Man/Woman/Chainsaw Curates ‘HITS Workout’ Playlist for The Cover Launch

NME’s featured artists Man/Woman/Chainsaw have assembled an exclusive “HITS Workout” playlist to accompany their story debut. Give it a listen below.

This south‑London six‑piece appears in the June 15 edition of The Cover, NME’s weekly showcase of emerging talent from around the world. Their profile, written by Lisa Wright with photography by Phoebe Fox, highlights the band’s evolution and sound.

Alongside the feature, Man/Woman/Chainsaw have selected tracks from Confidence Man, FKA twigs, My Chemical Romance, Nirvana and others to keep listeners energized in the gym. The full playlist is available on Spotify and Apple Music.

Man/Woman/Chainsaw began as experimental teens, drawing inspiration from bands like Black Midi, who turned unconventional instruments into mainstream success. In recent years the group has embraced a more melodic approach, allowing their quirky instincts and pop sensibility to coexist.

“I used to feel desperate to be outrageous as a kid, but now it’s just chill to be chill,” says vocalist and bassist Vera Leppänen. “We’re not chasing Top 40 formulas; we never sat in a practice room saying, ‘Let’s write a four‑chord pop song now.’” Singer‑guitarist Billy Ward adds, “We still make unexpected choices, because great pop often comes from the things you wouldn’t expect. But we’re not doing weird for weird’s sake any more.”

The duo’s partnership started in 2019 when they were just 14. A few years later they formed Man/Woman/Chainsaw, surrounded by a fluid lineup of friends playing various instruments. Pianist Emmie‑Mae Avery joined after seeing the band’s early gig and was invited to “hop on and play some keys,” a role she has kept ever since.

By 2023 the lineup solidified with guitarist Billy Doyle, drummer Lola Cherry and violinist Clio Starwood, creating a stable sextet. “Before our 2024 single ‘Ode to Clio’ we were all soloing over each other—a mish‑mash of parts,” Avery recalls. “That track felt like a song for the first time, not just a bunch of people playing together.”

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