London’s own Vineyard Cries has always felt like an artist operating on a different frequency to his peers. After a seven-year hiatus that left fans wondering if the 2019 self-titled EP was a final bow, the West London producer and rapper has finally broken his silence. His latest single, ‘Mary Rose’, is not just a return to form; it is a sprawling, atmospheric masterclass in what he aptly terms "industrial storytelling." At 33, the artist returns with the same grit that defined his early work, but there is a newfound emotional clarity here that suggests his time away from the musical conveyor belt was spent in deep reflection.
The track functions as a sonic bridge between the biting Britpop-infused rap of his debut and something far more celestial. Opening with a lingering, ghostly intro, the production eventually gives way to a rhythmic landscape where heavy, balanced beats meet swirling, ethereal synth melodies. It is a sound that feels distinctly British, filling a void for those who miss the raw, poetic honesty of early Plan B or Professor Green, yet it is layered with the melodic sensibilities of Bob Dylan and Noel Gallagher.
Vineyard Cries’ life story has always been woven into his aesthetic. Raised in a single-parent household amidst a vibrant tapestry of Irish and Cameroonian cultures, his music thrives on the links that connect disparate worlds. This global perspective was forged in the fires of a near-death experience at 21, followed by a transformative stint in the Brazilian favelas. Clad in a “Berghaus Jacket and a pair of Reebok Classics on deck,” he absorbed the robust survivalism and infectious joy of those environments—a contrast that is audible in the tension of his new work.
“Music is an expressive language which each and everyone of us can interpret in our own way,” he notes, and ‘Mary Rose’ certainly invites that personal affinity. The track shifts seamlessly from a driving, authoritative flow to a chorus of shimmering refrains, before finally dissolving into a fragile, haunting piano close.
It’s a song about persistence and the beauty of transformation. After years of silence, 2026 belongs to Vineyard Cries, an artist who has finally turned his survival into a shimmering, industrial symphony.
You can stream the new single above, and for me, be sure to follow Vineyard Cries on Instagram and Facebook.
