Alternative Pop from Deptford Sound Collective

Hailing from South East London, Deptford Sound Collective is a project where music and social consciousness move in step. The collective operates as a fluid collaboration between musicians, artists and activists, linked by the belief that great songs can entertain while still asking meaningful questions. Their work embraces the idea that danceable rhythms and thought-provoking themes are far from mutually exclusive, creating music that encourages both movement and reflection without sacrificing either.

Through their sound, Deptford Sound Collective leans into humour, irony and uplifting musical aesthetic, allowing listeners to engage with serious ideas through colourful, memorable songs. It’s a style that values accessibility without diluting its purpose, proving that socially engaged music can still be playful, infectious and full of personality. That creative philosophy first came into focus with the debut single, “Give Me. Give Me. Give Me, I Want It All.” Wrapped in the shimmering vibes of 1980s disco, the release used parody to examine themes of excess, power and public fascination.

The collective continued to expand that vision with its follow-up release, “We All Need A Cat,” highlighting the idea that every Deptford Sound Collective release forms part of a wider artistic conversation. Music, visuals and presentation are treated as inseparable elements, each contributing to a larger dialogue about contemporary culture and the society that shapes it. As a result, the project has developed a growing audience drawn not just to its musical energy but also to its thoughtful and imaginative perspective.

Now the collective returns with perhaps its most direct statement to date, their latest single titled “#KissMyArse The Queer Fight Back.” The track arrives as a bold response to rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, using music as both celebration and resistance, transforming the dancefloor into a space for solidarity, presenting an unapologetic affirmation of dignity, inclusion and queer joy. The song was conceived as a direct musical response to Holly Valance’s controversial reworking of “Kiss My Arse,” a release that attracted widespread criticism for mocking the LGBTQ+ community.

Deptford Sound Collective uses its own track not simply as a rebuttal, but as an opportunity to reclaim the conversation and by not allowing mockery to dominate the story, the collective replaces division with unity, creating a song that celebrates determination and optimism. For the group, the single represents an important reminder that creative expression belongs to everyone and their response argues that if free speech protects controversial opinions, it equally protects the right to challenge prejudice through art. In that sense, “#KissMyArse The Queer Fight Back” is presented as an act of creative participation within an ongoing cultural conversation.

Wrapped up in a lively alternative pop sound, the song lands with with the bright stabs of staccato strings and shuffling percussion injects a slick forward motion. Led by commanding vocal leads carrying defiant lyricism via instantly catchy melodic leads, the track forms an infectious jam that’s enjoyable and thematically profound. Cut with danceable rhythms and anthemic choruses, the single sees Deptford Sound Collective deliver another epic display of their mission-focused sound that’s sure to make a meaningful impact around the world.

Commenting on the release, Deptford Sound Collective shares, “The fight back starts here at London Pride. We will not be silenced or shamed – we will dance, sing and march louder than ever.”

Listen to #KissMyArse The Queer Fight Back below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---