Off the back of the recent announcement that Tash Sultana had joined forces with City and Colour for a special collaboration on their upcoming EP Return To The Roots, today brings the release of the long-awaited third single, 'Ain't it Kinda Funny ft. City and Colour — a track that’s been years in the making.
This song has a rich history. Originally written by Tash as a teenager, it’s one of the earliest songs in their catalogue — a raw acoustic piece born from a deep love for artists like Jeff Buckley, Bon Iver, and, fittingly, City and Colour.
Fast forward to now, and the track has been reimagined, reshaped, and revived — not just to suit where Tash is today as an artist, but as a person on the edge of turning 30. “That looming milestone makes you reflect,” Tash says. “There’s this pressure that you’ve somehow ‘aged out’, but it’s all bullshit. 30’s young. Life’s only getting better. I wouldn’t relive my early 20s for anything — and that realisation bled straight into this song.”
‘Ain’t It Kinda Funny’ sees both artists contribute contrasting yet complementary verses — Sultana’s leaning into sentimentality, and City and Colour’s offering a reflective, seasoned perspective. Together, their vocals balance like yin and yang, bridging generations of experience and emotional insight.
Dallas comments, “Working with Tash was an absolute joy. We first connected last year and hit it off right away. That first impression led to me visiting their studio in Australia and eventually creating this song together. Tash is one of the most impressive people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Their passion and work ethic was inspiring. I’m truly grateful to have been invited to be a part of this.”
The result is a track that honours its roots while embracing the present — a poignant and powerful evolution of a song that has travelled with Sultana for over a decade.
True to form, the recording process also had its moments of levity. As the final touches were being added, including bass guitar, there was an unexpected interruption from Tash’s dog. “Right as the bass kicked in my dog went into the next room and took a massive stinking hot shit on the floor the size of an AFL football. Talk about a brown note, we were bonded” Sultana recalls.
Return To The Roots EP is a raw, unfiltered dive back into the heart of their artistry. Stripping away the pressure of commercial success, this six-track collection rekindles the spirit of spontaneous creation—the very essence that first ignited their career.
