If you’ve been paying attention to Western Australia’s underground circuit, you’ll know navy june have been quietly sharpening their claws. With ‘mister’, the Boorloo/Perth five-piece step fully into their power, delivering a track that coils with tension before striking in spectacular fashion.
From its opening moments, the song feels deliberate and cinematic. There’s air in the arrangement, a slow burn created by shimmering, slightly warped guitar textures and a rhythm section that holds everything in a tight, controlled grip. It’s patient, almost teasing, as if daring you to lean closer. Ruby Barton-Taylor’s voice enters with poise; cool, assured, and impossibly clear. She doesn’t need to shout to command attention. She simply owns the space.
navy june have always flirted with the shadowy edges of ‘90s alt-rock, but here they refine that influence into something sleeker and more intentional. The build toward the chorus is a masterclass in suspense. The instrumentation tightens, the emotional temperature rises, and when the hook finally detonates, it does so with a surge of distortion that feels both cathartic and meticulously crafted. Guitars roar without drowning the vocal; they frame it, amplify it, let it blaze.
The band’s recent live pedigree has clearly honed their dynamic instincts. You can hear the confidence of a group who understand the impact of restraint just as much as release. Swirling lead lines arc across the stereo field, adding movement and drama, while the groove remains anchored and unwavering.
If this is how they’re opening 2026, consider the bar officially raised.