Australia’s Next Wave
Out of Byron Bay’s coastal sprawl, HEADSEND have been building something loud and instinctive. Formed by brothers Rasmus and Kyuss King alongside drummer Bon Soric, the trio lean into guitar music that feels physical — sunburnt, a little unhinged, and clearly rooted in ’90s alt-rock without sounding like a throwback.
If early buzz painted them as raw live-wire upstarts, their recent singles show a band starting to lock things in.
“Chug” does exactly what the title suggests — low-slung riffs and forward momentum, guitars grinding ahead with a steady pulse. It’s heavy without feeling overworked, controlled but still loose. The repetition feels deliberate, like the band understands when to hold back just as much as when to turn things up.
“And Angel,” on the other hand, might be their most expansive moment so far. The edges are still rough, but the songwriting opens up a bit more — melody pushing through the distortion instead of fighting it. It’s less about brute force and more about lift, finding something close to euphoric inside all that grit.
Across these singles, HEADSEND don’t sound like a band trying to prove they’re loud. They sound like a band figuring out how to use that volume — tightening the riffs, opening up the dynamics, and letting tension carry the song as much as distortion does.
If these releases are any sign of where things are heading, the momentum is real. We caught up with the band for the latest installment of our Nice To Meet You series.
Thanks for taking the time to do this. To start, was there a specific artist, record, or moment that made you realize you wanted to make music?
Rasmus: I don’t remember a specific moment, but I remember from a very early age I wanted to be in a band.
Kyuss: Dad took me to watch the Kyuss Lives tour in Australia when I was about 12. I saw John Garcia and Brant Bjork play “Thumb” live and from that moment I wanted to make music.
That’s amazing! We’re huge Kyuss fans. Do you remember the first time you shared your music online — and what that moment meant to you?
Rasmus: Yeah our first single was “Stove,” I remember releasing it and it was mixed feelings. We’d been jamming it for so long it was kinda a relief to finally get it out there.
Does surfing show up in your songwriting? If so, how?
Rasmus: No
Kyuss: Our music is its own thing.
What’s an album or song that still reminds you why you do this?
Rasmus: “Buckingham Green” by Ween
Kyuss: “Pepper” by Butthole Surfers
What inspires your approach to writing lyrics?
Rasmus: I don’t really have an approach for lyrics, it’s whatever I’m thinking about in the moment.
“Dad took me to watch the Kyuss Lives tour in Australia when I was about 12. I saw John Garcia and Brant Bjork play “Thumb” live and from that moment I wanted to make music.”
What was it like playing with AC/DC? That's WILD!
Rasmus: It was a crazy experience! We never thought we’d be playing stadiums! Definitely an intense two days. It felt like it took a week to get over the anxiety and actually realize what we had just done.
What’s a recent performance, film, or book that left a mark on you?
Rasmus: Buffalo ’66 is a film I saw recently and I had to watch it twice back to back. So, it must have had some profound effect.
Kyuss: Definitely the TOOL tour for sure!
What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing right now — and how are you working through it?
Rasmus: Getting a decent sound out of the fold-backs [stage monitors] has been challenging. I don’t know if it will get better.
What’s something about HEADSEND that you’re proud of that people might not see?
Rasmus: Our EP… coming out in March
What would a perfect tour package look like for HEADSEND?
Rasmus: We will go anywhere! We just like to play.
Kyuss: I like the small sweaty venues.
We have to ask — Kyuss, were you named after the band?
Kyuss: Yeah! And Dad had “Green Machine” blasting while I was coming out of the womb.
Incredible! What’s one piece of advice you’d give to artists just starting out?
Kyuss: We are also just starting out, so you don’t want our advice!
Rasmus: Maybe bring extra fuses for your amp.
What’s the biggest goal you have for your music right now?
Rasmus: We’ve already surpassed that haha. We just wanna keep making goodish songs.
Follow HEADSED on Instagram at @headsend | headsend.com
