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The artist has crafted her vulnerable synth-pop sound with previous albums ‘Nothing’s Real’ in 2016 and ‘Forevher’ in 2019. With ‘I Got Too Sad For My Friends’, she gave little away prior to its release with minimal captions on new ominous posts after wiping her Instagram clean. The artist gave clues to the themes of the album as she posed in numerous posts in a medieval knight costume.

Shura has continued this medieval narrative throughout the singles released in the run-up to the album, the most popular being the recent hit ‘World’s Worst Girlfriend’.

Shura has spoken about the lengthy process of the album, sharing with Dork Magazine that “it’s the longest I’ve lived with music before releasing it.” – apt for a record that she also describes as her most personal release. The artist’s previous music has delved into emotions surrounding love and heartbreak with her most listened to track ‘Touch’ from ‘Nothing’s Real’ delving into difficulties in relationships through a dreamy bedroom-pop sound. The album’s bubbly sound claimed Number 13 on the UK Official Albums chart. She says, “I was very comfortable occupying that emotional space, but this felt different. I was not comfortable.”

‘I Got Too Sad For My Friends’ elevates her sound with the incorporation of new instruments and assisting production from Luke Smith who has worked on music from artists such as Depeche Mode. She describes the change in direction as “the type of records you could curl up into and feel spooned by”. 

Shura also explains creative inspirations during the creation of the album as she dipped her toes into video game live streaming on Twitch, becoming immersed in the Dungeons & Dragons based game Balder’s Gate. The medieval visuals and unique use of woodwind in the album reveal a tie between the album and her creative pursuits outside of music. From her involvement in online gaming, the artist decided to set up a Discord for fans to interact on, which she calls Shutopia. With 10magazine, she also explains the “earthiness” of the album coming from her experience of walks during lockdown “observing as much of the natural world as much as I could”.

Since the album was created throughout the Covid lockdowns, it explores isolation in its entirety. Shura shares her favourite lyric that she feels encapsulates the full feeling of the record. From the song ‘Richardson’, she calls out, “I got too down around my friends, it was slow but they stopped answering so I stopped talking“. She explains the lyric with, “whoever I was drifted away from the rest of the world and I felt very isolated”. 

After enduring an injury from the jiu-jitsu training that was set to feature in ‘World’s Worst Girlfriend’, the artist has taken a break from live concerts and will be performing only two small shows in London following the release of her album. Find tickets to these exciting performances on the artist’s official website.

The production of the show’s final season recently wrapped, after nearly a year of filming, and is now entering its post-production phase.

Reflecting on the emotional farewell, Ross Duffer shared, “It was definitely sad. We’re not going to tell the story with these characters anymore, with that crew or those actors. We were all exhausted, but at the same time, we all had to take some time to mourn the loss of it.”

That’s a wrap on Stranger Things. See you in 2025 pic.twitter.com/29htbnDf7E

— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) December 20, 2024

One of the most iconic moments in the latest season was the use of Kate Bush’s 1985 classic, ‘Running Up That Hill’, which played a crucial role in the storyline of Sadie Sink’s character, Max. Trapped in a dark dimension by the villain Vecna, Max’s friends use the song to help her break free from his influence, believing her favourite music would help her escape.

The scene went viral on social media, not only for its emotional intensity but also for the creative use of a pop song to heighten tension, making it a defining moment in the series.

The impact of the scene extended beyond the show, highlighting how younger audiences are embracing the mix of older and contemporary music.

In his interview with Variety, Matt Duffer commented on this moment, stating: “You can’t really manufacture it. If you try to manufacture it, you’re almost guaranteed for it to not hit. The Kate Bush thing, I thought that episode was cool, and I love Kate Bush. But no, I wasn’t expecting it to resonate with Gen Z in a particular way. But that is one of the fun things about putting it out.”

 

 

 

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The scene also underscores the significant connection between visual storytelling and music, as this pivotal moment reignited interest in Bush’s work.

The song surpassed 1 billion streams, 37 years after its original release, prompting a heartfelt response from the English singer-songwriter, who recognised the achievement with a thank you to fans “for sending this song on such an impossibly astonishing journey.”

Matt Duffer added that these moments often emerge organically, “I know the things we’re excited about, but usually, from the Kate Bush aspect of it, those come out of left field. I’m sure that will happen again. That’s part of the cool thing: You put it out into the world, and it does things that you expect and then it does things that you don’t expect.”

Kate Bush shares rare statement in response to Stranger Things’ “Running Up That Hill” boost.https://t.co/CcUTPBopQ2

— The FADER (@thefader) June 6, 2022

With the conclusion of Stranger Things on the horizon, its legacy and impact on pop culture is undeniable. From its gripping storytelling to unexpected musical revivals, the series has left a mark on both television and music history.

