New Music
Phonewifey PRESS1
28.06.2023, Words by Billy Ward

phonewifey's new album 'NEW LANDFILL' is a love letter to the music of their teens

"The glory days of indie rock is inextricably linked to what was maybe the last moment in our country's culture when art and music was adequately funded..."

London-hailing underground star phonewifey shares their anticipated new project 'NEW LANDFILL'. After dropping the politically-charged anthem 'Overflow' back in April, and 'FAIRPLAY' the following month, phonewifey's latest offering sees the rising star revisit the music of their party-fuelled teenage years. 

Swapping out the glossy electronics and hyperpop stylings of previous releases in favour of live guitars and grittier production; 'NEW LANDFILL' seeks to evoke and revive a bygone era of DIY music where MySpace disco-beats, loose guitars and distorted synths ruled.

"It took a lot of time and distance for me to be able to revisit the dominant musical styles and trends of my adolescence," says phonewifey. "Everything comes back around someday; but the stuff that soundtracks the most formative years of your young life always hits extra hard when it re-emerges into the popular consciousness."

Touching on the political undercurrent coursing the new record, they continue: "For me, the pathos and nostalgia for the glory days of indie rock is inextricably linked to what was maybe the last moment in our country's culture when art and music was adequately funded, encouraged and platformed. Youth centre practice rooms were brimming with fresh-out-of-school-and-college bands, MCs and DJs, London had considerably more local live music venues, and there was an actual, visible pipeline for local groups to receive national exposure with the last years of Top of the Pops. Of course this view is somewhat rose-tinted, nothing is ever perfect, there can always be more funding, more spaces, more community, but I think it’s undeniable that the financial crash in 2008 and the over a decade of conservative austerity that followed has left us with a severely compromised creative landscape that is increasingly difficult for those without money or connections to navigate.

"Maybe 10 years ago I’d have cringed at the idea of writing music directly inspired by The Killers, Bloc Party, Robots in Disguise and White Rose Movement, it had all just happened and we were all looking for something new. But I think with time I’ve realised how important all of that music is to me and what it speaks to both musically and aesthetically. I get it now."

Stream 'NEW LANDFILL' below or listen with your preferred streaming service here

'NEW LANDFILL' by phonewifey is out now on NEW DANCE CRAZE via DMY.

Submit music for release via DMY Artists.

Read next: Aphex Twin announces first EP in five years with dark-edged new single 

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