'Trust Me', the debut single by I'm Talking, released in 1984.

The unlikely origin of the Australian band I'm Talking was the cult experimental outfit Essendon Airport. On its dissolution, members Robert Goodge (guitar), Barbara Hogarth (bass) and Ian Cox (sax) carried its spirit of sonic exploration into I’m Talking – this time with movement marrowing its bones.

‘Trust Me’ braids funk and freestyle rhythms into the nerve centre of Australian pop. The vocals of Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne drive the pulse, creating a cadence made for both radio waves and after-hours dancefloors. The track nods to American touchstones like Shannon’s ‘Let the Music Play’ (1983), the swagger of Chaka Khan, and the sharp edges of Cameo, but the groove lands entirely on their terms.

Read more in 1984: Australia finds its voice, part 2.