Sincerely Yours: letlive. bring their final farewell tour down under

Californian post-punk innovators letlive. are on the cusp of a long-awaited return to Australia with their Sincerely Yours reunion tour, hitting Magnet House on Wednesday, September 10—with tickets on sale now. PRUDENCE ACKRILL spoke with guitarist Jeff Sahyoun to discuss the band’s evolution over the years, tour memories, onstage injuries, and their final farewell.

You guys have brought several tours to Australia, and you will be returning to Aussie crowds for the first time since 2017. What is it you love most about Australia? Is there a reason you keep coming back?

Australia has always been one of those places where the energy feels different the second we land. The crowds are passionate in a way that’s raw and unfiltered—people go all in, and that kind of energy feeds right back into us on stage. There’s also a sense of community there that feels really familiar, even though we’re half a world away from home. That’s why we keep coming back—it never feels like a “stop” on tour; it feels like a reunion.

The tour kicked off in June, and you have wrapped up your shows around Europe and the UK. How have fans responded to your reunion? And with that, do you feel any change in the energy of your shows, or is it like no time has passed?

The response has been overwhelming. Honestly, we weren’t sure what to expect—seven years is a long time. But the way people showed up, sang every word, and reminded us why we ever did this in the first place… it was humbling. Energy-wise, it’s a little of both: it feels like no time has passed when we hit that first note, but there’s also this new layer of gratitude. We’re more aware of what this connection means now.

You explored themes of self-discovery and adversity in your music. How does it feel going back to these tracks years later? Have you found new meaning behind any of your songs?

Definitely. When we first wrote those songs, a lot of it came from a place of urgency and survival. Coming back to them years later, some of the lyrics hit even harder because we’ve lived more life—we’ve seen loss, growth and change. What used to be an outlet of frustration has sometimes turned into a reminder of resilience. It’s like the songs grew up with us.

On that, what have been your favourite songs to play off your discography and why? Is there a song you were most excited to perform since regrouping?

Honestly, every song means something different to me, so it’s hard to pick a favourite. They all represent different chapters of our lives, and that makes each one important. The setlist changes from night to night for that reason—it keeps things alive for us and for the audience. That said, Banshee (Ghost Fame) always brings an unmatched energy, and tracks like Good Mourning, America or Renegade ’86 hit especially hard right now.

You’re known for your energetic and often acrobatic live performances, but unfortunately, you’ve had your share of injuries as a result, too. Have there been times when you’ve felt you’ve pushed yourself too far?

Oh, 100%. There have been nights when I left the stage bleeding, limping, or straight up wondering if I’d be able to get on the next flight. In the moment, though, you don’t think about it—you’re just giving everything you can because the people in that room gave you their time and energy. Looking back, yeah, there were definitely times I pushed past what was smart.

And does this change the way you approach your live shows? Or does being forced to take some time off performing just make you appreciate it more?

It’s a mix. I’ve learned to listen to my body more, which isn’t something I was great at before. But stepping away for years made me realise how much I need this. So now, instead of holding back, I try to channel that intensity in a way that keeps me alive to do it again tomorrow. The appreciation definitely outweighs the caution.

Are there any future plans for letlive.? What’s on the cards for you guys after the tour, either as letlive or your other projects?

We’re treating this as an official farewell. The whole idea is to pour absolutely everything we have into this tour—into today—without planning what comes next. We don’t want to risk taking away from these moments by thinking too far ahead. For us, it’s about giving the most honest, present version of ourselves while we have this chance with the people who’ve supported us.

letlive. play Magnet House on Wednesday, September 10. Tickets are on sale now from thephoenix.au