Junk Whale – Lime n Soda / Old Tomato (self release)
Oxford grunge pop punks Junk Whale have released a double single ahead of live dates. Lime n Soda and Old Tomato are out digitally now
Artist: Junk Whale
Tracks: Lime n Soda / Old Tomato
Label: self released
Release date: 13 January 2026
Find them: Bandcamp
Oxford’s Junk Whale has released a digital double-whammy of emo-tinged grunge pop with twin singles Lime n Soda and Old Tomato.
The first new tunes from the band following the release of EP See You Around, I Guess? in May 2025 both tracks are the joy-filled and fuzzy indiepop we love from them.
Leading with Lime n Soda, which the band share “is about feeling overstimulated and overwhelmed at gigs”. Deep and tremulous through the introduction, bigger riffs and helter-skelter melodies rise and fall alongside your chest as you’re there: in the packed room trying to self-soothe anxiety while containing excitement too.
Vocalist and guitarist Josie Turner goes on to say of the track, “Lime n Soda is about the contrasting emotions of being at a gig. It can be an overwhelming sensory experience for me. It’s dark, it’s loud, it’s cramped with sweaty bodies… But as soon as the music starts, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
‘Give me an ultimatum / how else am I to know / whether you really want me’ – Old Tomato
The digital flip-side is Old Tomato, which Junk Whale say is ‘inspired by our fave trashy toxic lesbian dating show The Ultimatum’. This is classic crunchy power pop: an absolute banger with ’90s chiming guitars, harmonies, and wry humour in the lyrics. With a bubbling bass line, stop-start percussion, and just enough fuzz this song has so much heart.
And that sums up Junk Whale too: a band with so much heart. Two brilliant indiepop bops here and if you get a chance to catch them on their upcoming dates with Fortitude Valley and at Leicesterval Weekender, please do.
Double single Lime n Soda and Old Tomato by Junk Whale is out digitally now. They released EP See You Around, I Guess? in 2025.
Find Junk Whale: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram | Bluesky
Live dates:
- 15 January – JT Soar, Nottingham
- 16 January – Common Ground, Oxford
- 28 February – Leicesterval Indiepop Weekender, Leicester
Image: Ian Hanham
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Sarah Lay
A long-standing music journalist she's also co-founder of independent record label Reckless Yes, an author of novels, and when not messing around with words and music, a digital strategist.
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