Melbourne singer-songwriter Angus Legg has a knack for turning personal upheaval into something profoundly resonant. After late last year’s release of ‘May All Your Friends Be Artists’—a track that saw triple j presenters comparing its emotional weight to a “tonne of bricks”—Legg returns with his latest offering, ‘12th of May’.
The single serves as the next chapter of his forthcoming EP, ‘A Long Time Gone’. It is a song rooted in the friction of transition, written during those final months in Australia before Legg relocated to London. It was a period defined by a cruel paradox: the intoxicating bloom of a new romance set against the ticking clock of an international departure.
“12th of May is the day I left to live in London,” Legg says. “I left someone behind I wasn’t sure geography or timing would permit reconnection with. It’s an acceptance of the above and a celebration of a wonderful experience of romantic human connection - my favourite to date. In totality, ‘12th of May’ is for my now partner Claire. Spoilers, things worked out.”
Musically, the track is a rich, cinematic tapestry. By weaving together mandolins, fretless guitars, and sweeping violins, Legg creates a soundscape that feels both expansive and intimate. The recording process itself mirrors the song’s themes; tracking began in London with producer Jim Alxndr and was eventually finished back in Melbourne. This return to the city he once fled provides a literal full-circle moment, grounding the track’s airy uncertainty with a sense of arrival.
Legg’s songwriting has always been shaped by a willingness to sit with the uncomfortable. Having grown up in a musical family, his trajectory was forever altered by the passing of his father in 2014. That loss instilled a depth in his craft that transcends standard indie-folk tropes. On ‘12th of May’, he leans into his Celtic heritage, using traditional melodic structures to anchor a very modern story of long-distance longing.
“I had no idea when I was writing it that it would be part of this body of work,” Legg admits. “‘12th of May’ is a question mark, a sad wondering about an unfinished connection, a prematurely doused flame, and ultimately a love letter reminiscent of a joyful few months cherished.”
‘12th of May’ is available now on all major streaming platforms. To stay updated on the release of his debut EP, ‘A Long Time Gone’, be sure to follow Angus Legg on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
