hard life write chipper ditties with woozy undertones, as if they’re trying to dance their way out of a bad hangover. Formed in Leicester in 2017 as easy life, this five-strong gang of multi-instrumentalists layer samples and live instruments to create a rolling alt-rock/hip-hop hybrid that’s rooted in deep funk, but has an irresistible pop core. They pepper their artful mixtapes with frank language and deep, deep bass, and the music provides a giddy backdrop for singer Murray Matravers to spin his deftly worded tales of insomnia (“Nightmares”), lazy love (“Sunday”), and the joy of obsessive relationships (“Sangria”).