Jack Ladder has shared details of his eighth album, entitled Separation Rock. The follow-up to 2023’s Tall Pop Syndrome is set for release on Friday, October 10th via Worse Records – which marks his first release on the independent label run by longtime friend and Dreamlanders bandmate Kirin J Callinan. The Sydney-born singer-songwriter has also shared a new single, ‘Everything Belongs 2 U’, as well as two intimate launch dates for November – all of which can be found below.
The new single, whose title references Sinead O’Connor’s 1990 hit ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, follows on from the release of the Sharon Van Etten duet ‘Missing’ in June and ‘I Want The 1 (That I Can’t Have)’ last month. It features Alex Cameron, another longtime collaborator and close friend of Ladder’s, providing backing vocals. In a press statement, Ladder noted that ‘Everything Compares 2 U’ was “the first song written for the album and the last one [that was] completed”.
“For awhile, I became obsessed with the Elton John song ‘Skyline Pigeon’ after watching The Favourite on a flight home from an American tour,” he said. “I had a playlist with all the most heart-wrenching piano ballads, featuring Neil Sedaka’s ‘Going Nowhere’, John Cale’s ‘I’m Not The Loving Kind’ and Pete Dello’s ‘Do I Still Figure In Your Life?’. This is my contribution to the list.” A new music video has also been shared for ‘Everything’, directed by Stephanie Jane Day. It can be viewed below.
Jack Ladder – ‘Everything Belongs 2 U’
Ladder recorded Separation Rock in North Hollywood, California at Valentine Studios. The album was was produced by American producer Zach Dawes, who has also played in the indie rock bands Mini Mansions and The Last Shadow Puppets. In addition to producing the record, Dawes also played bass. The pair were joined in the studio by session drummer Jay Bellerose – whose credits include the aforementioned Elton John – as well as keyboardist Tyler Parkford.
Next week, Ladder will perform a rare and intimate solo show at The Midnight Special in Sydney. Taking place on Thursday, August 21st, Ladder will play two sets from 7pm onward. Entry is free, but the venue is expecting to be full ahead of his start time. In November, meanwhile, Ladder will play two full-band shows to officially launch the album: One on Friday, November 7th at The Wesley Anne in Melbourne, and one on Friday, November 14th at The Vanguard in Sydney. Tickets for both are on sale now, and are available for purchase via Oztix for Melbourne here and Moshtix for Sydney here.
Separation Rock can be pre-saved digitally and pre-ordered physically by clicking here.
Further Reading
Love Letter To A Record: Alex Cameron On Jack Ladder’s ‘Hurtsville’
These New South Whales Return With New Single ‘INSTINCT’, Share Tour Dates
Meredith 2025: TV On The Radio, Perfume Genius, Colin Hay + More
