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Dutch collective Personal Trainer share their irresistible new single “Intangible,” the first taste of the band’s yet-to-be-announced second album, which will be released this summer via Bella Union. They’ve been quickly rising in the UK and Europe, and are sure to make a similar mark on US audiences in the months to come.
Personal Trainer create songs that sound like all your favorite indie rock luminaries jam-packed into big-beaming pop psalms. Willem Smit is the epicenter of the group, which originated from impromptu and exhilarating live shows featuring ever-shifting members of different local bands sharing a bustling stage. They released their first full-length LP, Big Love Blanket, towards the end of 2022. That album’s fresh pop sensibility and adventurous production values created excitable, bright, and bracing pop songs, all well-honed from the stage. Acclaim from the likes of Marc Riley on BBC Radio 6 Music, MOJO, Clash, DIY Mag, and Under The Radar followed, as well as a support slot with BC Camplight in 2023, and a slew of European, UK and US festival appearances.
New single “Intangible” erupts from a rising synth line into spry indie-funk pop, where Smit’s innate melodic instincts light the way into new and uncharted territory for Personal Trainer. As Willem explains: “I tried to make a song that is something I wouldn’t normally do and experiment with that. I like how it turned out because it’s also probably one of the first instances where I had the chorus first and the other parts later, which rarely happens.”
Listen to Personal Trainer’s “Intangible”
Next month Personal Trainer will hit the road with their labelmates Pom Poko for a co-headline tour which includes a performance at the Electric Ballroom in London. Summer festival appearances include Green Man, Lowlands and more. Their nascent state-of-flux has cemented into a steady seven-piece; along for the ride with Smit are Kilian Kayser (percussion), Leon Harms (drums), Mart Boumans (guitar/sax), Franti Maresova (guitars/vocals), Ruben van Weegberg (bass), and Abel Tuinstra (keys/synths), but Willem still welcomes the contrast with his recorded work. “When I make the record, it’s me calling the shots. But I can’t tell everyone exactly what to do every second when we’re on stage. There’s, like, shakers flying around or instruments being thrown all over the place, so I don’t have the capacity to control that. And that’s really exciting to me.”
Watch Personal Trainer Play Best Kept Secret 2023
Watch Personal Trainer Live At Katzwijm
Personal Trainer Tour Dates
Sat. Mar. 30 – Schijndel, NL @ Paaspop
Fri. Apr. 19 – Stoke, UK @ The Sugarmill *
Sat. Apr. 20 – Manchester, UK @ Canvas *
Sun. Apr. 21- Edinburgh, UK @ The Caves *
Tue. Apr. 23 – Leeds, UK @ The Wardrobe *
Wed. Apr. 24 – Bristol, UK @ The Beacon *
Thu. Apr. 25 – London, UK @ Electric Ballroom *
Fri. Apr. 26 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 *
Sat. Apr. 27- Nijmegen, NL @ Oranjepop
Thu. May 9 – Hasselt, BE @ Farm %
Fri. May 10 – Brussels, BE @ PILAR %
Sat. May 11 – Antwerp, BE @ Trix Bar %
Fri. Jul. 5 – Kraggenburg, NL @ Wilde Weide
Sat. Jul. 27 – Thirsk, UK @ Deer Shed Festival
Sun. Jul. 28 – Oxfordshire, UK @ Truck Festival
Sat. Aug. 10 – Lierop, NL @ Nirwana Tuinfeesten
Fri. Aug. 16 – Crickhowell, UK Green Man Festival
Sat. Aug 17 – Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands
Sun. Aug. 25 – Portsmouth, UK @ Victorious Festival
* w/ Pom Poko
% w/ Pip Blom
