As the Waeve, Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall turn post-punk, folk, and experimental rock into mercurial songs unlike any of their previous work. The exploratory forays into these sounds on 2023's The Waeve reflected the duo's beginnings during COVID-19 global pandemic lockdowns, but also drew from larger British musical traditions. Though they opted for a more cohesive sound on the following year's brassy City Lights, the Waeve's ability to surprise was still at the heart of their music.