Murkage Dave - Brut Thoughts (Album)

Picture Credit: Najda Stäubli

For more than a decade, Murkage Dave has carved out a singular space in UK music. Rooted loosely in pop but shaped by indie, outsider art and sharp storytelling, his work blends empathy with pointed social commentary. The approach has earned him a cult following and praise from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Iggy Pop, BBC Radio 6 Music and The Guardian. His 2018 debut Murkage Dave Changed My Life has amassed over 12 million Spotify streams, while 2022’s The City Needs A Hero broke into the UK charts.

His new album Brut Thoughts captures the mental noise of modern life against a fractured social backdrop. Across the record, Dave reflects on internet culture, overstimulation, the immigrant experience and political extremism, while holding onto the possibility of community and connection. Drawing inspiration from Talking Heads, The Smiths, Sampha and The Streets, the album was written across borrowed studios and living rooms in cities including London, Manchester, Berlin and Copenhagen.

Collaboration runs throughout the project, with appearances from James Smith of Yard Act, Kayus Bankole of Young Fathers, Ellery James Roberts of WU LYF and Lauren Auder. Highlights include the skewed love song “Brut Pop”, the millennial lament “Generation Left On Read”, the chaotic “Swordfight In A Chicken Shop” and the intimate “RNA”, which reflects on masculinity and grief.

Named after Jean Dubuffet’s Art Brut movement, Brut Thoughts embraces raw, unfiltered creativity. Written around the time of his father’s passing in early 2024, the album balances anger and disillusionment with a quiet sense of hope.