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In a world desperate for a moment to do nothing but catch a groove, Ernie Garland Jr is here slinging for the soul of Sydney. During Australia's second pandemic lockdown, Garland relocated from his spot on the hill above the world-class surf breaks and typically vibrant culture of Bondi Beach to his family home in the suburbs, replete with a granny flat containing nothing but a bed, a piano, and Garland’s small studio setup. The timing was fortuitous, and the result represents the discipline and focus of Garland's self-imposed solitude. For the massive beat building on Dealin’ Out The Healin’, Garland turned to his Onehunga, New Zealand-based friend Kakhand as his primary source. The other producer Garland brought on board is Darren Seltmann, co-founder of the globally recognized Australian electronic act The Avalanches. In addition to Seltmann, Simon Kay of New Zealand-based dub reggae band Salmonella Dub, and Spain’s Joan Reggae Drummer, known for his collaborations with Eli Paperboy Reed, make appearances on Dealin’ Out The Healin’. Some additional influences that significantly contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the Ernie Garland Jr. sound include soul singer Georgia Ann Muldrow, the late jazz pianist Horace Silver, and iconic yet iconoclastic hip-hop legends OutKast. Garland adds that he has seen Steely Dan live every time they have visited Australia. Sure, it's only been twice, but it only took once to matter. “Steely Dan has been in my life since I was a child,” Garland shares. The reasoning behind the lyrics of the single “Baby Mama Drama (Obama)” is so simple, it feels silly to have contemplated otherwise. Garland just liked the rhyme. “I had no idea there was even speculation about their marriage when I wrote it,” he says, referring to an oft-repeated conspiracy theory that Garland is lucky to have not been privy to until after he composed the song. He is smart to use it to his advantage now that he is. The song features a vamp on its outro that must be heard. “It’s a thing of beauty,” Garland enthuses about singer Arica Jackson’s contribution to the track. Garland booked Jackson and fellow singer Terrie Lynne into Brooklyn’s Bunker Studios on a short break from their professional vocal work on Broadway. One look at Garland’s deep bench of jazz, reggae, and hip-hop influences should flesh out his point of view for anyone hesitating to press play at this point: Miles Davis, Action Bronson, MF Doom, John Coltrane, Madlib, Bill Evans, Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Fela Kuti, and Chronixx close the deal. “Baby Mama Drama (Obama)” is the latest single by Sydney, Australia’s Ernie Garland Jr, out Oct. 23, 2025. ### BLURB Ernie Garland Jr – Dealin’ Out The Healin’ Ernie Garland Jr is here slinging for the soul of Sydney. During Australia's pandemic lockdown, Garland relocated from his spot on the hill above the surf breaks and vibrant culture of Bondi Beach to the suburbs, with nothing but a bed, a piano, and small studio setup. Garland brought on Darren Seltmann, co-founder of the globally recognized Australian electronic act The Avalanches, Simon Kay of New Zealand-based dub reggae band Salmonella Dub, and Spain’s Joan Reggae Drummer, known for his collaborations with Eli Paperboy Reed. The reasoning behind the lyrics of the single “Baby Mama Drama (Obama)” is so simple, it feels silly to have contemplated otherwise. Garland just liked the rhyme. “I had no idea there was even speculation about their marriage when I wrote it,” he says, referring to an oft-repeated conspiracy theory that Garland is lucky to have not been privy to until after he composed the song. He is smart to use it to his advantage now that he is. “Baby Mama Drama (Obama)” is the latest single by Sydney, Australia’s Ernie Garland Jr, out Oct. 23, 2025. ### QUOTE Ernie Garland Jr is slinging for the soul of Sydney. During Australia's pandemic lockdown, Garland relocated from his spot above the surf and culture of Bondi Beach to the suburbs, with nothing but a bed, a piano, and small studio setup. Garland brought on Darren Seltmann, co- founder of the globally recognized Australian electronic act The Avalanches, Simon Kay of New Zealand-based dub reggae band Salmonella Dub, and Spain’s Joan Reggae Drummer, known for his collaborations with Eli Paperboy Reed.