September 9, 2025 |
Acopia have been tirelessly finessing their sound for the last seven years. The band’s third album, Blush Response, which is set to be released September 12, sees the outfit at their clearest and most intimate. Following their sophomore self-titled album, which dropped in 2023, the Melbourne-based trio’s latest eight-track offering explores themes of introspection through melancholic lyrics and their signature downtempo electronic pop and post-punk sound.
Forming in 2018, musicians and established producers Kate Durman, Morgan Wright and Lachlan McGeehan have already made waves in the industry. Durman has been releasing music under the pseudonym Purient since 2016, with her debut EP, Memories, featuring remixes from Eartheater and Varg²™. Wright added emotional dimension to dance music in his 2018 EP, Morg, and McGeehan is one half of the duo Tambo’s House. Now, it’s Acopia’s moment. From supporting the likes of Tirzah and Bar Italia on tour, to selling out their own headline shows across London, Berlin, Barcelona, Paris and Amsterdam, Blush Response will be followed by a UK/EU tour kicking off in Brighton this month.
The first single to drop – and first track on the album – Talk About It serves as a look inside the musicians’ minds, reflecting on unresolved feelings and the desire to sweep them under the rug rather than confront them head-on. Durman’s hauntingly dream-like vocals are grounded by the steady looped guitar as she sings, “I don′t wanna talk about it anymore / That’s how we deal with thinking / Leave it at the front door”. Other single Falter marks a shift in trajectory, refocusing towards a more promising conversation. Durman’s lyricism is rooted in resilience: “Even if I stall, I will never falter / Even if I fall, I will never falter / ‘Cause I wanna get better”. Gorgeously vulnerable, this is the best Acopia have sounded to date.
Here, we caught up with the band as they share what’s making them blush, the inspiration behind their third album and their guiltiest pleasures.
1. Describe your sound in 3 words?
Appealing to some.
2. What makes you blush?
We recently received some fan mail from Georgia that included a very beautiful and personal handwritten letter. It also had a music video treatment concept for our song Holding On with illustrations. We were really moved by that.
3. Why the name Acopia?
We wanted to be at the top of festival lineup announcements.
4. What inspired Blush Response?
It’s a phrase from Blade Runner, specifically the test they use to distinguish the humans from the replicants by measuring their emotional reactions. We liked that phrase. Blushing is such a raw, involuntary thing, a reminder that you’re alive. It felt right that it would be the title.
5. If you had to save one track off of Blush Response from a burning building, which would it be and why?
Falter – stylistically speaking I’m not sure any of us ever thought we’d ever write a song quite like it.
6. What is your guilty pleasure?
Collectively it’s probably smoking.
7. Favourite thing about performing live?
People kissing in the audience.
8. The album’s final track is called Last Word. What’s more important – getting the last word or protecting your peace?
Protect the peace. Always.
9. Top three favourite upcoming artists right now?
Lovefear, Loraine James, Fatal Realm.
10. What is coming up for you that you’re most excited about?
USA 2026.
Photography by Jess Fine.
