FRIENDS
OF FRIENDS

A Friends of Friends listening guide

For fans of
The 1975.
And a little further.

Looking for Australian bands like The 1975, or exploring the guitar-driven world around Sam Fender? Meet Friends of Friends through the influences and stories behind the music.

Start listening ↗

Australian alternative rock, with pop instincts.

Friends of Friends bring together indie-rock guitars, electronic production, pop hooks and punk energy. The band come from South East Queensland, with roots and live connections across the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Their music moves between melody and abrasion: a natural meeting point for listeners who like their rock music open to a few different directions.

The connections below come from band interviews and published reviews. They're a way into the songs; the music has its own character.

Looking for bands like The 1975?

The link goes back to the beginning. In Mixdown’s Up Close & Personal interview, Barnaby Baker recalls watching The 1975 at Splendour in the Grass with Tom and deciding to give a band a shot. That pull towards ambitious pop and a guitar-band setup is part of the story of Friends of Friends.

It also shows up in the way others hear the music. HIVE’s review of Synthetic Flower Chainsaw draws a comparison with The 1975, while exploring the EP's electronics and alternative-rock sound. scenestr’s All Time Low support review hears a related influence in the live performance. Try the EP and follow that thread for yourself.

For listeners exploring artists like Sam Fender.

The connection here is specific. In a 2023 interview with Alterwave, Friends of Friends describe a then-upcoming single as drawing on Bruce Springsteen and Sam Fender. It opens a window into the band's interest in expansive, guitar-driven songwriting.

If emotional songs and a sense of scale are what bring you to Sam Fender, put Friends of Friends in your next listening session. Their catalogue also brings in electronics, indie pop and punk influences, so expect a few turns along the way.

The Cure, Nine Inch Nails and the space between.

The jangling guitar idea behind I Like Ya began with a nod to The Cure, according to the band’s songwriting story in With Drums and Colour. Barnaby's interest in Nine Inch Nails and production appears in the Mixdown interview. Together, those reference points help explain a sound that makes room for both sweetness and sharper edges.

Discovering bands around Brisbane?

There is a real local story here. Mixdown and The AU Review have covered Friends of Friends as a Brisbane indie-rock act; AMPED explores the band's Gold Coast setting. In May 2026, Everblack covered their set at The Tivoli in Brisbane on a bill with Enter Shikari and Grandson.

For listeners searching for good Brisbane bands or new Australian alternative rock, the most useful next step is to hear the records and see the band live. Check listed shows and follow for announcements, or explore the interviews and live reviews.

Where to start.

Keep going with the band’s Spotify catalogue and Apple Music. For the stories behind the sound, read the original sources in our press archive.