Following more than a decade as singer of Scottish synth-pop trio CHVRCHES, Lauren Mayberry has now stepped into the spotlight solo, promising “an exercise in empowering myself to listen to my own intuition” and largely delivering on ‘Vicious Creature’.
Her first album refreshingly opens up her palette, moving beyond her band’s more alternative style and into unabashed pop. To help bring this vision to life Mayberry assembled a starry ensemble cast of co-writers — including Tobias Jesso Jr (Adele, Dua Lipa), Ethan Gruska (Shawn Mendes, Carly Rae Jepsen) and Dan McDougall (Rag’n’Bone Man, Sam Ryder) — and their pedigree helps lay bare her ambitions.
Something in the Air, which was penned about a “pretty iconic” musician spouting conspiracy theories in her presence, channels an evocative ‘90s vibe, with Mayberry stringing out the “air” syllable in the chorus to sugary, impactful effect.
“It’s exhausting trying so hard all the time / Performative hypocrisy took over my mind,” opens a frustrated Mayberry on Change Shapes, a glitzy anthem that takes aim at music industry sexism over a skipping arrangement. Crocodile Tears, too, is a funky distillation of triumphant synth lines and cutting lyrics.
Mayberry’s commitment to her upbeat pop style might become a little wearing after a while, but ‘Vicious Creature’ has a few curveballs up its sleeve. Piano ballad Oh, Mother sweetly explores the dynamics of a changing mother/daughter relationship and a similar sense of vulnerability is conjured on the homesick closer Are You Awake. Sorry, Etc, meanwhile, blends drum ‘n’ bass with ominous industrial sounds, giving it an edge that’s lacking elsewhere. Overall, this is an admirable start on a journey of self-discovery.
Lauren Mayberry Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu December 12 2024 - KINGSTON UPON THAMES St John's Church
Thu March 20 2025 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Fri March 21 2025 - EDINBURGH La Belle Angele
Sun March 23 2025 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy 2 Birmingham
Mon March 24 2025 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 2
Tue March 25 2025 - LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
Wed March 26 2025 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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