Earworm

Earworm is a tale of grief, desire, infidelity and family secrets narrated by love song.

“Empty Fairground” is a hit from the nineties. Nicole was conceived to it and now it dwells in her head – a living entity accessing her thoughts and dreams. When Nicole discovers her deceased father is not her biological parent, certainties disintegrate and the song strives to separate fantasy from memory and myth from history, building towards an extraordinary crescendo.


Drenched in rhythm and the vividness of pop lyrics, “Earworm” explores the complexities of filial and romantic love, connecting us to our universal communion with music.

'Colin Varney is an entirely groovy new voice in Australian fiction.' — Danielle Wood, author The Alphabet of Light and Dark.