday, 14 August. To launch the record, Peking Duk have released their first new music in two years, unveiling the single Thrills featuring American rapper and singer Rico Nasty. You can check out the music video below.

“Thrills is about those moments in life that pull you out of the dark and into the light to make you realise you’re so much better off where you are,” Reuben Styles explained in a statement. “It makes you realise you can stand on your own two feet with a smile on your dial and move forward with grace and passion and most of all fun in your heart.”

Discussing their collaboration with Rico Nasty, Hyde added, “Rico Nasty has been top five dead or alive in my eyes for a very long time. Ever since I heard her work with Kenny Beats years ago, I’ve been obsessed. Having Rico bless this tune is nothing short of an honour.”

Rico Nasty said, “I loved working with Adam and Reuben, and I’m so excited our track, Thrills, is out now. Hopefully I get to see y’all soon…now bump that shit!”

While Peking Duk have released hit singles for over a decade, an album has never eventuated—until now. Styles said, “Our debut album Paradise is something new from us - it’s adventurous both sonically and thematically.

“It’s got a little more depth which can be dived into as it’s a full-length record and we can’t wait to share with everyone, and hopefully they join us on the journey to paradise. We’ve come together and made something we are so proud of, and we can’t wait to share it.”

Fans attending the duo’s upcoming show at the Hordern Pavilion have been advised that they’ll hear new songs during the gig. “Seven years ago, we had the sweatiest party ever in the biblical venue that is the Hordern Pavilion,” Hyde shared. “And now, seven years later, we are doing it again, except with new music, a new show and even more sweat.”

You can pre-order/pre-save Paradise here and watch Peking Duk perform on the following dates: