Leeds band Tulpa emerged with a sudden spark, offering their single “PSYOPs” as an early look at their debut album Monster of the Week. The group had no previous releases, yet their mix of melodic vocals and textured guitars made an immediate impression. Their video for “PSYOPs” showcased the band’s dark, artful sound, and they marked the occasion with two album launch shows in Leeds and London.
Tulpa are a very new group, and until this year they had not released anything at all—not even a digital single. Even so, the band caught early attention from BBC6 Music hosts Marc Riley and Gideon Coe, who invited them in for a live session over the summer. Soon after, Skep Wax Records heard the finished album and chose to put it out.
The new single “PSYOPs” has a dark, gentle feel, with a melody that moves like a slow, eerie rhyme. The guitars form a soft mesh of sound that wraps around the vocals. While the song is calm, it still carries a strange, quiet tension under the surface.
The album includes earlier singles “Let’s Make A Tulpa!” and “Transfixed Gaze.” “Let’s Make A Tulpa!” is a bright, sharp pop song with a bold chorus. “Amateur Hour” offers a softer, more open vocal style, while “Raw Nerve” pushes the guitars into a fast, charged direction. Across the record, the band mixes warm lyrics with cool, clear vocal lines from singer and bassist Josie Kirk. The twin guitars from Daniel Hyndman and Myles Kirk build dense textures that shift from smooth to intense. Drummer Mike Ainsley adds steady, vivid rhythm that supports the group’s indie and post-punk edges.
Tulpa have already built a growing following at DIY festivals and small UK venues. They have supported Throwing Muses, Pale Blue Eyes, and Bug Club, and they continued with headline shows through October and November 2025.
Monster of the Week was recorded by Jamie Lockhart, known for work with The Cribs, Mush, and Drahla, at his new studio in the Highlands of Scotland.