In a sonic eruption that shatters glass ceilings and reverberates through the foundations of musical mythos, Yugambeh/Kombumerri-based alt-rock powerhouse SELVE has dropped their fiercely ambitious new single and title track “Breaking Into Heaven,” a blistering introduction to their forthcoming album set for release on 12 September. Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios – making history as the first full-length album by an Aboriginal artist captured within its storied walls.
Fronted by the magnetic (I can say that, I’ve met him) Jabirr Jabirr artist Loki Liddle, SELVE ignites this release with an adrenaline-fuelled intensity, plunging listeners directly into the action amidst siren samples and fuzzed-out electric guitar riffs. With euphoric backing vocals, ominous basslines, and drums taut enough to snap, the track encapsulates the urgency and disruption central to the band’s identity.
Liddle, whose provocative lyricism and unmistakable drawl guides the album’s thematic journey, describes the track as a potent commentary on reclaiming stolen narratives and redefining power structures: “It’s about breaking in and subverting the centres of power that have been used to author our fates en masse, stealing the pen back from the stealer and sprawling a First Nations story and future across the heavens above.” Inspired by Nina Simone’s haunting insight – “The people who built their heaven on your land, are telling you that yours is in the sky” – SELVE defiantly rejects imposed limitations, embodying both resistance and radical love.
This boundary-pushing ethos is spectacularly visualised in the accompanying music video, co-directed by Liddle and Josh Tate, known for his work with artists such as Kate Miller-Heidke and Jaguar Jonze. Shot in a singular, continuous drone take at Kooralbyn’s Scenic Rim Aerodrome, the video captures a powerful visual metaphor of “Blakfullas breaking into heaven via propeller plane,” brilliantly complemented by performances from First Nations dance troupe Karul Projects and renowned artist Uncle Richard Bell. Cinematic nods to films like Asteroid City and Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey layer additional depth and nuance to the already visually arresting experience.
Musically diverse, “Breaking Into Heaven” traverses high-theatre punk ferocity, tender indie-pop moments, and psychedelia-infused waves reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem and Massive Attack. SELVE’s sonic adventurousness, further enriched by recording sessions spanning Jabirr Jabirr Country, France, and Abbey Road’s iconic Studio 3 (birthplace of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon), is matched by their uncompromising conceptual and thematic depth. As Loki describes, the album embodies “a reclamation, reimagining, and subversion through an inspired First Nations lens.”
Pitch to STAUNCH! 🚨
We’re on the lookout for bold, thought-provoking essays that challenge the status quo, spark meaningful conversations, and explore the complexities of Blak identity, sovereignty, and revolution.
STAUNCH. is a platform for First Nations writers and thinkers to share their ideas, push boundaries, and inspire action. We don’t shy away from the hard stuff—this is a space to stoke the fires of change.
What We’re Looking For:
🔍 Essays with clear arguments or big questions.
💥 Writing that is unapologetic, insightful, and deeply personal or rooted in community.
🌏 Topics exploring governance, culture, sovereignty, decolonisation, or the future of Blak self-determination.
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What to Include in Your Pitch:
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