Australian post-punk rockers EXILES are making waves with their debut album, Waiting for Romance. Blending the raw energy of The Strokes with the swagger of Viagra Boys, the album is a dynamic exploration of love, identity, and personal evolution. Produced by Alex Markwell, Waiting for Romance captures the band’s unique ability to balance grit with melody, delivering a fresh yet familiar sound.
In this exclusive interview, EXILES dives into the creative process behind the album, their influences, and how live performances have shaped their music. From the intimate vulnerability of I’ll Try (the lead single) to the spontaneity of their shows, the band shares their journey and what’s next on the horizon.
let’s delve into the full conversation below
RM: Your debut album Waiting for Romance blends influences from The Strokes to Viagra Boys while carving out your own distinctive style. How did you approach creating something that feels both familiar and fresh?
EXILES: It was definitely about balancing what we love with what feels right in the moment. Alex Markwell (our producer) was really integral in helping us bring the songs to life – we came in with a bunch of songs and a few demo ideas, and we left with a fully fledged album. Our focus in the studio was on making something that felt like it came from us, while staying true to our influences. I think the key is to never force it – the magic happens when you let go, and allow the song to take you in any and all directions.

RM: What themes or stories inspired the tracks on Waiting for Romance?
EXILES: A lot of it comes from the messiness of relationships and personal growth – plenty of self-reflection and a bit of tongue-in-cheek optimism for good measure. We’re not afraid to show both sides of love and life, the gritty and the beautiful, we froth all of it. In some tracks, it’s about feeling stuck in a moment, while in others, there’s this undercurrent of breaking free from that. Overall, it’s about grappling with your desires and the tension between what you want and what you need.
RM: How would you describe the journey from conceptualizing Waiting for Romance to bringing it to life in the studio?
EXILES: The songs start as basic demos or ideas, and we flesh them out together in rehearsal usually. When we hit the studio, I’d say we were about 60-70% of the way there, but it wasn’t until we all got together with Alex that we were able to bring everything to life. While we had broad ideas of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to say, the collaboration we had in the studio really helped shape it into what it became. I think keeping an open mind, and allowing ourselves to create freely was the biggest takeaway from the experience.
RM:Â Your music is described as a fusion of post-punk grit and rock ‘n’ roll swagger. How did you develop this sound, and what drew you to this mix of influences?
EXILES: It really just encapsulates what we’re all about – we love grit and attitude, it’s an important part of our influence. We all come from pretty diverse musical backgrounds and influences, but with some pretty significant overlap. While we were writing the record, we were all pumping Viagra Boys, The Strokes, Interpol and Fontaines D.C. and those influences are pretty clear in what we were able to create. Each of these bands have their own attitude and swagger, but all in such different ways. We’re just trying to find where we fit into the landscape while staying true to ourselves.

RM: “I’ll Try,” the final single from the album, steps into more intimate territory. What inspired this shift, and how does it fit into the broader narrative of the album?
EXILES: Funnily enough “I’ll Try” was one of the first songs we wrote for this record – it’s always been important to us to show that we can do more than hard rockin’. All of the singles we put out beforehand were either fast, fun indie tracks or heavier post-punk bangers and we wanted to show off everything we can do. When it came to recording, the slow burners really came to life – “I’ll Try” especially feels raw and real and really jumps out of the speakers. As the first track, it lets listeners in easy and really helps settle into the album.
RM: As you are making waves on both the Australian and international scenes, how has the reception to your performances influenced your music?
EXILES: It’s been a massive influence, honestly. There’s something about playing live that changes how you hear the songs. We’ve actually been playing a bunch of these tracks in the set since the start of the band, but by “testing the waters” we were able to chop and change them into what they are today. We’ve been lucky enough to have audiences respond to the energy in a way that pushes us to be even more dynamic and spontaneous. It’s made us more aware of the connection between our music and our audience, and we’re always trying to refine that energy, making sure it comes through on the record as much as it does live.
RM: Do you have any memorable moments or stories from live shows that reflect the spirit of EXILES?
EXILES: Jordan’s (bass) first show with us was epic. It was late 2023 I reckon, so pre-album but it was well in the works by that time. We sold out this little club in Northcote, Cactus Room. The energy in the room was truly next level and the crowd was unreal. I remember we closed the set with our track “Get Down” and the crowd kinda took over, it ended up going for like 15 minutes, we just kept bringing it down, then up, then down again – it felt like it was never gonna end. That really sums up what we’re about – if the crowd gives us energy, we give it right back. It’s all about spontaneity and vibes.

RM: How has the experience of creating and releasing Waiting for Romance shaped your vision for EXILES moving forward?
EXILES: It’s definitely made us more confident in pushing boundaries, and it’s really shown us where our strengths lie. We didn’t want this album to just be a collection of songs, we wanted to make a statement and I think that mentality will carry over into our future songwriting. The whole process showed us that we can explore different textures and emotions while staying true to the core of who we are as a band. It’s got us all pumped and ready to take more risks and explore even deeper, both in the studio and at our live shows. We never want to repeat ourselves, only move forward.
RM: What’s next for the band? Can fans expect tours, collaborations, or new projects in the near future?
EXILES: We’ve got a handful of local tour dates, as well as our first big festival slot at Party in the Paddock (TAS) coming up in Feb. We’re in the process of planning more tour dates throughout the year as well, and we’ve got a couple special treats up our sleeves for the fans. As for collaborations, we’re open to the idea, there’s a few artists that truly inspire us that we would love to work with. For now, we’re focusing on touring, and connecting with fans before we knuckle down and hit the studio again to start writing album #2.
With Waiting for Romance, EXILES have firmly established themselves as a band to watch in the post-punk and indie rock scene. Their ability to fuse raw emotion with energetic, genre-blurring soundscapes showcases both their artistic depth and fearless approach to music. As they gear up for more live shows, festival appearances, and future projects, it’s clear that this is just the beginning of their journey. Whether through their electrifying performances or introspective songwriting, EXILES are carving their own path—one that promises even more evolution, excitement, and boundary-pushing music in the years to come.