current obsessions ~ vol. 3
tender tunes & a major mortadella moment
listen
Will Edgar ~ First Songs EP featuring the track City Boy
This past week brought us First Songs, a striking debut EP from Melbourne-based artist Will Edgar. Known for his visual storytelling in Vogue Australia and Rolling Stone, Edgar now turns to music, revealing a poignant voice that extends his artistry from images to sound. At the heart of the EP is City Boy, an introspective track capturing Edgar’s experience growing up gay on Australia’s east coast—both deeply personal and resonant in its quiet homage to small-town expectations.
City Boy reflects Edgar’s Wollongong roots, capturing the weight of societal pressures that can stifle personal expression. Everything’s the same here, nothing really changes, he reflects.
Edgar channels this tension into music by building on the themes of his Beach Boys photo series. Lines like, In the morning you asked me if I could be quiet / It’s a small town, people talk, you were frightened, reveal the challenges of small-town life. Edgar’s restrained delivery, paired with Romaeo’s minimalist, effect-free production, contrasts with the song’s themes. While City Boy speaks to concealment, the stripped-back vocals feel raw and exposed, as though we as listeners are being confided in.
With a soundscape as unembellished as the lyrics, City Boy underscores Edgar’s vulnerability. I guess freedom really does have a price / But I paid it years ago, he reflects, capturing the bittersweet cost of leaving small-town roots for authenticity. This narrative resonates with anyone navigating queer identity in a world where belonging often means balancing self-acceptance and invisibility.
With City Boy, Edgar bares his most tender self—unflinchingly honest yet warm and understanding. The track’s simplicity amplifies his longing for acceptance without compromise, offering a poignant meditation on identity, belonging, and the courage it takes to live openly.
If you’re in Naarm on November 29, don’t miss Will’s live show in Thornbury.
eat
My Favourite Sandwich (This Month)
It all started when I accidentally bought way too much mortadella from Piedemontes. I’m talking half a kilo. Don’t ask me how—it just happened. Destiny, I guess. So I decided to create a sandwich inspired by the vibes of Stefanino Panino. The fact that they moved suburbs is a devastation I may never recover from.
I picked up a loaf of fresh-baked Turkish bread from Wild Life bakery, toasted it lightly with extra virgin olive oil, and drizzled on some Kewpie mayo before prepping my fillings.
A layer of rocket for that peppery green kick. About five layers of paper-thin Bertocchi olive mortadella slices. Bellissima. A few marinated artichokes for juicy, tangy flavour. Bocconcini for creamy, bite-sized mozzarella goodness. A couple of mild pickled peppers—torn by hand because I was too lazy to use a knife. Did one pepper explode in the process, squirting spicy juice onto my face and the ceiling? Why yes, it did. Slay.
I made and ate this exact sandwich three days in a row. Need I say more? Okay, maybe just that—as you’ll see in these photos—I apparently never eat sandwiches off a plate because of who I am as a person. Judge me! I dare you! BYE!
