It’s been a very busy couple of days for the Leeds’ musical collective Living Body. Yesterday they released their brand new single, ‘NO DEBT’ and today they embark upon an 11 date tour of the UK which will end in their home town at Wharf Chambers on the 25th of November (full dates below).
‘NO DEBT’, Living Body’s second single of 2023, is inspired by the US president’s campaign pledge to eliminate student debt and its subsequent crumbling under the weight of right-wing and corporate influence. In its simplest sense, ‘NO DEBT’ is a song about how all education should be free, as songwriter Jeff T. Smith – originally from Chicago, Illinois, but now living in Leeds – elaborates:
“The commodification of education creates schisms whereby capitalism deems certain types of learning as more valuable, while others are told by the UK prime minister to “retrain or find other jobs”. Whether it be neuroscience, engineering, queer theory or 17th century textiles, there is inherent value in expanding the overall breadth and scope of human knowledge. Much in the way that no one should be in debt for receiving health care, no one should be in debt for learning something, anything!“
‘NO DEBT’ includes vocals by Living Body’s Jeff T. Smith and Alice Rowan, with additional vocals from friends Chrissy Barnacle (Come Outside) and Jamie Lockhart (Mi Mye), as well as a flugelhorn section from Emily Ingham (Mi Mye). All other instrumentation, songwriting, singing, mixing, mastering and production by Jeff T. Smith at his studio in Leeds, AKA ‘The Bungalow.’
Here is the live version of ‘NO DEBT’ – filmed at Echelon Coffee Roasters in Leeds, which was released on October 31st alongside the studio single:
Following summer tour support shows with Owen (Mike Kinsella of American Football), Holiday Ghosts and Dolores Forever, the band are touring as a five-piece with two drummers, honing their inimitable blend of blissful synthpop and harmony-driven, groove-laden indie/pop/math/shoegaze with their new single, a future classic in the up-and-coming genre of debt-abolition-rock.
Lead by immigrant songwriter Jeff T. Smith (f.k.a. Juffage) the band’s current live lineup includes Alice Rowan (Mayshe-Mayshe), Sarah Statham (Crake, Fig By Four), Annie Prior (Parker Lee) and Matt Simpson.
Tour dates:
NOVEMBER
1: Brighton – the Prince Albert (w/ Perch)
2: London – New Cross Inn (w/ Rubie & Winifer Odd)
3: Birmingham – the Victoria (w/ Overcliff)
4: Bristol – the Exchange (w/ Lifter)
16: Newcastle – Cumberland Arms (w/ Waves of Dread, Madeleine Smyth)
17: Glasgow – Glad Cafe (w/ Come Outside) 18: Stockton-on-Tees – Georgian Theatre (w/ Walt Disco, Gallus, Mi Mye, etc)
22: Salford – the Eagle Inn (w/ Real Terms, Oort Clod)
23: Liverpool – Kazimier Stockroom (w/ Real Terms)
24: Nottingham – JT Soar (w/ Real Terms, Kaliugah)
25: Leeds – Wharf Chambers (w/ Real Terms, Jooloosooboo)
Photo credit: Matthew Sturgess