Secret Rivals return with a chirpy new single ‘Cassidy’ with twitchy beats and shimmering guitars, rattling with the hand on the shoulder vocal encouragements of original guitarist and singer Jay Corcoran and Aisling Hennesy on vocals, synth and guitar. It plugs into the themes of overcoming the anxiety of getting together and playing music again after so many years, and forging onwards even when you get knocked down. A triumph, many years in the making indeed.
Singer and songwriter Jay says of the single:
‘’It’s almost about the idea of playing music again, overcoming anxiety and all that good stuff, Its got a lot of Wedding Present and Cure influence in the sound of it, its about putting your best foot forward essentially, even if your toe is hanging off.” Watch the video below:
The single follows up on the bands Amor Fati album released earlier this year self-produced by the band, was recorded in late 2023 and released on May 29th 2024. The album reflects Jay Corcoran’s personal journey with his mental health addiction and recovery, a struggle that led to the band’s initial breakup in 2013.
Secret Rivals first gained widespread attention with their 2011 single ‘Tonight Matthew’ which was named “Tune Of The Day” by BBC Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank. Their 2012 album Make Do And Mend was met with critical acclaim, leading to performances at prestigious festivals such as Bestival, Sound City Liverpool, and Wychwood.
The refreshed lineup formed in October of 2023 features original guitarist and vocalist Jay Corcoran, bassist Vincent Lynch, and Aisling Hennessy on vocals, synth, and guitar, with Mike Gore on drums. Their first single, ‘Anxiety’ received airplay from Steve Lamacq on BBC 6Music, showcasing their enduring appeal.
