Let me introduce you to the world of Ratfink! Made up of Liv and Raph, they are high school friends now turned music duo living in Melbourne and creating music together, turning everyday experiences into thought-provoking melodies. Their songs are impossible to ignore, as they touch everything from identity and environmental distress to love and grief. Their ability to effortlessly transition between dream-pop contemplation, R&B smoothness, and rock ‘n’ roll roughness makes every song they write sound personal and empathetic.
Their album, “When You Were Mine,” released in October 2025, is a masterwork of emotional honesty and sonic clarity that seamlessly blends a range of experiences, concerns, and insights.
The album begins with “Won’t Wait Forever,” an impassioned anthem that exudes power. The repeated lines, “I won’t wait forever / can’t wait forever for you,” establish a theme of self-preservation and an unwillingness to squander energy. Vocally, Liv and Raph give an authentic performance that alternates between obvious disapproval and anger. The song’s restless energy is enhanced by tight drumming and lean, snappy guitars, making a strong opening statement.
In “About Ya,” Ratfink! embraces a more intimate tone by gently discussing witnessing someone suffer while maintaining a brave front: “You seem okay. but never well. just don’t read the papers.” Like a late-night confession, the vocals have an intimate quality. The chorus, “this song is about you,” hits with pure emotional honesty because of the worn mood created by the subtle guitar and soft percussion.
The album’s third track, “Stevie,” explores thoughts of being stuck, trying to get away, and disappointment in a heartbreaking roadside confession. The repeated pleas, “Stevie, are you done. Stevie, don’t run. Stevie, don’t shoot,” adds to the song’s immediate urgency. The vocals sound worn and pained, increasing the song’s emotional depth. The track’s restless imagery is reflected in its gritty guitars and aged rhythm section, while the weary line “how sweet it is” delivers a sour perspective.
In “Plastic Bits,” Ratfink! highlights human disconnection and environmental degradation. Lines like “these bikes and bodies and plastic bits. Gonna have to rain forever to hide all this” combined wit with despair. A haunting contrast between urban turmoil and natural durability is created by the distant, slightly sardonic lyrics, jagged guitar riffs, and flowing, looping rhythms. The production has a strong emphasis on roughness and clarity, displaying powerful images and industrial sounds.
In “Euphoria,” the duo enjoys lighthearted reflection. The conflict between carefree delight and self-sabotage is expressed in lines like “I’m feelin freewheelin’. Still gonna mess this up somehow,” with the chant-like “what are ya doin’? “Oh no,” grounding the thrill in vulnerability. Above shimmering synthesizers and steady percussion, breezy, self-assured vocals soar, mixing lightness with subtle undercurrents of worry to make fleeting delight seem entirely genuine.
Defiance and cynicism are the main themes of “Keep Ya Dreams.” Lines like “You see the worst in everything,” “if you were a bed, you would not sing” connect with “you’ve got a right to be jaded, so let the world burn.” The vocals convey tenderness and mockery with support from the percussion and gritty, guitar-driven riffs. The chorus, “Would you understand? Are ya worth the trouble?” continues, displaying the duo’s ability to combine with reflection.
“Gay Song,” a direct exploration of identity and social pressure, strikes hard. Lines like “girl, shave your pits. quit wearing shorts that don’t fit” expresses tenderness and reproach. Lo-fi punk sounds, rough guitars, snappy drums, and simple bass lines highlight urgency and authenticity, counterbalancing vulnerable moments like “woke up feelin a lil crazy. Been dreamin’ bout some validation.”
“Here Be Heroes,” a thoughtful song on the album, explores existential issues by posing the question, “Are you the lighthouse or the ship?” A mind on the brink of revelation is reflected in the voices, which alternate between impassioned and distant. The music is propelled forward by pulsating synthesizers and jagged guitars, while emotional suspense is added by wide production and muted percussion. Contrasts are key to the piece’s success: careless but accurate, intimate yet expansive.
Moving on, “Marigolds” blends contemplation with fantastical imagery: “I never thought there’d be days on earth. I was breaking into heaven with you.” A large, cinematic atmosphere is created by gleaming guitars, ethereal synthesizers, and controlled rhythms, while the vocals alternate between thoughtful whispers and peaks of excitement. The conflict between beauty and deterioration—” where the black marigolds survive” leaves a deep emotional impression.
In “Zoe (u got dis),” heartbreak and restless youth meet. From “Did you rate your twenties being broke? Spewin’ garbage and feelin’ low” to the urgent, pleading “sweating on having you here, ” the vocals are strong and intimate. The chorus, “zoe, zoe, zoe,” strikes with raw, nostalgic strength, as jagged guitars and pounding percussion reflect the lyrical feelings.
“When You Were Mine,” the album’s title track, is a powerful meditation on love, grief, and desire. Desperate outbursts like “my brain done burst” combine with lines like “said we’d age together… said hold me forever.” “I swear my heart didn’t work” communicates inner turmoil in a unique, if tense, way. While the production emphasizes vast spaces, echoes, and minor distortions, sparse sounds develop into dramatic waves that are symbolic of city gates and seaside breezes. The end product is a grand, personal homage to loss, remembrance, and enduring love.
Overall, with intense and lived-in vocals, “When You Were Mine” proves Ratfink!’s ability to transform intimate tales into a lively musical environment. The emotional core is consistently supported by the instrumentation, which varies from raw roughness to dreamy expansiveness. In the DIY pop movement, the album stands out for its mix of rough and polished, delicate and aggressive, and light and dark. Ratfink! invites us to share our experiences as well as hear them.
Listen to the “When You Were Mine” album on Spotify
Follow Ratfink! here for more information
