Worldpeace DMT’s “Stick Around for Tea” Defies Laptop‑Twee Expectations

The band name Worldpeace DMT initially suggested a particular aesthetic, leading me to expect lo‑fi, art‑school‑styled music. In fact, their 2023 debut album The Velvet Underground & Rowan was a catchy, sample‑based pop record that placed Leo Fincham and Rowan Miles at the forefront of the so‑called laptop‑twee scene.

Tracks such as “Love Yourself” combine acoustic guitar strums, deep digital bass, cascading video‑game sounds, and childlike singsong vocals, offering a livelier contrast to more subdued styles. While it could be viewed as a brighter take on Bassvictim — favoring Go! Team over Crystal Castles — Worldpeace DMT chose not to cement themselves in that niche. This summer they released the Flowers Powers mixtape, an upbeat indie‑pop collection that includes a cover of “Big Yellow Taxi” and several songs centered on Jesus.

The new album *Stick Around for Tea* opens with a track reminiscent of Belle & Sebastian. Fincham sings, “School is out and I never liked it anyway, stupid exams, I could never get straight A’s,” over stately piano chords and whimsical violin, followed by “Do you play guitar? Do you like rock ’n’ roll? We can start a band; I’m trying to prove my parents wrong.”

This concept album explores childhood, with “School’s Out!” serving as both an origin story and a shy anthem. The more upbeat “Love You Too” revisits some digital effects without fully embracing them, while the emphasis on live band instrumentation persists. On “Gabriel,” the group channels Los Campesinos! with the smiling refrain, “The world is a better place with you in it! Go out and be your best self! We love you, Gabriel!”

The record blends diverse elements: a string‑quartet‑backed ballad about rock‑star dreams titled “Stratocaster,” a droning twee dirge named “Tiny Speakers,” and a lively gang‑vocal track about spiritual searching called “Ringtone.” In short, it offers a rich musical tapestry. Listen below.

Stick Around For Tea is now available.

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