A lush indie anthem for all the procrastinators and introverts of the world, today Sydney-based artist and multi-instrumentalist Chuck Sics returns with an introspective yet unwaveringly immersive new single I’ve Been Thinking, the third offering from his anticipated debut EP Slipstream set for release on September 23.
With hypnotic hues a la Radiohead and Tame Impala, fused with Chuck Sics’ increasingly trademark knack for conjuring relatable lyrical fare, I’ve Been Thinking was self-produced and mixed by Chuck Sics himself, showcasing a crunchy yet volatile creative aesthetic while detailing the frustrations and realities of procrastination and feeling overwhelmed by the world. “I’ve Been Thinking is essentially a song about procrastination,”shares Chuck Sics. “It’s about feeling like you’re stuck thinking about life instead of living it, and keeping that locked inside your mind.”
“For me, it’s particularly relevant to writing, recording and releasing music,” Chuck adds. “You can think about a song for a long time: about how it’s going to sound, and how it will be received etc. I end up living in a fantasy world where the song exists before I’ve done the hard work to make it.”
Marking Chuck’s third single release following his debut single Redo which dropped earlier this year, as well as more recent track M.A.D, I’ve Been Thinking will join both previous singles on Chuck’s upcoming debut EP Slipstream due out next month, with the five-track release primed to ruminate on dread, self-analysis and beyond. Placing Chuck’s versatility and skill, both as a writer and a musician (playing every instrument, producing and mixing the EP solo), front and centre, Slipstream is a whimsical yet hard-hitting outing that balances cohesive alt-pop-rock production with pensive and occasionally cynical lyricism. Opening with Chuck’s debut single, Redo, Slipstream begins on an upbeat and psychedelic note, bathed in warm instrumentals and lyrically detailing unrequited love. Next up, M.A.D dabbles in Britpop flavours alongside percolating rhythms and smooth vocals, while the EP’s title track and midway point serves up buoyant melodies, dazzling basslines and a beat primed to fill dancefloors. And with today’s new single I’ve Been Thinking marking the EP’s penultimate track, Slipstream ultimately closes on a gooey note of melodic haze, ethereal vibes, and sharp contemplation. “The EP explores themes of dread, self-analysis, sleep (or lack thereof), and reflection,” shares Chuck. “I’m trying to express that I don’t think of myself as a reliable narrator, even of my own emotions. I think that there’s a healthy amount of self-doubt, but for me what tends to happen, the result turns into dread.”
Picking up the trumpet in primary school, Chuck Sics’ musical evolution soon led him to the piano, before the floodgates burst wide open via finding the guitar at the age of 12, followed by bass, singing, and the occasional foray into drums. Dreams of becoming a concert pianist soon gave way to rock’n’roll persuasions, and, ultimately, a solo career that now finds Chuck in 2025 weaving lush and atmospheric soundscapes into stories soaked in poignant and authentic introspection. Offering listeners a journey through creativity and self-discovery, Chuck’s lyrics and musical proficiency was most recently on full display in a live setting with his band at The Trocadero Room in Sydney. But it’s via his upcoming debut EP Slipstream that Chuck Sics’ creative magic will enamour far and wide; a labour of love that has itself been five years in the making, and one Chuck is entirely ready to share with the world at long last next month.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Chuck shares. “I worked a lot of (nocturnal) hours putting all of these songs together over the course of 5 years. “I’ve Been Thinking” was the first song I finished for this record, and it laid the groundwork for the aesthetic and vibe of everything I wrote from there onwards.”
I’ve Been Thinking is out today.
Slipstream is due out Tuesday September 23.