Wet Leg returns with a new album, a Collingwood pop-up and a (creepy) smile
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DOMINO RECORDING COMPANY
Photography by Iris Luz
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“We’ve finally found our groove.”
It’s rare that overnight musical success actually happens overnight. Lift the curtain a little and you’ll often find years of sleeper-hit Soundcloud tracks, well-attended gigs and a small but feverish fanbase who have been listening for years. The rise to stardom is usually more of a consistent climb than a dizzying catapult.
Unless, of course, you’re talking about Wet Leg, the Isle of Wight five-piece whose 2021 debut truly launched them into the indie-rock stratosphere. Founded by friends Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, the duo’s first single, ‘Chaise Lounge’, was the perfect tongue-in-cheek introduction to their weird and wonderfully awkward world. With Teasdale deadpanning lyrics like ‘Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?’ (who doesn’t love a Mean Girls reference?), the catchy, off-kilter track was an instant hit.
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What followed was a chart-topping album, three Grammys, over half a billion streams and three years of non-stop touring, including an opening act slot during Harry Styles’ Love On Tour. For Teasdale and Chambers, their meteoric trajectory was as head-spinning as it sounds.
“The success of the first album took us all completely by surprise and had us constantly playing catch-up and learning on the go,” the band said in a recent Instagram post. “Now, as we anticipate the release of our second album and the dust settles from the madness of the first, we’ve finally found our groove.”
Titled moisturizer, Wet Leg’s second album, due July 11, marks the start of a new chapter in its cheeky, charmingly sarcastic sound. With the pair now joined by new members – Ellis Durand on bass, Henry Holmes on drums and Joshua Mobaraki on guitar and synth – Teasdale told the New York Times they “definitely feel like a band.”
The album was brought to life in Southwold, the English seaside town where the band settled to write, work and watch horror movies. “We were just kind of having fun and exploring,” says Chambers. “We focused on: ‘Is this going to be fun to play live?’ It was very natural that we would write the second record together,” adds Teasdale.
If Wet Leg’s debut, full of scathing breakup songs, sexual innuendo and sharp wit, was a warm-up, moisturizer is the band’s entrance into the ring. No, really. Teasdale has her boxing gloves on, and moisturizer’s punchy lead single, ‘Catch these fists’, is a snarling battle cry ‘I don’t want your love / I just wanna fight’).
On the album cover, a crouched-over Teasdale flashes an Uncanny Valley-esque grin, while Chambers faces the wall and shows only a set of long, witchy fingernails. Judging by the eerie artwork and come-at-me lyrics of ‘Catch these fists’, it would be easy to assume all songs on moisturizer are raucous, headbanging kiss-offs. But Wet Leg contains multitudes, and the new album captures an entire spectrum of dialled-up emotions, from vengeful to gentle and gooey-eyed.
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While Teasdale had purposefully avoided romantic songs on the band’s debut, meeting her partner at the end of 2021 changed everything. “It was love at first sight. Literally,” she told The Guardian. Moisturizer’s second single, ‘CPR’, captures the obsession and adrenaline that comes with falling wildly in love, while the third single, ‘Davina McCall’ (after the British TV presenter), is a soft, heartfelt ballad.
While the spate of upcoming tour dates doesn’t include Australia just yet, moisturizer’s album release day will have its own Melbourne celebrations. On July 11, a Wet Leg pop-up shop will be coming to CY Space at Collingwood Yards. From 9am to 8pm, fans can browse limited-edition merch, score bundle prizes and recreate the band’s uniquely Wet Leg photoshoots.
You can also find moisturizer-themed experiences dotted around Collingwood, including specials at Dua Bakehouse (a moisture-icing cream bun and pink soda matcha), Stefanino Panino (the moisturizer mortadella bologna with pink stracciatella speciale panini) and Runner Up Rooftop Bar (‘The Moisturiser’ sour bespoke cocktail). You can also score exclusive vinyls and other goodies at Licorice Pie Records, Happy Valley and Sound Merch.
Wherever you are in the world, July 11 is an excuse to lean into your wild side. Shave your eyebrows! Scream into the void! Kiss and make up! Eat a big pink sandwich in the sun! And when in doubt, think ‘What would Wet Leg do?’
You can pre-save moisturizer here.
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