South London five-piece Ain’t continue their ascent with the release of “Jude,” a reflective new single that further cements their reputation as a band to watch in the post-punk shoegaze scene. The track arrives on the back of a packed run of shows, including a well-received UK tour with Thus Love and standout performances at The Alternative Escape and Dot To Dot festivals.
“Jude” will also be released on a limited edition 7-inch vinyl alongside their earlier 2025 single, “Pirouette,” which garnered widespread praise upon its release. Both tracks are due out on Fear Of Missing Out Records on June 13th.
Recorded with producer Theo Verney (English Teacher, Lime Garden, Egyptian Blue), “Jude” sees Ain’t delving deeper into their distinctive sound, weaving together influences from ’90s guitar rock, post-punk, and shoegaze. The track features richly textured instrumentation, characterized by cyclical guitar riffs that build to a powerful, explosive chorus. Vocalist Hanna Baker Darch’s hook-driven lyrics on “Jude” dive into the theme of overthinking, capturing the struggle of analysis paralysis.
The single is accompanied by the new lyric video (below), showcasing live performance footage of the band.
From Pub Talk to Post-Punk Anthem
Speaking about the new release, vocalist Hanna Baker Darch revealed the origins of “Jude”: “George [Ellerby] wrote the main riff and named the song “Jude,” which reminded me of a pub called Jude the Obscure, where I went with a friend from university,” Darch explained. “He’s a brilliant writer and is doing a PhD in philosophy, but he channels his talents into relentless overthinking. Some of the lyrics reflect the bitter pints-deep tone of our conversations, which has been described as the dynamic of a witch-hag and her raccoon accomplice.”
Ain’t No Stopping Them Now
“Jude” and “Pirouette” arrive at a time of significant momentum for Ain’t. The band has spent the past year building a fervent word-of-mouth following, playing showcases for prominent platforms like So Young, Rough Trade, The Alt Escape, and The Windmill. Their first two singles, “Oar” and “Teething,” released last summer, solidified their promise and quickly earned them radio play from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music, Radio X, and Apple Music 1.
Both “Jude” and “Pirouette” have already become firm live favorites during Ain’t’s recent performances. Fans will get the chance to hear the band’s entire back catalogue, along with new material, at the band’s highly anticipated debut London headline show.
On the Road
Ain’t will take the stage at The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington next week on June 12th. This headline performance will be followed by a show in Brighton on June 18th supporting Northampton indie-punk outfit thistle at The Hope & Ruin, and a set at Dork’s celebratory 100th issue show alongside Lime Garden at The Sebright Arms in London on July 22nd.
Further tour dates are expected to be announced soon.
For more information and updates on Ain’t, follow them on Instagram and X.
