mary in the junkyard announce debut album Role Model Hermit and unveil haunting new single “Crash Landing”

London’s fast-rising experimental rock trio mary in the junkyard have officially announced their long-awaited debut album Role Model Hermit, arriving 3 July via AMF Records—and they’re setting the tone with the release of their mesmerising new single, “Crash Landing”.

Already hailed as “one of the UK’s most exciting new bands” by So Young and tipped for a breakout moment by The Face, the trio—Clari Freeman-Taylor, Saya Barbaglia and David Addison—step into a bold new chapter with a record that expands their sonic world into something darker, richer and more immersive than ever before.

Written between the UK and the US and recorded in London with Oli Bayston in summer 2025, Role Model Hermit is described as a collection of “dark fables, intricate melodies and moments of revelation.” It’s an album that blurs the line between reality and imagination, inviting listeners into a world that feels both otherworldly and deeply personal.

The band explain: “Role Model Hermit is full of stories, memories and past lives. We want it to be something that you can get lost in, like a forest or a cave, where you can shelter inside for a while to rest and recover.”

Lead single “Crash Landing” offers a powerful first glimpse into that world. A sweeping, emotionally charged ballad, the track explores the fragility of a relationship on the brink, pairing Freeman-Taylor’s most direct lyricism to date with opulent string arrangements and a subtle trip-hop pulse. It’s a striking evolution in both scale and confidence.

Speaking on the track, Freeman-Taylor shares: “Crash Landing was written when we fell in love with the warm low drones of the harmonium… This one is really joyful for me, it is all about change and growth.”

The release marks a significant moment for the band, who have spent the past year steadily building momentum following their acclaimed EP This Old House and a string of standout singles. Extensive touring across the UK, Europe and North America—including a three-month run supporting Wet Leg—has seen them road-test much of the material that now forms Role Model Hermit.

With support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 Music, alongside praise from NME, Dazed, Rolling Stone UK and Clash, mary in the junkyard are quickly cementing themselves as one of the most vital new voices in UK guitar music.

To celebrate the album’s release, the band will embark on a UK in-store tour this July, kicking off in Kingston before heading to Brighton, London, Bristol, Manchester and beyond.

With Role Model Hermit, mary in the junkyard aren’t just arriving—they’re creating a world entirely their own, and “Crash Landing” is only the beginning.