Bingkai Karya – London band Dry Cleaning have released “Joy,” the fourth and final single from their upcoming third album, ‘Secret Love,’ set to arrive this Friday.
Following previously released tracks “Hit My Head All Day,” “Cruise Ship Designer,” and “Let Me Grow and You’ll See the Fruit,” “Joy” stands as an empathetic final note. Built from lyrics initially sourced from advertisements within the History of Food and Drink archive at Virginia Tech University, the song takes on the role of a gentle coach, offering warmth, optimism, and reassurance to those in need. Much like “Icebergs,” the closing track of their previous album ‘Stumpwork,’ “Joy” leaves listeners with a hopeful farewell: “Don’t give up on being sweet.”
Vocalist Florence Shaw shares that the song was shaped by her growing pessimism toward the world today, citing the rise of manosphere culture, ongoing violence in Palestine despite mass protests, the increasing influence of racist political movements in the UK, and the aggressive promotion of AI within art and music.
“I wanted to try and rekindle a desire to stay positive, to spread softness and empathy,” she explains. “The hopes in this song have a naïve, innocent quality.”
“Joy” arrives alongside a visualiser choreographed by BULLYACHE, starring band member Tom Dowse. Moving away from traditional narrative driven music videos, the visual project was designed as a more expressive and personal response to the music.
“We wanted to step away from long, impressionistic music videos and instead give ourselves, our friends, and our fans a way to respond physically and emotionally to the songs,” Dowse explains.
Inspired by the wide range of audience reactions at their live shows from pogoing and singalongs to quiet, solitary listening the band collaborated with BULLYACHE to create a unique movement set for each track on ‘Secret Love.’ These choreographies serve as an open invitation for listeners to interpret and embody the music in their own way, regardless of technical skill.
To celebrate the release of ‘Secret Love,’ Dry Cleaning will embark on a series of live out store performances across the UK, starting on release day, with shows in Brighton, London, Bristol, Leeds, and Nottingham. Album listening parties will also take place this week across the UK, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Mexico. In Indonesia, the listening event will be held at Millers Records Bali on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. A full European tour will follow this spring.
‘Secret Love’ represents the strongest expression yet of the deep friendship that defines Dry Cleaning between Florence Shaw, guitarist Tom Dowse, drummer Nick Buxton, and bassist Lewis Maynard. Rooted in South London, the quartet continues to refine their avant garde rock identity, blending early 1980s American punk paranoia with relaxed guitar textures, stoner rock undertones, dystopian atmospheres, playful no wave elements, and pastoral guitar lines. Shaw’s precise spoken word delivery places her firmly within a lineage that includes Laurie Anderson and Sue Tompkins of Life Without Buildings.
The album follows ‘New Long Leg’ (2021) and ‘Stumpwork ‘ (2022), both born from the band’s shared rehearsal space in Peckham. Secret Love evolved through collaborative studio sessions at Jeff Tweedy’s The Loft in Chicago, Sonic Studios in Dublin with Alan Duggan and Daniel Fox of Gilla Band, and final sessions at Black Box in the Loire Valley with Cate Le Bon, who was chosen for her openness and positivity.
“Being in the room with them and feeling the vitality and life energy between all four members was truly unique,” Le Bon says.
‘Secret Love’ is released this Friday, January 9, and will be available digitally, on CD, cassette, standard black vinyl, limited Apricot vinyl, and limited Pearl/Arctic vinyl editions.
Dry Cleaning – Secret Love
Formats: Standard black LP, Limited Apricot LP, Limited Pearl/Arctic LP, Limited JCD & CD
Tracklist
A1. Hit My Head All Day
A2. Cruise Ship Designer
A3. My Soul / Half Pint
A4. Secret Love (Concealed in a Drawing of a Boy)
A5. Let Me Grow and You’ll See the Fruit
B6. Blood
B7. Evil Evil Idiot
B8. Rocks
B9. The Cute Things
B10. I Need You
B11. Joy
DRY CLEANING TOUR DATES
9 January – BRIGHTON, UK, Chalk (Resident)
10 January – LONDON, UK, Rough Trade East
13 January – BRISTOL, UK, Strange Brew (Rough Trade)
14 January – LEEDS, UK, Brudenell (Crash)
15 January – NOTTINGHAM, UK, Metronome (Rough Trade)
7 April – BERLIN, GERMANY, Festsaal Kreuzberg
9 April – COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, Vega
10 April – HAMBURG, GERMANY, Mojo Club
11 April – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, Melkweg
13 April – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, AB Box
14 April – PARIS, FRANCE, Le Trianon
17 April – DUBLIN, IRELAND, Vicar Street
18 April – LIMERICK, IRELAND, Dolan’s
20 April – CARDIFF, UK, Tramshed
21 April – BIRMINGHAM, UK, XOYO
22 April – LONDON, UK, O2 Academy Brixton
24 April – GLASGOW, UK, SWG3 TV Studio
25 April – MANCHESTER, UK, New Century Hall
30 April – CHICAGO, IL, USA, Thalia Hall
1 May – TORONTO, CANADA, Concert Hall
2 May – MONTREAL, CANADA, Foufounes Électriques
3 May – HUDSON, NY, USA, Basilica Hudson
5 May – BOSTON, MA, USA, Paradise Rock Club
6 May – PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA, Union Transfer
7 May – BROOKLYN, NY, USA, Brooklyn Steel
8 May – WASHINGTON, DC, USA, Howard Theater
10 May – NASHVILLE, TN, USA, Basement East
12 May – OMAHA, NE, USA, Slowdown
13 May – DENVER, CO, USA, Meow Wolf
15 May – SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA, Kilby Block Party
16 May – BOISE, ID, USA, Shrine Ballroom
17 May – PORTLAND, OR, USA, Wonder Ballroom
18 May – SEATTLE, WA, USA, Showbox
20 May – SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, August Hall
21 May – LOS ANGELES, CA, USA, The Belasco
22 May – SAN DIEGO, CA, USA, Casbah
24 July – SOUTHWOLD, UK, Latitude Festival
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