Leeds-based rock trio Default Mode Network return with ‘Chin Up Chuck’, a vibrant single that captures the band’s evolving sound while tipping its hat to some of rock’s most iconic legacies.
Blending bluesy grit, psychedelic flourishes, and indie-rock urgency, the trio have quickly carved out a distinctive identity, citing influences from the Pixies to The White Stripes and Nirvana. Their 2025 debut EP ‘Voids & Filaments’ introduced a raw, blues-driven intensity reminiscent of All Them Witches; now, their forthcoming 2026 EP ‘The Spilling Sap & Burning Branch’ expands their sonic palette, weaving Beatlesque melodies into their grunge-rooted foundation.
‘Chin Up Chuck’ began as a garage rock track but transformed after sessions on the historic Challen piano at Abbey Road Studios, the same instrument heard on The Beatles’ ‘A Day In The Life’ and ‘The Fool On The Hill’. The result is a spirited, fuzz-laden anthem that balances heavy guitars with bright, melodic charm, radiating spontaneity and warmth.
The single’s accompanying music video underscores the band’s playful personality. Filmed across Leeds and London, it features surreal scenes at Soif Studios with a “duck army,” alongside real-life footage of the band hauling 400 rubber ducks through the streets, a visual as whimsical as it is inventive.
With ‘Chin Up Chuck’, Default Mode Network continue to build momentum both locally and nationally. Their sound bridges eras, merging the experimental spirit of the 1960s with a contemporary psychedelic-grunge energy that feels expansive, vibrant, and unmistakably their own. As anticipation builds for ‘The Spilling Sap & Burning Branch’, the band reaffirms their knack for blending reverence with reinvention, delivering music that resonates across generations while boldly pushing forward.