Feature: Wave Raiders - Nothing Better
Creating their own brand of Neo-Surf Rock Psychedelia; Wave Raiders reveal their debut 4-track EP 'Nothing Better'.
Fuelled by a love of alternative rock, surf culture, and the last 25 years of Australian guitar music, the trio is forging a genre they call Neo-Surf Rock Psychedelia, loud, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore.
‘Nothing Better’, delivers their most sun-drenched, laid-back anthem yet, a track that captures the feeling of hanging out with your mates, soaking up the beach breeze, and not caring about anything except the moment.
“‘Nothing Better’ is about chilling out on the beach with mates, listening to tunes, and not giving a toss about what anyone else thinks. It’s our idea of a more chilled song, but it still packs a punch and has a touch of rebellion.”
‘Nothing Better’ was written by brothers Peter and Thomas De Waard, with the original riffs and lyrics born in a bedroom when Pete was just 13 years old. The track began to take shape during a trip to Byron Bay for Bluesfest, with the rest of the band on acoustic guitars, makeshift drums, and the sound of waves crashing in the background.
The band took the early sketch to Cameron McGlinchey (The Screaming Jets, Rogue Traders), borrowing their guitar teacher’s backyard studio and even taking a few days off school to work intensively under his mentorship.
“Cam helped us add colour and fine tune the song. He picked ‘Nothing Better’ out of a heap of songs because it was different.” – Wave Raiders
Renowned producer Steve James (Cold Chisel, The Angels, Skunkhour) then joined the boys for pre-production on the Sunshine Coast, before the track was completed at Red Engine Studios in Brisbane during their early-2025 recording sessions.
Initially, Wave Raiders thought the track might be too slow for their high-energy live shows, until they road-tested it mid-set and the audience lit up. "When the crowd started reacting really positively and talking to us about it after the shows, we knew we were onto a good thing.” – Wave Raiders
The Nothing Better EP features four tracks: ‘Fun’, ‘Don’t Wanna Be Late’, ‘My Way’ and the brand-new title track, all of which showcase a band sharpening their identity while fearlessly pushing the boundaries of Australian rock. The first three singles have already generated major momentum, gaining radio airplay, playlist support, and a passionate grassroots following.
As the next generation of rock disruptors, Wave Raiders formed at just 10–12 years old.
Wave Raiders debut EP Nothing Better is available to stream now via ONErpm
