Pop disruptor Ashnikko has officially followed up her dystopian debut, 'WEEDKILLER', with the explosive maximalist pop of her highly anticipated second studio album, 'Smoochies', out everywhere now via Parlophone/Warner Records. While 'WEEDKILLER' plunged us into a dark, sci-fi fantasy, this 15-track rebellion shifts the focus inward, embracing a more autobiographical and hedonistically joyful chaos.
'Smoochies' sees the artist fully leaning back into the 'commanding-but-hyper-cute' persona that defined her early career, but this time with a deeper, more intentional sense of self-acceptance. The sound is a vibrant, hybrid-pop kaleidoscope, weaving in club beats, hip-hop braggadocio, and even country inflections, creating a sonic playground that is gloriously absurd and, often, tenderly explicit.
As Ashnikko herself explains: “smoochie world was such an important place for me to inhabit to remind myself why I make music - to play. it was an exercise in eroticism, in power, in mischief, in not taking myself too seriously. 'Smoochies' is the tiny door you find in the club bathroom that you crawl through on your hands and knees to a technicolour parallel dimension ruled by rat princesses. I learned so much through writing this album, and I had a fucking amazing time.”
This radical joy acts as a shield, a defiant act of ‘taking up space’ in a world that often feels threatening to marginalised communities. The album’s lyrics are refreshingly raw, unapologetically embracing the messiness of life, lust, and break-ups. The focus track, 'Skin Cleared', a pounding, sultry banger, encapsulates the feeling of post-breakup clarity, reflecting on the mind-body connection with an acid tongue: “I don’t even get the flu anymore / What does that mean?” Tracks like 'I Want My Boyfriends to Kiss' and 'Trinkets'—where Ashnikko muses on collecting men like collectable figurines—elevate her signature mischievousness into an art form, rejecting the male gaze entirely in favour of pure, queer-coded play.
Working with longtime producer/songwriter Tom Slinger, alongside a stellar crew of collaborators including Oscar Scheller and Elvira Anderfjard, 'Smoochies' is Ashnikko's most collaborative record to date. It balances carnal yearning with reflective commentary on fame and ageing, all while maintaining a core reverence for personal autonomy.
Fans across the pond will be thrilled to know that Ashnikko is bringing the 'Smoochies' experience to the global stage. Due to overwhelming demand, her Australian leg of the SMOOCHIES Tour in September 2026—including dates in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth—has already seen show upgrades and additional dates. Get ready to crawl through that tiny club bathroom door.
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