Slow Pulp - Melodie

Stereogum: Album of the Week  

“‘Slow Pulp’ followed up their gauzy stadium rock record ‘Better Man’ with [‘Not for Nothing’,] a ‘70s-inflected electric piano ballad that reminds me a bit of some of Dijon’s deconstructed R&B.” – The FADER

“A band whose collective output is as insightful as it is downright entertaining.” – Consequence

Slow Pulp is one of the most beloved bands in indie rock, championed by the likes of Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The New Yorker, Billboard, i-D, The Fader, and the Chicago Tribune, who hailed them as “one of the best young bands in the country.” They released their critically lauded sophomore album Yard in 2023 via ANTI– and channeled their momentum into a largely sold out headlining tour and their television debut on CBS Saturday Morning. Additionally, the band played Lollapalooza for the first time and supported Lucy Dacus, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Postal Service on their tours.

When Slow Pulp started the songs that comprise Melodie, they found themselves being reflective of their relationships and lives in the last few years. In most of their time living in Chicago, lyrics have mostly been helmed by Massey. For Melodie, Massey and Stoehr split writing duties, with five of Stoehr’s tracks ending up on the record. The two also teamed up on the album’s production, which was led by producer Elliot Kozel (Rosalía, Yves Tumor, Björk, SZA, Eartheater). Kozel is something of a Wisconsin legend, and Stoehr, Mathews, and Leeds had all grown up as fans of his old band, Sleeping in the Aviary. The collaboration of Kozel, Stoeher, and Massey led to a record that balances power-pop euphoria, acoustic heartbreak, and the ocean of sound between them.

The product of this collaboration is the reflective Melodie; a full circle, transformative album. “There’s a very cyclical energy to a lot of these songs,” Massey says. “There’s the sense of a full circle, tapping back into things and transforming through them,” Leeds furthers. A song is like that too, he believes: “not just a document of what you feel but also a vehicle for understanding how you feel.”

This fall, Slow Pulp will tour across North America and the UK/EU. Stateside tickets are going quickly, with San Francisco and Carrboro selling out over two months before their respective dates. See full dates HERE and contact us with any requests!