“Following the demise of my former band, Hold The Fight, I decided to embark upon a solo adventure,” explains Laurie Cottingham, the singer-songwriter behind one-man acoustic outfit Brightr. He goes on to explain how his new musical endeavour was fuelled by a desire to combine pop melodies with a smattering of rage. The result takes influence from pop-punk stalwarts such as A Loss For Words or Real Friends, but delivers a subtle force mirroring the likes of The Early November or Into It. Over It.
“Having had a year that featured both beautiful creation, the birth of my daughter, and the death of a band I’d thrown so much money, energy and passion towards for so long, life dealt me influence to write the songs I then set about polishing, and eventually recording,” Cottingham reveals. He headed into the studio with Matt O’Grady, whose creativity has previously elevated the pop elements of You Me At Six and Deaf Havana.
‘Brightr’ more than succeeds in pulling to two realms together – ultimately delivering a beautiful record that is not only filled with melody, but that also brings Cottingham’s personality and emotion to the forefront. From the rallying ‘We’ to the self-analytical ‘Like Paper’, ‘Brightr’ is an elegant and uplifting listen.
Exclusively stream the EP in full via the SoundCloud player below. We have also included the ever important lyrics after the player.
Brightr will be playing his first show on the 31st January at the tattoo convention at The Cheese and Grain in Frome, with his debut hometown show scheduled for the 23rd February at Busker’s Bar in Eastbourne alongside Sam Little and The Lion And The Wolf.
‘WE’
Take your time it’s not alright, to leave everything so carelessly tonight. Too spontaneous, the callous must be justified by every fight. Make your promises to keep, or be damned to an existence without sleep. I hope you’re proud of every dream you crushed, their words were something you can’t trust, but swear that you’re the innocent and you could barely breathe.
We are adept at speaking doubt, we are the vulnerable. We are the ever-seekers, behind the miserable. We are so rarely lifted, no sleep ‘til we are dead. We are the ones who always try to do our best
Wait! Consider it this time, before your actions are intensified by wine. I know you like to blame the ones you touched, but truth is that you messed it up right? Fake evidence and verse just an anecdote you cleverly rehearse. I know you like to think you’ve earned the trust of every friend, but it will rust, to leave you with a sinking feeling closer to a curse.
We’re not the best at giving up (Maybe they’ll say) We’re not the best at giving up (That all I know) We’re not the best at giving up (Is a mistake, but I invest too many hours to waste it away).
‘Sleight Of Hand’
Straight lines make emotionless designs. Come on where’s the sense in breathing when you lack the will to fight. Fame? I don’t know, I can’t promise anything as the best I have is riding on the hope that we can watch it start again.
We are shuffling the packLike Darwin ortiz, aiming to deceive; you’ll never bring us down again.
We are hiding in the back with empty faces quiet and discreet; you’ll never see it coming.
Hearsay, there really wouldn’t be a scene without it. Too honest, soo unique. A phase to feel important in. All I know is what it is to me, a rotten fountain of vilest critique, they’d rather see you stumbling.
‘Pavement’
A daze like a jetstream flowing from my mind, I never thought I’d fall for this one. Feeling even lower than before, the best you ask, it’s laid out on the floor. I’m through with this, on to the next one.
But I doubt that I could carry a tune to make a wave, I’m trying. Hey let’s drink a toast to friendship, break the monotone. As it’s obvious to me I’m in debt and ill perceived. You prioritise the things that I don’t.
Waiting here for seconds that turned quickly into hours. When it’s not enough to be heard.
Creating here for seconds that turned quickly into years. Well it’s not enough to be yourself.
I’m not sure that I should believe the voice inside my head that tells me I’m wrong for dreaming a better place instead. I might be right, I’m surely wrong. Though it’s obvious that every hope’s just pavement for the next one.
‘Like Paper’
Instead of fading out, we’re wading in to details, making sense and she says that everything was in my head. When it all comes down to expectations that I do my best to keep within my head. Our hearts will grow again. It’s getting clearer now with every day the test is building strength and I’ve found a stable place to make my bed. When it all comes down to expectations that I do my best my to keep within my head. Will you face it, or hide the doubt by getting wasted. Hide the topic among a series of indifference. Can you taste this, the sour part of your complacence? At the top of my lungs, my theories turn to sentiments.