Personal Trainer sign to Bella Union and share new single, "The Feeling"

The new releases are two recordings of long-time live favourites that signify a fun departure from their debut LP Big Love Blanket’s pop flirtations. Epic 9-minute lead track “The Feeling” comes accompanied by a video directed by Giacomo Speyart utilising documentary-style footage he shot on a trip to China.

Just because Personal Trainer have become a relatively stable operation, doesn’t mean they have kicked their freewheeling spirit – on the contrary in fact. “It was a funny and different approach for us,” Smit says. “Normally I make the songs together with Casper (van der Lans) and we build everything up layer by layer, deleting things and adding them and putting things together. But with “The Feeling” and Babyolifantjes” (the Dutch word for “Baby Elephants”) I thought it would be fun for all of us to be in the studio together.”

Recorded at Katzwijm Studio with Daan Duurland, “The Feeling” and “Babyolifantjes” are basically candid glimpses of what Personal Trainer are as a live unit, save from some subtle overdubs here and there.

The signing to Bella Union marks a new and exciting chapter for Personal Trainer, who have been a tumultuous DIY-operation up until now. “It's funny: when we talked to (label founder) Simon Raymonde, I found out during our first conversation that he was in Cocteau Twins, the very first band my dad (John Cees Smit of Dutch indie legends Scram C Baby) ever saw live”, Smit enthuses. “I thought that was a funny idea too. It’s a nice, exciting new stage for the band. It feels like a new sequence of trying new things. I hope people discover Personal Trainer who might otherwise would never have heard of us.”

Additionally, following their recent sold-out headline show at The Garage in London and support shows with BC Camplight, Personal Trainer have announced news of a busy live schedule for 2024 including UK headline shows in late January and early February as part of International Venue Week and a co-headline tour in April with their new labelmates Pom Poko which includes a performance at the Electric Ballroom in London on 25 April.