You might not have heard of ‘Orphan’—the tormented brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and doomsday death cult survivor Arlen McCarthy—but if you’ve had your ear to the ground, or anywhere near Sydney and Melbourne’s most infamous music haunts over the last few years, chances are you’ve unknowingly absorbed some small piece of them. 

 

Orphan’s deceptively upbeat single ‘For a Friend’ is our first peek through the small cracks in an otherwise crowded repertoire, McCarthy splitting their time between Sydney’s now infamous post-punk supergroup Enclave (named BIGSOUND 2022 standout artist by The Live Wire), and the other half of dark-dream-weaving pop outfit Lorelei with Claudia Schmidt (Betty & Oswald). 

 

Upon first listen to ‘For a Friend’, you could be forgiven for not being able to imagine Orphan’s weapons of choice: a Casio keyboard, a drum machine, and a blood-spattered 1966 Fender Mustang. But Orphan’s anomalous brand of fuzz pop has been sculpted precisely from what is unexpected, much like the artist beneath–a raucous anti-hero who wears their heart on their sleeve. 

 

Lyrically, ‘For a Friend’ is the tip of an iceberg, the first slicing of wings through a restless cocoon from within which Orphan has spent much of their life learning to grow. It’s an opening of palms towards adulthood and a making sense of the past, as we grow into the grooves it leaves. For Orphan, this debut drapes a sunny glaze over what was and smiles curtly towards what will be. And for the rest of us? Orphan’s ‘For a Friend’ is a teaser. A curtain-opener. A call-to-attention.

 

Orphan’s still-untitled EP, currently in utero, is set for release May 2023.

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About the track:

‘For a Friend’ is a celebration of people, places and things that come and go, and how our experiences stay with us forever.