Iconic Australian indie-pop singer-songwriter Jacqui Hunt has officially released her deeply anticipated “Desiderium” album with focus track “Cape of Light”. Marking a profound artistic milestone, the album is a superb collection that moves through deeply personal reflections on grief, loss, healing and love. Released through her independent label QUSP alongside musical collaborator and husband Brian Conolly, “Desiderium” beautifully pairs sonically abstract, smooth synths with raw, organic pop structures—resulting in a cinematic body of work fused together by the ethereal thread of Jacqui’s poetic radiance.
Best known as the iconic vocalist and co-writer for electronic pioneers Single Gun Theory and a prominent guest vocalist for dreampop trailblazers Delerium, Hunt makes a triumphant return to center stage with this solo record. Merging elements of Kate Bush, Tori Amos, and Beth Gibbons, she describes the sonic landscape of the album as “like stepping out of your body for a while and grounding back to earth — floating on a synth wave while holding the raw reality of a simple piano. The bones that connect to the human voice like a string of air as it floats to the ether and returns to base.”
Her first album in 18 years, “Desiderium” serves as both an ending and a beginning, deeply rooted in the circle of life and the passage of time. Named after the Latin noun for a profound yearning for something lost that cannot be replaced, this record reflects the emotional weight Hunt felt when unexpectedly losing both of her parents within a two-year span. With an overarching theme of longing and devotion, Hunt explores the desire to reconnect with what is now absent, delivering a poignant reminder to embrace one’s authenticity and honour the “inheritance” of life.
The album’s focus tracks showcase this striking versatility. “Planet” is an electro-ethereal soundscape building to a rhythmic frequency of dreamy vocals that merge into space, initially born from a poem sent by Conolly from overseas and transformed spontaneously by Hunt into a long-distance love song. Conversely, “Cycles” presents a raw, melancholic piano ballad of heartfelt simplicity. Enveloped in powerful symmetry, its music video was created by Kade Stenders, a young filmmaker whose parents (famed film director Kriv Stenders and photographer Lisa Stonham) directed several videos for Hunt’s pioneering electronic band, Single Gun Theory, decades prior.
38 years after the debut of Single Gun Theory’s landmark release “Exorcise This Wasteland”, the band’s timeless relevance was highlighted just recently when their music was featured on the Paris runway for French fashion house Chloé’s Winter 2026 parade. Hunt also achieved global recognition 29 years ago through her pivotal involvement with Delerium, collaborating as songwriter and vocalist on “Euphoria (Firefly)” for the seminal “Karma” album.
Jacqui Hunt’s stellar trajectory stands as a testament to her enduring impact across the global independent landscape. Her diverse solo and collaborative catalog includes her 2008 debut album “Auraphonic”—featuring the film-licensed track “Calisthenics” —and creative pursuits like the design duo CiiVE, alongside standout vocal contributions for Paul Mac, Vision Four 5, and David McClymont of seminal post-punk band Orange Juice.
‘Desiderium’ is out June 26th on CD and limited edition vinyl. Also available digitally, the album experience is complemented by the “Alice Magic (K.I.M Remix)”, a re-envisioning of the original track by K.I.M (Kim Moyes) of legendary Australian electronic duo The Presets. All of this music is available across digital platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
TRACK LIST
01 Desiderium
02 Look At The Sky
03 Planet
04 Cecilia
05 Cape Of Light
06 This Love
07 Temple Of Illumination
08 Follow Me Here
09 Cycles
10 Mother
11 Alice Magic
CREDITS
Jacqui Hunt – vocals, keys, production
Brian Conolly – synth, bass, guitar, production
Laurence Pike – drums (‘Cecilia,’ ‘Cycles,’ ‘This Love,’ ‘Temple Of Illumination’)
Daniel Denholm – zither and strings on ‘Cecilia,’ cello solo on ‘Follow Me Here’
Lyrics by Jacqui Hunt, except ‘Planet’ – lyrics by Brian Conolly
Music written by Jacqui Hunt & Brian Conolly
Except ‘Cycles’ and ‘This Love’, written by Jacqui Hunt
and ‘Cecilia’, written by Jacqui Hunt & Daniel Denholm
Recorded at QUSP Studios in Sydney, Australia
Engineered by Brian Conolly
Mixed by Daniel Denholm
Mastered by Michael Lynch
Cover artwork by Qusp Studios
Album released by QUSP. UPC #9324690436552
Copyright 2026 Qusp Pty Ltd. Publishing 2026 Sony/ATV
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Artist photos by Brian Conolly
Planet video original graphics by Brian Conolly. Directed by Jacqui Hunt
‘Cycles’ video directed & edited by Kade Stenders