MAX BIANCO TO UNLEASH NEW MUSIC – THE EXCLUSIVE

Few capture the essence of a vagabond as much as Max Bianco does. As the wandering storyteller builds towards the launch of his debut album, The Songbird HQ can give you the exclusive first reaction to his first new releases.

Available to PRE-SAVE HERE ( on your preferred streaming service) and PRE-ORDER HERE NOW (on vinyl) The first release features ‘It’s Cold Outside’ and ‘Yesterday Was Heavy’.

Recorded at the home of The Libertines, The Albions Rooms in Margate, the digital release will come on the 27th November and will be followed by a physical 7-inch release at a later date. In a Songbird exclusive, Bianco revealed that anyone who pre-orders this single will receive a handwritten lyric note from the Hartlepool born star, which will be pressed into the single ahead of the wax sealing.

Talking about the digital release date, Max said “It’s my birthday so I thought I’d give the world a birthday gift.”

The album is due to release next year (TBA), but this modern-day poet kept his cards close to his chest, confirming that he “has a few things planned for it”.

As previously mentioned, the full album was recorded at the Albion Rooms, Margate, and produced by their in-house magician Jason Stafford. The tracks have been mixed by Graham Waller.

The artwork for this release features Bianco in his traditional fur hat, beige trench coat and Burberry scarf, sat writing in the dark interior of the Albion Rooms.

‘It’s Cold Outside’ is a previously released Max Bianco and The Bluehearts track that features a new gritty sound, to really fit the feel of the album. This new twist features some exciting artists that have been a part of Bianco’s meandering journey to this point.

Charles Bueller, frontman of indie rockers Dead Freights and solo artist in his own right, will feature heavily on the album and performs lead guitar for this reworked version. Bianco himself is playing rhythm guitar and bass and there’s an exciting addition to this track. Tom Van Heel, keyboard player for Paul Weller, recorded the drum parts. Alfie Gear, from the band Dirty Gear, features with a guitar solo.

Bianco described to us that the “energy feels so good on it” and that the backing vocals feature many friends and fans who he has collected along the way. Those live shows are infectious, and once you’re hooked you’ll remain hooked.

Sitting perfectly between folk-rock and soulful indie blues, the song intros with a classic Bianco twang on an electric guitar, as the layers of bass and drums begin to build beneath.

He starts the song with his raw vocal delivery, but there’s a sense of tenderness throughout. “I want to go outside just to feel the air”.

The call-and-answer lyrics in the chorus really add to the character and catchiness to this hit. Bianco yells “It’s cold outside” as the backing vocalists chant the same back. The backing vocalists include Grey Pelz, Steve (Mr Steve) Cutler and his close friend Mimi.

He continues with “it’s raining inside’ as the vocalists all sing again. The final chorus is bellowed over the aforementioned Alfie Gear guitar solo.

The B side to this single, ‘Yesterday Was Heavy’ is reminiscent to a Max Bianco live show. It’s a slower pace but you can feel the raw and gritty lyrics conveying emotion through the track.

This hit features Charles Bueller on bass and Tom Van Heel in his familiar position on keys. A L Strange (Axel Loughrey), who has an upcoming EP of this own, performs lead guitar with Timothy Midnight on drums.

The lyrics in this song are delivered in a raspy and aching tone, you can sense him pushing through the pain. Max Bianco has a real ability to deliver an important message and put the listener in his shoes. “I don’t mean to cause you pain or worry, all I remember about it was yesterday was heavy”. He takes you on a journey of understanding.

Talking of his time recording, Bianco said “That week was like the biggest laughs and the biggest cries. You can hear that on the recordings.” We pushed further to talk about recording at the Albion Rooms.

“Nothing was planned. There was no practice or a band or nothing. I thought I was going to put a load of acoustic songs down and build around them. Jason (Stafford) said fuck that and called Tim Midnight up”.

Between Max Bianco, Charles Bueller and Timothy Midnight they played all songs as a three piece and then Tom Van Heel came along to put some keys to it. “We had this joke that anyone who came in can be included in the album. I think it makes the listener feel like you’re at the studio with us all.”

In Max Bianco fashion, he quipped that the biggest memory he has of that week was “being asleep”. Even joking the album should be called “Charlie Bueller and friends” instead of his own work.

Max Bianco will support Babyshambles on three dates of their highly-anticipated reunion tour. He confirmed to us that he may also have some CDs of half the album for sale for £5 on the merch stand on these dates. Giving revellers a chance to hear what’s to come. He will feature on the Leeds, Nottingham and Bristol dates.

The timeless songwriter has supported Babyshambles frontman Peter Doherty on his solo tour and as part of The Libertines tour last Autumn with him and Peter having become close friends.

This first release marks the start of an exciting journey for this vagabond. He’ll draw you in with the delivery of his heartfelt lyrics. He’s not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and this album will feature elements of indie rock, folk, blues and classic rock’n’roll. It’ll be full of swagger, sincerity and poetic grit.

The first taster of the new album will be released with ‘Its Cold Outside’ and ‘Yesterday Was Heavy’ on the 27th November via independent tastemaker record lable Bubblebrain Records.

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