Chicago indie-rock trio Lifeguard has unveiled an exclusive, playful playlist titled 'Rhymes With Lifeguard' to accompany their feature as the latest artist on NME's The Cover. The curated collection exclusively includes songs whose titles rhyme with the band's name, featuring tracks from iconic artists like Lou Reed, SOPHIE, Brigitte Fontaine, and Pulp.
Lifeguard appears on the April 6 edition of The Cover, NME's weekly spotlight on emerging global talent. Their profile, written by Huw Baines with photography by Atiba Jefferson, delves into the band's creative ethos and recent work.
The playlist arrives shortly after the release of Lifeguard's unconventional maxi-single 'Ultra Violence'/'Appetite'—an 11-song project spanning just 12 minutes. Band member Kai Slater revealed the release deliberately challenged industry norms, stating, "When we sent it to the label, we got the exact response we wanted: 'This is going to do very poorly—the algorithm's really going to dislike this.'" He added, "We hate that algorithm. We hate all of those rules."
In their Cover story, Lifeguard emphasizes a focus on physical media, community, and collaboration, critiquing the limitations of digital platforms. Slater, who also publishes the zine Hallogallo, noted, "I think zines are never going to lose that; they're only going to get more essential in the [current] landscape. You can see it all starting to go down the drain in terms of censorship and the hold it has on expression."
The 'Rhymes With Lifeguard' playlist is available on Spotify and Apple Music, offering fans a whimsical companion to the band's featured interview.