Coconut Shy have often worked best in the space between reflection and release, but ‘Small Steps (Paces)’ shifts that balance decisively towards hope. The Melbourne four-piece use this new single to turn inward without becoming sombre, building a song around patience, self-belief and the value of moving forward even when progress feels almost invisible.
Frontman Joseph Mackey has already spoken about much of the band’s earlier material coming from loneliness and heartbreak, and ‘Small Steps (Paces)’ feels like a conscious attempt to write from somewhere more generous. But the optimism never becomes overly polished, as the song acknowledges uncertainty while arguing that momentum is often built through small, repeated choices rather than one dramatic breakthrough.
Musically, Coconut Shy lean into the more expansive side of their indie-folk sound. Warm guitars and melodic textures give the verses an easy intimacy, while the chorus opens up with the kind of broad, singalong quality that suits the band’s move from solo project to full group.
‘Small Steps (Paces)’ wants to be encouraging, but it never feels as though it’s shouting its message at us. Mackey’s delivery keeps the track grounded, giving the larger hooks a more personal foundation throughout.
Following their comeback offering ‘Mayfield Blush’, this single also shows Coconut Shy broadening the emotional range of the material leading into their debut album. Where that earlier track leaned more heavily into reflection, this one feels more interested in possibility.
Recorded by Simon Paparo at Four Doors Studios, ‘Small Steps (Paces)’ is a clear and confident step forward. Warm, melodic and quietly uplifting, it finds Coconut Shy embracing a brighter outlook without losing the thoughtful songwriting that has defined the project so far.
