ALBUM REVIEW: Toy Shaw, Trinkets

Welcome to banjo pop - aka folktronica - the unique sound of New Zealand-raised, Melbourne-based artist Toy Shaw.

On her debut album Trinkets, she combines her love of country music with alt-pop and dream-pop to create a sound bigger than the sum of its parts.

Opening tracks Push-Along and Tar Star are soaring ethereal dream-pop, before the banjos arrive in country tune They Won't Call Me Crazy.

Guns begins to tie the sound together - country-style plucking blended with dreamy harmonies, and ending with some beautiful piano. Then Touching Glass effectively places tinkling banjo against a big alt-pop bass.

Horses In My Dreams is a cute little interlude complete with horse sounds, before we move into a real pop bop with Birthplace (The Same Way).

Fight! again masterfully combines banjo, pop and soaring harmonies to create a real floating vibe.

The album finishes on a bang, with another bop URTHEBEST and final track Christine, which opens with a yee-haw and is a cracker of a track.

Overall, Trinkets starts slow and dreamy and builds to pack a punch with the last four tracks. The entire album offers a truly unique sound - one well worth a listen!

In sum:

ALBUM: Trinkets

ARTIST: Toy Shaw

RELEASE DATE: August 1, 2025

GENRE: Banjo pop

RECOMMENDED FOR: 

Listen to Trinkets and follow Toy Shaw on Instagram.