Premiere: ‘I Wish I Was Wrong (As Usual)’ – Wilding unleashes another pure pop gem infected with gentle humour and a euro-disco thrum.

Wilding is a firm favourite here at the antipodean outpost of Backseat Mafia and we are therefore bursting with pride at being able to premiere his exuberant new single ‘I Wish I Was Wrong (As Usual)’.

Always heavily influenced by a particular kind of eighties new wave represented by the more quirky variety of wry pop including Ian Dury and Jona Lewie, the new single channels a little bit of the fresh frenetic pace of The British Beat (aka as The Beat) meeting Duran Duran, coasting on a bed of luscious euro-disco synths and a high stepping pace that sparkles and sparks more joy than anything created by Marie Kondo.

Justin Stokes (he who is behind the phenomenon) has a knack for writing the most indelible pop songs that are threaded through with a self-deprecating sense of humour and melodies that embed themselves between the ears and remain permanently ensconced in a dreamy fugue. Until gently nudged aside by his next pop missive. He says of the track:

We’ve tried to capture those complicated feelings of young love. You know your first love wasn’t right for you, but you can’t help looking back with a misty-eyed perspective. The song draws on those flamboyant mid-80s synth-pop chart bands. But with the usual Wilding wit and observations on life and love.

Indeed there is something of the wide-eyed ingenue in Wilding’s work: something delightfully fey and innocent, emitting a bright incandescent ray of sunshine.

‘I Wish I Was Wrong (As Usual)’ skips into the universe tomorrow (Friday, 7 March 2025) and you can pre-save it here and through the link above. Wilding will be launching the single with a show at The Old Bar, Fitzroy on Friday 14 March with Billy Cart and Liam Watts.

Feature Photograph: Louise Yates