EGOISM, a Sydney-based dream pop trio, has quietly gained a reputation as one of Australia’s most interesting new acts. The band was formed by childhood friends Scout Eastment (she/her) and Olive Rush (they/them), as well as drummer Adam Holmes (he/him), and they create songs with shoegaze textures and stunningly honest lyrics.
Their debut album, And Go Nowhere, demonstrates not only their songwriting skills but also their ability to create stories about place, memory, and emotion. Each tune holds a piece of Sydney’s ghosts, street corners, and growing pains, whether it’s the untidy beauty of “Addison Road” or the contemplation of “If I Was A Girl.”
The Noize team spoke with Scout, Olive, and Adam about their beginnings and creative process for And Go Nowhere.
A Conversation with EGOISM
The Noize Team: For Thai listeners who might not know EGOISM yet, could you introduce the band and tell us how all three of you first met?
Olive: We’re just a local band from Sydney making local Sydney music. Scout and I met on the bus to school when we were kids, then we both met Adam together at a pub gig when we were all 18.
TNT: How has growing up in Sydney influenced your identity and sound as a band?
EGOISM: We tend to write in a very literal sense, naming the places as we go along. So much of that comes from our habit of listening to music while moving through a city that sometimes feels like it wants us to disappear.
TNT: EGOISM’s sound has been described as dream pop. How would you describe your genre to someone who’s never heard it before?
EGOISM: Soft ethereal sounds with traditional songwriting—verse, chorus, bridge—with extra reverb.
TNT: Your music is known for being vulnerable and deeply personal. What inspires you to share such intimate feelings?
EGOISM: Sydney is full of ghosts. Mostly just people we used to know, sounds we used to hear. Songwriting feels like confession for us. These are stories that need to come out.
TNT: Which artists have most influenced your sound? Any Australian acts in particular?
EGOISM: We’re extremely inspired by Australian music—Snakadaktal, Last Dinosaurs, Cloud Control. All high school favourites.
TNT: Who usually leads the songwriting, and what’s your process like?
Olive: Usually I come up with a basic song idea and share it immediately. Then Scout helps with vocals and instruments, and Adam finalises the drums. It’s not set in stone, but it works for us.
TNT: Where do you see EGOISM’s sound heading next?
EGOISM: We’ve been writing a lot of high-energy live tracks, but also some very lyrically detailed acoustic songs. Hard to say exactly—but definitely good music.
Inside And Go Nowhere
TNT: Congrats on the album! Where does the title And Go Nowhere come from?
EGOISM: I saw it scratched on a bridge during COVID lockdown. It perfectly captured that trapped-yet-grateful feeling of living in our hometown. I knew we had to use it.
TNT: How long did it take to create, and what was the hardest part?
EGOISM: Some songs date back to 2019, while others were written right before release. Most of the work happened in 2023. The hardest part? Letting the songs go. I love tweaking forever, exploring sonic possibilities.
TNT: Which track was hardest to write, and which came most naturally?
EGOISM: “No Way In Hell” was the hardest—we re-recorded guitars and vocals multiple times. “Front Door” was the easiest. We wrote it, tracked it, mixed it, and released it. Pure flow.
TNT: Songs like “Sydney,” “Melbourne,” and “Addison Road” feel very location-specific. Are they about those places literally?
EGOISM: Yes, absolutely. The lyrics are very explicit.
TNT: Scout, could you tell us about “If I Was A Girl”?
Scout: I wrote it after moving out for the first time, standing between teenage life and adulthood. It’s about empathy, love, and growing up. Also, I was obsessed with the CR78 drum machine then, so it was fun experimenting with it.
TNT: How did you decide the track order?
EGOISM: We thought a lot about the flow of energy. “Front Door” was always the closer, but we debated whether the opener should be “Getting Older,” “Sydney,” or “How To Disappear.” The interlude split the album neatly in half.
TNT: With this record, you’re stepping beyond the local scene. What’s your ambition internationally?
Olive: Just make it over. No matter what it takes. I’m on holiday in Tokyo right now, and this city has music everywhere—it’s so inspiring.
TNT: Which song from And Go Nowhere would you recommend Thai listeners start with?
EGOISM: “Getting Older.” A lot of Thai people already love it for some reason. You guys have good taste.
TNT: Favorite Australian food Thai people should try?
EGOISM: There’s no such thing as good Australian food—it’s mostly the world’s food brought to us. But I do need to try finger limes.
TNT: Any message for your Thai fans?
EGOISM: We love you. See you one day. Stay patient.
With And Go Nowhere, EGOISM has carved out a sound that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking, tethered to real streets and memories yet soaring into emotional landscapes that feel universal. As they prepare for their Asia debut tour far beyond Sydney.