W: Peter James May

One of the UK’s most singular voices, Murkage Dave has spent the last decade crafting a body of work that refuses to fit neatly into any genre box. His music—loosely pop but informed by indie, outsider art, and a raw instinct for storytelling—is built on honesty, empathy, and fearless social commentary.

With his forthcoming album ‘Brut Thoughts’ (released 6 March), Dave connects the inner turbulence of modern life with the fractured world around him. He reflects on internet culture, overstimulation, the immigrant experience, and the power of community amidst political extremism. The album channels present-day anger and disillusionment without ever losing sight of hope.

“It’s millennial meme culture music,” he explains. “The cacophony of what’s going on in my head spilling out into song. Living in the shadow of 80s Thatcherite/Reaganite economic policy, the broken social contract, and the unkept promise of a life we were supposed to get if we did our bit.”

A Nomadic Masterpiece

A cathartic soundtrack for life in late capitalism, the album draws inspiration from Talking Heads, Sampha, The Smiths, and The Streets. The creative process was as unorthodox as the sound itself; recorded nomadically across living rooms and borrowed studios in London, Manchester, Berlin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and the Danish countryside.

The record’s collaborative spirit is woven into its DNA, featuring contributions from James from Yard Act, Kayus from Young Fathers, Ellery from WU LYF, and Lauren Auder.