In the magazine February 2026

Featuring Magdalena Bay, Dry Cleaning, hemlocke springs, Demob Happy and more.

We’re baaaack! Hello everyone, and welcome to DIY’s first new issue of 2026. Let’s just say we’re getting things started with a bang…

For the better part of two years now, there’s been one particular duo’s name on everyone’s lips, and now, we’re thrilled to have them on our cover for the first time. Ahead of their visit to the UK this month for a celebratory run of larger-than-life live shows, Magdalena Bay welcome us into the expansive world of ‘Imaginal Disk’ and talk us through the album that changed their careers forever.

“What we actually had to do, slowly, was self-develop creatively with no one caring,” vocalist Mica Tenenbaum says in our cover feature, recalling the band’s early days. “The important thing was to realise that the creative aspect needs to come from yourself - you’re not going to find a creative director or someone who’s going to make your art better.” Multi-instrumentalist Matthew Lewin agrees, affirming that “no matter how “weird” or “experimental” we get, there needs to be something you can listen to for the first time and have that melody stay with you. That’s an integral part of what we look for when we write.”

Elsewhere in the mag, we explore the secret lives of Dry Cleaning as they open up about their third full-length; discover what went down in the desert for Demob Happy during the recording of fourth outing ‘The Grown-Ups Are Talking’; and learn the lessons that went into shaping hemlocke springs’ vibrant debut album. We also get existential with DEADLETTER, turn over a new leaf with Alice Costelloe, and hear how The Cribs had to look back to move forward for our latest In Deep feature. 

Kicking off 2026 on the new music front are three rapidly-rising stars: pop innovator Erin LeCount (who’s just been confirmed to support Lorde at All Points East this summer); London rockers Hot Face, who - incredibly - recorded their debut album live at Abbey Road; and Absolutely, who’s readying a new album while touring the world with her sister RAYE. Plus, we look ahead to some of the albums that our en route throughout this year, courtesy of In The Studio catch-ups with Antony Szmierek and Chrissi; and if these are anything to go by, it’s already shaping up to be a big one. 

So without further ado, here we go… Order your print copy via our online shop below, or check out the digital edition at the top of the page.