ABSOLUTE TREAT, THE NEW MONIKER OF DILETTANTE, TO RELEASE NEW EP, SHATTERED LOVE, MAY 14, 2025 VIA VICTORY POOL RECORDS
PERFORMS IN TORONTO THIS WEEKEND, EP RELEASE TOUR BEGINS MAY 30
LISTEN / SHARE “THE SUN” HERE
BUY / STREAM “THE SUN” HERE
PRE-SAVE SHATTERED LOVE HERE
Photo Credit : Heather Saitz // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Recently, Absolute Treat, the new moniker of the Toronto-based, multi-hyphenate pop group formerly known as Dilettante, shared the first single off their upcoming EP, “Main Street”. The new track marks a pivot point in the band’s journey, having fully shed the hazy, lo-fi trappings of their previous project and have since turned their attention to the dance floor. With these new songs the band – Natalie Panacci (vocals), Julia Wittmann (vocals; guitar) and bandmates Zachary Stuckey (bass) and Bradley Connor (drums) – are teasing out threads of inspiration from the intersecting points where disco, pop, rock, and slinky R&B meet.
Today, they share the EP’s opening track, “The Sun”. “The inspiration for this song came from a place of emotional exhaustion and the feeling of being overwhelmed. It’s about those moments when everything feels too much, and you’re just holding on, trying to manage your thoughts and emotions, but it seems impossible to carry it all,” says Panacci. “When everything feels overwhelming, something as simple as the warmth of the sun is the only thing that provides any sense of comfort or relief. It's also about isolation, the sense of waiting for something or someone to bring change, but ultimately realizing that you have to find your own way.”
LISTEN / SHARE “THE SUN” HERE
BUY / STREAM “THE SUN” HERE
MORE ABOUT ABSOLUTE TREAT & SHATTERED LOVE
In 2022, they released their debut album, Dilettante, which UK publication Backseat Mafia described as having “indelible melodies and mountain high anthems." This established them as a versatile band that can play anything from moody ballads (“Blue”) to spangly uptempo bops (“Bonnie”). It also led to their inclusion in Exclaim! Magazine’s Class of 2023, opening slots for bands such as Born Ruffians and The Darcys, and performances at festivals such as Toronto Pride and River & Sky.
Following the name change and a 2025 re-release of Dilettante on their new label, Victory Pool, Absolute Treat have returned with their latest EP, Shattered Love, where they have refined their dynamic sound, delivering the polish and energy of seasoned pop powerhouses.
LISTEN / SHARE “MAIN STREET” HERE
BUY / STREAM “MAIN STREET” HERE
Shattered Love is a collection of songs that distill the essence of some of pop music's finest writers and producers from the '70s and '80s. The album is replete with spot-the-influence moments, but never in a way that pops one out of the tight, concise listening experience Absolute Treat have constructed. It's all perfectly sublimated and stylishly executed.
“The Sun” opens up the EP with a surefooted anthem that uncannily recalls choice elements of late '70s funk/disco progenitors Chic; on which, co-leader Julia Wittmann's guitar playing shines throughout, but makes an especially strong initial impact on this tune. The vocals positively radiate; it's hard not to imagine hearing them amongst the spinning dapples of disco-ball reflections and sweaty bodies in a crowded club; with its cascading melody lines in the verses and singalong-worthy harmonies in the choruses, this opening track reads as something of a mission statement for Shattered Love. A dramatic dropout mid-song, a saxophone solo hits and grungy guitar riff slides in underneath, bringing the song home for a final round of that ridiculously catchy chorus.
Title track, “Shattered Love” paints a luridly vivid portrait of the streets of Toronto while sounding like a long-lost Prince b-side with its mysterious synthesizers, chopping guitar work, and minimal, deeply funky rhythm section. Never staying in one place for long, the hooky chorus in this tune incorporates a more sultry vocal approach before Panacci belts out a raw, insistent refrain of the song's title.
Shattered Love closes with a lovely track called “Slow”, which may very well be the vocal showcase on the album. Shimmering with layers of cascading synth adornments both Wittmann and Panacci truly belting it out in the song's final moments. From here the tune gently winds down, and it'll be no surprise when you find yourself reaching for the “play” button again as soon as it's over.
Absolute Treat will take to the stage this weekend in Toronto and will celebrate the release of Shattered Love with tour dates beginning May 30. All dates are below
PRE-SAVE SHATTERED LOVE HERE
TOUR DATES
April 19 - Toronto ON - The Velvet Underground
May 30 - Toronto ON - The Drake Underground (Album Release Celebration )
June 8 - St Catherines ON - Warehouse Concert Hall
July 3 - London ON - Palasad Social Bowl
July 4 - Guelph ON - Sonic Hall
July 10 - Hamilton ON - Mills Hardware
July 11 - Kitchener ON - Sunset Session
SHATTERED LOVE TRACKLIST
01 The Sun
02 Shattered Love
03 Main Street
04 The Door
05 Slow
