Photo: Ewan Ogden

As The Lathums reflect on a huge summer with arena tour dates supporting Keane and a 12,000 strong sell out homecoming show at Wigan’s Robin Park, the band have today returned with their brilliant new single Stellar Cast, bringing further speculation on what might lay ahead on album number 3. Written following one of singer and lyricist, Alex Moore’s unexplained dreams, the track's ska-inspired sound is brought to dazzling life with its catchy guitar riffs and infectious vocals. Sharing more details about the single's inspiration he goes on to say: “I got the inspiration for this song after one of our early gigs at the Brudenell in Leeds. We were joined by a stellar lineup. It was one of the rare times I’d had a bit too much to drink before going on stage. That night on the bus back, I had a crazy dream, probably fuelled by all the Jamaican ale I refer to in the song. In the dream, there was a strange figure at the end of my bed that I couldn’t get out of my head for a long time after. When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time writing my own comics and stories, and that’s probably where my love for songwriting really started. This song is about someone who gets completely drawn in by this mysterious, almost otherworldly figure. They leave the person with more questions than answers, but it’s the kind of obsession they can’t shake, even if they tried. The figure feels like a mix of everything. Part-friend, part-foe, maybe even a lover. There’s something intoxicating about them, like the Jamaican ale, burning bright but disappearing just as quickly. Even with all the confusion, the character can’t help but hold on to the obsession, not wanting to let go.” Take a listen for yourselves below. 

The Lathums continue to raise funds and awareness of their own Chance To See Fund, a charitable venture to bring creative opportunity to young people in and around Wigan. Donations from fans, the band and through special projects arranged with participatory arts charity, Curious Minds, saw the total available to local individuals, groups and projects hit £25,000earlier this year. The band and Curious Minds joined together with the shared aim of bringing music, theatre and other artistic projects into the lives of people with no other way of accessing them. Individual donations to the Chance To See Fund are welcome via the Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/chancetosee.

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