After taking their first step towards a much bigger future with the recent ‘Welcome Home’, Essex indie-rock risers Black Lounge now share a further statement-of-intent with the follow-up single ‘Roommate’. Both songs feature on the band’s upcoming debut EP which will be released via Right Track Recordings, the new label from Chrysalis founder Chris Wright. Listen HERE.
Powered by a hook that embeds itself in the mind after just one listen, and set to a blur of fuzzy guitar melody and punchy, punk exuberance, ‘Roommate’ feels like a lost cult classic from the vibrant 2000s indie scene. Lyrically it’s reflective of something that countless young adults experience right now as soaring rent makes living alone increasingly difficult – a playful, tongue-in-cheek take on dealing with the kind of relentless awful housemate who manages to turn the sanctity of the living room into a constant battlefield of inconsiderate behaviour and passive aggressive belligerence.
George Grant says, “‘Roommate’ is a song I think many people can relate to. It’s about living with someone who you can’t stand. The narrative goes both ways, neither side is a saint and both are as bad as each other. Its comedic lyrics tell the story of living in a toxic environment with a messy, hard partying roommate. It’s not necessarily about hating this person, it’s more a feeling of being completely fed up with their ways and you simply just want to go home. Inspired by and written about real experiences, it feels all the more honest, personal and relatable.”
‘Roommate’ and ‘Welcome Home’ showcase a rapid evolution in the Black Lounge sound, pulling on different stands of the alt-rock sonic spectrum yet sharing the common threads of tight, powerful musicianship and stellar songwriting regardless of the sub-genres they explore.
Since George Grant formed the band in 2024 they have sold-out numerous headline gigs in London and Essex and just completed their debut headline show in London at The Victoria. They earned repeated airplay from BBC Introducing, and played shows alongside chart-bound contemporaries such as The Molotovs and The Clause. Yet this year has seen the band’s new line-up level up their potential, with Ben Gulik (guitar), James Ladds (bass) and Jack Cassidy (drums) all on-board as their rise heats up.
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