Every Wednesday, the ugly hug shares a playlist personally curated by an artist/band that we have been enjoying. This week, we have a collection of songs put together by Berlin-based group, Matching Outfits.

Matching Outfits is the trio of Linnea Mårtensson, Rachel Glassberg and Leah Corper, whose wistful and imaginative take on lo-fi indie-pop music is an absorbing experience. With an array of bright keyboard voicings and ecstatic three-part harmonies, the fun is further brought out by their attention to details. Leading with curiosity, anecdotes from life’s tough moments, the trio embraces the deadpan humor and emotional wit of the stories they tell, where grievances and celebrations are blended into discordant freak-outs and shout-along choruses. And to be clear, given in a statement, “the band does not wear matching outfits, except when they do.”

Along with their playlist, the group shared this blurb;

You may hear the words ‘Berlin music scene’ and think techno, latex and drugs. And it is that (probably – we don’t go clubbing much). But it’s also freak folk, post-punk and yacht rock, played by and for a bunch of international misfits in sweaty basements.

It’s that Berlin scene that brought us together and continues to be a big inspiration for us as a band. We’re celebrating it with a list of songs by friends, collaborators and other local stars that we hope will give you a new perspective on the German capital. You can even dance to some of them.

Honorable mention goes to two of our favorites, Slipper and Dusty Houseplants, whose music you can find on Bandcamp.

Matching Outfits released their debut record Band Made Out Of Sand back in 2022 with the Berlin cassette label Kitchen Leg. Listen to it here!

Written by Shea Roney | Photo given with permission of Matching Outfits