Reetoxa’s “Bottle” Revives a 30-Year-Old Alternative Rock Gem with Powerful Emotion
If you could go back in time, would you change some of the things you did as a child? I mean have you ever had the chance to look back at the things you wrote when you were fifteen years old? For most of us, it is a total cringe-fest. You find an old notebook in the back of your closet, read three lines of your teenage poetry, and immediately want to throw it into a campfire. But every now and then, a teenager actually creates something built to last. Oh wait! Have you had the chance to experience some raw alternative rock with a crazy backstory? Well you need to check out the brand-new single from ma guys at Reetoxa. They called this one “Bottle, and it’s a track that’s been waiting exactly thirty years to hit our ears.
We know Reetoxa, they are an exciting Melbourne, Australia band fronted by singer-songwriter Jason McKee. Jason who grew up in the lower socio-economic landscape of Frankston during the absolute peak of 90s grunge hysteria, was a cash-strapped teenager writing songs in his bedroom, dreaming of a music career. Fast forward three decades, and Jason finally connected with producer Simon Moro at The Avenue studio in Cheltenham, Victoria, to bring those old notebooks to life.
To record the track, they put together an absolute powerhouse line-up of musicians who all grew up on that exact same 90s rock style. The band features Kit Riley on bass, James Ryan on guitar, and Peter Marin on the drums, who you might know from the legendary Aussie band Jet. They have a massive, energetic rock sound that people have described as “Cool INXS,” which Jason thinks is pretty hilarious. The story behind “Bottle” is wild. Jason actually wrote this song all the way back in 1995 when he was just fifteen. It was only the fifth song he had ever penned in his life. Even as a broke kid, he knew the song had something special, so he deliberately saved it for a hypothetical “second album” down the road so it wouldn’t get wasted on a cheap, low-budget recording.
Now this track “Bottle” is a massive, high-powered rock song that perfectly blends 90s alternative grit with a clean, modern edge. It hits you with a huge explosion of guitars, courtesy of James Ryan, who took Jason’s original teenage riffs and made them absolutely huge. Peter Marin’s drums drive the track forward with incredible energy, giving it an epic proportion while keeping that authentic vintage rock feel. The message of the song is a raw, real snapshot of mental health and teenage rebellion in 90s Australia. The inspiration came from Jason’s second date with his high school sweetheart, Jody. Her best friend, Nicole, called them in a total panic because her parents had locked her needed medication away on a top shelf. Jason and Jody literally ran through the neighborhood to help her.
Back in the 90s, mental health was completely brushed under the table and barely spoken about. After helping Nicole, the three teenagers sat around and conspired about how they could escape their tough home lives and live together. It’s a song about deep mateship, survival, and youthful defiance against difficult circumstances. The “bottle” represents holding all those heavy emotions inside until you feel like you are going to burst. It looks right into the face of anxiety and family struggles, turning that pain into a loud, rebellious rock anthem.
Jason is currently working on a massive double album and is already in early talks for a UK and European tour later this year. Looking back, he jokes that he is actually glad he didn’t make it big at fifteen. He figures he would have ended up dead on his very first tour with all the wild temptations of the music industry. To fans of authentic indie rock, massive guitar hooks, and songs that tell a genuine story from lived experience, “Bottle” by Reetoxa needs to be on your favorite playlist, clear some space and give that top spot to them. The song is live and streaming right now, go give it a listen and toast to the teenage rebels who never gave up on the music!
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