Brief
iOTA returns with contemplative album Hours Disappear and new tour
The Pinjarra‑born artist explains his new creative direction and how he tackles procrastination.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Australian singer‑songwriter and actor iOTA announced the release of his seventh studio album, Hours Disappear, and a supporting tour, saying the record marks a move toward acoustic, contemplative songwriting after a decade‑long focus on theatrical performance.
What happened
The album, released on 10 October 2026, revisits material from iOTA’s 1999 debut The Hip Bone Connection while adding new songs that explore the passage of time and personal productivity. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, iOTA described the record as a “neat way of addressing how much life has happened while reminding him to get cracking on what’s left.” He also confirmed a forthcoming tour that will feature the new material alongside stripped‑back versions of older tracks.
What the reports add
The interview revealed iOTA’s personal struggle with procrastination, which he attributes to fear of the unknown and over‑thinking decisions. He said, “You can overthink it so much that you don’t end up doing anything. All you have to do is make a decision. Flip a coin and away you go. You’ll be OK.” The piece also notes his habit of collecting vintage music posters on eBay and his recent curiosity about whether dinosaurs had feathers.
What was said
iOTA told the outlet, “In the next 20 years, there’s going to be a lot of music.” He identified his greatest fear as a loss of freedom, adding, “If you spend any time on social media, you can see those walls close in… it just makes you think, ‘What else is influencing me?’” The interview quoted a line that stayed with him: “Your life is your life. Know it while you have it. You are marvellous, and the gods wait to delight in you,” taken from Charles Bukowski’s poem “The Laughing Heart.”
How it came about
iOTA, raised in Pinjarra, Western Australia, first gained attention playing roles such as Hedwig and Dr Frank‑N‑Furter, and performing as the flame‑throwing guitarist in the film Mad Max: Fury Road. After a ten‑year gap since his last album, he says the shift toward acoustic arrangements reflects a desire to confront his procrastination habit and to focus on lyrical depth rather than theatrical spectacle.
Key facts
- iOTA released his seventh album Hours Disappear on 10 October 2026. (smh.com.au)
- The album revisits songs from his 1999 debut The Hip Bone Connection and adds new material. (smh.com.au)
- iOTA described his greatest fear as a loss of freedom and linked it to social‑media overload. (smh.com.au)
- He plans a tour featuring acoustic versions of older tracks and new songs from Hours Disappear. (smh.com.au)
- A line from Charles Bukowski’s poem The Laughing Heart is quoted as a lasting influence for iOTA. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “iOTA’s tour and new album, Hours Disappear: How this musician learnt to let go of drama”
