After over two decades of crafting heartfelt songs rooted in truth, grit, and melody, Josh Orange has once again delivered a stirring anthem for uncertain times. Their latest single, Believers & Dreamers (What Have We Become), released on June 20, 2025, is more than a song—it’s a statement. Drawing from their rich Australian-Irish heritage and their years navigating the ever-changing landscape of the music world, Josh Orange taps into something timeless and deeply urgent in this track. With a rising sense of purpose and a sharp lyrical edge, the band challenges listeners to reflect on the world around them and their place within it.
Recorded in April at Everland Studios in Sydney, Believers & Dreamers (What Have We Become) is the result of both finely honed experience and fearless experimentation. From its opening chords, the song feels like a slow-burning fuse. There’s a tension in the instrumentation, a storm waiting to break. Frontman Gordon Burke’s vocals carry the kind of world-worn sincerity you can’t fake. He doesn’t just sing the lyrics—he means every word. And those words hit hard, asking the kind of questions we all feel but rarely voice out loud: Have we lost our way? Have we traded connection for convenience? Are we still the people we believed ourselves to be?
But this isn’t just a song of despair—it’s a rallying cry. As the track builds, it swells into anthemic territory, pulling from the bones of classic rock while weaving in unexpected textures. One of the most striking elements is the inclusion of a harp, courtesy of Kaela Harp from the Sydney Orchestra. It’s a haunting, beautiful addition that brings both delicacy and drama, like sunlight filtering through a stormcloud. The contrast between the raw guitars and the celestial harp lines adds emotional weight without ever feeling forced. It’s a reminder that power in music doesn’t always have to shout—it can whisper and still leave you breathless.
Produced by the band’s guitarist Andrew Wass and engineered by Ben Worsey, the track carries a clarity and emotional sharpness that feels distinctly modern while paying homage to the great rock ballads of the past. The final mix and co-production by legendary Tim Palmer—best known for his work on Pearl Jam’s Ten—adds a timeless polish. You can feel Palmer’s touch in the way each instrument has space to breathe, and how the song unfolds like a carefully told story. Just when you think it’s settled, it surprises you. A spontaneous saxophone solo enters the mix like a gust of wind through a broken window—unplanned, wild, and somehow exactly what the song needed.
Josh Orange has always excelled at balancing the personal and the political, and Believers & Dreamers (What Have We Become) is no exception. The band doesn’t point fingers or offer hollow slogans. Instead, they invite the listener to ask themselves hard questions. The song is less about offering answers and more about reminding us that the act of asking is essential. In an era of distractions and division, this track urges us to look up, look around, and remember what it means to care.
And that’s where Josh Orange truly shines—through their ability to create music that matters without ever sounding preachy. It’s a rare feat in today’s climate, where so much art either plays it safe or shouts into the void. With this track, they’ve struck a balance between vulnerability and conviction. There’s no ego in Believers & Dreamers, only heart.
This release also marks an evolution in the band’s sound. While long-time fans will recognize the signature poetic lyricism and melodic undercurrent, there’s a boldness here that feels fresh. They’re not afraid to take risks, to blend rock with orchestral beauty, to throw a saxophone into the fire and watch it flare. This is the sound of a band that knows who they are and still refuses to stand still.
Believers & Dreamers (What Have We Become) is an anthem for those feeling overwhelmed by the noise of modern life, for those searching for meaning in the chaos, for those who still believe in the power of music to wake us up. It’s a reminder that while the world may change, the desire to be better—to become more—is something worth singing about.
In a time when superficiality often wins the spotlight, Josh Orange has delivered a song rooted in substance. It’s not just a single—it’s a reflection of our times, a piece of protest art, and a gentle but firm hand on the shoulder telling us: We can do better. We must. With Believers & Dreamers (What Have We Become), Josh Orange doesn’t just remain relevant—they become essential.
