Murkage Dave returns with new single ‘Swordfight In A Chicken Shop’and announces tour dates
"With his matter-of-fact stream-of-consciousness lyrics, Dave stresses the pertinence of human connection" - Rolling Stone
Murkage Dave makes his striking return with ‘Swordfight In A Chicken Shop’, a vivid new single that captures the chaos and confusion of modern life. Produced by Tim London (Young Fathers), the track features vocals from Kayus Bankole (Young Fathers), Ellery James Roberts (WU LYF) and Lauren Auder, as well as Bournemouth Hope Youth Choir. The track comes alongside the announcement of headline shows in London and Manchester.
Driven by a brooding, pulsating rhythm, ‘Swordfight In A Chicken Shop’ mirrors the cacophony of everyday existence. In the song’s haunting chorus, Dave trades lines with a children’s choir chanting his name, questioning his state of mind. It’s both satirical and sincere, a snapshot of millennial struggle, battling intertwinning pillars of information overload, the horrors of the timeline and the broken social contract millennials have to navigate.
Of the track, Dave says:
“It’s a song about what my life is like. In the street and on my phone. The promise of the nineties and the noughties never came true. But yet I’m still compelled to play the game.”
Beyond his songwriting, Murkage Dave continues to shape culture as a tastemaker. His Refuge Worldwide radio show, ‘The Outlet’, reconnects him with his DJ roots, blending his influences and unreleased songs from friends and collaborators. This instinct for curation has long defined him: from his cult Manchester club night Murkage Club, to Tonga, the raucous touring party he co-founded with friend and collaborator Mike Skinner.
Musically, Murkage Dave occupies a space between outsider-pop and sharp social commentary, crafting cathartic storytelling that reflects the world around him inspired by Talking Heads, Sampha, The Smiths, and The Streets. A fearless observer of modern British life, he’s unafraid to speak his mind, often weaving his social beliefs and political views into his work. Earlier this year, he made a storm with his track ‘Old White Miserable & Rich’, taking aim at the rise of Reform UK and its figureheads, “a message for Nigel Farage, the Reform party and their American sugar daddies”.
Born and raised in Leytonstone, East London, Dave grew up immersed in garage and R&B, before relocating to Manchester where he absorbed the city’s indie scene while running genre-defining club nights. His debut album Murkage Dave Changed My Life (2018) has amassed over 12 million streams on Spotify alone, while his second LP The City Needs A Hero (2022) debuted at #10 on the UK iTunes Chart and #15 on the UK Independent Chart, earning widespread critical acclaim.
Dave’s collaborators include Caroline Polachek, salute, Skepta, Tricky, and The Streets, among others. His work has drawn praise and support from Pharrell Williams, Iggy Pop, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 1, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The Face, Pitchfork, Clash, Complex, Highsnobiety, Vogue, Notion, The Fader, NTS Radio, and more.
‘Swordfight In A Chicken Shop’ is released via The Outlet, Dave’s new imprint on !K7 Music.
Stream 'Swordfight In A Chicken Shop' here.
Murkage Dave Live
19 Mar - London, Village Underground - Tickets
20 Mar - Manchester, YES - Pink Room - Tickets
Tickets will be available on general sale from 10am Friday 31 October. Fans can access the presale from Wednesday by joining Dave’s mailing list here.
Murkage Dave Online
