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LABRAN Releases Debut Album “Never Let It Show” Released 21 October 2022

With flourishes of alternative rock, post-punk, metal, emo, and a lineage of influential British bands, LABRAN looks to leave his mark with his debut album ‘Never Let It Show’. Released on October 21st, 2022, the album ends a productive year for the Birmingham singer-songwriter.

About LABRAN
Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Richard Labran experienced the life of an independent touring musician. The West Midlands native went from appearing on legendary radio DJ John Peel’s ‘Peel Sessions’ with Solway Fifth to opening the first Supersonic Festival in his hometown with Deadsunrising, and later returned to the festival with Formation Flight. While his last band, IONS, released two albums before splitting up in 2014.

Through a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic, boredom, six years of studying, and an ambition to strike out on his own, Richard Labran returned under the simple eponymous moniker of LABRAN. Accompanied by former IONS drummer Andrew Langford, LABRAN sees Richard branching out as a singer-songwriter.

“I guess I just got the itch to write music again, but this time wanted to do things differently, without having to go to loads of rehearsals, band practices and having to coordinate everything else that goes with being in a band,” says Richard. “It is always a pleasure working with Andrew though. He’s a dedicated, reliable, and passionate professional who pays small attention to detail to get his drums right.”

“We want people to enjoy our music and appreciate the diversity of song writing. We want them to come back and listen to future releases.”

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About Never Let It Show
“Never Let It Show” showcases a diverse range of guitar driven compositions. The opening track ‘Host A Ghost’ sees LABRAN serve up a harmonious slice of melodic post-hardcore through an introspective telescope, leaving you mesmerised.

“‘Host A Ghost’ was the catalyst for a new way of writing and recording music and gave me the confidence to continue recording more songs. It was inspired by someone I know who spiralled down after a difficult breakup, they found it hard to form relationships with others and obsessed over the love they’d lost. They became a drifter with little focus. It’s about others like her – people who have had difficult relationships and experiences trying to start again.”

Preview/Share Host a Ghost Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/bKRG6NdmtIg?feature=oembed

Track two ‘Juno’ features electric guitar driven folk inspired by the tunings of Nick Drake. The song is a romanticised hybrid of Roman/Greek mythology told through NASA’s Juno space shuttles journey to investigate the origin and evolution of Jupiter. The song’s lyrics are carefully crafted and bring a level of intellectualism that begins to set the tone for the remainder of the album. Then comes ‘Rare and True’, a song which has some beautiful chord progressions and interweaving delay driven guitars that capture the imagination and let you know that this is an alternative guitar players album.

‘If I Can’t Stop by Now’ introduces synth to the album and is another well-crafted song that delivers the groceries at 165BPM and quite literally showcases spellbinding lyrical construction. The song is told through the perspective of death referring to serial killers, death rituals, witchcraft, and the finite nature of our solar system.

‘When You Are Not Around’ weaves together intricate, rhythmic, and dark acoustic,electric, and bass guitar accompanied by a faultless drumming performance that really grabs listeners attention.

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“I really found my feet when writing ‘When You Are Not Around’, the track is one of thirteen songs that I decided to record at home, and I’d started to feel more confident in the delivery of my vocals and the recording process. The same could be said for Andy who had nailed and got to grips with recording on an electric drumkit by this point. The track is basically about unrequited love, rejection, and the realisation that feelings can be entirely our own experience. There are so many great works of fiction in this area, and I wanted to try and create a song that captured the same type of mood.”

Preview/Share When You Are Not Around Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ObFp71DAwZ8?feature=oembed

There are tracks on the album which strike political notes:

‘Having just finished spending six years studying the social sciences, national and international politics, and economics, lockdown came at a time I’d been reflecting on my own country and the wider world. ‘Find Your Own Way Back’ is a song that deals with my own thoughts of the Tory party and Brexit. I couldn’t help but feel a lot of damage had been done both to the mindset of what was once a tolerable and proud society, and to the international system because of Brexit Whereas ‘What Has Become of Man’ was inspired by a documentary made by a famous former resident of my hometown Joe Lycett. It deals with the influence of the fossil fuel industries on the international system, national crisis, and warfare.

