INTERVIEW: Lydons discuss origins and influences alongside new single ‘Charley’

Born and bred in the Black Country, Lydons are fast proving themselves one of the UK’s most exciting new rock voices. After crashing onto the scene earlier this year with their fiery debut single ‘TONGUE’, the band return with ‘Charley’, a nostalgic yet hard-hitting anthem that captures the spirit of long summer days, growing pains, and the strength found in remembering where you started.

Produced by platinum-selling producer Gavin Monaghan (Editors, The Twang) and Liam Radburn, the track distills the grit and groove of the Midlands into a contemporary cut that’s as heartfelt as it is explosive. A love letter to childhood and community, ‘Charley’ balances joy with a quiet ache, echoing Lydons’ ability to pair raw energy with real emotion.

We caught up with Lydons to talk about ‘Charley’, the roots of their sound, and why carrying the light of their hometown matters as much as making noise for the future.

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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?

Seeing Liam Gallagher do Champagne Supernova live at Knebworth in 2022, I think that was the moment for me that I decided I really really wanted to pursue music as a career.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?

Fontaines D.C and Wunderhorse are big ones for us at the moment, but old school punk such as The Clash and the Pistols always has a big influence on how we write our songs.

Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?

Folk and Country music has quite a big influence on me, I’m loving some of Dean Martin’s stuff at the minute, I think it’s very important to take good elements from other genres and adapt it into your own.

What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?

Trying to capture a feeling that a lot of people could relate to, it’s quite inspiring to put yourself in the shoes of the listener and think how they would feel the first time hearing something that you’re writing.

What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?

It depends on the status of the gig, if it’s a support slot it’s great when you’re able to win over a crowd, going from a room full of people not knowing who you are to seeing people jumping about and getting into it within the space of 30 minutes is special, speaking to people after the gigs is also great, it’s always nice when people come and see us again after seeing us for the first time as a support act.

What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?

Our headline gig at the River Rooms in our hometown Stourbridge, we was the first band that wasn’t a cover band or a college band to play there in years, and to be able to sell it out on a Thursday was unreal, hearing our Black Country army, 400 people strong singing the songs back to us was a moment I’ll never forget.

How would you define success as a musician?

Having our music be able to change people’s lives, whether it be somewhere people go for comfort during tough times, or speaking up about the bad stuff going on in the world. I’d say able to make a difference makes you successful.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?

Just enjoy it, you see so many bands taking it too seriously these days, the whole reason we started a band is to have a laugh and do something we love with our mates, that’s what being in a band is for me, so go out and enjoy yourself. If you’re having a good time, everyone else in the crowd will have a good time, and that’s when people will start to take notice.

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Listen to Lydons’ new single ‘Charley’ below.