After nearly five years away, indie outfit Shortstraw is officially back. The beloved Johannesburg band announced the release of “Rubber Arm,” the first single and music video from their upcoming EP, Everything In Between, arriving in September.
Alongside the new music, the band also confirmed a run of headline launch shows across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Stellenbosch this September.
As frontman Alastair Thomas explains, the return wasn’t a dramatic reunion, but rather a simple realization among friends: “One day we realised it had been almost five years since we’d released anything and thought we’d better pull our fingers out and do something about it before we woke up in 2030 wondering where the time had gone.”
A New Creative Chapter and the ‘Everything In Between’ EP
What followed was the familiar Shortstraw recipe: half-finished song ideas, countless studio sessions, producer Jacques du Plessis working his magic, and tracks slowly taking shape at High Sea Studios.
Over the years apart, the band members have built businesses, started families, and entered new chapters of adulthood, with those life experiences naturally shaping the music.
Rather than forcing a concept, the songs gravitated towards themes of life, loss, and everything in between, inspiring a grander plan of three EPs titled Life, Death, and Everything In Between.
True to form, the band decided to release the project completely out of order, starting with four tracks that simply sound good and remind them why they started making music together.
Inside the New Shortstraw Single “Rubber Arm”
The philosophy of making music that is simply fun introduces “Rubber Arm,” a track capturing the tension of a relationship under pressure. Musically, “Rubber Arm” ticks every box fans love: infectious guitar hooks, driving rhythms, sharp lyrics, and a heavier shift that explodes into a chant-along finale built for live shows.
As Alastair notes, “It’s got a little bit of everything people associate with Shortstraw. Hooky guitars, snarky lyrics, some heavier moments… and hopefully an ending that’ll get stuck in your head.”
Shortstraw hasn’t abandoned the humor, chaos, and charm that made them one of South Africa’s most-loved indie bands – they’ve simply grown up a little.
As Alastair promises: “Shortstraw isn’t dead. We were just sleeping really deeply. We’re awake now though. Promise.”
Check out the video for “Rubber Arm” below:
“Rubber Arm” is available now on all major digital streaming platforms. You can stream/download it HERE.
This song really takes me back to the good old days (in the 2010s) where I was watching this band live constantly. So many memories, so many stories and so many photos snapped at festivals like Oppikoppi and Park Acoustics. To be honest, Thanks for twisting my “Rubber Arm” Shortstraw, I’m glad you’re back.
Watch this space for updates in the Music Videos category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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