Created in partnership with Mentos 

Clay Western might call himself a “country bumpkin”, but his music reaches well beyond his small-town roots.

Growing up in Denmark on Western Australia’s southern coast before eventually making the move to Sydney, Western has developed a lo-fi indie sound shaped by both worlds. And while he may still be building his name, but he’s already clocked up some notable experience, including a collaboration with San Cisco, a national tour with Don West, and a close creative partnership with producer Nathan Hawes, whose credits include West, Lazywax, and Kesmar.

That relationship has helped him continue refining a sound he describes simply as “nostalgic, effortless and swag” – one that draws as readily from classic songwriting as it does contemporary indie and psychedelia.

With a growing run of singles behind him, his attention is now turning towards something bigger.

The Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26, curated by Rolling Stone AU/NZ, has officially been unveiled — and now we’re turning the spotlight to even more artists making serious noise. As part of our Up-And-Coming Australian Artists series, we caught up with Western to chat about his evolving sound, why Australian music needs more bands, and his plans to turn 18 months of groundwork into a larger body of work.

Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Where are you from?

Clay Western: I am from a small town in Western Australia called Denmark, but currently live in Sydney.

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Describe your ‘Fresh Sound’ in three words.

Nostalgic, effotless and swag.

Name three of your biggest musical influences.

It’s always changing but probably Eagles, Tame Impala and Djo at the moment.

Tell us about your latest release.

The last song we released was an alternate version of a song we released last year called “i don’t like it that you’re leaving”. It’s a pretty introspective track that reflects on fleeting love and quiet longing, but I wanted to find a way to make it a bit more fun and hopeful than ‘sad boy’.

We originally recorded two versions. There was a version of the song I recorded with Kesmar and then the demo we recorded the day we wrote it with Charlie Hole and Harry O’Brien (Pacific Avenue). At the time I felt that the demo captured the emotion better so we released that, but there was something that kept me coming back to the version I recorded with Kes.

I have this belief that a recording of a song is only a snapshot of what the song is at that given time and it inevitably continues to evolve. I’m glad we put both versions out. For me it’s the essence of what being an artist is. The job’s never done.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?

Probably Paul McCartney. From The Beatles to Wings, as a songwriter, he’s my G.O.A.T.

What’s your dream venue to play?

I’d love to play at the Sydney Opera House. I feel like it doesn’t get more iconic than that.

What one thing do you think the Australian music industry needs right now and why?

I’m gonna piss some people off here but we need less DJs. I love electronic music and going to raves, but I personally find it way more exciting watching a band with 4-5 people on stage than one person DJing behind the decks. As a whole, I don’t think we’re appreciating live music and bands enough. Hot take.

What’s coming up for you in 2026 and beyond?

I’m diving into a lot of writing at the moment. We’ve put out a bunch of singles and done a lot of groundwork for the project over the last 18 months and I think it’s time for me to lock into a body of work. Whether that turns into a full record or an EP I’m not too sure yet. I guess we’ll find out.

I also love the other side of releasing music, taking photos and creating concepts for videos with my homies, so I’m super excited to see how we build the visual world around the record too. I’ve always got a lot of ideas but I’m also a perfectionist, so the process can be slow haha. Then touring the record I guess. Playing live is my favourite thing.

A Rolling Stone AU/NZ-backed music launchpad, the inaugural Mentos Fresh Sounds Class of ’26 was created to support the next generation of talent. Head to the Mentos Fresh Sounds Hub to learn more about our official Class of ’26.