Bradley Simpson shares angsty solo single ‘Always Like This’
The raw heartache hit was written in the City of Love.
Photo: Bradley Simpson
Bradley Simpson, frontman of British boy band The Vamps, sets the tone for his debut album with this latest solo release Always Like This, treating fans to a frantic indie rock track capturing the angsty aftermath of a breakup.
Bradley’s gravelly vocals are underpinned by Wild West-esque guitar riffs, echoing like tormenting thoughts of an ex-partner. This sense of moody frustration quickly builds to a gritty chorus driven by explosive drums, a nod to influences from Arctic Monkeys and The White Stripes. The melodic refrain follows a repeated minor descent which maps the downward spiral of the relationship, with off-beat rhythms suggesting this couple has fallen out of sync and out of love.
Always Like This was recorded at Motorbass studios (seeing the likes of Phoenix and Franz Ferdinand) in the romantic Montmartre neighbourhood of Paris — a historical hub for bohemian artists and cultural anarchy. This heartache song written in the ‘City of Love’ underlines the feelings of romantic conflict and transports the listener to rainy cobbled streets reflecting blurred lights in the dark. Rather than ‘la vie en rose’, Bradley describes “pull[ing] petals off of a rose”, symbolising the lingering love and empty nostalgia that can come with the death of a relationship.
The bold sound and relatable lyrics are sure to strike a chord with fans and get crowds jumping as Bradley sets off on his headline tour across Europe and the UK.
Always Like This is out now via Insanity Records.