The brand-new lyric video by WALLS OF BABYLON, titled “Eternal Hunt”, is officially online on YouTube! The track is taken from the band’s highly anticipated upcoming album “Aeons Apart”, out January 9th, 2026 via Wanikiya Record/Promotion.
Set in a futuristic sci-fi world, Eternal Hunt tells the story of a bounty hunter on his final mission: to eliminate his nemesis — a rogue android. But before being destroyed, the android forces him to face a cruel truth:
Who is truly the hunter? The one who chases the prey… or the prey itself, which traps him within his own obsession?
A dark, powerful, and introspective track where the band masterfully blends progressive metal, cinematic atmospheres, and narrative depth, foreshadowing the conceptual intensity of the new record.
After shaking the metal scene with their devastating 2020 release “Fallen” (Wanikiya Record), Walls of Babylon are back with Aeons Apart — an ambitious, modern, and emotional work that pushes the band toward new sonic and conceptual horizons.
An album that promises epicness, darkness, and introspection, while keeping alive the power-prog legacy that made Walls of Babylon one of the most respected acts in the Italian metal scene.
The album’s mastering was entrusted to Simone Mularoni at the prestigious Domination Studio, ensuring top-tier sound quality and power.
Wanikiya Record states:
“With Eternal Hunt, Walls of Babylon transport us into a dystopian universe where metal power meets philosophical reflection. A powerful preview of what’s to come with Aeons Apart.”
Formed in 2013, Walls of Babylon have always aimed to craft a personal sound — blending melody, technique, and conceptual storytelling. Over the years, they have released works of strong identity:
2015 – “The Dark Embrace”: a debut filled with dark and melodic tones. 2018 – “A Portrait Of Memories” (Revalve Records): the international step that consolidated their compositional maturity. 2020 – “Fallen” (Wanikiya Record): a visionary concept about humanity’s collapse, marking the band’s definitive rise.
With Aeons Apart, Walls of Babylon open a new chapter, pushing the boundaries of modern progressive metal even further.
Current Line-up: 🎤 Valerio Gaoni – Vocals 🎸 Fabiano Pietrini – Guitar 🎸 Francesco Pellegrini – Lead Guitar 🎸 Matteo Carovana – Bass 🥁 Marco Barbarossa – Drums
Follow WALLS OF BABYLON on Facebook for updates, previews, and all the latest news about the upcoming album!
JUNO-nominated and Maple Blues Award winning Canadian blues star Miss Emily releases her second single “Solid Ground” from her upcoming studio album The Medicine. The single is available on all streaming platforms HERE. Watch the lyric video HERE.
Every mother wants to pave the way for their child, but few have done it as honestly and eloquently as Miss Emily does in this soulful future letter to her young daughter. “Solid Ground is one of the oldest songs on my new album,” admits Emily. “This song was written during an extremely vulnerable time when my daughter was incredibly young. We were very poor; I had no financial support and no close family living nearby. There was so much I couldn’t give my daughter during that time, but I knew I had all the love in the world for her and somehow, I would find a way to make her feel secure. This song is that promise to her.”
Emily’s new album, released by Gypsy Soul Records on November 7th, is produced by Grammy winnerColin Linden (Keb’ Mo’, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Gregg Allman, Diana Krall), and is available to pre-order HERE.
The highly anticipated new album masterfully blends soul, blues, and roots, and features an all-star cast of musicians at the top of their game. Including players from Bob Dylan and Keb’ Mo’s bands, the new album pairs her thunderous voice with songs of truth and resilience. Known for her powerful voice and exhilarating live shows, Miss Emily channels two decades of raw experience into music that heals and uplifts.
Miss Emily has a voice that demands your attention. She is never predictable. She values community above all else. For more than 20 years she has channelled those principles in her songwriting and performance, never shying away from an open conversation with her audience about the struggles she has faced.
Whether it was domestic violence or being a musical road-warrior and a single parent at the same time, Emily has always opened her heart in a communal invitation to share, heal and celebrate.
During the writing process for The Medicine that commitment was tested. “I wasn’t in a great head space,” she says, her voice cracking under the emotional weight of the memory. “Like so many of us, sometimes life brings you down. In one of my darker moments, I wrote an angry song. Then, as I continued prepping the songs, I realised I didn’t want anger to be a prominent theme on my new album. I wanted to celebrate community. I wanted to record music that made people feel better.”
