Auckland-based, Manchester-born, musician/band Jack Bromwich released his debut alt rock EP in October 2025. Exploring the period of transition into adulthood and the skins we shed as young people, ‘Poser, Freak’ evokes sincere emotion through captivating guitar chords, vivid lyricism and diligent dynamics. The chrome blue/yellow artwork is well matched, the child figure planted amongst farm animals painting an apt reflective and enigmatic picture.

Opener Bird pulls you in with intimate, wispy vocals and gentle guitar plucking – only to be cast into a waterfall of creamy guitar tones at the halfway point. An ethereal, brass outro evokes a psychedelic folk feel, much like Bon Iver’s Flume. 

Screeching by nature isn’t pleasant, however the screeching guitars that pepper the background of Poser, Freak beg to differ, cocooning the potent outro, while the buzzing intro adds a charming, minimalist, bedroom production feel. Dynamics are consistently underrated, and this is a terrific example of how a loud chorus complements a soft verse, elevating the tune entirely. It’s a recurring theme across the six tracks.

Never Dreamed centres the EP with gripping, ardent, wavey, mid-west emo chords. The most radio-polished of the tracks, it was an obvious choice for first single. The song’s low budget backyard music video is just as charming, shot on a dated camcorder, giving it a real ‘90s vibe. Multi-instrumentalist Bromwich moodily strums his lipstick Telecaster alongside various unassuming bandmates/producers. The palm trees and afternoon sunshine setting are entertainingly hypocritical to the song’s temper. 

The intermittent nursery rhyme jingle on Be Her Friend is lighthearted and fun. This somber, contrastingly soft number depicts a lucid female protagonist, while Dust, the EP’s second single, makes a teenage plea to be noticed. 

Interludes of bright keys on He Waits Alone, sound like they might have been plucked straight from your nan’s dusty idle sitting room piano. Paired with emotional, dark, shouting vocals they brilliantly haunt the atmosphere of this droney, extended post-punk closing track. 

Band drummer Alex Beattie had a major hand in the songwriting on this EP, mostly produced by his bass player Roman Benson, in various studios across Tāmaki Makaurau including Bromwich’s living room. There’s a crafted, noteworthy DIY grittiness to ‘Poser, Freak’, giving it wide access across listening audiences.