The Itch Debuts New Album "It’s The Hope That Kills You", Shares New Single "Aux Romanticiser"

Indie-electronic newcomers The Itch have officially announced their debut album, It’s The Hope That Kills You, set for release on 10 April 2026 via Fiction Records and I OH YOU. Alongside the announcement, the duo have unveiled a new single, ‘Aux Romanticiser’, offering fans an energetic first taste of the project.

Comprised of Simon and Georgia, The Itch have quickly built momentum since emerging in 2024. Their very first headline show sold out within a day, and by summer 2025 they followed it with another packed performance at London’s Corsica Studios.

A chaotic, late-night appearance at The Great Escape Festival — which drew an hour-long queue outside the venue — helped cement their growing cult reputation.

A Debut Built on Contrasts

It’s The Hope That Kills You is described as an album that thrives on contradictions. The pair blend polished production with rough-edged charm, pairing introspective songwriting with euphoric dancefloor energy.

Throughout the record, sincerity sits comfortably beside dry humour, creating a sound that feels both emotionally direct and playfully self-aware.

The announcement single ‘Aux Romanticiser’ reflects that wide creative range. The track samples both the viral web series Subway Takes and electronic producer Pearson Sound’s WAD.

Over its pulsing beat, Simon delivers a tongue-in-cheek line — “You don't need to know how to crossfade / Just stick it in your phone and play some Beyoncé” — before the song expands into a spacious breakdown and euphoric finale designed for live crowds.

The album will also include previously released tracks such as the Europop-leaning ‘Space in the Cab’ and the band’s seven-minute debut single ‘Ursula’. Remix versions of singles are planned as well, with contributions from The Twins, 1-800 GIRLS, Gabe Gurnsey, and Tom Sharkett.

Labels and Influences

The record arrives through a collaborative deal between Fiction Records. This is home to artists like The Cure and Kae Tempest, and I OH YOU, the Australian label known for Confidence Man and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.

The partnership reflects The Itch’s crossover appeal, sitting somewhere between indie pop songwriting and electronic club music.

By blending melancholic pop themes with dancefloor-ready production, Simon and Georgia aim to capture a modern mood: the tension between optimism and disillusionment. The album positions itself as both a reflection of contemporary anxieties and a temporary escape from them.

Headline Tour Announced

The band will also hit the road in support of the album, performing across the UK in March and May 2026, including Leeds, Glasgow, London, Manchester, and festival appearances at The Great Escape and Dot to Dot Festival.

Tour Dates

• 11 March – The Sugarmill, Leeds

• 12 March – Future Yard CIC, Birkenhead

• 13 March – Bootleg Social, Blackpool

• 8 May – Headrow House, Leeds

• 9 May – The Hug & Pint, Glasgow

• 13–16 May – The Great Escape Festival, Brighton

• 20 May – Club Creek, London

• 22 May – Manchester (secret venue)

• 23 May – Dot to Dot Festival, Bristol

• 24 May – Dot to Dot Festival, Nottingham

Tracklist – It’s The Hope That Kills You

1. Space In The Cab

2. No More Sprechgesang!

3. Can’t Afford This

4. Pirate Studios

5. Drugdealer

6. Radio Frequencies

7. It’s The Hope That Kills You

8. Aux Romanticiser

9. Ursula

10. Never Change

11. Switch It Off

With a rapidly growing live following and a debut album on the way, 2026 looks set to be a breakthrough year for The Itch, a band positioning itself between indie introspection and electronic euphoria.