New music from Deptford Sound Collective

Out of South East London, Deptford Sound Collective arrives like an open-ended idea built as a fluid network of musicians, artists and activists, the project operates with a shared mission, where music becomes a tool for something larger. Their output sits within the overlap between art and activism, shaped by a desire to confront global civil rights abuses while still engaging listeners in an engaging way.

That intent runs through everything they do; sound, visuals, timing, each element is considered as part of a wider statement, resulting in a form of protest music that offers a sense of levity. There’s a deft balance between nostalgia and disruption, where the past is referenced not for comfort, but as a way to sharpen the message. Last month, their debut single, “Give Me. Give Me. Give Me, I Want It All,” introduced their vision with a track that jumped into the aesthetics of 80s disco, playful and stylised, but underneath sits something far more profound.

Framed as a parody, it used humour and irony to explore themes of power and excess, turning the idea of admiration on its head. At the centre of the track is an imagined scenario: Donald Trump facing his own reflection, only to see a Madonna lookalike staring back. The collective responds not with praise, but with a sharp critique, highlighting ego and greed through a lens that feels both absurd and revealing, a concept that plays with spectacle, positioning politics as performance while exposing the contradictions within it.

Now, with their brand new sophomore single titled “We All Need to Get a Cat,” the focus shifts, but the underlying intent remains. This time, Deptford Sound Collective explores themes of love, loss and mental health through a more personal framework, drawing from a real-life story, centred on Aki, a six-month-old rescue kitten who entered the lives of two members following the loss of their dog.

Aki becomes a presence that disrupts grief, not by replacing what was lost, but by introducing something new and the image of the kitten moving through a South London flat, curious and constantly demanding attention, brings a sense of movement back into a space that had been defined by absence. The track launches with the uptempo pulse of impactful drums and bright pips of staccato synth lines before the swell of instrumentation brings in soulful vocal leads, painting vivid scenes which play out on screen in the music video.

Aki is framed almost as a character in his own right, slipping between moments of mischief and quiet companionship. Taking listeners on a cinematic voyage soundtracked by another slice of instantly catchy synth pop music, with “We All need to get a Cat,” Deptford Sound Collective presents another superb jam. Going from strength to strength on their second outing, the band confirms their status as a collective in constant motion, using music to respond, reflect and reach outward all at once.

Commenting on the background behind the release, the band’s main duo shares, “We lost our dog, and it hit us hard. Then Aki turned up from the rescue centre and basically forced us to get out of bed, laugh again, and remember life can still have joy (and a lot of fur on the sofa). This song is our thank-you letter to him—and to every cat quietly saving someone’s sanity right now.”

Watch the music video for We All need to get a Cat below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---