Nottingham quartet Do Nothing have released their new single “The Nail,” marking the third preview of their second studio album, Friend World, set for release on November 6th via Submarine Cat Records.
Follow-up to previous previews from the LP, “The Nail” pairs funk-infused basslines with razor-sharp guitars and an infectious, singalong bridge. Written during the summer of 2024, the track tackles existential themes with the band’s trademark deadpan humour. Frontman Chris Bailey explained the song’s lyrical foundation,
The Nail took quite a while to come together, during sunny days in 2024 when the England men’s team was doing well in, but ultimately losing, the Euros. Lyrically, I’d say it’s talking about the idea of a higher power, and how tedious/boring it would be to be all holy and special all the time. It’s also a vague musing on my own sense of self, and the fun idea that a God would create someone a certain way, then condemn them for it.
The single arrives alongside an official music video directed by long-time collaborators Clump Collective. Shot in the Forest of Dean on a sweltering day during a solar eclipse, the clip captures the band driving through the countryside in a car with broken air conditioning, offering what Bailey calls “a fitting accompaniment to the song.”
Produced by Louis Milburn (Folly Group), Friend World serves as the follow-up to 2023’s debut Snake Sideways. Expanding their palette with synth textures and broader genre shifts, the 11-track LP balances self-deprecation and dark themes against a disarming sense of positivity inspired by comedian Andy Kaufman’s performance art.
To support the release, Do Nothing have revealed details of an autumn UK in-store tour alongside select dates supporting Yard Act across the UK and Europe. “The Nail” is streaming now across all major platforms, with Friend World available to pre-order via Submarine Cat Records.
