Future indie royalty: The Heart Shaped Aces and “sidewalks”
- Natasha Trajkovski
- May 8
- 3 min read
Melbourne duo, The Heart Shaped Aces are future indie royalty; a statement only concreted further with the release of their latest song and title track of their upcoming EP out on May 22nd, sidewalks.
Being practically the capital of the genre, claiming a new Melbournian band to be the next “big thing” in the indie scene is virtually the equivalent of small talk about the city’s dreary weather each new day, with no following substance. In the case of The Heart Shaped Aces, however, don’t roll your eyes just yet. The sound that members Oscar Robson and Charlie Swansson have curated is a polished yet greatly authentic contribution to Australia’s unique music scene.
The duo have been releasing music since their 2023 single, “Devotion”, but really made a name for themselves in the Melbourne indie scene last year with their debut EP, Dancing In Decay. The marketing for the Dancing In Decay EP relied mainly on vague posters of the two members’ faces plastered all over Melbourne, and free gigs primarily advertised through word-of-mouth. The Heart Shaped Aces have carried this mysterious reputation into 2026, not banking on forms of “in your face” advertising, and prioritising their creative vision. “sidewalks” is exactly that; a refreshing break from corporate, inauthentic music flooding much of the major charts at the moment. The two have a very clear idea of how their songs should feel. The simplest way to describe a Heart Shaped Aces tune is that the first thing you will notice is the hazy feel it evokes in you, and only then, after that, you will notice the individual, captivating instrumentals.
Perhaps it is because there are only two core members, but The Heart Shaped Aces prove the beauty in simplicity. “sidewalks” does not demand attention, but relies on a more laid-back approach, not feeling a need for guitar solos to blow your brains off. Swanson’s vocals, as per usual, are mellifluous and are bound to have you in a trance.
“sidewalks” immediately begins with the one line bound to be permanently etched in your head;
‘You should know my heart, you should know my heart, you should know my heart the way you know my name’
It’s an irresistible hook that has been acting as a musical earworm for fans ever since the duo posted it as a snippet on their social media in the days leading up to the release.
The song then walks you into the verse and pre-chorus. The Smiths/Joy Division-esque bassline is strong during the verses, the sturdiness being a very tasteful accompaniment to the conflicting lyrics; ‘it's no fair, it’s better if I don't care’. Through to the pre-chorus, the addictive, haunting sonic style the Aces have perfected shines through. A single reverb guitar lightly strums downward until it, along with the bass, comes to a sudden halt. The experience of listening to this moment can only be illustrated as holding your breath in the deep ocean, where the return of the well-loved chorus is the moment of reaching the surface again.
Don’t think The Heart Shaped Aces would give you a predictable listening experience, because they come back again with the pairing of dulcet vocals and equally euphoric guitar in the song’s bridge, before finally ending on the chorus melody you will be humming for days on end.
“sidewalks”, along with the duo’s two other songs put out this year, “sadie” and “patientmonitor”, prove that The Heart Shaped Aces aren’t just any indie artists, but the very rare jaw-dropping talent that will only be further recognised with the release of their upcoming EP.
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