Q&A: The Light Never Fades for Lydons
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY GIGI KANG ☆
LYDONS ARE A TOUCHING BALANCE BETWEEN LOVE AND GRIT—The best punk artists always make you feel understood through their boldness. There’s a resistance to being brought down—a resilience—and Lydons embody that exact energy.
The UK-based five piece released their debut single “TONGUE” earlier in the year. It was a beautiful expression of commitment to not giving up despite the fatigue of continuous trying. Through sorrow-tinged vocals, they sang, “I see it, I’m smiling, it’s been so fucking long / I’m laughing, I’m smiling, and I feel it in my bones.”
With “TONGUE,” Lydons established a dedication to saying it how it is—no romanticizing, just truth. They are also ambassadors for Man Down Programme, which promotes open discussions of men’s mental health in the music industry. Lydons are a group that acknowledges both the triumphs and difficulties that life presents, and that’s the balance they translate into music.
Similarly, their new single “Charley” released on September 4 is full of heart. It’s a love letter to the band’s childhood in the UK’s Black Country. They reflect on the simplicity of those times through lyrics like, “We stayed up all night watching the sunny sky, take a break from the high stakes.”
Lydons share that they wrote the song “to honor the people and places that made us who we are: family, friends, and the raw beauty of ordinary moments.” They add, “There’s joy in it, but also a sadness that those days can’t come back.”
“Charley” is a brighter song than “TONGUE,” with satisfying cymbals that drive the song along with guitar arpeggios. Lyrical repetition also creates a catchiness that would make for a vibrant live performance.
The song is intentionally nostalgic and will prompt listeners to consider their own childhood experiences that they carry into adulthood. Looking back, Lydons sing, “In the heart of the past, life is great, moving fast, where the light never fades.”
Read our conversation with Lydons below.
LUNA: “Charley” is inspired by growing up in the Black Country. How would you say your childhood environment informed who you became as musicians?
LYDONS: Growing up in the Black Country definitely molded who we are as musicians today. It’s sort of a forgotten place where there’s not much else to do as a youngster, so you just have to make up your own fun. There were definitely ups and downs for all of us growing up. I guess that’s where the stories and experiences we reference in our music came from.
LUNA: The song has a wonderful optimism to it. Similarly, “TONGUE” acknowledges difficulties and unchangeable circumstances, and yet, the repetition of “I try” maintains a deep desire for change. Does creating music help you hold onto hope?
LYDONS: Yes, we have always believed that it’s a good idea for people to speak up about the struggles they’re facing and use it to express something meaningful rather than let it swallow you. For us, we release those struggles through our music. The hope comes from knowing that what we’re writing about is real. It’s something we can look back on as a reminder that you can always get through tough times. The notion of our music being able to help others also helps us cling onto the idea of hope.
LUNA: “Charley” is your second release following “TONGUE.” What did you learn from putting out your debut that helped inform the release of “Charley”?
LYDONS: We are still learning now. We have been a lot more thorough with our decisions in the studio which has meant the recording process on a whole was a lot smoother. This allowed us to use our musicianship to make a song that is rich in sound and full of heart.
LUNA: You’re ambassadors for Man Down Programme, which is a thoughtful and important way to use your platform. What has your involvement with Man Down taught you and what do you hope to share with others through it?
LYDONS: The biggest thing we have learnt from working with Man Down is how to use our platform in a positive way. Mental health is the biggest killer for people under 40 in the UK. We have learned over the last couple of years that the music industry is a stressful place to navigate due to its competitive nature, so it’s really great that Man Down offers support for those struggling in this business. We’ve all struggled with our mental health at some point during our lives which means it’s likely that people who follow us or people we know may also be struggling and not talking about it. We just hope that our work with Man Down can encourage people to speak up.
