Dirty Nice is Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared composer Charlie Pelling’s musical project, with Lisbon based musician Mark Thompson. Pelling is fast becoming the go to composer in the UK comedy scene working with the likes of 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Sam Campbell and BAFTA winner Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats, Fleabag).

New album Surrenderland (due 3rd November 2023 on Chiverin Records) is both a physical place in time and also a state of mind. It acted as a guiding principle for the making of the record, leaning into their instincts and interests, with both the cartoon visuals and the music influencing each other’s processes. Charlie & Mark wanted to follow the fun with this album, not overthinking and naturally letting their love for noughties indie influences creep in. The body of work this led to is a vibrant and joyous celebration of acceptance in one’s self, exploring themes of growing up without stifling the inner child and giving yourself over to the people around you wholeheartedly. Surrenderland is being yourself.

In an age where every band/artist has to also be a content creator Charlie & Mark decided to lean into their interests of cartoons and comedy. In the last year they have amassed a cult online following into the hundreds of thousands across Tiktok and Reddit for their creative animations, further expanding the weird and wonderful world of Dirty Nice that all began with the music.

Surrenderland is the follow up to 2021's debut Lobster which won the band fans across all media, with synchs on Playstation games (Pro Evo, Gran Tourismo) and TV programmes (Love Island, Made in Chelsea) backed up by critical acclaim at press (MTV, i-D, The Independent, The Times, Notion, Wonderland, Complex, DIY, Clash, DORK Magazine, The Line of Best Fit) and radio (Jack Saunders on Radio 1, Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins on BBC Radio 6 Music). Even Florence Pugh has come out as a fan of Dirty Nice while speaking on the VOGUE podcast.