Song of the Day: DMA's - Laced

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Laced” by DMA's from the 2015 Laced/So We Know 7" on Mom + Pop Music.

DMA's - Laced (MP3)

Drawing from two decades' worth of rock tangents – from college rock to Britpop to the '00s garage rock revival – DMA's have just as keen of a sense of hooks and pathos as their festival-slaying heroes. Formed in Newtown, Sydney, Australia by local staples Tommy O'Dell, Johnny Took and Matt Mason, DMA's (a shortened version of the band's original moniker, Dirty Ma's) started as one of many projects that the trio were involved in. However, when Aussie tastemaker label IOHYOU caught wind of some of the band's demos, they were brought in for an EP before heading out on a year's worth of buzzed-about gigs throughout 2014. In 2015, the band aimed their sight outside of Australia when they signed to Mom + Pop for a full-length debut (which is tentatively scheduled for next year) and a wide release of a second EP, this month's DMA's. "Laced" doesn't shy away from wearing its Britpop influences on its musical sleeve, but that's hardly a bad thing. Right after O'Dell belts "It's in my heart/it's in my head for you" in the pre-chorus, the band erupts into a phased-out explosion of melody. "Laced" is a fist-pumper of a single, no doubt, but more than that, it's an earnest swing at breaking out of Newtown for something bigger in a way that all but explicitly says, "next stop, Glastonbury." And with tunes like this, DMA's might just follow through on that prospect.

DMA's will make their first Seattle appearance on June 18th at Barboza, and that afternoon, they'll be live on KEXP at 1PM. Get tickets to that 21+ gig here, keep up with the band at their Facebook and Twitter, and watch the video for "Laced" below.