It's publication week for my novel, The Tunnels! I'm very happy to say that I'll be celebrating its release on Thursday February 26th by DJ-ing at the Heavenly and Sassyhiya gig at The Lexington on Thursday. It's sold out, but see you there if you have a ticket.

Tonight!

Delighted to see that my debut novel, The Tunnels, has been reviewed in the Financial Times! You can buy a paperback here - secretname.co.uk/secretshop.h... - or preorder the Kindle version here - amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GMKS8KK2

Tonight! C86 Special at The Great North Wood in West Norwood. 7pm to midnight. www.howdoesitfeel.co.uk/c86.html

Very happy to say that my novel The Tunnels is available from these fine shops. Or you can order directly from us here - secretname.co.uk/secretshop.h...

Finally getting around to the backlog of HDIF podcasts. Here's the one from last November. Dec, NYE and Jan to follow soon. This was a fun night. It flew by! www.mixcloud.com/hdif/hdif-at...

Tonight! The next HDIF at The Phoenix is on Saturday January 17th and it's a Talking Heads special. We'll be playing lots of Talking Heads hits and fan favourites, alongside our usual mix of indie pop and soul. howdoesitfeel.co.uk/thephoenix.h...

Photos of HDIF NYE are up now! www.howdoesitfeel.co.uk/dec312025a.h...

HDIF dates for 2026.

Thanks to @londonist.com for printing an extract from my book! londonist.com/london/books... If you haven't got a copy yet you can order one here - www.secretname.co.uk/secretshop.h...

Tickets flying out for both of our NYE parties now. HDIF Family Disco Pretend NYE Party on Sunday Dec 28th at @ThePhoenix_W1 and HDIF New Year's Eve Party at @SignatureBrewE8 Grab one while you can! Pretend NYE - wegottickets.com/event/660902/ HDIF NYE - wegottickets.com/event/645966/

1/ I have some news! I've written a novel. It's called The Tunnels and it's a "suburban science fantasy ghost story". If you like Douglas Adams, Kurt Vonnegut and Martin Millar, then this will hopefully be for you. It's being published by Secret Name books on Feb 26 2026. @bookspotlight.bsky.social

Today's single is You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends by The Wedding Present, which was released on July 11th, 1986. The perfect Wedding Present single, with the perfect Wedding Present sleeve.

Today's single is Radio Free Europe, which was released on July 8th, 1981. Mad to think that this all-time classic debut single was released 44 years ago!

Today's single is Rockin' With Rita by The Vindaloo Summer Special, which was released on July 7th, 1986. Ted Chippington, The Nightingales and Fuzzbox join forces for this seaside smash. You sure can't beat it, oh no.

Today's single is The Walk by The Cure, which was released on June 27th, 1983. What a wonderful single - strange, spiky, weird, even by The Cure's standards, synth pop pushed to breaking point.

The new HDIF podcast is up now! www.mixcloud.com/hdif/hdif-at...

Today's single is Playgirl by Ladytron, which was released on June 26th, 2000. Amazing to think that this sleek, futuristic beauty is actually 25 years old.

The next HDIF is this Saturday June 21st and it's a 1985 special. We'll be playing our favourite indie songs from 1985, alongside our usual mix of indie and soul, plus songs for Brian Wilson and Sly Stone. The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square, London, 9pm-2am. howdoesitfeel.co.uk/thephoenix.h...

Today's single is Holding Our Breath by Slowdive, which was released on June 3rd, 1991. Beautiful, glacial, intoxicating - and it hasn't aged a day.

Today's single is Malibu Beach Nightmare by Hanoi Rocks, which was released on May 30th, 1988. Often wrong tagged as hair metal, Hanoi were a wondrous collision of 60s girl groups, 70s punk and 80s power pop. The first band I ever saw live and I still love them dearly.

Photos of the two most recent HDIFs are up now. April - www.howdoesitfeel.co.uk/april192025a... May - www.howdoesitfeel.co.uk/may172025a.h...

Today's single is Almost Prayed by The Weather Prophets, which was released on May 26th, 1986. Chiming guitars, perfect pop, a total classic.

Today's single is I've Got It And It's Not Worth Having by Boyracer, which was released on May 17th, 1993. The noisiest single ever to be released on Sarah records? Brilliant acerbic blast of punk nose that reminds me, oddly, of early Fontaines DC.

Today's single is Legal Man by Belle And Sebastian, which was released on May 16th, 2000. Happy 25th birthday to this dancefloor smash!

Today's single is So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry), which was released on May 15th, 1984. Absolutely glorious. The best song from my favourite R.E.M. album.

Today's single is I'm Hardly Ever Wrong by The Would Be's, which was released on May 14th, 1991. An enchanting mix of indie jangle, brass and the gorgeous voice of Julie McDonnell this felt to me like an Irish answer to The Sundays.

