Globally renowned Australian rockers Ocean Alley have unveiled their first single of 2025 - ‘Left Of The Dealer'. Accompanied by a surreal, technicolour video, the track is an ode to youthful recklessness and the inevitable consequences that follow.
Photo by Duncan Wright
A bold step into new sonic territory, ‘Left Of The Dealer’ swaps Ocean Alley’s signature groove-laden sound for a vintage-leaning, rock ‘n’ roll edge. Sounding like nothing we've heard from the band before, 'Left Of The Dealer' highlights versatility, as well as their musicianship, as this hazy number creates an immaculate vibe.
With rollicking guitars, bluesy rhythm and an undeniable sense of nostalgia, the song exudes a timeless quality while retaining the warmth and depth that define the six-piece’s quintessential style. The track comes hot on the heels of last year’s Southern-rock infused ‘Tangerine’, their first new release since their critically acclaimed 2022 album, ‘Low Altitude Living’.
On the track, frontman Baden Donegal shared: “Life is a gamble, but when we’re young, we often live in a much more carefree manner—taking all the risks, unaware of the consequences. The reference to being ‘Left of the Dealer’ is a poker rule where the player left of the dealer will play first or be next to go, insinuating that your time to face these consequences may be up next.
I wrote and demoed this song at home before showing the rest of the guys. It was a sound we hadn’t really experimented with before. We jammed it a few times at our space in Middle Pocket and everything came together quickly. Messing around with guitar tones and vocal effects in the studio, we found it resembled some of our favourite bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Canned Heat, which we leant all the way into.”
Alongside the single, Ocean Alley have released a psychedelic, ‘60s-inspired music video directed by Duncan Wright (Pond, San Cisco, Methyl Ethyl). Shot on a lush, green property in the Northern Rivers area of Eastern Australia, the video blends digital and VHS footage to create a sense of whimsy and otherworldliness. What starts out as hazy and carefree fun, quickly warps into a cat-and-mouse chase with the ‘doobie of doom’... before an unexpected friendship is formed.
‘Left of the Dealer’ arrives shortly after the huge announcement of the single largest show of Ocean Alley’s career so far, at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace. Taking place on September 27th, tickets are now on sale, and can be found here.
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