Taking a dive into retro ‘70s glam, kitsch and sleaze, ‘Sugar Man’ is the new single and video from indie-electronic act Midniter: the solo moniker of Charlotte, North Carolina’s Nic Pugh. Part pimp, part pusher, part psychedelic Pied Piper, the titular ‘Sugar Man’ character is addiction personified, as Nic explains:
“Whether it’s drugs, booze, your phone, or literal sugar, it’s about being sold the things that kill us every day, and how we eagerly accept them in most cases. This song was inspired by my addictive personality, Velvet Underground’s ‘Waiting for the Man’, and Jeff Bezos. I liked the idea of making Sugar Man a character, attempting to personify a manipulative corporation, or the gaudy excess of capitalism. Remember, kids: Your drug dealer is your best friend. Consume! Consume!”
While still imbued with Midniter’s characteristic synth-driven indie pop, ‘Sugar Man’ also recalls the guitar-fuelled early ‘70s UK glam of Marc Bolan & T. Rex, or the ‘60s psychedelic pop of The Beatles: who also get a nod from the video, via Pugh’s Lennon-esque ‘Sugar Man’ persona. Infused with vibrant colour, gaudy flamboyance, and a series of interconnecting lollipops, the kaleidoscopic video was directed and edited by regular collaborator, Paul Juan at Yawn Productions, and premiered yesterday (Tuesday 10 February) on The Big Takeover. Nic continues:
“Paul and I shot most of the video in a photo studio in Noda (Charlotte). What was supposed to be a quick one-day shoot turned into a four-day pain in our ass, but I at least had a good time dancing and being silly with some friends!”
Reviewing the new single at Dancing About Architecture UK, Dave Franklin writes:
“Sugar Man…wafts in accompanied by a wave of sleazy chic and drug fug atmospheres, the smell of sweat and patchouli. It’s the new glam, digital sleaze, techno trippy, a song about those vices and habits that are killing us day by day, and how eagerly we embrace them… It’s every bit low-slung and scuzzy, raw and spiky as any garage guitar band, and its dense, claustrophobic folds are sprinkled with saccharine-sweet pop accessibility. If substance abuse was a sound…this is it!
…it is a timeless vibe: music made for the dark corners of nightclubs, the soundtrack to back-street deals, a litany to that inevitable day when you take things too far… what Midniter does here is create a scintillating soundtrack, one totally in step with today’s music, whilst repeating those same words of warning, albeit in the language of today’s street wise droogs!”
Midniter is the indie electronic project from queer, Charlotte-based singer-songwriter, Nic Pugh. At 36, Pugh has been a traveling musician for almost 20 years, playing in mostly punk and rock’n’roll bands, with highlights including Paint Fumes and Jaggermouth. Creating Midniter in January 2024, the project formed as an antithesis to his previous guitar bands. Although influences (including Radiohead, Justice, The Knife, LCD Soundsystem, Aphex Twin, Square Pusher, and M83) stem from many genres, Midniter was parented by the bands of the Indie sleaze era. Together with fellow Charlotte NC musician, Nic Holman, Pugh is also the co-founder of SugarTank! Records: an independent label dedicated to supporting and celebrating artists in the LGBTQ+ community, including allies.
‘Sugar Man’ by Midniter is out now (released 10 February 2026) from SugarTank! Records: available on Bandcamp, Spotify and all the usual digital music platforms.
Find and follow Midniter / Nic Pugh / SugarTank! Records