Pickle Darling is the quirky indie-pop project of New Zealand-based artist Lukas Mayo. Their latest single, “Human Bean Instruction Manual,” is an ode to adulthood. The song opens up with a pleasant guitar melody and an immediate nostalgic air, conveying a sense of comfort. It explores the idea that there’s “no damn manual” for navigating life and that, in that uncertainty, we can find comfort in celebrating the process of learning as we go. Mayo has previously stated that they use music as a way to slow down time and take in their surroundings, and this song does just that – it’s about savoring the sweetness of life amidst the chaos of everyday existence, accepting that true and meaningful gratification emerges not from control, but from presence.
The track’s nearly seven-minute runtime allows for pensive interludes, gradual builds, and a sample platter of Pickle Darling’s production techniques and signature touches. It flows from an indie pop tune with a charming melody, to experimental production that adds depth and personality, to a slightly hip-hop-influenced beat that bridges the song’s beginning and end. It’s a cohesive patchwork of sounds that showcases how Pickle Darling has evolved since their 2023 album, Laundromat.
“This was one that I built from early fragments I had recorded years ago, which I then stripped for parts and assembled into a new song. I always write with a kind of dream logic and never towards any sort of end goal, but I was on the cusp of turning 30 when I wrote this song and I remember feeling completely lost and unprepared and wishing there were some kind of manual. Lots of stressed out dreams, fears of never being able to afford a house or never being able to retire, realising there’s no steady path to a comfortable future, you just need to form your alliances and see how far through this life you can get! I realise a near 7 minute song about being stressed about money isn’t really fun cool sexy playlist material but that’s Pickle Darling.”
-Lukas Mayo on “Human Bean Instruction Manual”
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