British indie singer-songwriter Jude Lilley steps into a new chapter with Crook Decker, a solo venture that channels urban dissonance into murky, hypnotic alt-pop. The debut album ‘Graffiti Lagoon’ is out now via Seb Wildblood’s all my thoughts label, with focus track “Living In Paradise” leading the charge. The project reframes city life as something mythic and surreal, where Peckham morphs into a digital swamp.
Born during lockdown in 2020, Crook Decker began as a sonic alter ego and evolved into a fully realized world. Over five years, Lilley shaped a sample-driven, intimate sound that feels both lo-fi and cinematic. The textures blur between grit and melody, creating a hazy atmosphere that pulls the listener deeper with each track.
“‘Living In Paradise’ kinda speaks for itself,” Crook Decker says. “It took me some hard truths to realise I’ll never be a better person when my back is turned. It was time to put some effort into embracing my new urban environment and take some accountability by adjusting my attitude and listening to the chaotic beauty around me.” The track lands as reflective, restless and immersive.
Drawing loose parallels to Pavement, Mac DeMarco, Guided By Voices, Beck and Tom Waits, Crook Decker carves its own swampy territory. The project signals a bold artistic evolution for Lilley beyond his work with Moreish Idols, presenting a debut that feels strange, personal and vividly alive.