Both Matt and Ross are “working as fast as [they] possibly can” to produce and deliver this final season for all its eager fans.

The Vicious Creature tour will start with a hometown performance at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom on March 20, 2025. It will then move through Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds, concluding at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on March 26. Tickets will be available for pre-sale on November 6 for those who have pre-ordered the album, with general ticket sales opening on November 8.

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This tour announcement comes on the heels of Mayberry’s recent release of the single “Crocodile Tears,” which adds to a collection of singles she has shared this year, including “Something in the Air,” “Shame,” “Change Shapes,” and “Are You Awake?” The singer describes this solo project as a journey to reconnect with her creative independence and artistic intuition. “So much of this process has been an exercise in empowering myself to listen to my own intuition – something I really trained myself out of,” Mayberry said, adding that creating this album was about “relearning that kind of independence.”

In an interview with NME, Mayberry discussed her decision to pursue a solo career, admitting to feeling both excitement and anxiety at the prospect of working alone. “There’s always nervousness… For any frontperson in a band, but especially a woman, as soon as you say the words ‘solo material’ people get very upset with you,” she said. She reassured fans, however, that her solo career does not signal the end of Chvrches, stating, “I feel grateful, but I’m trying to be reassuring to them – ‘Just give us a couple more years, guys, it’s going to be fine’.”

Vicious Creature, represents a personal and artistic exploration distinct from her work with Chvrches, which she describes as “fun, freaky, sad, weird, joyful.” The album’s recently released single Crocodile Tears channels 80s influences, launching with kitschy synth-brass fanfare and a bubbling bass in a sparse arrangement that slowly fills up. 

 

 

 

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In addition to the UK tour dates, Mayberry is set to support London Grammar on their UK and European tour this November. This follows her September and October solo performances in the United States, the UK, and Europe, where she debuted songs from Vicious Creature and experimented with covers. In a recent show at KOKO in London, she performed renditions of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” and the Spice Girls’ “Viva Forever,” alongside eight of her new original songs.

The band are staying true to their identity, with Malcolm Garrett, the original album artist of the first three albums, designing the renewed albums.

These five albums were the setting stone for the band for the rest of their career, which has not shown any signs of slowing down, with Seven and the Ragged Tiger, only their second album, reaching number 1 album in the UK. With the albums winning them more than twenty songs in the Top 10 charts internationally, they were at the forefront of the new wave genre and the introduction of British pop and synth rock, and defined the music scene of the 80s, which is still loved to this day.

The Birmingham-born band are having the new vinyl’s cut at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, showcasing how successful this band has been. Additionally, the fantastic new re-issue’s will be available on 1LP and 1CD format for the first time since their initial release over thirty years ago.

Excited fans have taken to social media since the announcement, stirring even more anticipation for their headline shows this summer including: Latitude, Release Athens and shows across North America.

Fans can expect the re-issues on 5th July, and can pre-order the albums via Warner Music, here.

Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Anne Sulley, the three band members of The Human League excitedly made the announcement, futher fueling the anticipation and buzz surrounding the tour. Fans from all over the world expressed their excitement and eagerness to witness this disco party firsthand. With one fan commenting, “Cannot wait another years for this!! Love Sophie! See you in Manchester!!”

Cannot wait another year for this!! Love Sophie! See you in Manchester!!

— Lisa (@stockportgirly) November 10, 2023

Sophie Ellis-Bextor who is known for her early noughties pop hits such as “Murder of the Dance Floor” and “Groovejet“, will bring her infectious energy and captivating vocals to the tour. Additionally, T’Pau, led by the talented Carol Decker, will grace the stage with their powerful performances. With a number one album Bridge of Spies, T’Pau has left a memorable mark on the music industry. Their inclusion on the tour promises to bring their unique sound and unforgettable hits to the stage, such as the single “Heart and Soul“.

Kicking off in Cardiff in December 2024, The Human League will embark on a journey that will take them to various cities across the United Kingdom. Fans in Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, Bournemouth, Glasgow, Leeds, and London will all have the opportunity to witness this spectacular event.

The tour is expected to be a celebration of the band’s iconic discography. Hailing from Sheffield, England, the synth-pop band The Human League was formed in 1977 as an experimental electronic group. Two years later, they signed with Virgin Records and went on to win the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 1982. The Band have produced esteemed hits that have stood the test of time such as ” Don’t you want Me” and “Mirror Man”.

