The keen reader might remember Australian riser JesseMelancholy from a feature we published in summer 2025, celebrating the talented creative for “his ability to pack songs with immense emotional energy and furious poignancy.” At the time, we were writing about ‘sanctuary’, a single that gave us hints of an overarching vision, a sign that JesseMelancholy was going to have something more in store for us. Well, ‘bending over backwards’ is the confirmation of that, a strikingly honest and meaningful EP with a great deal of boundary-pushing allure in it.
Described as a “coming-of-age confession”, ‘bending over backwards’ sees JesseMelancholy at his boldest, slowly unveiling pieces of a troubled relationship and all the chaos that comes with it. Encompassing themes of mental health and emotional toxicity, as well as grief and pain, the EP offers a complex glimpse into young love, all drenched in the kind of fervour and passion typical of a twenty-year-old. Now 22, JesseMelancholy enters adulthood with quiet confidence and a good amount of lyrical baggage behind him. Moreover, he also shares a timely pulse on the cultural landscape, with ‘bending over backwards’ perfectly fitting our fractured reality.
From a sonic standpoint, the record bathes in the sort of hyperpop-meets-alternative that the Aussie artist has got us used to. The listening experience is vivid and brooding, with moments of aural distortions balancing over a certain cinematic flair. It’s a formula that is at times electrifying, tender and introspective at others. JesseMelancholy’s vocals perfectly fit such a dynamic ethos, with autotune-laden melodies dancing around the project’s wholesome, nostalgic lyricism.
In Autumn 2026, Jesse is set to embark on an Australian tour, co-headlining with LonelySpeck. Be there?
Recommended! Discover ‘bending over backwards’ now: