The Mysterines guitarist Callum Thompson has launched his new project AKA and shared the infectious single ‘It Grows On Trees (Money)’.
The Liverpool-based musician and producer’s new solo moniker sees him releasing his first track, a bleary, fuzzed-out, melodic psych rock jam that finds him satirising the process of making money in the modern world.
It arrives alongside a video directed by Charles Gall (English Teacher, Sports Team, Sigrid) and sees a pack of giant, human-sized dogs skateboarding and running through the streets of Liverpool.
Watch the video for ‘It Grows On Trees (Money)’ here:
Speaking about the track, Thompson has said: “It’s a song about the surreal becoming real. It’s about finding yourself when you stop looking. It looks at how identity evolves in the modern media age – and the sense that certainty only exists in doubt.”
Thompson made his live debut as AKA in January in Brighton and also played an exclusive set at Rough Trade East in London for Record Store Day 2026, which was later pressed onto vinyl as a limited edition run for those in attendance.
He will be playing at The Great Escape in Brighton on May 15 (find any remaining tickets for the festival here) and also has a date booked at the Midi Festival in France on July 24.
The Mysterines released their second album ‘Afraid Of Tomorrows’ in 2024. Speaking to NME ahead of its release, singer Lia Metcalfe said that the band had a lot more confidence approaching writing this time around. “I’ve been through way too much to not overindulge in creating something new, when given the opportunity,” she explained. “The driving force behind this band has always been for it to be this outlet for creativity. Whenever I feel panicky or a bit lost, I tap into that inner child and remember why I started doing this. This new album feels unapologetic.
“There are some ridiculous moments on the record but if we don’t do it now, when are we going to do it? That’s why I respect artists like Lou Reed and Patti Smith. They did the thing that everyone thought you shouldn’t, and that’s how they made their mark. That’s how you create something unique.”
