The Phosphenes Return With Double Single ‘Hourglass’ / ‘Better That Way’ as They Navigate Growing Up

Brisbane alt-rock trio The Phosphenes are back with a new double single, Hourglass / Better That Way.

After a huge year of shows — including their first run of interstate gigs in New South Wales and support slots with Bodyjar and Jebediah — the band are keeping the momentum going with their second release of the year.

Across the two tracks, The Phosphenes tap into that strange in-between stage where everything feels like it’s moving too fast, but letting go can also feel like the right thing to do. Hourglass leans into the chaos and pressure of time slipping away, while Better That Way lands in a more reflective space, embracing change and what comes after it.

Together, the songs feel like a real-time snapshot of a band growing up, capturing The Phosphenes as they move from their teenage years into something new.

Hourglass 

Navigating the space between high school and the ‘real’ world is always a challenge and Hourglass is an expression of this time in everyone’s life as viewed by the band.

There’s a strong theme of growing up and changing while trying to maintain something that may no longer fit. 

It’s also about the way relationships change during this time. A sense of ‘We used to be close. We’ve both changed. I still care about you, but we’re driving each other crazy, and I don’t know whether we’re trying to save this relationship or deliberately wreck it.’

Better That Way

Better That Way is a sharp, nostalgic snapshot of teenage life – the awkwardness of school, messy relationships, jealousy, social pressure and the constant need to fit in. 

Moving between humour and darker moments, it describes a generation caught up in appearances, parties, photos and short-lived romances, while also questioning what any of it means in the long run. At its heart, the song is about growing up and realising that the dramas that feel enormous when you’re young eventually fade away. 

“One day we’ll all be the same” becomes both a comforting thought and a slightly bleak reminder that, despite everything we go through trying to stand out, none of us gets to stay young forever.