“Miss Emily, who has the best pipes we have ever heard, in an unsigned artist!” – Gene Simmons (KISS)
”Miss Emily’s voice has got to be heard to be believed – raw, expressive, transitioning flawlessly from a plaintive cry to a sonorous growl, weaving blues, country and rock while she does it. When she sings, she is unafraid to dig deep. She tackles big, messy feelings in her songs. You can feel it in every note.” – Rob Baker (The Tragically Hip)
The Medicine is just that; a collection of soul and Americana-inspired blues. As previously mentioned, the new album is produced by multiple JUNO and Grammy winner Colin Linden – celebrated Canadian guitarist and producer who resides in Nashville. The album features a hand-picked team of amazing musicians including Linden on slide and electric guitar, Keb Mo’s keyboardist, Michael Hicks on the Hammond B3 and George Receli; a drummer who Keith Richards lists as one of his favourites. Receli’s resume includes 20 years as Bob Dylan’s drummer.
The talent Linden curated and Miss Emily’s passion for the music is front and centre on this record. “Miss Emily is a tremendously passionate and supple singer, with a deep well of emotion, says Linden. “She is a truth teller. Working with her was pure joy.”
That inclination towards joyful truth was cultivated over more than two decades of playing night after night in bars and nightclubs along the busy Canadian highway corridor between Toronto and Montreal. Along with exhilarating, heart-wrenching performances, Emily developed a work ethic that drew the attention of promoters at regional theatres and festivals. In 2019 Miss Emily won three Canadian Maple Blues awards: Female Vocalist of the year, Newcomer of the year and Video of the Year. In 2022, she was nominated for a JUNO for Blues Album of the Year and won Maple Blues Female Vocalist of the year in 2021 and 2023.
Brad Wheeler of Canada’s national newspaper, the Globe and Mail said it perfectly, “She’s got a voice on her like big velvet thunder.”
That thunderous voice is highlighted on the soulful, anthemic first single “Stand Together, Band Together,” a celebration and reflection of community and humanity. These are the cornerstones of everything Miss Emily has been doing for more than two decades. At some point every night, on every tour, in every venue, she will open her arms wide and invite the people to join her in song. It’s a momentary risk but as the voices fill the room in unison and celebration, it’s an affirmation that, in this unpredictable world, the communal celebration of music is the medicine that binds us together.
ALBUM TRACK LISTING
My Freedom (3:01)
Stand Together, Band Together (5:23)
The Medicine (3:28)
Maybe (4:12)
You Make Believe (3:04)
Running Again (3:25)
Solid Ground (4:11)
Smith’s Bay Drowning (4:36)
Remember This Song (5:20)
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Miss Emily – Vocals Guitar – Colin Linden George Recile – Drums David Santos – Bass Michael Hicks – Hammond B3
All songs written by Emily Fennell, except Track 8 written by S. Pastenak with Poem by Miss Shannon
Track 4 cowritten with R. Baker, Track 6 cowritten with Colin Linden
Produced and mixed by Colin Linden in Nashville, Tennessee
Mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound, New Jersey
Additional engineer: Michael Stankiewicz
Production assistant: Janice Powers
ALBUM TRACK BY TRACK
1 – My Freedom A funky reflection on refusing to allow the past to define yourself and on finding redemption and celebration in what’s ahead.
2 – Stand Together, Band Together
A soulful singalong that embraces the idea that my struggle is your struggle, your struggle is my struggle and none of us gets through this world alone.
3 – The Medicine Written a few years ago after a family member of an overdose victim reached out to Emily and asked her to write a song to represent the victims and families of overdose victims, it’s an empathetic plea to understand one of the most complex issues of our times.
4 – Maybe The Tragically Hip’s lead guitarist Rob Baker laid down the 60’s inspired musical bed for this love song that doesn’t make promises or pledge eternal love, it simply says, “I’m not telling you maybe,” and that’s enough.
5 – You Make Believe A “want to be” love song stuck in the reality of wounded hearts and the fear of being hurt again.
6 – Running Again Propelled by a relentless bass and drum groove and a hook-laden chorus, it’s an account of the constant motion in every relationship.
