All you wanted from 2025 was a reflective ensemble of bouncy dream pop, hey? KAWALA have gone and granted your wish. The north London five-piece — traditionally for fans of Circa Waves, Vistas and Sea Girls — have come together to deliver a nine-track mini-album via EMI Records, simply yet aptly dubbed, ‘KAWALA Collection’*.

The material includes the hugely popular singles that preceded the full tracklisting; that’s the jangly, zingy opener ‘Time Slipping Away’, the mellow ‘What’s Up’ and the softly-does-it ‘Old Me’ (written by Ed Nash from Bombay Bicycle Club). And of course, we’ve also enjoyed the Tom Misch-esque ‘I Feel You’, as well as ‘American Adrenaline’, prior to this wholesale release. The latter’s a sort of Glass Animals and Foster The People hybrid in one-tune form, and it rounds off the album deftly, leaving a very sweet taste in the mouth.

But the full works goes beyond that. How? Well, for starters, ‘Good Morning’ is sugary indie-pop at its purest. Those muted guitar strings and chunky major chords give it this bubbly, cutesy feel, while the drum beats make your hips shake. There’s no denying the rhythm when that kicks in! Yet, if you’re all about the fast-paced, gym playlist bops that just happen to spur you to work harder, sync up with ‘Make A Difference’. You can let loose here — like the lyrics suggest — and those picked-string strums are just delicious. 

Further still, as upbeat, vibrant tunes are KAWALA’s MO, you can bet that’s evidenced expertly on ‘Honeycomb’; a song as delectably titled as it sounds. Yet more in their locker that positions them as a band synonymous with summer vibes. 

So, grab your earphones or speakers and start spinning KAWALA’s divine new offerings now. Then thank me later. Why not also consider treating yourself to tickets to their final tour, commencing this February, while you’re at it?

If you only download one track, let it be: ‘Time Slipping Away’

*With thanks to Chuff Media for the advanced stream.