Brenda - Bath Time (2025) Hi-Res

Brenda (Hudson Whitlock of Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, The Pro-Teens, The Cactus Channel) presents new album ‘Bath Time’, a suite of heartbreaking, cinematic indie-soul ballads from the hotbed of Melbourne, Australia.

Brenda encompasses left-field soul sensibilities, for which Whitlock has come to be recognized, alongside heartfelt, introspective lyricism delivered in a sincere, delicate falsetto. Stylistically, lines can be drawn to the 1960s sweet soul ballads of The Delfonics, Jean-Claude Vannier’s vivid arrangements for Serge Gainsbourg, and the unmistakable flavour of Melbourne’s cinematic soul movement à la other Whitlock exploits Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo.

‘Bath Time’ contains ten entrancingly melancholic ballads that earnestly express Whitlock’s dramatic indie-soul sensibilities; encompassing the classically introspective nature of the poetic lyricist and the idiosyncratic use of soulful instrumental arrangements.

True to his modest vagabond nature, Whitlock has ‘released’ six Brenda albums to date, each uploaded exclusively to bandcamp, gladly resigning the music to the underground. ‘Bath Time’ sees Whitlock relinquish the isolationism of previous works in favour of including his trusted inner circle of friends and collaborators: Surprise Chef’s Lachlan Stuckey and Jethro Curtin on guitar and keyboard respectively, Karate Boogaloo’s Darvid Thor on bass, and production from Henry Jenkins (Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, Frollen Music Library).

Bath Time is out now on College Of Knowledge Records, Melbourne-based DIY imprint operated by Surprise Chef’s Lachlan Stuckey and Jethro Curtin.