7 – Solid Ground Every mother wants to pave the way for their child, but few have done it as honestly and eloquently as Miss Emily does in this soulful future letter to her young daughter.
8 – Smiths Bay Drowning A haunting true story poem set to melody by Emily’s music mentor Suzanne Pasternak. The tragedy took place in the island community of Prince Edward County where Emily is 8th generation of her family raised there. The story is a common theme of rural island life and living and working on Lake Ontario.
9 – Remember This Song The plaintive lead guitar of Colin Linden is a perfect compliment to Miss Emily’s soaring vocals in this searing slow blues treatise on the power of a song to lift, strengthen and heal.
MISS EMILY – BIOGRAPHY
In the 1990’s, 12-year-old Emily Fennell from Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada, got an early education on the power of community. She spent the summer competing in and winning dozens of county fair singing contests. While the other competitors chose standards like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or “I Will Always Love You,” Emily stunned audiences into silent amazement with K.D. Lang’s version of the Patsy Cline song “Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray.”
That song choice, her spellbinding performance of it, and the venues in which she chose to display her talents, is everything you need to know about the woman who would become Miss Emily. She has a voice that demands your attention, she is never predictable, and she values community more than anything else.
For more than 20 years she has channelled those principles in her songwriting and performance, never shying away from an open conversation with her audience about the struggles she has faced. Whether it was misogynistic encounters with old-school promoters, domestic violence, or being a musical road-warrior and a single mother at the same time, Emily has always opened her heart in a communal invitation to share, heal and celebrate.
During the writing process for her upcoming album that commitment was tested. “I wasn’t in a great head space,” she acknowledged, her voice cracking under the emotional weight of the memory. “Like so many of us, sometimes life brings you down. In one of my darker moments, I wrote an angry song. Then, as I continued prepping the songs, I realized I did not want anger to be a prominent theme on my new album. I wanted to celebrate community and record music that made people feel better.”
Toronto’s hardest-hitting rock ’n’ roll trio DANKO JONES are back with their explosive new single “Diamond In The Rough”, the latest cut from their upcoming album Leo Rising — out November 21, 2025, via Perception – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music and Sonic Unyon (Canada)!
The track is a high-voltage homage to classic KISS, supercharged by a blazing guest solo from guitar legend Marty Friedman (MEGADETH, CACOPHONY).
The band comments: “Channeling early Kiss, this is a favorite of mine, especially with the one and only Marty Friedman on lead guitar!”
“Diamond In The Rough” channels the raw, unfiltered energy of 1970s arena rock. Friedman’s fiery fretwork ignites the song, adding his unmistakable touch of guitar heroism that takes the band’s signature power-trio sound into overdrive.
Following the adrenaline-fueled singles “What You Need”, “Everyday Is Saturday Night,” and today’s release of “Diamond In The Rough”, DANKO JONES‘ forthcoming studio offering Leo Risingpromises to be a masterclass in sweat-soaked, no-nonsense rock — produced to perfection by longtime collaborator Eric Ratz. Packed with razor-sharp riffs, thunderous rhythms, and infectious hooks, the album reaffirms that DANKO JONES are keeping rock alive by doing it better than anyone else.
John Calabrese laid down bass tracks from Finland, Rich Knox flew to Toronto to record drums, and Danko worked with producer Eric Ratz in the same city to capture vocals and guitars. Despite recording separately once again, the band’s chemistry is unmistakable. The result is pure DANKO JONES: tight, loud, and built for the stage.
Leo Rising may be their most electrifying and uplifting record yet — a jolt of high-octane rock made for packed clubs, open highways, and everything in between!
