Mushy Play have returned with their ferocious new single ‘Punk’s Useless’ and introduced that they are going to be performing units at Studying & Leeds 2023.
Again in December 2022, the duo comprising Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman – who had been previously generally known as Slaves – confirmed their long-awaited return to music and introduced their new identify.
‘Punk’s Useless’ sees the pair addressing the discourse across the resolution to replace their identify as they channel faux-outrage on the rambunctious new monitor.
It additionally contains a solid of household and pals within the bridge together with an unlikely visitor function from Robbie Williams, who sings: “I love you but I disagree / this is bullshit / and I just wanted you to know / snowflake, snowflake / cherries on the woke cake / but I’ll still see you at your show.”
Talking to Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1, Mushy Play mentioned that Williams was a fan of the band and wished to collaborate ultimately.
Hearken to ‘Punk’s Useless’ under.
Alongside the brand new single announcement, Mushy Play have confirmed that they may also be becoming a member of the invoice at Studying & Leeds pageant this 12 months, following their latest return to the dwell circuit with a present at Tunbridge Wells Discussion board and headline slot at 2000 Timber Competition.
The duo can be acting on the Competition Republic Stage at Studying on August 26 and Leeds on August 27. They may also be supporting The Prodigy on tour this autumn.
Across the launch of their debut album ‘Are You Satisfied?’ in 2015, the band drew criticism for its identify as some described it as racially insensitive. The pair beforehand defended the moniker to NME, with Vincent saying: “If you pick up an Oxford dictionary and look up the word “slaves”, there isn’t any point out of any racial context.
“A slave is a person who is owned by another person and forced to work for free. In that manner, people who deem you a racist are being incredibly small minded because slavery has happened to every single creed, race and religion and it’s not a racist term.”
Nevertheless, final 12 months the duo mentioned they now not felt aligned with their earlier identify. “When we called our band Slaves, it was intended solely as a reference to the grind of day to day life,” they wrote in an Instagram submit.
“As younger men, we responded to criticism of the name from a place of fear and defensiveness. Feeling backed into a corner, our own pride caused us to fight for a name we weren’t even sure we wanted anymore. It felt at times as if our band name had defined us and we were scared of what might happen if we changed it.”
They continued that they recognised their “original intent doesn’t change the fact that the name Slaves is an issue”.
“In this day and age we believe it is very important that people change and make improvements no matter how far down the line they are. The name doesn’t represent who we are as people or what our music stands for any longer. We want to sincerely apologise to anyone we’ve offended.”
Discover Mushy Play’s full schedule of 2023 dwell dates under.
Mushy Play’s 2023 dates are:
AUGUST
25 – Forest Row, Sussex, Hop Yard
26 – Studying, UK, Studying Competition
27 – Leeds, UK, Leeds Competition
NOVEMBER
16 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro*
17 – Manchester, AO Enviornment*
18 – Leeds, First Direct Enviornment*
20 – November, Brighton, Brighton Centre*
21 – November, Cardiff, Motorpoint Enviornment*
23 – November, Birmingham, Utilita Enviornment*
24 – November, London, Alexandra Palace*
25 – November, London, Alexandra Palace*
*with The Prodigy
Again in August 2022, Holman shared an emotional submit about his psychological well being on-line.
“This is what mental illness can look like,” Holman wrote alongside an image of him smiling throughout a dwell gig. “At this level in my life I used to be so unwell I couldn’t be with out my dad and mom. I used to get taken to gigs by them and cry within the automobile and say I couldn’t do it.
“Then I’d get on stage and smash it and no one would have a clue. You never know what’s going on in someone’s head.” He concluded it: “Approach with kindness always.”