Following a series of critically acclaimed singles and standout festival appearances across Europe, the indie-pop four-piece have returned with “The Rules” — a shimmering, 80s-inspired pop duet that feels plucked straight from the soundtrack of a lost John Hughes film. Released July 25, 2025, the track is the latest preview of their debut album The Things You Don’t Know Yet, arriving October 3, 2025.
“The Rules” began life in the most unassuming way — via an “Islands in the Stream”-esque voice-note sent by guitarist Dave to the band’s WhatsApp group in December 2023. At the time, Adult Leisure were deep in a Blossoms phase and wanted to capture the dual perspectives of a relationship teetering on the edge. Fast-forward to early 2025, when the band brought in Jess Chivers to record guest vocals, transforming the track into a lush, heart-tugging duet.
Recorded and mixed by Ollie Searle at Humm Studios and mastered by John Webber (David Bowie, Duran Duran, Coach Party), “The Rules” marries rich, vibrant synths with glittering guitar lines, driving rhythms, and anguished vocals. It’s both modern and timeless — “exactly the pop-soaked song Dolly Parton would be losing her mind at,” says vocalist Neil Scott.
Listening to “The Rules” felt like being pulled under. The bass thumps with a heartbeat-like rhythm, steady but laced with urgency, while the drums lock in to create a tight, driving undercurrent that keeps the song moving forward. The guitars ring out in warm, glowing tones, sometimes sharp with tension, sometimes softened with melancholy. Lyrically, it feels like overhearing the last conversation before a relationship falls apart, the verses heavy with reflection, the choruses swelling with the inevitability of letting go.
From the first note you hear the 80s inspiration shining through, from the warm guitars and steady rhythm. The touch of Ollie Searle’s production, John Webber’s mastering, and Jess Chivers’ vocals brings the song to life, giving it a timeless quality that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
The single follows “See Her”, the band’s May 2025 collaboration with saxophonist John Waugh (The 1975, Sam Fender), as well as previous singles “Dancing Don’t Feel Right”, “Kiss Me Like You Miss Her”, and “Borderline”. The latter brought Adult Leisure their first national TV sync when it opened an episode of E4’s Made in Chelsea.
Industry support has been strong, with spins on BBC Radio 6’s Indie Forever Show and coverage from The Line of Best Fit, Pop Journal, Fresh on the Net, alongside prominent Spotify editorial placements.
The band’s live reputation continues to grow. This summer alone has seen them play VestRock Festival in the Netherlands and Paris’ Supersonic Block Party. Next up: Varanger Festivalen in Norway and Sweden’s Live At Heart Showcase.
October’s album release will be backed by a 12-date UK headline tour, starting at London’s Sebright Arms and ending at Liverpool’s Kazimier Stockroom. Along the way, they’ll hit Manchester’s Night & Day Café and cap things off with their biggest Bristol hometown headline yet, a show at the legendary Thekla. Tickets are available now via Bandsintown.
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Written by Ellie Norman
