HEART-TO-HEART: Laurel Hill
“We just all really enjoy each other's company and back each other so much that it just works so well.”
Fresh from their biggest year yet, Gold Coast’s Laurel Hill are not slowing down anytime soon. With a debut EP and tour on the horizon, the surf-rock outfit just want to make tunes to make you dance.
Published: 02/02/2026
FHR (Flaming Heart Records): Laurel Hill – you lot have absolutely crushed it over the past year! What’s something about each other that fans might not see, but shapes how Laurel Hill works as a band?
Rachel (Ward, guitar): Look, the fans pretty much get to see it all on social media, but something that we think is super special about our band is that we all live really close to each other, so rehearsals happen OFTEN and literally next door to one another (except for Corey, our drummer). We are literally best mates, so that makes this whole project so easy to shape.
Jack (Rasmussen, vocals/guitar): I think as a whole, how well we get along outside the music scene. Rach and I have been family friends our whole lives, I met Corey in prep and Tommy’s my next door neighbour and got me into surfing, so I think the way we gel outside of music helps us click on the stage and in our writing.
FHR: Your energetic live shows have become a huge part of the band’s identity. What do you want people to feel when they leave a Laurel Hill show?
Tom (Thatcher, bass): We want people to leave absolutely frothing on what they’ve just seen. That same feeling I get after a great gig, buzzing with energy, blasting the music in the car and belting out the songs on the way home. Ideally, people walk away having genuinely enjoyed both our music and our presence, becoming consistent listeners and coming back for more shows in the future.
Corey (Kane, drums): Whenever I go to a show, I really like to just have a dance and have a feel good sort of show. When people come to one of our shows, I really want to see them just having a good time and having a bit of a boogie to be honest. I love looking up from the kit and seeing everyone dancing with their mates and having a good time.
FHR: Being vulnerable can often feel scary in music. Was there a line, lyric, or moment in ‘Heavy Shape’ that felt exposing to share – and how did you decide to keep it?
Jack: ‘Heavy Shape’ was the beginning of a deeper level of songwriting for me, as it was about someone I loved deeply and the pain of letting that go. So the song as a whole was a bit daunting to bring to the band. I think the exhaustion of letting someone go was shown, which is always a bit vulnerable to admit you weren’t in a positive state.
Rach: This song is truly a nod to how well our producer Matthew Collins and Jack work together. Jack had these lyrics that just kept piling up and becoming more emotional, and Matt is just a genius at developing a real ‘good song’. I didn’t get to witness much of it but I would say it was somewhat of a therapeutic process for Jack to be able to present Matt with what he had and then be able to tweak every little inch of it together. The song expresses so much emotion that so many people have felt and I think it captures that feeling so extremely well, I literally feel it in my chest every time I listen.
FHR: With your debut EP set for release in February, how does ‘Heavy Shape’ set the emotional and sonic tones for what’s ahead?
Rach: ‘Heavy Shape’ is actually our most structured track! It still has the jangly guitar lines that everyone loves and the drops that everyone waits for in our music. I feel that the music that is on this EP just mentally puts you in a car, driving home from the beach, sunburnt, and covered in sand and salt. We aim to make all of our music exactly what we would want to listen to after being in the surf or on the beach all day.
Tom: The EP has a real variety of sounds, with no two songs feeling the same. ‘Heavy Shape’ is our most emotional track and really sets the tone lyrically. It’s one that will connect with anyone who has been through, or is going through, a breakup. On the other hand, ‘Rusty’ and ‘Chasing the Coastline’ bring a more upbeat, catchy energy that taps into a more positive feeling. Overall, it’s a fun set of songs that takes listeners on a bit of a journey.
FHR: Being in a band is so much more than just making music. What do you think really holds a band together, and how do you play your part in that?
Corey: Being in the band is pretty much just like being with a group of mates. I’ve known Jack for years and we reconnected through starting the band and I met Rachie and Tommie starting the band, but we all gel together really well.
Jack: As I said before, I think the relationship we hold outside of music helps so much and just how much we love making the music that we make. We just all really enjoy each other’s company and back each other so much that it just works so well.
FHR: Picture us in the studio with you when you’re altogether writing a track – what can we see?
Rach: Oh shit, look we’d probably go to jail hahahaha. Honestly, talking so much bullshit. You are guaranteed to see Tommie in a ball on the floor sleeping because he cannot sit still for a full day in the studio. We always make sure we have a clear direction of where the song is going before we go in so that we don’t waste anyone’s time. Usually no beers, but when we record with Alain in Byron we visit the Sunday Sustainable Bakery about 53 times in the one session.
Corey: Normally we have most of the track together before we go into the studio, but when we get into the studio it’s always a big musical conversation between us and the producer. We’ve been really lucky to have great producers that have extensive music backgrounds with bands and we always change songs majorly in the studio after we talk about the sound and feel the dynamic of each track.
FHR: Tell us what it’s like to be amongst the music scene on the Gold Coast and how has that scene supported you since you began?
Tom: The music scene on the Gold Coast is more supportive than you could imagine, we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Bands like Loose Goose, Porcelain and Clay Pigeons, just to name a few, have been a big part of us growing a following. Every local gig there is strong support from local bands in the crowd, and across socials. It’s a really tight-knit scene, and we’ve built some great friendships through it. With the quality of bands coming through, it’s always exciting to watch everyone play and we can’t wait to be part of more of it through this year and into the future.
Jack: The Gold Coast muso scene has really welcomed us in through massive gig opportunities in our first year and massive support with our releases from the likes of Soph from Flaming Heart Records (Northern Rivers), and Gold Coast Music Network. It’s really made us feel welcome as newcomers, and we’re super keen to use that momentum to push further into the Australian music scene.
FHR: If you could collaborate with any artist — living or dead — who would it be and why?
Rach: Baden Donegal. No doubt about it. The lead from Ocean Alley. I have been listening to these guys since I was 16 and they absolutely shaped my taste in music to this day. I am hands down the biggest Aussie music fan you will ever lay eyes on, and I have to thank not only him but that whole band. Angus Goodwin (lead guitarist) is by far my biggest inspiration too. Just pure class and real music from these guys so definitely them.
Jack: I would have to say Gang of Youths. The way they have put emotions into music is beyond what anyone has done before. Every song reaches out and grabs you by your heart strings and makes you feel so many emotions. That’s why we cover ‘What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out?’ – even though it’s one of their more upbeat songs, it makes you feel a certain way when you hear it – you just want to have a boogie haha.
FHR: 2025 was mega for Laurel Hill – what was your highlight of the year and what are you most excited for in 2026?
Corey: My highlight for 2025 was definitely getting to play at Rolling Sets in November, it was such a big gig for us to play and every minute of it was just insane. My other highlight was selling out Miami Marketta with Loose Goose and Cheeky Leash, the whole show was just amazing. Seeing so many fans and friends come and support the show was just awesome and it was the best night. For 2026, I’m really keen to get some more music out and I’m super excited for our first EP to be fully released for everyone to listen to.
Tom: 2025 was huge for us. The standout moment had to be playing at Rolling Sets Festival alongside so many artists we look up to. The support we received throughout the Instagram comp from our fans, fellow local bands, and Gold Coast locals we chased around with a QR code was unbelievable, and got us across the line to play our first big festival. Another massive highlight was playing our first bigger show at a packed Miami Marketta alongside Loose Goose and Cheeky Leesh. Looking ahead to this year, I can’t wait to make more music and play more shows. It’s as simple as that.
