No PROMISES turns personal loss into a message of support with ‘The Weight’

South Gippsland alt-country duo No PROMISES have released ‘The Weight’, a deeply personal single exploring depression and the struggles people carry in silence, with all streaming royalties being donated to mental health music charity Listen Up Music.

Sometimes the heaviest burdens are the ones nobody else can see.

For South Gippsland duo No PROMISES, that reality sits at the heart of their new single, ‘The Weight’, a country and Americana-inspired song that explores depression, resilience and the quiet struggles that can exist behind an outward appearance of being fine. Written by singer-songwriters Janine Garvey and Eric Collier, the track offers an honest portrayal of the emotional weight people can carry through everyday life, particularly during times when simply making it through the day can feel like an achievement.

Rather than offering easy answers, the song creates space for an experience that is often difficult to put into words. The release also carries a deeply personal significance for Garvey.

‘The Weight’ is dedicated to her friend Peter Bell, who died by suicide. His death had a profound impact on her and helped inspire the duo's decision to use the song to support others experiencing mental health challenges.

No PROMISES are donating 100% of the song's streaming royalties to Listen Up Music, a charity that supports mental health through music. It's a way of honouring Peter's memory while contributing to an organisation working to create opportunities for connection and support.

Musically, ‘The Weight’ draws on the duo's familiar blend of alt-country and Americana, with Collier taking the lead vocal and Garvey providing backing harmonies. Produced by Matt Fell, the recording features Fell on acoustic guitar and bass, Sam Leske on electric guitar, Josh Schuberth on drums and Shane Reilly on pedal steel. The track was mastered by William Bowden.

The understated arrangement allows the lyrics to remain the focus, with warm instrumentation complementing the song's emotional subject matter. For Garvey and Collier, storytelling has always been central to their music.

Based in South Gippsland, Victoria, the pair have developed a harmony-rich sound influenced by the classic country-rock traditions of Fleetwood Mac, Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles. Their combination of melodic songwriting, layered vocals and contemporary storytelling has helped them build a loyal following through independent releases, national radio support and live performances.

Their third studio album, Siren, marked a significant breakthrough, debuting at No. 1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart and holding the position for two consecutive weeks. The album also reached No. 9 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart and No. 15 on the ARIA Top 40 Australian Albums Chart, an impressive achievement for an independent duo working out of regional Victoria.

Produced, engineered and mixed by Fell, Siren brought together the pair's love of 1970s West Coast country-rock with contemporary songwriting, showcasing their distinctive harmonies and musical partnership.

Their work has also attracted recognition through songwriting competitions, with finalist placings in the Maldon Folk Festival's Roddy Reed Songwriting Competition, the Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards, the Australian Songwriters Association Awards and the 2026 Listen Up Songwriting Competition.

Whether performing as an intimate acoustic duo or alongside a full band, Garvey and Collier have built their reputation around songs that connect through personal experience and genuine musicianship.

With ‘The Weight’, that approach takes on an added purpose.

It's a song shaped by grief, but also by the belief that music can help open conversations that might otherwise remain unspoken. And for No PROMISES, sharing Peter's memory through their music is a way of ensuring that something meaningful can continue to grow from a devastating loss.

‘The Weight’ is available now, with 100% of streaming royalties going to Listen Up Music.

For more about No PROMISES, visit https://www.nopromises.com.au