Newcastle alternative/rock act Post Script Philosophy have launched back into the music scene with their first single in almost two decades, ‘Butterflies‘.
The track marks a return to their 2000s rock roots, while not shying away from the weight of losing former bassist Josh Ingram. It’s the kind of melodic punk/rock that simmers with half-forgotten memories of the younger Australian rock scene from back in the day. Think Something With Numbers, Kisschasy, Bodyjar. Exploring themes of grief, anxiety and the fear of loss, this new chapter offers a fresh perspective, and reassures listeners that there is, in fact, light at the end of the tunnel.
We got up to speed with who Post Script Philosophy are in 2026, and how the return to music all began with a drive home and a perfect album.
For listeners coming across you for the first time, give us the quick 411 on who and what Post Script Philosophy is all about?
Post Script Philosophy is an alternative rock, meets post-hardcore band, from the beautiful city of Newcastle. Gav and I (Daniel) started it as a stripped-back acoustic duo in 2004, before we quickly evolved into a four-piece, where we leaned hard into loud guitars, fast drums, and that contrast between melody and chaos, aka, singing and screaming side by side.
Things were building well for us until 2006, before our world came to a sudden stop. Our original bassist, and one of our closest childhood friends, Josh, was tragically killed in a car accident after we’d played a fundraising event in Sydney. Although Guy (our current bassists) was brought into the mix to fill Josh’s’ shoes, the emotional weight of his passing just made the band feel impossible at the time, so we called it a day.
Now, two decades later, we’ve returned to give Post Script Philosophy a second life.
Your first single ‘Butterflies’ explores themes of anxiety, grief and true vulnerability. In contrast, the guitars give off a super punchy, melodic style. Can you tell us more about how this track came to fruition?
‘Butterflies’ really sits at the intersection of our past, and where we’re heading. Musically, it started life as an old PSP song that we never officially released. Over the years listening back to it, we always felt like there was something special there, so when we started jamming again it was one of the first things we revisited and reworked.
That contrast, the punchy, driving guitars with more melodic, emotional layers, has always been a big part of our sound. It comes naturally when you throw together a group of guys with different musical influences. So instead of saying, “We need write this song so that it sounds like Story of a Year or Anberlin”, we’ve been able to mesh together our personal musical interests to create something that resembles each member of the band.
Lyrically, it’s probably one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written. It’s me unpacking a pretty raw fear; the idea of losing the people I love, specifically my wife and kids. Losing Josh the way we did changed how all of us see the world. Personally, it made everything feel fragile, and that feeling has never really left me. ‘Butterflies’ is another way of processing that, the anxiety, the grief, and the weight of knowing how quickly everything can change.
This track is your first release in almost 20 years. Do you guys feel like Post Script Philosophy feels like a brand new band, and what lessons are you taking from the past into this new chapter?
In some ways it’s new, but honestly, it didn’t feel like starting from scratch at all. The first time we got back in a room together last year was the first time in about 17 years, and within twenty minutes it felt like no time had passed. We hadn’t consistently connected during our hiatus, so there was a bit of the unknown going in, but once we started jamming, it just clicked. Muscle memory kicked in, everything felt natural, and it reminded us pretty quickly why we loved doing this in the first place.
When we did start writing again, though, it came with a different level of intensity and intentionality than before. There’s more purpose behind what we’re doing now.
As for lessons from the past, the biggest one is learning to say “NO!.” Back in the day, we said yes to every single show, and we mean every show. Skate parks, community halls, public swimming pools, Christmas carols, birthday parties; if people were willing to listen, we were there. And to be fair, that led to some amazing opportunities and shows with incredible bands, both locally and internationally.
But now, with families, jobs, and well, life, we’re a lot more intentional. We’ve realised that saying yes to everything just isn’t sustainable anymore. This time around, we want to enjoy it, make the most of it, and not burn out in the process.
What was the catalyst in deciding that now was the right time in making music again?
