STREAM: “I’m Not Sad” –
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“‘I’m Not Sad is about feeling sad but not knowing why and feeling like you could spend all day in bed even though you don’t want to and pretending you’re not sad when people ask. It’s upbeat and happy but the lyrics aren’t really. A lot of our songs are upbeat but have sad lyrics.” -Eva, The Cords
The last few years have been quite a whirlwind for Scottish pop duo The Cords. Sisters Eva and Grace take their cues from forebearers like Dolly Mixture, Shop Assistants, Heavenly and Tiger Trap, reinvigorating the C86 sound with style and infectious enthusiasm. Since starting in 2023 they’ve released a cassette single and a Christmas flexi that garnered airplay and breathless press from around the International Pop Underground, and played with everyone from The Vaselines (their first show!) to Shonen Knife, BMX Bandits, The Go! Team and Camera Obscura.
Recorded over the course of six days with Jonny Scott (CHVRCHES), their self-titled debut album (out on Slumberland / Skep Wax on Sept. 26) is some of the most vital indiepop we’ve heard in years, bursting with boundless energy, youthful confidence, lively melodies and most importantly terrific tunes. From album opener (and first single) “Fabulist” to the heads-down rush of “October,” from the punk-ish thrill of “You” to the instant classic “I’m Not Sad,” The Cords have crafted a debut that handily transcends their influences and shows their firm grasp of all that makes great, timeless *pop*. By the time the dreamy slow-dance closer “When You Said Goodbye” rolls around you can’t help but have fallen in love with indiepop all over again, and the only thing to do is lift the needle, flip the record, and start it over.
TOUR DATES
20 Sept – Paris, FR – Paris Popfest w/ The Loft & Blueboy
25 Sept – Sheffield, UK – Sidney & Matlida
26 Sept – London, UK – The Betsey Trotwood
27 Sept – London, UK – Rough Trade East In-Store
29 Sept – Ramsgate, UK – Music Hall
30 Sept – Exeter, UK – The Cavern
01 Oct – Bristol, UK – The Croft
02 Oct – Coventry, UK – Just Dropped In
03 Oct – Manchester, UK – Kamera
04 Oct – Edinburgh, UK – Indiepop All Dayer at The Mash House
05 Oct – Glasgow, UK – Mono
13 Nov – Glasgow UK – The Hug and Pint w/ The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
26 Nov – Coventry UK – The Tin w/ The Primitives
27 Nov – Coventry UK – The Tin w/ The Primitives
The Cords
The Cords
(Slumberland / Skep Wax)
Street Date: Sept 26, 2025
Pre-order HERE
1 Fabulist
2 Just Don’t Know (How To Be You)
3 October
4 Vera
5 Doubt It’s Gonna Change
6 You
7 Bo’s New Haircut
8 I’m Not Sad
9 Yes It’s True
10 Weird Feeling
11 Done With You
12 Rather Not Stay
13 When You Said Goodbye
THE CORDS LINKS:
