Relationships with a slant, to that cigarette between your fingers; anything can become a habit, and any habit can become toxic. Cue Debdepan’s “Habit” and its exploration of inadequacy and cyclical immobilization. Chelsea Tolhurst and Grace Bontoft share with listeners not only their first single in two years, but a taste of the duo’s sophomore EP Lovers & Others due November 2025 via Silent Kid Records.
For the Margate duo, their reintroduction is simple and sharp: craft an ideal backdrop to cut your teeth with, or from, an excessive indulgence.
“Habit” emerges from its muffled pulsation, replicating bubbling anxiety from a dim lit bathroom to a mask of confidence. The track’s sleek, dark pop production borrows gritter elements from several scenes from the early 2000s for an obsessive riff and punchy, dance cut.
Stoic vocals find joy throughout the course, which could be melancholic, but nonetheless seek clarity in its finale. The track’s visuals are secure in the dark, rather than fearful, for a sensory experience of wading through repetitive thoughts.
“This song is about feeling like you’re not good enough for someone and having to play it cool to win their affection, ” the band explains. “We wanted it to feel quite repetitive to signify how my thoughts kept circling. ‘You talk for hours’ is actually about the thoughts in my own brain.”
LIVE DATES
09/17 – Strongroom, Shoreditch
09/23 – Ramsgate Music Hall, (supporting The Wants)
09/30 – Green Door Store, Brighton, (supporting The Wants)
8/8 – Katzenclub, Munich (supporting Traitrs)
11/9 – Goldmarks, Stuttgart (supporting Traitrs)
11/11 – Hafenklang, Hamburg (supporting Traitrs)
11/12 – Slaughterhouse, Berlin (supporting Traitrs)
11/13 – Slaughterhouse, Berlin (supporting Traitrs)
11/16 – Dark Dance Treffen, Mannheim (supporting Traitrs)
12/11 – Signature Brew, Haggerston
Cover Photo: Martin Perry @martinperrystudio
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