It really came down to a feeling of unfinished business. I was driving home from work one day and threw on Antiskeptic’s Aurora. This in itself wasn’t an unusual listen for me as Aurora is a perfect album, which consistently gets sung along to as I drive. For further context, Antiskeptic (more specifically, meeting Andrew Kitchen), were a huge reason why I started writing songs in the first place when I was 17 years old.
When the album finished however, Spotify just kept feeding me more; it started with Something with Numbers, then Bodyjar, then The Getaway Plan, and then Kisschasy. Suddenly I was deep in this wave of nostalgia, which eventually had me pulled over on the side of the road, playing through songs from bands I’d shared stages with back in the day (the likes of Behind Crimson Eyes, Angelas Dish and Another Day Down). It was that afternoon, after pulling into my driveway with the engine still running, I messaged the guys out of nowhere, “Hear me out… let’s give PSP another go”. Fast forward twelve months and we’re about to release what we genuinely believe is one of the best songs we’ve ever written.
In 2026, the nostalgia element is huge. However, keeping things fresh and fun is also really significant reaching out to new ears and audiences. How do you balance honouring your past but not being defined by it?
It’s definitely a different world now. When we were playing regularly twenty years ago, things were a lot simpler. Our song ‘When I Fall’ got played on Triple J back in 2005 because I literally mailed in a burnt copy of our EP, and Stu Harvey (Short.Fast.Loud) spun it on air. We had no idea it was even happening until our Myspace started blowing up with messages from people saying they’d heard us. Now, it feels like you need multiple social media platforms, constant content, and daily posts just to stay visible. It’s a completely different landscape and figuring out how to stay relevant in that without losing what makes us… us, is a challenge.
For the band, the balance comes back to honesty. We’re not trying to chase trends. We’re writing the kind of songs we’ve always written and trusting that the right people will connect with that. We’re definitely honouring the past by revisiting parts of our back catalogue and giving those ideas new life with everything we’ve experienced over the last 20 years, but we don’t want to be stuck there either.
You reckon fans of Jimmy Eat World and Thrice will be enticed by you. In the current music landscape, who are you spinning today?
As a band, our tastes are all over the place.
Personally, I don’t venture far from Manchester Orchestra and Jimmy Eat World, but I do occasionally broaden my musical tastes. I’m excited to hear Slowly Slowly’s new-unreleased album, and I’m excited to see what Matty Mullins continues to produce now that he’s fronting Anberlin fulltime. I know Gav is spinning Thrice and was devastated when they had to cancel their recent Australian tour. He’s also listening to Dance Gavin Dance and Mumford and Sons. Guy is blasting I Prevail, Bring Me the Horizon and Electric Callboy; while Pete is fixated on Sleep Token, Northlane and Spiritbox.
Following the release of ‘Butterflies’, what’s next on the horizon for Post Script Philosophy?
We’ve got a really exciting few months ahead. We’re playing our reunion show at the Hamilton Station Hotel in Newcastle on May 31st, which we’re all really looking forward to. Playing live was always one of our favourite parts of being in a band, so getting back on stage, seeing some familiar faces, and playing a mix of old songs alongside new material is going to be special. After that, we’ve got another single lined up for June that we recently recorded, and then we’ll be heading back into the studio again. The plan is to keep building momentum, whether that turns into an EP or, if things fall our way, an album by the end of the year.
If Josh was still with you today, what do you think he would say about ‘Butterflies’?
He’d probably say, “It’s not heavy enough, it needs more screams!” But honestly, he’d be stoked. He loved this band, and he loved playing music with us. More than anything, he’d just be happy that we’re back doing it again. We all miss him a lot, and that never really changes. But we carry him with us in everything we do, and we know he’d be cheering us on as we step into this next chapter.
‘Butterflies‘ is out now wherever you prefer to stream music.
Post Script Philosophy will be playing in their hometown of Newcastle at Hamilton Station Hotel on 31 May.
