Perth six-piece Calico City are putting the complicated side of friendship under the microscope with their debut EP, Second in Line. Released September 18, the six-track project explores the moments when friendships change shape whether through distance, betrayal, blurred romantic feelings, or the realization that you may no longer hold the same place in someone’s life.
Formed during their high school years, Calico City have spent the past year developing a sound that refuses to sit comfortably inside one genre. Their music pulls from alternative rock, reggae, and psychedelic rock, creating a dynamic foundation for the emotionally layered stories at the center of Second in Line.
The EP arrives nearly one year after the release of their debut single, “Ghost,” and follows a growing run of live appearances alongside acts including Beddy Rays, Dear Sunday, SOPHIAN, and Birdland. Their momentum has also extended into Australian radio, with the band spending three weeks on the AMRAP charts and earning placements across the Overall, Metro, Indie/Alternative, and Rock/Metal categories. Support has additionally come from outlets and stations including RTRFM, ABC Perth, AAA Backstage, Future Mag, and Aus Music Scene.
Rather than presenting friendship as something simple or predictable, Second in Line embraces its contradictions. Across the EP, Calico City explore what happens when closeness turns into distance, trust gives way to resentment, or a relationship starts crossing boundaries neither person knows how to navigate. Vocalists Brianne Reyes and Sienna Law trade perspectives throughout the record, giving the songs a conversational quality while highlighting the different emotional experiences that can exist within the same relationship.
The EP’s opening track, “Gotta Go,” immediately establishes that versatility. Reggae-inspired grooves sit alongside sharp guitar work and energetic drums before the song expands into bigger alternative-rock sections. It’s a fitting introduction to a record that constantly shifts between laid-back textures and moments of emotional intensity.
“Marigold & Cosmos” takes things somewhere more atmospheric. Psychedelic elements, layered synths, and bass create an almost hazy backdrop for a song centered around the aftermath of separation. As the track develops, that initial sense of emptiness gives way to frustration, reflecting the confusing process of trying to understand where a relationship went wrong.
On “Back in the Before,” the mood changes considerably. The song carries a sense of release, using rapid-fire vocal exchanges and energetic verses before bursting into distorted choruses. It feels like the moment when looking back finally becomes less painful and more freeing.
That freedom doesn’t last long. “Anomaly” turns toward anger, combining prominent keys, guitar harmonies, and driving rock instrumentation to capture the realization that a friendship wasn’t as healthy or mutual as it once seemed. The track channels the frustration that comes with recognizing betrayal after spending so much time making excuses for someone else’s behavior.
The band’s debut single, “Ghost,” takes a more expansive approach, weaving reggae rhythms and psychedelic guitar textures together before exploding into heavier alternative-rock passages. Its extended instrumental moments and dramatic guitar work give the song a cathartic quality that fits naturally within the EP’s broader emotional arc.
Closing the record, “How Could You Say It” is considerably more restrained. Acoustic instrumentation, cello, and layered harmonies create an intimate ending as the song confronts the pain of hearing something deeply hurtful from someone who was once a best friend.
Across Second in Line, Calico City aren’t interested in providing easy answers about friendship. Instead, they capture the uncomfortable in-between—the relationships that leave you questioning what happened, what you meant to someone, and whether there was ever a clear line between closeness and distance. The result is a debut EP that turns the uncertainty of human connection into something both musically adventurous and emotionally recognizable.
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