Leo Rising – Track List 1 – What You Need 2 – Diamond In The Rough 3 – Everyday Is Saturday Night 4 – I Love It Louder 5 – I’m Going Blind 6 – Hot Fox 7 – It’s A Celebration 8 – Pretty Stuff 9 – Gotta Let It go 10 – I Can’t Stop 11 – Too Slick For Love
To celebrate the release, the band will hit the road this winter for the “Danko Jones Is What You Need” European Tour 2025, with TUK SMITH & THE RESTLESS HEARTS supporting on most dates:
19.11.2025 FI Helsinki – Tavastia 21.11.2025 SE Stockholm – Münchenbryggeriet 22.11.2025 NO Oslo – Vulkan Arena 25.11.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 26.11.2025 DE Osnabrück – Rosenhof 27.11.2025 LU Luxembourg – Den Atelier 28.11.2025 NL Amsterdam – Melkweg 29.11.2025 UK London – The Underworld Camden 30.11.2025 UK Porthcawl – Planet Rockstock * 03.12.2025 BE Antwerp – Trix (Main Hall) 04.12.2025 FR Paris – Le Trabendo 06.12.2025 IT Milan – Legend Club 08.12.2025 DE Mannheim – Alte Feuerwache 09.12.2025 AT Salzburg – Rockhouse 10.12.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 11.12.2025 DE Cologne – Carlswerk Victoria 12.12.2025 DE Berlin – Astra 13.12.2025 DE Hamburg – Docks *DANKO JONES only
Every time someone announces the death of rock ‘n’ roll, Canada’s most incendiary power trio roll with the punches and keep rocking with maximum commitment to the cause. DANKO JONES are a three-piece rock ‘n’ roll band from Toronto. They never sleep. They sweat blood. And they are keeping rock alive by doing it better than anyone else.
On duty since 1996, these unstoppable road-hogs have devoted their lives to rousing the people with blistering, no-bullshit, all-action rock. They have rallied a global army of rock-hungry fans, and blown them away with a steady stream of explosive, anthem-packed albums and an absurd number of live shows. From early underground smashes like “We Sweat Blood” [2003] and “Sleep Is The Enemy” [2006], to the band’s recent, triumphant triumvirate of “A Rock Supreme” [2019], “Power Trio” [2021] and “Electric Sounds” [2023], DANKO JONES have been a relentless force for rock ‘n’ roll good, both in the studio and on the road. And they have absolutely no intention of stopping.
“You know what? I like the routine of recording, touring, writing, and repeat,” states singer/guitarist, Danko Jones himself. “I can do that till I’m dead! It may sound boring, but it’s so hard for a band to achieve. I don’t take this lightly. Also, it’s a page out of the MOTÖRHEAD handbook so it works! Since “Electric Sounds” we’ve been touring and touring. We managed to play in Mexico and Greece for the first time, and we even played Prince Edward Island, a province in Canada we’d never been to before. Other than that, it’s been a life of gigs and writing more songs to play more gigs!”
Proving that their time was well-spent, Danko, bassist John Calabrese and drummer Rich Knox have conjured yet another blazing banquet of nourishing rock goodness on their 12th studio record, due for release later this year.
DANKO JONES are: Danko Jones | vocals, guitars John Calabrese | bass Rich Knox | drums
Alt rock favorites Yellowcard are celebrating the release of their new album in almost a decade Better Days out today, October 10th via Better Noise Music. The lead single and title track “Better Days” brought the band’s return back in a huge way, scoring them their first ever number one on alternative radio, twenty two years after their first radio appearance ending the longest wait for a first leader at the format. This highly anticipated album is executive produced by Travis Barker who also plays drums on every song.
The single “Better Days” is an unflinching reflection on gratitude, forgiveness, perspective, and purpose. Once ubiquitous on MTV and the Billboard Hot 100, the Vans Warped Tour veterans, whose first two albums produced double-platinum and gold title tracks, sound fully recharged and revitalized in 2025. William Ryan Key, Sean Mackin, Ryan Mendez, and Josh Portman have never sounded stronger.
The newest lyric video from the album for the song called You Broke MeToo featuring Avril Lavigne. Of the song Lavigne says, “ My friend Travis Barker called me up to say he was producing the new Yellowcard album and I really liked what I heard. When he played me You Broke Me Too I liked how it can be an anthem people can relate to when finding hope after a relationship.”
Lead singer Ryan Key was thrilled to have Lavigne be part of this album and this single. He says of the collaboration “As with so many unbelievable things happening for the band these days, having Avril Lavigne be part of our new music is incredible. Her vocal performance combined with the classic Yellowcard feel of this song is truly a sonic time machine.”
The band agreed that making a new album was pointless unless it was the best of their career. They refused to rush the process and for the first time gave themselves permission to ask for help. Ryan Mendez invited his long time friend Nick Long into the writing sessions and it was through Long that Barker became part of the project, coming on board to play drums and produce the whole album.
