The Tubs sign to Merge and detail new album, Hard Life

The announcement follows the band's signing to Merge earlier this year and sees them join the likes of Case Oats, Waxahatchee, and more. The Tubs, formed by singer Owen Williams, guitarist Dan Lucas, drummer Taylor Stewart, and bassist Max Warren, made their debut in 2023 with Dead Meat, which was followed by Cotton Crown in 2025.

"Who's Gonna Love You Now?" arrives as the first preview of the new collection of songs, of which Williams explains, “This is a sort of Northern Soul, Royal Headache influenced pop number with organs. The lyrics are from my scold persona - it’s a kind of anti-sexual freedom, pro-monogamy song. I sermonise that the other Owen will end up lonely and unhappy if he takes a grass is greener approach to life, moves to London and so on. I think the scold doesn’t live in London. Whereas I and the classic Tubs persona do.”

Hard Life features contributions from regular collaborators, including Lan McArdle (vocals), George Nicholls (guitar), and Rachel Kenedy (keys). The voice from previous albums continues, which Williams identifies as one “navel gazing about romantic abjection, London squalor, and the indignities of grief and OCD”, though from a more experienced perspective. “The second persona doesn’t have much time for the first,” he continues, “often haranguing him for his self-indulgence and immaturity; sometimes fairly, sometimes unfairly.”

“I’m interested in the way sympathy and patience for someone suffering always runs out eventually,” Williams adds. “How this can be a good and liberating thing as well as a sad and brutal thing. But mostly they’re just pop songs.”

Hard Life artwork

Hard Life tracklist

"Hard Life"
"Who's Gonna Love You Now?"
"If You Don't Love Me"
"Stoop to Me"
"Heaven or London"
"Didn't I Say?"
"Do Yourself a Favor"
"Now and Then"
"The Way It Goes"
"Hell"
"In Your Place"
"As Long as You Leave"