Pulp Joins Rough Trade Records; New Album Expected in 2025

Pulp signs new deal with Rough Trade

Pulp has officially signed a new contract with Rough Trade amidst speculation about a potential album release in 2025.

A concise press release issued today (December 12) announces: “Pulp are pleased to confirm that they have signed a record deal with Rough Trade Records.”

• READ MORE: Pulp’s Mark Webber on his photo book and the band’s new songs: ‘It’s somewhere between mature and frothy pop’

The Sheffield band expressed: “Rough Trade has been with Pulp for over 30 years, so it’s wonderful to finally be on the label. We did it!”

Reunion and upcoming performances

Jarvis Cocker and the band reunited last year for their first shows since 2012. During their tour, they debuted several new tracks including “Farmer’s Market”, “Spike Island”, “My Sex”, and “You’ve Got To Have Love”.

Reports surfaced over the summer that the band was “back in the studio” after frontman Cocker was spotted in Walthamstow, London, photographed with an orange Rough Trade bag while waving at the camera.

Pulp’s live reunion is set to continue through 2024, with dates already announced for the next year. Highlights include a major homecoming performance at Tramlines 2025 in Sheffield and a show at BKK Bilbao in Spain.

Pulp signed to Rough Trade Records.

The band says: “Rough Trade have been running Pulp for over 30 years, so it’s great to finally be on the label. We did it! #cellulose pic.twitter.com/TKVcQDLao1

— Rough Trade Reports (@RoughTradeRecs) December 12, 2024

Pulp’s seventh and final studio album, “We Love Life”, was released back in 2001 on Island Records. They also introduced “After You”—their first single in over a decade—at Rough Trade in 2012, part of their initial reunion efforts. This track was produced by James Murphy, frontman of LCD Soundsystem.

Other unreleased songs performed during their return include “Background Noise” and “A Sunset”.

In a conversation with NME earlier this year, Cocker hinted that the newest track, co-written by Richard Hawley, might eventually see an official release. “Richard gave me a recording of him playing chords quite a long time ago,” he noted at the time. “I wrote some words for it.”

NME later asked Pulp guitarist Mark Webber about speculations surrounding a new album last month. “I think at some point we’ll have to decide if we’re going to do something with these (new) songs,” he replied. “It’s still hanging in the balance at this point.”

Regarding the band’s future, Webber mentioned, “I don’t know. We have a few shows confirmed, and I think it’s likely that we will continue to do something.”

He shared his thoughts on introducing new material live, saying: “People seem to be excited about the fact that we have some new songs. When you play a new song, the audience needs some time to digest it—they won’t instantly be over the moon.”

• READ MORE: Pulp live in London: The reunion we never want to end

“It was great; doing something different is nice. Regardless of how wonderful the songs are, repeating the same material can become tedious.”

In October 2023, drummer Nick Banks downplayed prospects of a new Pulp album on the horizon, stating that their reunion shows were “more about bringing the party back.”

“I’m not certain any of us really have the desire for it because it demands three to five years of your life,” he expressed to NME. “In terms of writing, recording, and touring, it’s going to be quite challenging. I don’t see that happening myself—we have other commitments.”