UNCLE STRUT

Written By Siena Robb

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Uncle Strut are spreading their influence across the world one release at a time. Uncle Strut consists of members Tyson McNamara (vocals/guitar), Simon Tejani (bass/vocals), Quincy Flowers (drums/vocals) and Jasper Matthias (lead guitar). We had a chat with bassist Simon Tejani from the surf-rock four piece on their latest single release “August”, recent album release Home At Last and their future endeavours.

Uncle Strut land somewhere between the golden hour warmth of Ocean Alley, the groove-heavy charisma of Lime Cordiale and the emotional storytelling of Spacey Jane; yet with a distinct sound that stands completely on it’s own.

We asked Tejani “When you think about the core of Uncle Strut’s sound, what elements or influences feel most central to who you are as a band?”

“When we think about the core of Uncle Strut’s sound, it really comes from a mix of pretty diverse influences. If we made a big four way Venn diagram of our individual tastes, there’d be way more on the outside than the inside. But in that middle overlap, you’d find a whole lot of Aussie surf bands. There’s something in the water over there, they just keep cranking out the most inspiring music, and that’s the stuff we all connect on the most. That said, having such different influences individually has actually become a huge strength for us! You can hear it in our lyrics and in the melodic choices we make. Drawing from a broad range of styles lets us write songs from a bunch of different angles, and that’s something we’re really proud of!”

Their latest single “August” feels both quietly reflective with a subtle ache and wistful with a mellow, tender understated tone. Almost like the sound of looking back while sprinting forward. We asked them what headspace they were in when writing it and what moment or memory anchors “August” emotionally for them.

Tejani expressed “I think at its core, “August” is about realising you’re in a really special moment in your life, and actually having the presence to feel it while it’s happening. For me, the moment that anchors the song goes back to a date I took my girlfriend on early in our relationship. We drove out to Jericho Beach in Vancouver - if you walk all the way to the end, you get this incredible view with the city behind you and the sunset right in front. I remember sitting there with her and getting that feeling you have when you first start seeing someone and it hits you that you’re falling in love. A lot has changed for us as a band since then, and I don’t get to spend as much time with her now as I did back then. So there’s definitely nostalgia in the song for me, but I don’t think of it as a song about the past. It’s more about appreciating simplicity and being present - holding onto that awareness that you’re living through something meaningful, even as everything around you keeps moving forward.”

When you were shaping “August” in the studio, what were the biggest creative decisions that defined the final version?

““August” is a really simple song by nature. It is one of the only songs we have made where the original demo and the final version feel really similar. Usually our songs go on a bit of a journey and the end point can end up miles from the initial idea, which is a process you have to embrace when you are creating with other people. For this one, I think choosing to keep it more acoustic and leaving a lot of space around the song was the creative decision that shaped it the most.”

With Home At Last out and your latest single August following after, how do you see the two releases talking to each other creatively?

“Home At Last is really special to us because it represents so many firsts, most importantly, it was the first music we made with our new guitarist, Jasper, and the first time we worked with our manager/producer, Kultar. Even though August sounds quite different, the way the two releases connect creatively is in how we learned to be creative together. Those early sessions taught us how to bring the best out of each other in the writing and recording process. We’re always evolving, but as long as we’re doing this together and having fun, the older songs will always inform whatever comes next. That foundation we built during “Home At Last” is a big part of what made August possible.”

Thematically, Home At Last feels like it could be a record about belonging, transition, or even identity. What were the anchor themes guiding the writing process for this project?

“You nailed it! We were writing Home At Last in the wake of some pretty dramatic changes, both individually and as a band. The album represents new beginnings, gratitude, and friendship. It was a time when it just felt so good to be making music again with the people we love. As we moved through the process of creating the record, we realised that the feeling of being Home at last was something much bigger than the album itself. It became a reflection of what the band is about at its core, and it captures so much of what we want people to feel when they listen to our music and become part of our community. We want everyone to feel comfortable, safe, and empowered to be themselves.”

The title track Home At Last works like the album’s thesis statement. It’s grounded, warm, and emotionally expansive and acts as a declaration of relief, arrival, and self recognition. There’s something soulful in the way the vocals sit slightly forward in the mix, like the vocals are telling you a story from the passenger seat of a long drive. The guitar tone has a gentle softness that gives the track texture without stealing its tenderness, and the drums are patient, letting the song unfold in its own time. Lyrically, it’s a song about release about finally exhaling after months or years of holding your breath. The feeling of finding your way back to yourself is captured perfectly here.Home At Last feels like a coming-of-age record for a band already deep into their artistic identity. The production is warm and analog-coded, the arrangements thoughtful, and the songwriting honest, down-to-earth, soulful and damn good.

Uncle Strut are finishing off their year by touring with their friends in Hotel Mira, playing some dream venues with their second album expected to land in 2026, with plenty of shows in the books!

“At the end of the day, we hope that this project makes people walk away feeling good. If a song makes someone feel closer to the people around them, or to themselves, then that's all we could ever ask for.”