What happened to Wet Leg? (2025)

Whenever a band like Wet Leg gains rapid traction—much as they did in the summer of 2021—they inevitably get labelled as an “industry plant”. For a while, it seemed like the indie scene couldn’t talk about anything else, leading many to believe that label executives had strategically placed them to build a following. Of course, all of this was nothing more than an internet-fueled conspiracy.

After all, of the few instances when an artist has been accused of being nothing but a well-placed marketing decision, nothing has really come to light proving as such. More than anything else, the term has only served to push ill, pre-conceived ideas about musicians that people believe shouldn’t occupy the spotlight, most of which also happen to be women.

That said, Wet Leg’s trajectory did well to stump many. After all, the negativity surrounding them might also stem from the fact that, regardless, they seemed to come out of nowhere. However, it makes sense when broken down. From the moment ‘Chaise Longue’ started gaining traction, people quickly became endeared to their sound, particularly the typical British delivery of their vocals and the equally relatable nature of their subject matter.

Then, when they released their debut album, everything clicked into place. While some worked hard to perpetuate the consistent thread of critical discourse, Wet Leg had become sensations because they dared to be different. Although securing a spot on Harry Styles’ Love on Tour run did well to push their popularity even further, everything they achieved was done so on pure merit.

So, what happened to Wet Leg?

As with many bands who enjoy a sharp rise to fame, Wet Leg came, conquered, and did the one thing most people struggle to equate with longtime success—disappeared. While many artists base their success on proliferation with a constant stream of releases and public appearances, Wet Leg retreated from the spotlight almost as quickly as entering it, leaving many either confused about the potential of a much-awaited sophomore record or with an overwhelming feeling that the “industry plant” and “fad” accusations had been right.

At the crux of all this, however, seems to be growing anticipation about their return—something that was necessary if they wanted to maintain their consistent appeal after an intense cycle in the spotlight, which included 250 gigs between 2022 and 2023. While they remain relatively vague when asked questions about their forthcoming album, the momentum does seem to be picking up again.

In late 2022, Wet Leg toldNMEthat progress on album two was “very good, excellent”. They then described the new material as “like the last one, but longer, bigger, better, faster, stronger and more fluorescent”. Last year, they confirmed the second album was “in the bag,” although everything seemed to go silent again until recently when it was announced that they would be performing as headliners at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire, hinting at their official return.

The latest development points towards the imminence of their follow-up album as promising, proving that, despite their time out of the spotlight, all it seems to have done is build on the existing anticipation and strengthen their connection with their audience. After all, not every musician views visibility as a key indicator to success, and it’s likely that the band has taken this time to make sure their return is as good as it can be.

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