Cordrazine – the elusive, beloved ’90s Melbourne indie pop-rock outfit fronted by the unmistakable voice of Hamish Cowan – have announced that their forthcoming EP You See In Me will double as a swan song. The EP arrives Friday, December 5, and just one week later, on Friday, December 12, the band will take the stage for the last time at the Northcote Social Club, joined by special guests Alex Lloyd and USER.
The news surfaced via a deeply personal message from Cowan on the band’s socials – a statement that lays bare the tension between his love of music and the toll of performance.
“It’s no secret, I have a complicated relationship with music,” Cowan wrote. “I love singing and making beautiful sounds with my dear friends. Performing however… provokes extraordinary stress and anxiety. It pokes all of my fragile parts in a way nothing else does.”
“Despite this, Cordrazine has endured. We are very proud of the music we produced, and of what we have achieved. That is why, rather than just slipping away, we are making this announcement. We want to come together and celebrate the journey with those of you who have ridden along with us.”
“Thank you for supporting us over so many years. We are looking forward to playing for you, one last time.”
For longtime followers, the announcement lands with a bittersweet thud. Cordrazine’s return to recording – their first new music in 15 years – was greeted earlier this year with genuine excitement, especially as the band marked the 25th anniversary of their brief but brilliant initial chapter, which produced the ARIA Top 10 album From Here to Wherever and the enduring single “Crazy.”
The new EP’s rollout, featuring recent singles “Hey Man” and a shimmering, emotionally charged cover of Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy,” hinted at a fresh creative spark. That cover in particular is a full-circle moment for Cowan, who has long cited Jimmy Somerville’s unmistakable vocal presence as a formative influence.
The band’s final show will take a different shape to the duo performances Cowan and longtime collaborator Nick Batterham (The Earthmen) have played in recent years – this time, the full Cordrazine lineup will take the stage. They’ll be joined by Alex Lloyd, a close friend and fellow ’90s survivor whose own turbulent relationship with fame was explored on a recent episode of Australian Story. Lloyd’s presence feels fitting – both artists share a gift for vulnerable songwriting, and a history of navigating the music world on their own terms.
Cordrazine’s re-emergence may have been brief, but it leaves behind one more addition to a small, fiercely cherished catalogue – and the promise of a final night where the band and their fans can come together, as Cowan says, “to celebrate the journey.”
Cordrazine’s final show and EP launch takes place Friday, December 12 at the Northcote Social Club. You See In Me is out Friday, December 5.