Hachiku "The Joys of Being Pure at Heart"

Melbourne's dream-pop outfit Hachiku return with their second album The Joys of Being Pure at Heart-a heartfelt exploration of vulnerability, resilience, and connection. Featuring contributions from members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and collaborations with harpist Mary Lattimore, the record fuses shimmering indie-pop with orchestral touches, making it Hachiku's most expansive and collaborative work yet.

Anika Ostendorf - the creative force behind Hachiku - shaped her inclusive, community-minded ethos by her time working at the queer-run Melbourne label Milk! Records, which also released Hachiku's self-titled EP (2017) and debut album I'll Probably Be Asleep (2020). The Joys of Being Pure at Heart (2025) sees Ostendorf lean into a new mode of emotional openness and radical honesty: not only with others, but with herself. As the saying goes, to be loved is to be known - with these 10 songs, Ostendorf let's her guard down and reminds us to hold onto the little joys that make life worth living in spite of it all. 

1 Don't Put Your Head Under Water
2 Tell Your Friends You Love Them
3 Keep on Swimming
4 Wild Eyed and Free
5 Do You Like What You See in Me
6 Victims of Our Own Demise
7 Time Wasted Worrying
8 What Rhymes with Serendipity
9 Fun for Everyone
10 Room for Everybody (Never Let Go of the Joy)