Big Reef Talk New Single ‘Best’, Balancing Absurdity with Emotion, and What’s Next

Canberra-based brotherly duo Big Reef are back to bend brains and break hearts with their latest single, ‘Best’ — a neon-lit, synth-soaked anthem that’s equal parts sarcastic swagger and emotional gut-punch. In an exclusive interview with AAA Backstage, Morgan and Hayden Quinn dive deep into the story behind the track, sharing the emotional spark that inspired its lyrics, the absurdity baked into their songwriting, and the 80s-flavoured influences that continue to shape their sound. Known for chaotic, fourth-wall-breaking live shows and sharp pop instincts, Big Reef once again straddle the line between irony and intimacy — proving that while their humour is loud, their artistic intent runs deep.

‘Best’ has such a unique mix of sarcasm and sincerity. What’s the story behind the song, and what inspired its lyrics?

Best is about conditional love, do you only love me at my best? do I need to fulfil a certain criteria to be loved by you? would you still love me at my worst? sometimes it can feel like that in relationships, you know? Morgan wrote the lyrics to this song during a particularly sharp moment of insecurity, which was short-lived, but strong enough to warrant writing them down and committing them to this song. 

Id been feeling increasingly like the love someone had for me was conditional on me meeting unreasonable expectations. I woke up one morning with the verse baseline in my head and it had a tragic groove that I thought fit the sentiment.

Your music blends humour, chaos, and sharp pop craftsmanship. How do you strike the balance between absurdity and emotional depth in your songwriting?

A lot of our songs are character pieces, taking a humorous look at an amalgam of people and personalities we’ve known and been in touch with over the years – so these songs are fictional and therefore have the space and liberty to be funny and absurd, but the fact is that the fictional elements of our lyrics come directly from real life, and i think that’s what keeps the emotion baked in. However, ‘Best’ is more of an introspective piece and the lyrics are a little more honest than some of our other songs. It’s the music that injects emotional depth, regardless of the lyrical content, the music is always a direct and honest portrayal of our emotions and state of mind. 

You’ve cited influences ranging from Chappell Roan to Talking Heads. How did those inspirations shape the sound and feel of ‘Best’?

When we started Big Reef, we wanted to make a New Wave band, we were inspired by bands like Talking Heads, Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears, we had a very narrow focus on what we wanted our sonic palette to be. Those influences are hardwired into the way we write music together, but of course the scope for the project has broadened to incorporate a more modern pop sensibility, artists like Chappell Roan, The 1975 and the production work of people like Jack Antanoff have been a nice middle-ground influence on us, sitting between very modern pop and the classic 80s pop we so admire. 

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Your live shows are known for their wild energy and unpredictability. How does performing influence the way you approach recording new music?

It’s funny, but the two environments are so different to us. There is a really clear line between how we approach our live show, which is incredibly performative, with our live video art projected behind us, switching between instruments mid-way through songs, and lots of improvised on-stage banter and crowd work. there is certainly a creative and exciting element to our live shows, but the mind-frame is completely different to that of our studio sessions which are explorative, slow, evolving, experimental and measured.

‘Best’ is just the latest in your evolving sound. What can fans expect next from Big Reef, and where do you see your music heading in the future?

We have a lot of new music ready for release, songs we’ve been playing live for a couple of years and getting a fantastic response to. Next up is a song called Checkmate, which really leans into the 80s new wave influence. We’re also excited for our song “Tricka the Light” to be featured in a hugely hyped international film which is being released in August. so we’re stoked for that too!

With more new music on the way — including the synth-heavy single ‘Checkmate’ and a film placement for their track “Tricka the Light” in a major international release — Big Reef are poised for their biggest year yet. Whether they’re swapping instruments on stage, dishing out off-kilter banter, or layering emotional truth under glittering synths, the duo continue to prove that sincerity and satire don’t have to be opposites. ‘Best’ is just the beginning of what promises to be a wildly entertaining and sonically rich next chapter.