The New Single: Second Place’ Out 27th February 2026

"The 'Cold Sore Cowboy' is the paradoxical anti-hero we didn't know we needed."

W: John Barrowman I: Em Artherton

Leeds has always been a fertile breeding ground for bands that embrace the grey skies and turn them into something shimmering, but few are doing it with as much grit and cinematic irony as Supermaus. On their latest single, ‘Second Place’ (arriving 27 February), the four-piece trade in the standard indie tropes for a distorted, dust-covered lens of Americana, proving exactly why they’ve already caught the ear of BBC Introducing and the curators at Truck Festival.

The track is a masterclass in the "quiet-loud" dynamic that defined 90s alternative rock, yet it feels pulse-point fresh. It opens with a stark, finger-picked clarity that feels almost voyeuristic, anchored by a dark, driving bassline that mirrors the anxiety of the lyrics. As the tension reaches a breaking point, the band ignores the exit ramp and instead drives straight into a wall of fuzz and delay. It is a satisfying, visceral release that balances the restraint of post-punk with the ethereal chaos of shoegaze.

Lyrically, ‘Second Place’ is where Supermaus truly separate themselves from the pack. They introduce us to the "cold sore cowboy"—a paradoxical caricature of performative masculinity that is equal parts swagger and fragility. By subverting Wild West archetypes, the band explores the messy, uneven power dynamics of modern relationships. There is a biting, dark humor at play here; a sardonic meditation on self-worth that feels both deeply vulnerable and sharply cynical.

The single acts as a pivotal chapter in the lead-up to their debut EP, Out of Body (due 8 May). It follows their debut ‘Bite’ and paves the way for the upcoming ‘San Francisco,’ suggesting a band that isn't just releasing songs, but building a cohesive, haunting visual and sonic world.

With high-profile support slots alongside Voka Gentle and cruush on the immediate horizon, Supermaus are rapidly outgrowing the "ones to watch" labels. If ‘Second Place’ is any indication of the "miracles they make for themselves," the top of the podium is inevitable.