congratulations announce debut LP Join Hands; share new single/video 'This Life'

Brighton-based four-piece congratulations will release their debut album Join Hands, February 13, 2026 via Bella Union. It is a high-powered, fast-paced 10 track collection of unbridled, intensely groovy indie dance rock and a bright-eyed plea to hang up your worries and let the good times roll. Composed of Jamie Chellar on guitar, Greg Burns on bass, James Gillingham on drums and Leah Stanhope on vocals, the quartet is meticulous in their debauchery, diligently balancing ‘80s pop, ‘00s indie, and a modern-day rock experimentalism into something both deliciously nostalgic and firmly of-the-now.

Strapped with fuzzy guitar licks, electro-clash synth melodies and just the right amount of cowbell, art-pop lead single ‘This Life’ is a bombastic ode to first world problems, and that feeling of losing at life before you’ve ever gotten out of bed. Leah sings of cutting her bangs too short and a listless feeling of 2020s ennui while Jamie’s gargantuan guitar riffs punctuate her words.

Known for not revealing their lyrics, Leah offers one interpretation, “‘This Life’ is an ode to being delusional—you know, people who moan about having the worst time but like in reality like they’ve got a roof over their heads and food to eat, and ultimately, it’s not that deep.” Jamie adds, “The chorus was inspired by Prince, especially the album Parade. I took such care to make sure the funky guitar had those cutting edges Prince could get, like on “I Wonder U”. The song is about the toll day to day life can have on us, we’re all living in our worlds and trying to do our best, but sometimes that’s not enough.”

Clad in primary colour uniforms (the sobriquet “punk rock Power Rangers” has been lobbed in their direction on several occasions), and writing songs about delusional millennials, shadowy boogeymen and really good haircuts, congratulations have made a short-yet-dazzling career of never taking themselves too seriously—in fact, they might be the band who take not taking themselves seriously the most seriously ever.

Produced by Luke Phillips (experimental Bella Union pop artist ICEBEING), congratulations bring a youthful modern touch to their deep appreciation of 1980s pop music, citing Prince, Madonna, and Devo as core references. Join Hands is the magical result when four unique individuals with a shared creative vision come together and make something bigger than themselves. It’s like the uniforms—sure, they look great onstage, but in a weird way, they’re also a metaphor for how the band operates, four musicians delighting in finding their common ground. “There’s no point in us trying to all wear the same thing because all of us are so different,” says Jamie with a laugh. “It’s exactly the same in songwriting, isn’t it?,” posits Leah. “We’re never going to agree, are we?”

“Yeah,” concludes Jamie, “But somehow, it works.”

Join Hands: