About a month ago I was involved in an interesting music project that targets toxic masculinity. Although the part I played was very small, the message is an important one.
At the beginning of April, I took my first trip to a proper music studio in over a decade. I was already a little nervous and thinking back to how long it had been since I was in a pro studio didn’t make my anxiety any easier.
Luckily the project was for Confyde, the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Martin Jackson, who just happens to be a really nice guy. Labyrinth studios, where the session was being held is run by a couple of really nice guys too, so my nerves were quickly eased.
My task for the day was to sing with a group of other guys who had been recruited for the same goal; to create an epic vocal crescendo for the end of Confyde’s new single “Man Down”. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to sing in a group like that. In fact, even though I’ve sung in professional studios before, I’d not sung in a group like that since I was at school back in the 90s!
I won’t go into the process any further, that would be for Martin to divulge if he’s so inclined. What I will do is introduce to you my New Music Friday pick of the week, which (drum roll please) is of course Man Down by Confyde.
Wow, what an epic track! I am so pleased to have been part of it, even if it was a very small part indeed. The song is out today (May 6th) on all major platforms but I’d head over to Confyde’s Bandcamp page and buy the digital download first.
My second track featured this week is this raucous number from The City Kids, It Should Have Been You. The music video can be found below but it won’t be available on Spotify until 13th May.
The track is from their upcoming album “Filth” and shows that their songwriting confidence is growing. Frontman JJ is also growing in confidence as a singer and it really shows on this track. It must also be mentioned that, as a bass player myself, I fully endorse Berty’s crunchy outro riff.
Finally, the wonderful Aussie group The Chats dropped this glorious 2-minute Pub-Punk ode to a classic muscle car. I love this band’s enthusiasm and spirit. They’ve got no fucks to give and there’s a lot to be said for that kind of attitude.
The tracks featured have been added to my Fringe Rock playlist (below). Why not give it a listen (save and share if you enjoy it) and then add these tracks to one of your own playlists? Every such action goes towards these artists being picked up by the Spotify algorithm so they reach more people.
That’s all for New Music Friday this week. Next week, well next week I’ll be banging my own drum as I bring you my new single “Cookin’ in the Sun” – (Which you can pre-save here)!
Please have an awesome weekend!

Dazzle Rebel