Peppy, lo-fi, and brimming with charm, Manchester’s newest college-rock duo, Succulents, have arrived with their joyful debut single, Underdog. Out now, the track is a vibrant mix of fuzzy riffs, candy-floss harmonies, and playful indie energy reminiscent of Yo La Tengo, The Pastels, and Belle and Sebastian.
Led by Laurie Hulme (formerly of Songs For Walter) and joined by vocalist and photographer Lucy Ridges, Succulents craft a warm, two-hander sound that feels both intimate and immediately infectious. Think plugged-in guitar hooks layered over soft, swooning melodies, with a motorik middle section that nods to krautrock without ever losing its lo-fi charm.
Hulme, known for his solo work Songs For Walter and Manchester four-piece Big Other, brings his signature hazy production and heartfelt songwriting to the table, while Ridges adds fresh energy and a sense of joyful togetherness that defines the duo. Their influences read like a love letter to indie’s golden era: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Field Mice, The Clean, The Courtneys, Comet Gain—all filtered through a lens of sunny nostalgia and playful immediacy.
Underdog came to life during a period of retreat and reflection. Expecting a child, Hulme relocated from the bustle of the city to the serene South Lakes, spending hours each day writing and playing guitar. The result is a song that captures both intimacy and restlessness—a snapshot of creativity thriving under unusual circumstances.
On the track, Hulme explains: “‘Underdog’ centres on a mischievous protagonist deliberately trying to provoke their partner, delighting in pushing buttons and watching the sparks fly. There’s a darkly playful edge, not unlike the gleeful antagonism of The Twits, wrapped in warm, fuzzed-out indie-pop textures.”
Originally an acoustic fingerpicking number, the song grew louder and bolder, with krautrock inspirations seeping in from Hulme’s time in kraut-punk band Chew Magna. Recorded in a South Manchester bedroom, the track was then lovingly polished by Hulme’s brother, Alex Hulme, turning the lo-fi beginnings into a richly textured, emotionally resonant debut.
This is just the first taste of a growing batch of unreleased Succulents songs, and if this one is anything to go by, there’s plenty more joy, mischief, and fuzzy indie magic to come.
Check out Underdog and keep up with the band’s first human-meets-tape-deck live shows on their Instagram: @succulentsband
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