Back in October of this year in an interview about how the band as maintained popularity, Phillip Oakley said “I don’t know why we deserve to have the luck that we have had, seeing as we’re not especially talented or wonderful or anything. But somehow, I think we just got in the right teams at the right time and managed to keep it going.” He continued, “I think that if there is one thing that we have done, it’s we’ve been persistent. Times when a lot of people might have given up, we didn’t give up. And we stuck it out and when any one of us was finding it a bit hard, the other two kept it going, and that’s why we’re still here I think.”

With the promise of a disco party and fun for everyone attending, The Human League’s 2024 tour is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets for the “Generations” tour can be purchased here.

The Human League Tour dates 2024

05/12/2024 – Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff
06/12 – Manchester AO Arena – Manchester
07/12 – Utilita Arena Birmingham – Birmingham
09/12 – Brighton Centre – Brighton
10/12 – BIC Windsor Hall – Bournemouth
12/12 – OVO Hydro Arena – Glasgow
13/12 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
14/12 – Wembley OVO Arena – London

“Shame” is out 10/10.

Pre-save it here: https://t.co/hWgTWQeBeF pic.twitter.com/raTupS98Ea

— Lauren Mayberry (@laurenevemay) October 4, 2023

Mayberry announced initial details of her solo project back in July, promising that it would be an eclectic mix of emotions and musical styles. Now, Mayberry has had the chance to introduce fans to her new material after completing a tour in the United States, before hitting the road again in the UK and Europe.

Speaking to NME about taking the leap into the uncertain and often times nerve-wracking solo world, Mayberry said, “there’s always nervousness. For any front-person in a band, but especially a woman, as soon as you say the words ‘solo material’ people get very upset with you. I feel like every second sentence is, ‘I’m not breaking up the band, guys, however…’ But we’re lucky enough to have fans that care so much that they don’t want it to break up. I feel grateful, but I’m trying to be reassuring to them – ‘just give us a couple more years guys, it’s going to be fine’.”

Mayberry has stated that bringing her ideas and concepts to life as a solo artist has allowed her to explore female specific experiences that may not have been easy or a right fit for Chvrches. Sharing an artistic direction with two men in the band, Mayberry worried that her unique perspective on themes or directions would not necessarily resonate with them.

She added, “there are a lot of specific things about the female experience that won’t apply to Iain and Martin. Obviously they have been very supportive of some of that making its way into Chvrches’ music, but sometimes I don’t want to sing about certain things or perform in a certain way when I’m on stage with men – if that doesn’t sound terrible. They’re the nicest men, but sometimes it’s not a conversation that I’m comfortable having fully in that context.”

So far, Mayberry has been buoyed by the response that her new material has received from live audiences and, as her UK and European leg gets underway, she is hoping that the new songs continue to ring true for her scores of fans spread across the continent. As for Chvrches, the band is set to release a 10th anniversary edition of The Bones Of What You Believe later this month, although any imminent projects are not foreseen by Mayberry at this time.

Lauren Mayberry Tour:

06/10/2023 – )2 Institute 3 – Birmingham
08/10 – Gorilla – Manchester
09/10 – Scala – London
11/10 – Melkweg Oz – Amsterdam, Netherlands
12/10 – Lido – Berlin, Germany
13/10 – Strom – Munich, Germany
15/10 – La Maroquinerie – Paris, France
16/10 – Luxor – Cologne, Germany
17/10 – Rock Cafe – Prague, Czech Republic
19/10 – Flex – Vienna, Austria
21/10 – Bogen F – Zurich, Switzerland
22/10 – Magnolia – Milan, Italy
24/10 – La Nau – Barcelona, Spain
25/10 – Sala Capernico – Madrid, Spain

Conceived during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic and recorded at his home studio in New York, initial sessions for the solo project offered Clarke an opportunity to experiment with different textures and explore the more abstract, ambient aspects of electronic music.

As evidenced in his newly released lead single – “The Lamentations Of Jeremiah” - Clarke’s latest studio effort sees him tackle the Eurorack – a modular synthesiser format known for its limitless configurations. The first taster of what looks set to be a particularly somber record features composer Reed Hays performing a haunting cello line over ominous Eurorack-generated synth drones. 

Watch the official video for “The Lamentations Of Jeremiah”, directed by Ebru Yıldız, below:

“When I first heard the song, I felt like it contained a whole lifetime within itself,” says Ebru, whose pensive, black-and-white shots of Clarke in an old house portray a brooding musician in various states of contemplation. “All of the drama and peace, anxiousness and calmness, tension and hope, and everything in between. I wanted the visuals to feel like all those extremes as well.”

