Ugly Ozo don’t make comfortable music, and “hi, how are you?” isn’t a comfortable single. Out now via REX RECS, the new track from Jessica Baker and her Isle of Wight trio confronts depression and emotional exhaustion with the kind of directness that only comes from writing through genuine pain. Formed just a year ago, ugly ozo are already operating at a level that most emerging acts take years to reach. Listen here.
Baker wrote the single during a period of burnout, when daily life had flattened into something hollow and grey. “This track is kind of like a conversation between myself and my inner rival,” she explains, “like I’m playing tug of war between self-doubt and determination.” That internal tension is exactly what makes the song work. It doesn’t resolve neatly, and it doesn’t try to. Jessica is joined by her sister Boo Baker on bass and Tristan Northard on drums, a trio with chemistry that punches well above their short timeline together.
The band’s debut EP ‘stargirl’ in 2025 earned them acclaim from DIY, Dork, The Line of Best Fit, CLASH, Rough Trade, Notion, and Under The Radar. Radio support came from BBC 6 Music’s Iggy Pop, Chris Hawkins, Nathan Shepherd, and Amy Lamé, alongside Radio X’s John Kennedy and KEXP’s Cheryl Waters. A sold-out Shacklewell Arms headline slot followed. The momentum behind ugly ozo has been building fast, and “hi, how are you?” keeps it moving.
REX RECS, the independent label founded by producer Macks Faulkron of North London’s REX Studio, is home to Caroline Polachek, Confidence Man, Daniel Avery, and Picture Parlour among others. Ugly ozo sit comfortably in that company, pushing the boundaries of what indie can hold with electrifying live energy and songwriting that refuses to look away from the difficult stuff.
A second EP arrives this spring, and festival appearances are stacking up. “hi, how are you?” is out now, and ugly ozo are just getting started.
2026 Tour Dates:
May 3 – Leeds – Gold Sounds Festival
May 23 – Nottingham – Dot to Dot Festival
May 24 – Bristol – Dot to Dot Festival