Mallrat Announces Second Album, Drops Heartfelt New Single

Brisbane’s indie princess, Mallrat, has announced that she’s dropping a new album, Light hit my face like a straight right, in February 2025. In addition to this, she has released a heartfelt new track and music video, titled Horses.

Horses is an ode to nostalgia, growing up, and Brisbane as a whole. In a press release, Mallrat (real name Grace Shaw) revealed that the single was written after a trip to her hometown left her “feeling like an alien”.

“A lot of the lyrics on this song are about going home and how alone that makes me feel. The first verse is describing catching the train home from school with my little sister Olivia. She has passed away since I wrote this song and so it really makes me miss her.”

It was produced and co-written with Melbourne’s Alice Ivy, who had nothing but high praise for the singer: “Mallrat is one of the most talented songwriters in the country, and Horses is one of my favourite songs I've ever been a part of. We wrote Horses together at my studio in Melbourne with the doors open to a view of Merri Creek. The lyrics and melodies and everything about Horses couldn't feel more authentic to Grace, it's just so special. Stoked that it's out in the world."

The track is the third single released in preparation for Mallrat’s upcoming second album, Light hit my face like a straight right, set to drop February 14, 2025. The Valentine’s Day release is said to be “born from a world of magical realism in Australian suburbia” - and Horses’ music video leans into that, as well as Mallrat’s previous single, Hocus Pocus.

Both clips heavily feature CGI animals, in an almost surreal state; a horse standing in front of a digger engulfed in flames, a giant duck following Mallrat through the laundromat, a bunny sitting with her on a Queensland train. Stepping into the art of world-building, Light hit my face like a straight right is set to be Mallrat’s biggest creative leap yet.

But before her second LP drops, the Brisbane icon will take the stage at Victoria’s NYE On The Hill, headlining alongside fellow Queenslanders, The Dreggs, this year.