For the writing process of the album, Clarke followed two rules: firstly, each song would be composed using the Eurorack, and secondly, each track would stay within a single key, with one note pervading throughout. Adhering to these limitations helped the “Just Can’t Get Enough” hitmaker tap into a creative flow that eventually blossomed into a fully-fledged album.

“I could have gone on forever, I could have not stopped,” Clarke said of his creative process in a press statement. “I was enjoying the process so much and wasn’t thinking about anyone else hearing it. But hearing it develop in my studio, in my head, learning new tricks — that’s been the best thing about this. I was in a state of shock, actually, when Mute said they wanted to release this album.”

Songs Of Silence is out November 17 on Mute and available for pre-order here.

Leg 4 of the Memento Mori tour — Europe, Winter 2024, starting January 22 in London. All details: https://t.co/rJtl0RFsdy pic.twitter.com/3r67fsTaGl

— Depeche Mode (@depechemode) July 10, 2023

After releasing what is the band’s 15th studio album, the duo comprising Dave Gahan and Martin Gore set out to tour Momento Mori quickly after its release and was met with stunning success and rave reviews. Such has been the response to the tour that the group has decided to add 29 additional dates across the UK, Ireland and Europe-giving fans an extra chance to see one of the UK’s most beloved and successful bands.

Over the course of Depeche Mode’s 40 plus years, the band has sold over 100 million records and toured the world on numerous occasions. One of the most influential bands of their era and beyond, Depeche Mode have had a staggering 54 songs on the UK Singles Charts and 17 top 10 albums in UK charts. Almost an immediate success within the electronic scene in the early 1980s, the band gained international recognition with their smash hit album Violator-a record featuring arguably their best known songs.

Internal divisions shook the lineup with Gahan and Gore emerging from the 90s as the only two original members left. The pair have rarely been deterred however, going on to release critically acclaimed albums, including March’s Momento Mori-an album that has garnered almost universal acclaim. The album’s first single “Ghosts Again” is considered by some as one of the best songs the band has delivered in decades.

And the Momento Mori tour has not failed to live up to the hype that the record has achieved. Sold out performances across North America and Europe, which have included a sold out Twickenham Stadium in London, have met with glowing reviews with The Guardian writing, “Dave Gahan is a mic-spinning, limb-bending theatrical marvel as the band gallop through decades’ worth of hits.”

Depeche Mode have also partnered with luxury Swiss watch making brand Hublot on the Momento Mori tour to further promote the band’s charities. The pair are supporting the Conservation Collective, a global network of foundations which promote grassroots environmental projects and initiatives with a focus on plastic pollution, waste management and environmental cleanups. Additional details on the charity can be found here.

Hublot and Depeche Mode continue their charity partnership to support the The Conservation Collective, a global environmental charityhttps://t.co/nhY1TuREjc pic.twitter.com/Blw1lGAez4

— Dave Gahan Fans (@DaveGahanFans) April 16, 2023

If one thing has remained an incontestable constant in Depeche Mode’s career, it is that their crowd-pleasing triumphant live performances have left audiences desperate for more and with the Momento Mori tour set to continue, the band are giving their fans exactly what they want. Tickets to the tour can be found here and here.

Momento Mori Additional UK, Ireland and Europe Tour:

22/01/2024 – O2 Arena – London
24/01 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham
29/01 – AO Arena – Manchester
31/01 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow
03/02 – 3Arena – Dublin
06/02 – Sportpaleis – Antwerp, Belgium
08/02 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, Netherlands
10/02 – Royal Arena- Copenhagen, Denmark
13/02 – Mercedes-Benz Arena – Berlin, Germany
15/02 –  Mercedes-Benz Arena – Berlin, Germany
17/02 – Barclays Arena – Hamburg, Germany
22/02 – O2 Arena – Prague, Cech Republic
24/02 – O2 Arena – Prague, Cech Republic
27/02 – Atlas Arena – Lodz, Poland
29/02 – Atlas Arena – Lodz, Poland
03/03 – Accor Arena – Paris, France
05/03 – Accor Arena – Paris, France
07/03 – Olympiahalle – Munich, Germany
12/03 – Wizink Center – Madrid, Spain
14/03 – Wizink Center – Madrid, Spain
16/03 – Palau Sant Jordi – Barcelona, Spain
19/03 – Altice Arena – Lisbon, Portugal
21/03 – BEC – Bilboa, Spain
23/03 – Pala Alpitour – Torino, Italy
26/03 – MVM Dome – Budapest, Hungary
28/03 – Mediolanum Forum – Milan, Italy
30/03 – Mediolanum Forum – Milan, Italy
03/04 – Lanxess Arena – Cologne, Germany
05/04 – Lanxess Arena – Cologne, Germany

The Liverpool based group are set to play together for the first time in 36 years, having disbanded in 1987, and Eurovision 2023 seems to be the perfect place for just an occasion, given the fact that this year’s contest will be held in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, thereby making this a hometown gig for the 80s synth-pop heavyweights.

