Deptford Sound Collective drops new single “Broke”

Coming out of South East London, Deptford Sound Collective has been quick to mark itself as a music project tackling pressing issues through sound. Operating as a fluid network of musicians, artists and activists, the collective creates songs that form at the crossroads of entertainment and social awareness. Their music is built on the belief that rhythm and responsibility can comfortably go hand in hand, inviting listeners to lose themselves in infectious grooves while encouraging reflection on the wider world.

Avoiding delivering messages through solemn lectures, Deptford Sound Collective favours humour, irony and vibrant sound, proving that thoughtful songwriting can be just as engaging as it is provocative. That missoin has shaped the group’s identity since their debut single, “Give Me. Give Me. Give Me, I Want It All,” introduced audiences to a project that approached complex ideas through colourful creativity. Wrapped in the bright aesthetic of 80s disco, the release used parody to examine themes of power, excess and public fascination, presenting its observations with wit as opposed to confrontation.

Their second release, “We All Need A Cat,” continued to develop that voice, expanding a catalogue that consistently treats music, visuals and presentation as interconnected parts of a wider artistic statement. Every release contributes to a developing conversation about culture, society and the people who shape it, while never forgetting the importance of creating songs listeners genuinely enjoy. It’s a balancing act that’s rapidly become central to the collective’s appeal and through a string of well-received releases, they’ve won over countless fans across the UK and beyond.

Now, Deptford Sound Collective returns with the sixth release in its growing series, unveiling “Broke,” a track that shifts its attention towards one of the defining realities of modern working life. Driven by bouncy rhythms and soulful melodies, the song explores the exhausting cycle of working poverty experienced by millions of people across the UK and around the world. “Broke” is the story of an ordinary individual whose daily routine has become defined by relentless work, where every day begins with another bike ride between multiple jobs, balancing three separate roles while still relying on welfare to make ends meet.

Despite constant effort, financial stability remains out of reach, leaving little room for relationships, friendships, relaxation or the simple pleasures that make life meaningful. Wrapped up in a buoyant soul pop soundscape, the track flows with playful piano lines and clicked percussive shots before the alluring vocal leads and stacks of backing voices form a stunning choir, the track glides with the patter of laid back drums and pulse of bass to serve up a grooving scene.

Filtering the song’s melancholic context through a joyous musical lens, “Broke” sees Deptford Sound Collective deliver a dazzling musical moment that’s infectious, original and thematically profound all at once. With “Broke,” Deptford Sound Collective continues to build a catalogue that uses music as a space for conversation and the release shines a light on the millions of people working two or three jobs while still struggling to survive, championing their experiences and demanding greater fairness and justice for those whose hard work too often goes unrewarded.

Listen to Broke below

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