Photo Credit: Arianne Armida
Sydney-based pop duo FOLEY have been on a dream run in the last 12 months – the innovative pairing of Ash Wallace and Gabe Everett have truly redefined their chemistry through the release of their acclaimed sophomore album That’s Life, Baby!
Following on from their infectious track ‘HONEY’ in 2025, the group returns for a brand new year: ushering in a new EP titled Like An Actress and sharing a brand new cut from it in ‘CINEMATIC’. Recorded on home turf in Aotearoa, New Zealand with collaborator Josh Naley, FOLEY pour bright pop and electronic influences into matured lyricism and delivery.
“‘Cinematic’ is about a love so beautiful and promising that you feel like it may not be real – at the start of a relationship the glow around a person can be so overwhelming and you find yourself romanticising everything.
Often we can have that self doubt of ‘is this actually real’, but ‘Cinematic’ is about embracing that feeling and leaning even further. Kissing in the streets at night, breaking into a stadium, and going home with butterflies in your stomach. It’s nostalgic even in the moment it happens, and you know that this could be encapsulated in a Hollywood movie because it’s so outrageously perfect.” FOLEY
Mastered by Grammy nominated engineer Nathan Dantzler (Sabrina Carpenter, Niall Horan) and mixed by acclaimed engineer Pedro Calloni (Chappell Roan, Alex Warren), the single is an opportunity for FOLEY to navigate themes of love and expression in a striking way.
Like An Actress adds to the impressive catalogue of work FOLEY have been building in recent years. As FOLEY describes, this project captures the essence of the group, balanced by music that allows for nuanced themes.
“We approached this EP with more organic instruments – so that the studio experience was more physical and band driven. The live show is such a crucial part of the project, so we wanted to write the songs even more locked into the show, with live instruments and feel. A lot of them were written with live piano, acoustic guitar, and live drums which is a real change up for us. It really unlocked a new energy in the studio – and the songs have a joy in them that I think you can really hear.
Thematically it’s built upon the topics we frequently chat about in our friendship – love, loss, exploration, identity. Because it was written way more organically than previous records, the themes and lyrics feel more joined into the sonics of each track, rather than being a layer of emotion over the top. Everything feels very cohesive, dreamy and fluid which is a fun change!” FOLEY
FOLEY’s music has been attaining new levels of success with each release; ‘HONEY’ itself landing a #1 position on the Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles charts, as well as coming in as the #1 Most Added Song on NZ radio in November.
That’s Life, Baby! – released in February 2025 – was included on Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s list of THE 80 BEST NEW ZEALAND ALBUMS OF THE 2020s SO FAR, coming in at #50. For FOLEY, the accolades bolster numerous award nominations, including one for ‘Best Group’ at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, as well as an expansion of their live footprint. They have toured internationally through South Korea and North America, while also continuing to blaze a trail for themselves in Aotearoa and Australia.
PRAISE
“Foley are setting the stage for a massive 2025”
ROLLING STONE AU/NZ
“You two are experts when it comes to producing pop music that’s as considered and clever as it is playful and hooky.”
ABBY BUTLER, TRIPLE J
“The songwriting, production, arrangement – everything. You’ve both done a madness on this. This the kind of song people should get VERY excited for.”
JERRY AGBINYA, TRIPLE J UNEARTHED
“Foley immediately pull you into their world of perfect pop! <3 Obsessing over the fresh feel to this upload! This is the ONE!”
ANIKA LUNA, TRIPLE J
‘CINEMATIC’ is out Wednesday 14 January
‘LIKE AN ACTRESS’ is out Wednesday 25 February
Foley: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Tik Tok | Triple J Unearthed
