Western Sydney’s own FRIDAY* is back, and he’s not tiptoeing into the room — he’s kicking the door wide open. The globally-celebrated artist, hailed as the quintessential African popstar after his monumental 2023 debut EP Darling, has unveiled his breathtaking new single “just you,” along with the announcement of his forthcoming EP, rituals. If you’ve been waiting on his solo return, consider this your cinematic wake-up call.

Stream “just you” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0blI5gUBCHXkvOYrJ8kRvk

A Song About Searching For Yourself In Someone Else

“just you” is a stunningly cinematic exploration of emotional dependency and the desperate search for self-worth inside another person. It’s melodrama with a pulse. FRIDAY* blends deeply nostalgic references with heavy atmospheric textures, marrying intense vulnerability with unexpected, danceable rhythms that push past the boundaries of conventional pop.

In his own words: “‘Just You’ is a song about searching for your own value in someone else. Inspired by shoegaze and the movie Bones and All, I wanted to channel all the melodrama I could muster into one song, perhaps as a way to never get that emo again. It wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t trying to play with contrast, so I added some classic New Jack Swing drums in the vein of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The result to me sounds like when the fireworks go off at the end of the Easter Show, and you can’t help but feel sad that it’s over.”

Shoegaze haze meets New Jack Swing drums meets Easter Show fireworks? Only FRIDAY* could pull that off and make it feel like the most obvious pairing in the world.

Introducing ‘rituals’ — The Next Chapter

The single is the first glimpse into rituals, an EP centred on breaking and reforming the patterns that shape us. Where Darling introduced the world to FRIDAY*’s signature sonic contrast, rituals promises to push deeper — into darker textures, richer emotional depth, and further sonic experimentation. It’s a body of work reflecting the emotional cycles of growth, change, and self-discovery that have defined his early twenties.

Fans have caught flashes of his brilliance over the past year — from his standout contribution on Dylan Atlantis’ 2025 single “Thought You’d Know By Now” to manning the guitar for fellow Full Circle member Nick Ward — but this release marks the full-throttle return of FRIDAY* as a solo force.

A Live Reputation That Commands The Room

FRIDAY*’s showmanship is the stuff of festival legend. He’s lit up BIGSOUND, Laneway Festival, Vivid LIVE, and NYE On The Hill, and earned coveted support slots alongside the likes of Paris Texas, grentperez, and 1300. If you’ve seen him live, you already know — he doesn’t play to a crowd, he captures one.

Industry Co-Signs Stacked To The Ceiling

The critical backing has been relentless. Heavy rotation on triple j, triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio, Rage (ABC), and CADA. Titles including triple j Unearthed Feature Artist of the Week and FBi Radio Independent Artist Of The Week. A profile boost from the ABC Full Circle documentary. And global editorial love via New Music Friday across Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, and Denmark, plus Fresh Finds AU/NZ (Spotify), New in Electronic and New Music Daily (Apple Music), Dopamine, Fresh Finds Indie, and Front Left.

Rooted in a thriving community of trailblazers, FRIDAY* continues to shape the future of Australian music alongside the Full Circle collective — Nick Ward, Sollyy, Breakfast Road, Dylan Atlantis, Zion Garcia — with further collaborations spanning Jerome Blazé, Station Hayds, Jack Slade, and Emjaysoul.

With “just you,” FRIDAY* isn’t just releasing a song. He’s solidifying his place as one of the most distinctive and forward-thinking voices in the global music landscape. Press play, sit with the melodrama, and get ready — rituals is coming.