Pilot Crisis return with procrastination anthem ‘No Vacancy’ out now

Meanjin / Brisbane rockers Pilot Crisis return today with their melodic earworm ‘No Vacancy’. Stream HERE and watch the music video HERE. Influenced by the vocal intensity of early WAAX and the dynamic guitar sounds of Paramore, ‘No Vacancy’ is an infectious, energetic slice of alt-rock laced with pop sensibilities. Guitarist and core songwriter Mitch Chen says the song was written in an introspective moment of deep procrastination.

“I was sitting on the couch watching King of the Hill, noodling on the guitar and thinking about how I’d spend long stretches of time just wasting away,” he reflects. “Hours would slip by while I kept dreaming of doing something better, but never putting the energy into actually doing it.”

Vocalist Evie Cowen adds she challenged herself on this song, noting it “unlocked new ideas and understandings for me on approaching performance and vocal delivery. It has been a great song to teach me to venture out a bit, and bring in some fun techniques.”

‘No Vacancy’ was brought to life by an all-star cast of Brisbane musicians, with Talk Heavy’s Matt Cochran engineering, producing, and mixing the track at Birthday Boy Studios, and Brock Weston of Bugs on mastering duties. The track follows what has been a pivotal few months for Pilot Crisis, touring with fellow Queenslanders Vipersnatch and supporting hometown heroes Beddy Rays while working on a slew of brand new music to follow in the coming months.

Pilot Crisis first turned heads in 2023 with the release of their debut single ‘Misguided’. The punchy, angst-fueled track became an immediate fan favourite, landing a fourth-place finish in Domestic La La’s 2023 Tuna Tuesday ‘Catch of the Year’. A band of constant evolution, they explored electro-pop elements alongside their signature power riffs in follow up single ‘Sad Sunshine’, and added strings à la Panic! At The Disco to their third single ‘Turning On The Tele’ in 2024. ‘No Vacancy’ sees Pilot Crisis as their most musically self-assured yet, with its vibrant, catchy chorus, powerhouse dual guitars and universally relatable lyrics.

About Pilot Crisis Happy thoughts and pop-punk hearts keep Pilot Crisis smiling as they dish up polite sounds from crowded minds. Mandatory fuzzy guitar riffs, vibrant catchy choruses, and a hard-hitting rhythm section are the fresh ingredients meticulously picked by a head chef in this modern recipe of a distinct Australian blend of modern alternative rock. You’ll lose yourself while indulging in infectious melodies, paired with dual guitars, punk-fuelled drums, and rocksteady bass grooves that make up the secret sauce behind Brisbane’s freshest interpretation of nostalgic yet original alternative punk rock. Their strongest line up yet consists of Evie Cowen (Vocals), Mitch Chen (Guitar), Eliot Argus (Bass), and Tim Ricketts (Drums). Determined to cook up a scrumptious 2025, they embarked on their first mini tour with Vipersnatch, supported neighbourhood heroes Beddy Rays, and completed a series of new singles all while some members got married and others became fathers. In 2023-24, Pilot Crisis served up a trio of flavour-packed singles with Misguided, Sad Sunshine, and Turning On The Tele that were all produced by Matt Cochran (Talk Heavy) and mastered to perfection by Brock Weston (Bugs). Misguided proved to be a fan favourite, plating up a fourth-place finish in Domestic La La’s 2023 Tuna Tuesday “Catch of the Year.” Now they return with “No Vacancy”, a guitar-driven alternative pop-punk banger that captures the spiral of overthinking born from boredom. Produced again by Cochran and mastered by Weston, the track marks the next course in their growing menu. With more music on the horizon, Pilot Crisis have their signature dish prepped and ready to serve.

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