Introducing: Split the Ticket

After a short hiatus, Newcastle’s rising indie rock outfit Split the Ticket are crashing back onto the scene with the momentum of a sold-out comeback show and a brand new EP that marks a bold sonic shift. ‘Cornerstone’—out April 11th—cements their evolution from wide-eyed newcomers to a band carving out a distinct voice, blending dreamy shoegaze textures with post-punk grit and raw emotional weight.

Having already made waves with their debut EP and a string of packed-out local gigs, the band’s latest work signals both a musical and personal growth spurt. Anchored in the angst and acceptance of a failed relationship, Cornerstone is a four-track journey through frustration, heartbreak, and the weird limbo of early adulthood—all set to reverb-heavy guitars and anthemic choruses.

We caught up with Split the Ticket to talk evolution, influences, and how it feels to be laying the foundation for what could be their biggest year yet.

Your journey started as ‘Colossal Squid’ when you were just kids jamming at school. How has your dynamic as a band evolved over the years, especially with the addition of Jaia?

I think we’ve become a lot more driven and channeled our childhood hopes into real effort. With Finn joining, it added a real energy because both Lachlan and I find him hilarious, so practice became much more enjoyable. With Jaia joining now, we have had to go back to focusing on getting tight again, because obviously it’s much easier to get a three-piece tight than a four-piece. This means spending more time with each other and rehearsing more intensely, but that hasn’t caused us any issues so far! We all get on really well and I’d say the band dynamic has always been positive at all stages. 

You’ve shifted from surf-rock influences to a heavier, post-punk and shoegaze-infused indie-rock sound. What sparked that transition, and how does it shape your music today?

At the start of last year, modern surfy indie was the most easily accessible music for us as Royel Otis were so popular off the back of their February album. This ,combined with the move into summer, encouraged us to embrace this bright, happy sound. The transition away from this was always waiting to happen I think. We revisited old songs and noticed that we were getting heavier. One studio session really opened our eyes to the crossroads which we were at, as we recorded ‘Losing It’ one of our heaviest tunes to date, while in the same session we recorded ‘See Your Face’ a funky, surfy pop song. This made us realise we had to pick a direction, and we went with ‘Losing It’, which is part of our Cornerstone EP coming out on the 11th April. In terms of how our influences shape our music, I would say we are a very malleable band but, when we’re writing, we always have it in the back of our minds that we want to achieve a broad sound, similar to our main inspirations and influences.

Your self-booked headline gig at The Grove was a huge moment for the band. What was it like hearing a crowd sing your songs back to you, and how has that motivated you moving forward?

It was such a thrilling feeling to hear so many people singing our songs back to us. It sounds so cliche, but to have people you’ve never seen before belting songs out that you wrote in your bedroom is so wild. The Grove gig was at a weird time for the band, as Lachlan and I were preparing to move away for university, so we were unsure about the future of the band, but this gig totally made our minds up for us. Even gathering a crowd that big, let alone hearing them sing our songs, was enough for us to decide we had to continue the band.

Your upcoming EP ‘Cornerstone’ drops in April—what can fans expect from this record, and how does it differ from your debut EP?

With this record, there should be a clear sound and direction while leaving  room for progression. We have largely abandoned the feel-good surf-indie vibe of our debut EP and gone down a heavier and more atmospheric route, especially with tracks like ‘Losing It’ and ‘Let Me In’ which drive the EP’s force. The title ‘Cornerstone’ represents this record’s place as the foundation of our sound moving forward, and as a turning point from our past sound and past passive approach to the band. It represents the start of a new chapter for us.

2025 has already been a busy year with gigs in Leeds, Edinburgh, and Newcastle. Where do you see Split the Ticket heading next, and what’s your dream gig or festival to play?

We would love to play some gigs in Manchester and London by the end of this year, as it seems there is a brilliant underground scene going on in each of those cities with bands like Westside Cowboy, Keo, Tooth, Ain’t, and so on. But next, we have Leeds and Newcastle gigs booked in, including our EP launch gig on the 13th April at The Cluny 2. 

Our dream gig at the moment is The Moth Club in London. We’ve watched so many videos of great bands playing there like Gurriers, Wunderhorse, BDRMM, and Dead Pretties. Playing in London is our next big goal as a band.