Jem Cassar-Daley has shared a new single, entitled ‘Tidal Wave’. It marks her second of 2025, following April’s ‘Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving’, and sees the Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung singer-songwriter co-writing and co-producing with Auckland based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Harry Charles. In a press statement, Cassar-Daley explained that her latest single thematically deals with “a relationship moving faster and more intensely than anticipated”.
“It encompasses the guilty feeling of being the one that’s less emotionally invested, and how confusing and all-consuming that can feel,” she wrote. “As someone is trying to progress things further, you feel as though you’re out of your depth and yearn for things to go back to the way they were.” A lyric video for the single, created by Tas Wilson, has also been shared; watch it below.
Jem Cassar-Daley – ‘Tidal Wave’
The release of ‘Tidal Wave’ comes just days after Cassar-Daley officially received her third-ever National Indigenous Music Award (NIMA) nomination. At the awards’ upcoming ceremony for 2025, ‘Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving’ is up for Song Of The Year alongside 3% (‘Won’t Stop’), the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band (‘Once Upon A Time’), Barkaa (‘Ngmaka’), Emily Wurramara (‘STFAFM’) and The Kid LAROI (‘Girls’). Cassar-Daley won the NIMA for Best New Talent back in 2022, and was nominated in the Album Of The Year category that same year for her debut EP, I Don’t Know Who To Call.
Her father, Troy Cassar-Daley, is also set to perform at this year’s ceremony. “My connection to Larrakia Country has been a long one,” he said. “[After] first visiting over there at 21, I fell in love with the country and its people. I can’t wait to celebrate our mob’s achievements in Garramilla. I have my guitar at the ready and songs to sing, as we celebrate 21 years of the NIMAs together.”
Further Reading
Love Letter To A Record: Jem Cassar-Daley On John Mayer’s ‘Battle Studies’
Bumpy Announces Debut Album ‘Kanana’, Shares Title Track
Watch Barkaa And Miss Kaninna On ABC’s ‘That Blackfella Show’
