Ōtautahi’s Lukas Mayo, aka Pickle Darling, is taking their lo-fi sound into the digital world with a new game.
Teaming up with visual artist Christiane Shortal (known for her work with Tiny Ruins and Mousey), Mayo has launched Pickle Darling: The Game — a nostalgic, low-fi experience where players track down a lost album. With retro visuals and a stripped-back design, it’s a perfect fit for Mayo’s DIY style.
The game features 8-bit renditions of Pickle Darling tracks, including “Bicycle Weather”, “King of Joy”, and “Invercargill Angel”. These tracks, created specifically for the game, will also be shared on TikTok and Instagram, giving fans a chance to soundtrack their own digital creations.
Mayo explains,”This game is a little peek behind the curtain of what goes into (and what can hinder) a Pickle Darling album release.”
Pickle Darling: The Game is available to play now on itch.io, just in time for NZ Music Month/Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa.
Mayo’s last release, Laundromat (2023) released via Father/Daughter Records, marked a breakthrough beyond the bedroom after years of sharing excellent gems on Bandcamp. The thoughtful album earned praise for its vulnerable lo-fi pop and attention to detail.
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“Following in the grand tradition of Aotearoa bands like Tall Dwarfs, Mayo creates vulnerable lo-fi pop vignettes rich in small details,” our five-star review of the album read. “Mayo has an Akerman-esque feel for quotidian beauty: art, they know, is everywhere in life, and their earnest existentialism flows right through Laundromat.”
Listeners also heard Mayo team up with The Beths for a surprise cover of The Postal Service’s “Brand New Colony” celebrating the 20th anniversary of Give Up.
You can watch Pickle Darling’s full ‘In My Room’ session here, which includes renditions of “In Good Health”, the title track, and “Invercargill Angel” from Laundromat.
