40 Up 40 Down is the latest single from The Velvet Hands, a rising four-piece based in London. It’s packed with the hedonistic energy of the early 2000s indie heyday, making you feel like you’re crammed in a Camden club listening to the likes of Franz Ferdinand. Its punchy guitars combine with memorable vocals to form a track that revels in its sound without taking itself too seriously. “This track is about being made to feel worthless, but also finding worth in the fact that your friends feel the same way and that you’re not alone,” they say. “It has a lot of hope and is a really fun start to the album.” Their second album, Sucker Punch, is out now and the band are playing live around the UK in February 2023. -Dan Peeke.