Transitioning away from the loud, high-octane indie rock that originally put a musician on the map requires a brave leap of faith. For Johnny Lloyd, best known as the leader of the UK outfit TRIBES, stepping away from the predictable rhythms of rock and television scoring has opened up an entirely different creative lane. Operating under the new moniker Band of Revelations, Lloyd is pivoting towards a rootsy, unvarnished style of storytelling that completely bypasses modern studio trickery.
Following the positive reception of the project's debut offering 'All the Way Home', the second taste of his forthcoming autumn LP, arrives with a heartland-infused track titled 'After Dark'. If the previous track detailed the initial shock of a split, the new single finds its footing in the lingering quiet that follows. It is a tune wrapped in expansive guitar lines, steady tempos, and a soulful harmonica finish, taking cues from the cinematic sonic spaces of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and The War on Drugs.
Beneath the warm, vintage instrumentation sits an open-ended narrative about the heavy weight of trying your best when things fall apart anyway. It is an exploration of heartbreak that rejects easy resolutions in favour of raw emotional clarity.
Discussing the new release, Lloyd explains: “It’s about giving everything you can but still feeling like it’s not enough. It’s about coming to terms with doing your best and it not working out. It’s a song for everyone who’s lost love in their lives.”
By letting his instincts guide the recording process, Lloyd has crafted a piece of music that feels genuinely lived-in. The project strips away the pressure of contemporary pop trends, leaning instead into a shared human experience that is both vulnerable and comforting. As the songwriter points out regarding his mindset during the recording sessions: “I wasn’t listening to the zeitgeist, I just made music I would listen to in my car.”
'After Dark' is available to stream across all major platforms right now. To keep up with the latest updates on the upcoming full-length album and future tour dates, be sure to follow both Johnny and Band of Revelations on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
