Pickle Darling Unveils Delightful New Single ‘Congratulations Champion’

Pickle Darling has unveiled a fresh single titled “Congratulations Champion.” This track draws from a series of one-liners curated by Lukas Mayo, the creative force behind Pickle Darling, stored on their phone.

Mayo explained, “This one collects a bunch of standalone lines I’ve had on my phone. Some songs serve as timestamps for me; this one has numerous elements that refer back to specific moments in 2022. During that time, I was deeply immersed in R.E.M., and I love melodies that fit together seamlessly.”

About the New Single

“Congratulations Champion” is part of Pickle Darling’s forthcoming album, Bots. Previously known as Battlebots, this album is being hailed as their most intricate and beautifully chaotic work to date.

It follows earlier singles like “Violence Voyager,” “Human Bean Instruction Manual,” and “Massive Everything,” which provide insights into the album’s experimental and emotionally complex themes.

Exploring Bots

In Bots, described as their most fragmented and sonically wild project yet, Mayo took their computer to its operational limits. Some tracks were layered extensively until they were unplayable, with a few even abandoned. This collapse reflects the record’s themes of emotional disarray, creative tension, and the unique beauty found in decay.

Since debuting in 2019 with Bigness and following up with Cosmonaut in 2021, Mayo has built an intimate catalog that showcases unexpected nuances crucial to their sound. Their 2023 LP, Laundromat, offered a refined and polished extension of this universe, resonating with a glass-like purity.

Live Performances

To celebrate the release of Bots, Pickle Darling will host a brief series of intimate in-store performances across Aotearoa, featuring solo guitar presentations.

Additional Projects

This new music arrives alongside the launch of Pickle Darling: The Game, a retro-inspired video game created with Shortal. Players delve into a DIY pixel-art realm in search of a lost album, all while enjoying 8-bit variations of Pickle Darling songs such as “Bicycle Weather,” “King of Joy,” and “Invercargill Angel.”

Pickle Darling’s “Congratulations Champion” is available now, and Bots will be released on September 5.

Pickle Darling Shows

Friday, September 5th
Slowboat Records, Wellington – 4.30pm

Saturday, September 6th
Flying Out, Auckland – 2.00pm

Thursday, September 11th
Penny Lane Records, Christchurch