Ocean Alley return with jangly rock’n’roller “Left Of The Dealer”

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Globally renowned Australian rockers Ocean Alley have today unveiled their first single of 2025 – the jangly rock’n’roller “Left Of The Dealer”, out independently via Community Music. Accompanied by a surreal, technicolour video, the track is an ode to youthful recklessness and the inevitable consequences that follow.

A bold step into new sonic territory, “Left Of The Dealer” swaps Ocean Alley’s signature groove-laden sound for a vintage-leaning, rock ‘n’ roll edge. With rollicking guitars, bluesy rhythm and an undeniable sense of nostalgia, the song exudes a timeless quality while retaining the warmth and depth that define the six-piece’s quintessential style. The track comes hot on the heels of last year’s Southern-rock infused “Tangerine”, which last month landed at #15 on triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2024—and even found a fan in Fred Durst.

On the track, frontman Baden Donegal shared: “Life is a gamble, but when we’re young, we often live in a much more carefree manner—taking all the risks, unaware of the consequences. The reference to being ‘Left Of The Dealer’ is a poker rule where the player left of the dealer will play first or be next to go, insinuating that your time to face these consequences may be up next.

I wrote and demoed this song at home before showing the rest of the guys. It was a sound we hadn’t really experimented with before. We jammed it a few times at our space in Middle Pocket and everything came together quickly. Messing around with guitar tones and vocal effects in the studio, we found it resembled some of our favourite bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Canned Heat, which we leant all the way into.”

Alongside the single, Ocean Alley have released a psychedelic, ‘60s-inspired music video directed by Duncan Wright (Pond, San Cisco, Methyl Ethyl). Shot on a lush, green property in the Northern Rivers, the video blends digital and VHS footage to create a sense of whimsy and otherworldliness. What starts out as hazy and carefree fun, quickly warps into a cat-and-mouse chase with the ‘doobie of doom’… before an unexpected friendship is formed.