The Melbourne soul-funk institution brings Kylie Auldist’s son back into the Bamboos fold for a song about confronting fear, change and personal uncertainty.
by Paul Cashmere
The Bamboos have released “On & On”, the third single from their forthcoming album Sugar On Top, with Reginald AK taking the lead vocal on a song that turns a familiar family connection into one of the album’s more personal moments.
For Reginald AK, the connection is considerably deeper than simply being a guest vocalist. He is the son of The Bamboos’ longtime singer Kylie Auldist, and has already appeared on the band’s 2023 album This Is How You Do It. “On & On” marks his return to the Bamboos for their 12th studio album, due in November.
The new track is built around a rolling bassline and persistent drums from longtime rhythm section members Yuri Pavlinov and Graeme Pogson, with Reginald AK bringing a vocal performance shaped by lyrics about facing difficult circumstances rather than avoiding them.
“The only effective method of quelling the overwhelm felt when facing my shit head on is to write a song about it,” Reginald says of the song. “Everything in life is hard and scary and new and we fear change, but real strength comes from running at it.”
He describes the central idea as confronting whatever is causing anxiety directly, with the recognition that difficult experiences eventually become part of the stories people carry with them.
Reginald AK is also developing his own musical identity outside The Bamboos. He leads Melbourne soul-funk group Steppers as vocalist and drummer, with the group’s self-titled debut released in April 2026. The band draws on soul, funk and R&B while connecting Reginald’s work to a broader Melbourne musical network that includes The Bamboos and Kylie Auldist.
His first significant Bamboos appearance came on This Is How You Do It, where he contributed vocals to two tracks. The band’s own release information identified him as Auldist’s son, making the collaboration an unusually direct continuation of the musical relationship between mother and son.
“On & On” follows “Rockets & Flowers” and “Sugar On Top”, the first two songs released from the new album. The 10-track Sugar On Top also features Rita Satch and Tim Rogers, with Rogers appearing on “Nothing Reminds Me of You”. The complete running order places “On & On” as the sixth track.
The album continues a working relationship that has been central to The Bamboos’ sound for years. Lance Ferguson remains the band’s guitarist, songwriter and leader, while Auldist continues as the principal voice of the group.
Tim Rogers’ appearance also extends a long association. The You Am I singer worked with The Bamboos on “I Got Burned”, one of the band’s best-known songs, before collaborating with Ferguson on the 2015 album The Rules of Attraction. His presence on Sugar On Top therefore connects the new record with one of the group’s most significant collaborative periods.
The Bamboos have also entered this album cycle with an unusual second chapter for their 2006 song “I Don’t Wanna Stop”. The track experienced a major resurgence on social media in late 2025, with the band’s current album campaign noting more than one billion TikTok plays alongside substantial activity on Instagram and YouTube. A 2026 remix by Cosmo’s Midnight has extended that renewed interest.
For the new album, Ferguson and longtime co-producer and engineer John Castle changed the physical setting of the recording process, working from Castle’s studio in Launceston, Tasmania. Castle’s production and engineering credits include work with Alex Lahey, Vance Joy, Angus & Julia Stone, Jack River and Cub Sport.
“On & On” is out October 2 on Pacific Theatre Records. Sugar On Top is scheduled for release on November 6, with the album currently available for pre-order.
Tracklist
Hello Sunshine
Rockets & Flowers
Sugar On Top
Hooked On You (Feat. Rita Satch)
Don’t Come ‘Round My Door
On & On (Feat. Reginald AK)
Showstopper
Pretty Sally
Nothing Reminds Me Of You (Feat. Tim Rogers)
Who Knows
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