Today's single is Just Got Lucky by JoBoxers, which was released on May 9th, 1983. I loved this single when it came out - it felt like an excitable little brother to the righteous soul of Dexys. Still sounds great today.

Today's single is West End Girls by the Pet Shop Boys, which was released on April 9th, 1984. I love the sleeve of this - the original Bobby O version. Before they'd found their public image, staring through pink neon into the future.

Today's single is Whenever I'm Gone by The Prisoners, which was released on March 31st, 1986. A righteous blast of garage mod energy propelled by Graham Day's soulful vocal and the band's razor sharp melodic suss.

Today's single is Miss World by Hole, which was released on March 28th, 1994. A songwriting great just warming up to the peak of her talents. Hole at Brixton Academy in 1999 remains one of the most incredible gigs I've ever seen.

Today's single is Mellow Doubt by Teenage Fanclub, which was released on March 27th, 1995. The lead single from the wonderful Grand Prix album, this is an all-time classic, whistling solo and all!

I'm slowly posting up live clips of bands on the HDIF Tik Tok if you fancy taking a look - www.tiktok.com/@hdiflondon. Just posted Julia Jacklin at EOTR. Previously posted Wine Lips, Holiday Ghosts, Nation Of Language, Decemberists, Teenage Fanclub, Pixies, Patti Smith and more.

Crazy to think this was five years ago. www.mixcloud.com/hdif/hdif-vi...

The next How Does It Feel To Be Loved? at The Phoenix is today - Saturday March 15th - and it's a Pulp special. Come and dance to your favourite Pulp smashes alongside our usual mix of indie pop and soul. More info here www.howdoesitfeel.co.uk/thephoenix.h...

Today's single is Geno by Dexys Midnight Runners which was released on March 14th, 1980. The band's first number one single and an all-time classic. Geno! Geno! Geno! Geno!

Today's single is (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang by Heaven 17, which was released on March 13th, 1981. An unusual Friday release for this 45, but maybe the lure of Friday 13th was too strong for this bone-shaking, rabble-rousing protest anthem. Brothers! Sisters! We STILL don't need it!

Today's single is People Are People by Depeche Mode which was released on March 12th, 1984. The band went on to disown this, but this deceptively simple song has a naive charm that hits slightly differently in the social media age.

Today's single is This Is Hardcore by Pulp, which was released on March 11th, 1998. In many ways, the band's dark masterpiece - the sound of the Britpop party waking up the morning after with an almighty hangover thinking "what have we done?" Still stunning.

Today's single is Dying For It by The Vaselines, which was released on March 7th, 1988. A glorious collision of noise and harmonies, this sounds like it must have been a formative influence for the Moldy Peaches. Also on this EP lurked a song called Molly's Lips.

Today's single is Solitary Party Groover by Drugstore, which was released on March 6th, 1995. Funny how you can listen to a song for the first time in over 20 years and still know all of the words. Still sounds glorious today - charming, singular, joyous. A great lost single.

Today's single is Young Americans by David Bowie, which was released on February 21st, 1975. One of those classic songs that sounds utterly timeless. Alright!

A special gift for Valentine's Day. Today's single is Debonair by The Afghan Whigs, which was released on February 14, 1994. Taken from the band's twisted masterpiece, Gentleman, this dark delve into the male psyche is perfect for this oh so romantic day.

Today's single is Come Out 2 Nite by Kenickie, which was released as a double A side with How I Was Made (as Skillex EP) on Fierce Panda on February 12th, 1996. A glorious rush of handclaps, noise and bulletproof charm, this effortlessly sums up being young, drunk and delirious in the Britpop era.

Today's single is Brassneck by The Wedding Present, which was released on February 5th, 1990. Named after a robot from the Dandy comic, this was rerecorded by Steve Albini to create the noise classic we know and love today.

Today's single is Leave Them All Behind by Ride, which was released on February 3rd, 1992. Clocking in at a mighty 8 minutes and 17 seconds, this fiery statement of intent remains the band's finest moment for me.

Today's single is Twilight Eyes by Sidi Bou Said, which was released on February 1st, 1993. An all-female four piece from Lewisham, Sid Bou Said were often compared to Throwing Muses - listening now this could be from the first Goat Girl album. A brilliant, strange, spiky, compelling band.

Today's single is Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) by Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel, which was released on January 31st, 1975. One of the great 70s singles and a huge favourite at HDIF. I love this picture sleeve, which is from the German issue of the single.

Today's single is Can't Be Sure by The Sundays, which was released on January 30th, 1989. One of the all-time great debut singles, set aglow by the sublime voice of Harriet Wheeler.