Leisure are back, and still moving at their own pace.
Following the release of Leisurevision in 2023, the band return with two new tracks, “Welcome to the Mood” and “Sundown”, the first look at their upcoming fifth studio album.
“Welcome to the Mood” opens the door with an invitation to “listen, explore, and fly with us,” setting a loose, easy rhythm built for sinking into. It’s a track that doesn’t push too hard, preferring to let the groove take over. “Sundown” heads into funkier, more romantic territory, led by saxophone and familiar lush harmonies, capturing the feeling of a long desert drive as the light fades and the heat hangs in the air.
Visually, the band have shifted gears too. Gone are the cool greens of Leisurevision – this new era leans into a rich, sun-baked palette of oranges, reds, and dusty golds. The clip for “Welcome to the Mood” was filmed at Taliesin West, the desert home designed by US architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Inside the Garden Room, the band lounge among lush plants and mid-century furniture, with light streaming in through patterned ceilings. It’s a fitting setting for a song built around atmosphere. For “Sundown”, the focus moves outdoors, stretching across wide, open desert landscapes, all bathed in late-afternoon glow.
Leisurevision, the band’s fourth album, was described as “a record for groovers and shakers with introspection.” It came right after Sunsetter in 2021, an album that dropped during New Zealand’s lockdown and marked a shift in their sound.
“We hope these tracks lift your spirits and set the mood wherever you are,” the band say of the new double release. “We’re so excited to share more of album five with you soon, and there’s some big tour news coming your way. In the meantime, go ahead and spin the new music to your heart’s desire.”
Leisure’s fifth chapter is underway, unfolding in their own time, as always.
Leisure’s “Welcome to the Mood” and “Sundown” are out now.