Preview/Share What Has Become of Man Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ObFp71DAwZ8?feature=oembed

Then there are the tracks ‘Eyes on The Road’, ‘Lost Not Found’ and ‘Never Let It Show’, all of which deal with topics like abuse, PTSD, ill mental health, suicide, and the difficulties of trying to cope and get by in contemporary society. For example, ‘Eyes on The Road’ sees LABRAN provide a thought-provoking take on being dependent on Antidepressants, highlighting a yearning to escape.

“‘Eyes On The Road’ is about societal pressures to conform to a certain way of being and the impact on our mental health,” he explains. “It’s about labelling people who do not conform or diagnosing them when they behave differently i.e., ADHD. In many ways, it’s about the need for escapism from negative life experiences and societal pressures.”

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Preview/Share Eyes on The Road here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nx4JArodgWw?feature=oembed

The final and title track of the album ‘Never Let It Show’ has an eery feel to it which LABRAN describes as having been told through the perspective of artificial intelligence in a post-apocalyptic future.

“Never Let It Show is about AI reflecting on modern humans, how they shaped and experienced the world and how the AI feels having processed this information and replaced human undertakings in economic activity”.

What’s clever about the track Never Let it Show is the robotic like synth loop underpinning it and how this all comes together and is captured in the albums concept artwork designed by Richard Labrans’ friend stoo_cgi.

“Never Let It Show” is an impressive debut album inspired by multiple influences and genres such as alternative rock, post-punk, post-rock, brit-pop, and metal. What’s certain is LABRAN can’t be accused of trying to replicate the sounds of other bands or accused of being genre specific and perhaps this will mean the album struggles to find a space in any given scene. Regardless, the album certainly has its moments, is well crafted, and it will be interesting to see how LABRAN evolves over the coming
years.

“Never Let It Show” is Released October 21st, 2022 and is available on SpotifyAmazing RadioApple Music and other streaming platforms.
LABRAN can also be found on FACEBOOKYouTube and Instagram

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Alwyn Morrison scales through with new single “Chained”

Alwyn Morrison

Alwyn Morrison’s new single, “Chained,” hits hard with its heartfelt message, offering an honesty rare in music today. Written while he was flying to Europe, this song comes from deeply personal experiences and showcases Alwyn’s most vulnerable side yet.

Teaming up with his longtime friend Michael Ales for songwriting and working with producer Michael Carey in Los Angeles, Alwyn creates a sound that feels both rich and simple. The guitar-driven music is full of warmth, exhaustion, and hope.

Chained” plunges into the complex realities of loving someone who struggles with depression. Alwyn beautifully captures the heavy feelings that come with it, expressing the helplessness, loyalty, and quiet sadness often accompanying such love. His lyrics paint a vivid picture, inviting you to share the emotional journey of navigating the hidden struggles that can tie two people together.

The track’s raw honesty resonates with anyone who has faced challenges in love. It reminds us that sometimes love means standing by someone going through tough times. In “Chained,” Alwyn Morrison captures real human experiences and turns them into music that sticks with you.

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For more information about Alwyn Morrison, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Alwyn Morrison’s Chained” on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Alwyn Morrison | Instagram | Facebook |

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Ava Valianti turns self-doubt into art with “Laugh Track”

Ava Valianti

In her new single, “Laugh Track,” Ava Valianti takes us on a peculiar journey through her thoughts and feelings, which many can connect to. With a mix of dark humor and raw honesty, Ava shares her experience of feeling like life is more of a series of awkward moments rather than a smooth story where she’s the star.

Drawing inspiration from movies and shows that explore deep emotions, like The Truman Show and How I Met Your Mother’s Ted Mosby, “Laugh Track” captures the unsettling feeling of always being on stage, even when nobody’s watching. It resounds with anyone who has sat alone and questioned whether the laughter around them is meant for them or at their expense.

The song combines deeper sounds with a light, catchy vibe, making its heavy themes approachable enough for dancing. Ava’s voice is strong and open, giving each line an authentic feeling that hits home.

Laugh Track” is a stand-out because it embraces chaos. Ava doesn’t wrap up her insecurity and self-doubt in a tidy package. Instead, she celebrates the messiness of life and finds comfort in the imperfect characters we often see on TV and in ourselves. “Laugh Track” mirrors our experiences. Like the best comedy shows, it makes you laugh, feel uncomfortable, and reminds you that you’re not alone in your struggles.

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For more information about Ava Valianti, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Ava Valianti’s Dreaming on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Ava Valianti | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook |

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