Songs Born From the Dark, Reaching for the Stars

Reetoxa’s Double A Side 2 (Akaroa / Erica And The Stars) is a deeply personal release that transforms extraordinary life experiences into two emotionally charged pieces of songwriting. Released on 10 September 2026, the EP finds Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Jason Mckee drawing directly from moments of grief, adversity, loss and recovery. “Akaroa” carries an almost dreamlike quality, originating from a vivid dream Mckee experienced during a difficult period of his life and later completed after unexpectedly arriving in Akaroa, New Zealand. The story behind the song gives its coastal setting an added emotional weight, while the music itself feels like an attempt to reconnect with something lost. Rather than simply recounting painful experiences, Reetoxa turns them into something reflective, intimate and ultimately hopeful.

“Erica And The Stars” takes the release into even more expansive territory. Written during another extremely difficult chapter, the song became a form of creative escape and eventually grew into an ambitious orchestral production. The Budapest Orchestra brings considerable scale to Mckee’s vision, while musicians including James Ryan of Men at Work, Peter Martin of Jet, Kit Riley and Terry HarT contribute to a recording shaped by accomplished players. Simon Moro’s involvement in production, mixing and mastering, alongside Luke Crouch’s engineering, further strengthens the project. What stands out is the contrast between the vulnerability of the stories and the richness of the musical arrangements. The songs never feel detached from their emotional origins; instead, the musicianship gives those experiences a wider, cinematic space in which to unfold.

Together, the two tracks form a striking portrait of survival and artistic expression. Reetoxa does not shy away from the darkness behind these songs, but neither does the EP remain trapped there. Akaroa carries grief, memory and mystery, while Erica And The Stars reaches toward something larger, using orchestral grandeur to represent imagination, escape and renewal. Mckee’s journey from profoundly difficult circumstances to creating music with such an extensive team of musicians gives this release an unmistakable sense of purpose. Double A Side 2 ultimately feels less like a collection of songs and more like two chapters of a personal story transformed into sound—raw in origin, ambitious in execution and deeply human at its heart.