The band’s lead vocalist Holly Johnson made the announcement in an instagram post, stating that “I’m happy to announce that Frankie Goes To Hollywood will reunite to perform at the opening concert of this very special event“.

The show that will kick things off in Liverpool is set, then, to be a spectacular one, featuring the classic Frankie Goes to Hollywood line-up, including vocalists Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford, and the so-called ‘Lads': Mark O’Toole (on bass), Brian Nash (on guitar), and Peter Gill (on drums).

The group was formed in Liverpool in 1980, rising to prominence and national fame in 1983 with the release of their first major hit, “Relax“. Deemed to be lyrically obscene with a theme of an overtly sexual nature, the track was banned by the BBC on all of its platforms, but this only created publicity for the band and soon the record reached number one of the UK Singles Chart.

Watch a live performance of “Relax” on Top of the Pops in 1984 below:

They followed this with their second single, “Two Tribes“, released in May 1984 to more success, with this song too reaching number one in the UK. The band then released their debut album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome, later that year in October, easily reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart after advanced sales of the LP of more than a million copies.

Watch the music video for “Two Tribes” below:

Their third single, “The Power of Love“, was released in November 1984 to yet more success, reaching number one and marking a defining and record-breaking year for the group, being the first music act to reach number one of the UK Singles Chart with their first three singles since fellow Liverpool band Gary and the Pacemakers in the 60s.

Their second and final album, Liverpool, was released in 1986 and, despite reaching number five on the UK Albums Chart, was considered a commercial failure, owing naturally to their previous unprecedented success. The band subsequently disbanded the following year and haven’t performed together since.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood will perform in the opening concert of Eurovision 2023 on May 7th, see here for the songs that will follow throughout the semi-finals.

Something a little different (for me anyway) is coming. In October I’ll be playing an 8 date acoustic tour in the UK. Pre sale tickets will be available at 9am on April 19th. https://t.co/0LHwSIp985 pic.twitter.com/u07jPrDzn3

— Gary Numan (@numanofficial) April 14, 2023

Last night, a day after the tour announcement, Numan completed his 1000th show, completing a set of three nights at the Electric Ballroom, London, and is set to follow this colossal landmark event with a North American tour, starting on April 21st in Salt Lake City and concluding at Cruel World festival in Pasadena on May 20th. An appearance at Bearded Theory festival at the end of May will precede a break for the summer for Numan, which will then be followed by the acoustic tour in October, a tour which promises to be unique and wholly different for Numan’s devoted cult following, given his synth-pop and industrial rock background. The tour will commence on October 8th at Wylam Brewery in Newcastle and will end with two dates on October 16th and 17th at Hackney Church in London.

Gary Numan (real name Gary Webb) commenced his music career as frontman of new wave band Tubeway Army. The group released their self-titled debut album in 1978 but it wasn’t until the following year, upon the release of “Are Friends Electric?”, that Numan shot to prominence. The track, showcasing Numan’s adoration of synthesisers and science fiction (with its lyrical referencing of Philip K Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), was released in May and found its way to the number one spot of the UK Singles chart in June.

Numan’s Tubeway Army performing hit single “Are Friends Electric?” on Top of the Pops in 1979:

Following his initial success Numan disbanded Tubeway Army and embarked on a solo career, employing a new backing band in the process. Later on in 1979 Numan’s second, and perhaps most famous hit, “Cars”, was released, soon also reaching number one, and was soon followed by the release of Numan’s first solo studio album, The Pleasure Principle, which too reached number one on the UK Albums chart. He went on to have a remarkably prolific decade, releasing nine albums in as many years, and has released a total on nineteen studio albums to date, with the latest, Intruder, being released in May 2021.

The pre-sale for tour tickets starts at 9am on April 19th and you can get yours here.

See below for the tour dates:

08/10/2023 – Wylam Brewery – Newcastle
09/10 – St Luke’s – Glasgow
10/10 – Town Hall – Birmingham
11/10 – St George’s – Bristol
13/10 – St George’s Church – Brighton
15/10 – Cathedral – Manchester
16/10 – Hackney Church – London
17/10 – Hackney Church – London

(Photo credit: Alyssa Fried)