Vona Vella, the Nottingham-based five-piece return with You Can Be So Ugly, their new single that captures the band at their most open and honest. Taken from their upcoming second album Carnival (dropping on February 27th) the track explores the uncomfortable truths that sit beneath even our closest relationships.
It’s a song about friction and learning to live with the “ugly side of friendships and relationships”. Fronted by songwriting duo Dan Cunningham and Izzy Davis, Vona Vella tell a story of forgiveness rather than confrontation delivered with warmth and humour. The accompanying video, directed by acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Roger Sargent, amplifies that tension, pairing woozy, psychedelic visuals with a sense of playful unease that suits the song’s core perfectly. Watch the video here
You Can Be So Ugly is the fourth track to emerge from Carnival, following the title track, Bear Trap and Over And Over. Together, the singles mark a clear evolution from the band’s 2023 self-titled debut, which leaned towards wistful indie-pop introspection. Recorded at The Albion Rooms in Margate produced byJason Stafford, Carnival pushes into darker, richer territory, weaving spangling guitars and sumptuous art-pop textures around the entwined vocals that remain central to the band’s identity.
Vona Vella are constantly touring and nurturing their own scene. The band have supported Babyshambles, The Libertines and Peter Doherty, Tim Burgess and Hak Baker. They recently headlined Supersonic in Paris and the newly-launched grassroots venue and rehearsal space in Nottingham named The Grove is leased and run by the band themselves. The upcoming shows are as follows:
January
31st Edinburgh, Cowgate Block Party
February
26th Vilnius (LT), Kablys (Murmurs showcase festival)
28th Nantwich, Applestump (Instore show)
March
1st Bury, Wax and Beans (Instore show)
2nd Liverpool, Jacaranda (Instore show)
3rd Leeds, Crash (Instore show)
4th Coventry, Just Dropped In (Instore show)
5th Oxford, Truck (Instore show)
6th London, Dash The Henge (Instore show)
7th Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
11th Birmingham, The Victoria
12th Leicester, The Big Difference
13th Derby, The Victoria Inn
14th Blackpool, Bootleg Social
18th London, The Social
20th Manchester, Rat & Pigeon
24th Liverpool, Jacaranda
April
4th Stockton calling, Stockton
28th Nottingham, Bodega
