Melbourne’s Coconut Shy are back with their second single of the year, and they’ve ditched the rainy-day sulk for something that practically dares you to feel good about yourself. “Small Steps (Paces)” is a rock anthem that’s all about taking those tiny, wobbly steps toward something bigger – and not waiting around for some cosmic coincidence to hand you your dreams.
Frontman Joseph Mackey has been the brain behind Coconut Shy since it was a solo project. He dropped an EP back in 2021, then followed it up with two singles, ‘Water, Water‘ and ‘The Finest Day‘, which got radio rotation all over Australia – we’re talking City Park Radio, Cairns FM, Joy 94.9, the works. But now he’s got a full four-piece backing him up, and the sound is beefier, rawer, and way more dangerous. The band’s evolution from one guy with a guitar to a solid unit is all over this track.
This song was recorded with Simon Paparo at Four Doors Studios, and the production is clean but not sterile – it’s got the right amount of grit. It’s the first taste of their debut album, which is set to drop later this year. If this is the direction they’re heading, I’m already counting down the days.
Now, let’s talk about the heart of the thing. “Small Steps (Paces)” is about the process of becoming. It’s that inner voice that says “you’re nobody” and then flips it around, telling you that becoming somebody is exactly that – a process. You don’t need to have the whole map drawn out. The mountain might be sitting right on your doorstep, and yeah, it might be raining, but every single step counts. Mackey said he wanted something unambiguously positive after years of writing about loneliness and heartbreak, and damn it, he nailed it.
It’s indie-folk at its core, but it’s got a rock backbone that refuses to sit still. “Small Steps (Paces)” is a kick in the pants, a reminder that small wins add up. So take a step forward, and let the doubt burn away. This is rock ‘n’ roll with a heart – and it’s about time.