Five years after the release of their last album, acclaimed synth-pop trio Chvrches — Lauren Mayberry, Martin Doherty, and Iain Cook — have announced their return with “Roses,” a bold and caustic rock anthem that signals a striking new direction for the band.
Premiering as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record, “Roses” serves as a mission statement for Chvrches’ sonic evolution and the opening chapter of an entirely new era. The track is out now via Futures Music Group, home to artists including Lykke Li, Phantogram and Mt. Joy.
A scathing piece of contemporary social commentary, “Roses” confronts the darker undercurrents of Britain, with Mayberry delivering the song’s biting lyrics with characteristic intensity: “raise a glass to delusions of the good days of blood and wine; of pearls for swine.”
The song closes with the Orwellian declaration, “If I may command your undivided attention, now we can start,” setting the tone for new material that promises to venture into territory unlike anything the band has released before.
“This is the longest break we had ever taken between albums and when we got together to write new music, we wanted to really push ourselves and not be retreading ground we’d walked before,” says Mayberry. “I really think we achieved that. It feels like the most coherent vision we’ve had as a band. We’re excited to be back.”
Chvrches have also announced two intimate shows this autumn, with proceeds going to charity. The band will perform in their hometown of Glasgow on October 26 and in London on October 29.
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Following a successful global photo booth treasure hunt that saw fans unlock the album title and discover snippets of unreleased music, multi-platinum artist Rex Orange County has announced his forthcoming album, “Dream Fatigue,” due November 6.
Alongside the announcement comes “Grandma Song,” the album’s second single, offering another glimpse into the highly anticipated record.
Co-executive produced by Mustafa and Dylan Wiggins, whose credits include Rosalía and Justin Bieber, “Dream Fatigue” features an impressive roster of collaborators, including Turnstile’s Brendan Yates, Dev Hynes, Daniel Caesar, Mustafa, dexter in the newsagent and Taylor Skye of Jockstrap.
The album marks a departure from the reclusive approach that has traditionally defined Rex’s creative process. Instead, “Dream Fatigue” embraces collaboration and community, highlighting the British artist’s strengths through new creative connections.
“Grandma Song” arrives with a lyric video featuring Rex against a sweeping fireworks display in Montana. Alongside previously released single “Indecision,” featuring Daniel Caesar, the track showcases the confident songwriting and emotional candor that first connected Rex with audiences nearly a decade ago.
That connection between his past and present has been evident throughout the summer. “Grandma Song” was previewed during a series of intimate fan house shows across the UK, Ireland, and Southeast Asia, giving fans the rare opportunity to create personalized setlists from Rex’s nearly decade-long catalogue.
The living-room performances brought his music back to its most intimate setting while offering an early look at the new era. In Southeast Asia, the shows generated significant fan excitement and social buzz, with stops in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, and Jakarta, alongside headline appearances at LaLaLa Festival in Manila and Jakarta. The fan house shows will continue across Europe.
“Dream Fatigue” took shape on the move, with Rex writing across New York, Toronto, Rome, Egypt, Ethiopia and Los Angeles, often with little more than a laptop and portable speakers. Marking a significant shift from his previous process, many of the songs began on guitar, resulting in a collection built around classic songwriting, gentle melodies, curious hooks and distinctive production.
Moving beyond autobiography, the album follows a protagonist who adopts different personas in an attempt to win over the woman he loves. That concept is reflected in playful titles such as “Hannah Montana,” “Iron Man” and “Elvis,” ultimately inspiring the album’s title.
The collaborative spirit of the “Dream Fatigue” era has already come into focus, with Rex and Brendan Yates debuting the album track “Elvis” at London’s Village Underground ahead of All Points East.
At the festival, Rex welcomed Ravyn Lenae for their remix of “Love Me Not” before joining Tyler, The Creator the following night for “Boredom” from Flower Boy. Days later, Daniel Caesar invited Rex onstage at his sold-out O2 Arena show to perform “Indecision.”
Across 12 melodically economical yet harmonically rich tracks, “Dream Fatigue” finds Rex Orange County at his most assured, with the songwriting firmly at the center.