Gang of Youths Return with New Single “Things Take Time”

Australian indie-rock band Gang of Youths issued their first new music in four years with the three-minute track “Things Take Time.” The song debuted in August 2026, coinciding with two sold-out homecoming concerts at the Sydney Opera House. – a metaphor for personal growth after a period of relative studio solitude.

Gang of Youths Return With First New Music in Four Years

After touring for their third album *Angel in Realtime* (2022), the group did not perform together on stage again until the 2026 Opera House shows. All four members—Le’aupepe, Kim, drummer Donnie Borzestowski and violinist/guitarist Tom Hobden—relocated to London but continued writing and recording in a private studio. Their previous releases, *The Positions* (2015) and *Go Farther in Lightness* (2017), had secured top chart positions and multiple ARIA Awards, establishing the band as a leading act in Australian rock.

Rolling Stone

• Ticket sales for the first Australian shows in four years sold out in 45 seconds for a one-off Thirroul gig and minutes for the two Opera House performances.

The Guardian

• The hiatus spanned four years between public performances and new releases.

Rolling Stone

• The single runs approximately three minutes and is described as a “silky” pop-leaning track, a departure from the band’s earlier “grandiose” arrangements.

Rolling Stone

Kim added that the track felt “timely” because it reflects the band members’ personal evolution over the past three years. Hobden noted that the recording took place in his backyard studio in London, allowing Le’aupepe “to build” vocal parts over extended sessions. The band collectively described the process as “a job” that avoids corporate deadlines, aiming for a “sacred” and relaxed studio atmosphere.

The Guardian

• “Well, I am excited about it,” — Tom Hobden

The Guardian

• “Dave would be in there for hours and then come out and everyone would be wondering what he’s building in there,” — Tom Hobden

The Guardian

• “I made everyone listen to bloody Perry Como over and over again,” — Sydney. Dave Le’aupepe

The Guardian

• “I just bring the songs when they’re ready, and that’s it,” — Sydney. Dave Le’aupepe

Rolling Stone

• “A lot of the anthemic stuff came from, maybe, a reaction to what I’d personally perceived as the zeitgeist sound of indie rock,” — Sydney. Dave Le’aupepe

Rolling Stone

Audience members at the Opera House shows reported emotional reactions, with some attendees crying and later laughing together in the foyer. Two marriage proposals were reported among the crowd, underscoring the personal impact of the band’s return. The concerts featured a mix of material from *Angel in Realtime* and earlier fan favourites, reinforcing the band’s connection to its catalogue while introducing the new single.

The Guardian

No specific release date beyond the month of August 2026 is provided, and the band has not confirmed whether the single precedes a forthcoming fourth album.

Rolling Stone