Track of the Week ★★★★★

Swindled – Endless Depression and Sexual Fantasies
Out now

If there was ever a title destined to raise eyebrows and start conversations, it’s Endless Depression and Sexual Fantasies. But beneath the brilliantly over-the-top name, Sunderland’s Swindled have delivered something far more substantial – a four-minute indie epic that confirms why they’re being tipped as one of the North East’s most exciting bands to watch in 2026.

This isn’t a quick-hit single designed to flicker past your ears. It builds. It swells. It lands. And by the time the final chorus kicks in, you’re fully in its grip.

At its core, the track is a tongue-in-cheek reflection on teenage melodrama – those years when every crush feels life-altering, every setback catastrophic, and every thought dialled up to eleven. Frontman Jonny Swindle delivers the lyrics with deadpan sincerity, which only makes the self-awareness hit harder. It’s sharp without being cynical, affectionate without being sentimental. You can hear the grin behind the seriousness.

Musically, this is Swindled at their most locked-in. Glittering guitars shimmer over a driving rhythm section, while sky-high harmonies burst through like a victory lap. There’s theatre in the DNA – that much is obvious – but it’s never gimmicky. Instead, it feels deliberate, controlled, and confident. The dynamics ebb and flow beautifully, giving the track a cinematic quality that sets it apart from standard indie fare.

What really makes the single soar, though, is the chemistry between brothers Jonny and Will Swindle. Jonny’s razor-edged lyricism meets Will’s instinctive sense of melody, and together they craft choruses that beg to be shouted back in a sweaty venue. There’s a sense they’ve grown into their sound – not chasing trends, but refining their own brand of art-pop swagger.

After a breakthrough 2025 – including sold-out hometown shows in Sunderland and festival slots at Kendal Calling and Lindisfarne – Endless Depression and Sexual Fantasies feels like the moment where potential turns into intent. This is a band who know exactly who they are now.

It’s bold. It’s dramatic. It’s a little absurd – on purpose. And it absolutely works.

Swindled aren’t easing into the year. They’re kicking the doors open.

5/5. Track of the Week. Sunderland’s art-pop renegades have never sounded sharper.