There’s always been something ineffably tender about Pickle Darling’s music – an off-kilter ache, a half-buried memory, a melody that insists on being felt before it can be understood. With ‘Massive Everything,’ their first original music since a gorgeously unguarded Postal Service cover alongside The Beths in 2023, the Ōtautahi/Christchurch-based songwriter takes a step into full-blown pop maximalism — or at least their version of it.
“Maybe the first kind of ‘pop’ song I’ve ever made. And I think the most lyrically direct too, there’s no poetry or cleverness to it, I felt strongly about clear communication this time. I love Robyn, Ray of Light-era Madonna, Cher, Donna Lewis, I love those kinds of ‘empathetic’ pop songs that feel like a hug from a friend.” And it shows. ‘Massive Everything’ pulses with a bright, synthetic heart through lush synth beds and flickers of drum machine melancholy. It’s outwardly buoyant, but under the surface, there’s something deeply human. “Everyone has their own invisible pains that are unexplainable, and this is a love song that tries to include as much of that as possible,” Lukas reflects.
It’s a kind of radical intimacy: a love song not in spite of those interior shadows, but because of them. ‘Massive Everything’ marks the beginning of a new chapter for Pickle Darling, one that reaches toward bigness without losing the cracked, glinting beauty of their past work.
Stream / Download ‘Massive Everything’
‘Massive Everything’ Single Cover Art
The new single, ‘Massive Everything’ follows the playful and innovative celebration of indie music and digital creativity, from last month, NZ Music Month, when Pickle Darling (Lukas Mayo) along with visual artist Christiane Shortal released Pickle Darling: The Game, an immersive online experience.
The charming, nostalgia-driven game invites players to join Pickle Darling on a whimsical quest: tracking down their mysteriously lost album. Blending Mayo’s quirky musical sensibilities with Shortal’s distinctive visual artistry, Pickle Darling: The Game offers fans a delightful glimpse into the trials, tribulations, and sheer magic behind an indie album release.
The game features exclusive 8-bit renditions of beloved Pickle Darling tracks, including fan favourites ‘Bicycle Weather’, ‘King Of Joy,’ and ‘Invercargill Angel’. These uniquely reimagined versions were produced specifically for the game and will soon be available on TikTok and Instagram, encouraging fans to soundtrack their own online creations.
Play the game here: itch.io
PRAISE FOR PICKLE DARLING
“A clutch of tiny gems – many tracks hardly longer than a minute – but leaving you reeling…” – MOJO
“Pickle Darling’s music captures and inspires an intricate sense of wonder… with each new release Pickle Darling expands their charming sonic cosmos filled with vibrant, intimate bedroom-pop vignettes.” – Crack Magazine
“Pickle Darling explores mundane magic in the effervescent Laundromat.” – Still Listening
“Their third album is eccentric, fuzzy and really rather sweet… like The Shins doing Daniel Johnston songs.” – Hit The North
“A just reward for a musician who’s been on the cusp of a big breakthrough for several years now.” – ROLLING STONE AU/NZ
“Invercargill Angel” leaves plenty of space for the bedroom experimentation to expand in several directions at once before fading out to an ear-splitting hum.” – FLOOD MAGAZINE
“Pickle Darling looks to the sky, exploring outer space and elevating their songwriting prowess with a rounded-out sound and lyrics that combine specific moments with broader existential feelings.” – BANDCAMP DAILY
“Soothing and lyrically beautiful like Lomelda’s or Tomberlin’s ballads, with a nice lo-fi twinkle and alluring harmonies courtesy of Marcus Burton.” – STEREOGUM
“Teems with an infectious melancholy; curly synths and bittersweet melodies sing along with the tune and guitar, the result short but very, very sweet and leaving us eager to hear more.” – FLYING NUN
About Pickle Darling:
Pickle Darling (Lukas Mayo) is a well-known indie pop artist from Christchurch, known for blending heartfelt lyricism with whimsical melodies and dreamy lo-fi production. Celebrated for their introspective and deeply personal songwriting, Pickle Darling has become a beloved staple in Aotearoa’s indie music scene.
Check out Pickle Darling Online
