"If it’s easy, is it any good?": Leeds duo Midnite Pharmacy talk 'Balearic North' as their new EP drops today

Today (April 3), the duo - comprised of Liam and Simon - finally pull back the curtain on their highly anticipated EP ‘We Try,’ a project that promises to bridge the gap between Balearic euphoria and the gritty, creative pulse of the North.

Their story begins, though not in the sterile surroundings of a recording studio, but instead on a Monday morning at Ibiza club DC10.

While Liam was already establishing himself as a rising tech house DJ, Simon was making a different kind of impression—sporting leopard print and skinny jeans with an eye for fashion that Liam describes as "meaning business.”

"I met Simon wearing only a pair of skinny jeans and a leopard print t-shirt," Liam recalls. "The guy meant business with his garms, he had an eye for fashion".

Though they lived in Leeds at the same time, it took the ‘anarchy’ of the White Isle to bring them together.

This was the era of the first Ibiza Rocks in 2005, a time when indie bands were infiltrating the dance music capital of the world, with Simon reflecting that "it kind of felt like that element already had its new home from Leeds anyway".

For Midnite Pharmacy, returning to Leeds didn't mean abandoning the energy they found in Spain; it meant translating it.

Describing their sound as ‘Balearic North,’ a term synonymous with legendary local spots like The Faversham garden parties, the duo is deeply embedded in the local community, having recently supported Goldie at The Wardrobe and performed at Clarence Park in Wakefield

"We are about the community now," says Simon. "It makes us feel, no doubt, like this is the place where we cut our teeth in terms of a creative scene".

Liam agrees, noting that as new scenes emerge and influence the world, Leeds remains "an amazing area with a strong air and fresh buzz of excitement for up-and-coming artists". He sees their work as an "ideal little gap in the market to bridge between the two scenes".

The craft of 'GRVTYWVS'

Released under their own label, GRVTYWVS, the new EP is a testament to the duo’s meticulous approach to production.

Skipping the modern trend of rapid-fire digital releases, Midnite Pharmacy has opted for a "slow-burn" reveal: "Ultimately, it would be nice to have a complete package for GRVTYWVS as a label," Liam explains. "We want a piece of them as individuals to give back the soul we poured in".

Their creative process is uniquely rigorous. To ensure a track has true "bones," they often strip their dancefloor-focused ideas back to an acoustic version first.

"If it’s easy, is it any good?" Liam asks.

They prefer a "broken-down simplicity" featuring warm synths and inspiration from "weird electronic pioneers".

Simon describes his own listening tastes as being "far in line with indie, ambient, and rock combined,” with this eclectic mix resulting in what Liam calls "sonic precision with acute melodies".

The experience of the EP isn't limited to the audio, either.

Inspired by the artwork of vinyl sleeves from the 1970s, the duo has placed a heavy emphasis on the visual narrative of the project. This includes a medley video designed to guide the audience on a journey.

Looking ahead to 2026, the duo has their sights set on a "major label push" and a sound shaped by "atmospheric beats."

While they are eyeing global influence, they remain committed to the artistic depth that started it all.

As Liam puts it, the goal is to keep providing that "complete package" for their label, GRVTYWVS, ensuring every release retains the "soul poured in" that their audience deserves.

We Try is out now through GRVTYWVS. Midnite Pharmacy will also be performing live at Holding Patterns (2 Albion Street) on April 30.