Barker says of the project “Sometimes the world has a wild way of putting things into place. Neither of us had planned on working together, but once we got in the studio, the magic was undeniable. I had just finished the Blink album and was excited to dive into producing another record front to back. Working with Yellowcard was a pleasure, and seeing them land their first number one is incredible. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
“I started the record as one version of myself and came out the other side changed,” says front man Ryan Key who credits Barker with a significant impact on his personal and creative studio breakthroughs. “I went in knowing I needed help. I came out of it writing songs like I was 19 again.”
In addition to Barker and Lavigne the album also features Matt Skiba on a forth coming song called Love Letters Lost.
While Yellowcard are in Las Vegas to play When We Were Young Festival, you can also find the band at Zia Records (Eastern Ave location) for an Album In-Store Signing and at Punk Rock Museum for their Pop-Up Exhibit and Better Days Album Party – both on Friday, October 17th!
“Better Days” will be available as exclusive merch bundles on the Better Noise Music label store“
The band is rounding out their year by completing their hugely successful Maximum Fun Tour with A Day To Remember that concludes November 14th in their home state of Florida.
BETTER DAYS TRACK LIST
Better Days
Take What You Want
Love Letters Lost (feat. Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio)
honestly i
You Broke Me Too (feat. Avril Lavigne)
City of Angels
Bedroom Posters
Skin Scraped
Barely Alive
Big Blue Eyes
Formed in Jacksonville FL in 1997, Yellowcard became one of the most influential bands in the 2000’s alternative rock scene. Known for blending high energy pop punk with a signature violin twist, their 2003 breakthrough Ocean Avenue is certified Platinum with the title track now certified 2 times platinum. With over 4 million albums sold worldwide and over 1 billion streams, the band is poised for continued success on this new endeavor. After disbanding in 2017, Yellowcard reunited in 2022 entering into a new creative era and a year packed with a global tour to support it.
About Yellowcard
Yellowcard meant it when they said goodbye. The lights dimmed on one of the most beloved pop-punk and alt-rock bands of the 2000s with intention and authenticity. Wrapping things up with a farewell tour, Yellowcard exited the “right” way, with grace, appreciation, and finality.
But the story wasn’t complete. Legacy cracked the door. Healing blew it wide open. Riding a resurgence that saw the global Ocean Avenue 20th anniversary tour featured in Forbes and a reconciliation that put all four members at peace with their legacy and each other, Yellowcard just made the most ambitious and emotionally resonant record of their career. Better Days, the band’s first album in nearly a decade, was produced by blink-182’s Travis Barker, who also played drums on every track.
Their first release with powerhouse label Better Noise Music, Better Days is Yellowcard’s testimony that healing is a process, growth is nonlinear, and sometimes the best chapter opens after the supposed ending. This isn’t just a return. It’s a reckoning. And this time, Yellowcard is ready.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
10/18/25 Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young Festival 10/19/25 Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young Festival 10/22/25 Ontario , CA @ Toyota Arena 10/23/25 San Diego, CA @ Gallagher Square at Petco Park 10/25/25 Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre 10/26/25 Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater 10/28/25 Colorado Springs, CO @ Broadmoor World Arena 10/29/25 Independence, MO @ Cable Dahmer Arena 10/31/25 Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena 11/1/25 Bloomington, IL @ Grossinger Motors Arena 11/2/25 Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory 11/4/25 Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena 11/5/25 Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena 11/6/25 Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena 11/8/25 Manchester, NH @ SNHU Arena 11/9/25 Bridgeport, CT @ Total Mortgage Arena 11/11/25 North Charleston SC @ North Charleston Coliseum 11/13/25 Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum 11/14/25 Tallahassee, FL @ Donald L. Civic Center 11/15/25 Orlando, FL @ Warped Tour 11/18/25 Huntsville, AL @ Von Braun Arena 11/20/25 Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center 11/21/25 Austin, TX @ Moody Center 11/22/25 Corpus Christi @TX @ AmericanBank
Helsinki-based rock band East Electric released their long-anticipated debut album Road today. Bursting with style, attitude, and energy, the record presents an ambitious blend of grunge-edged intensity and melodic approach inspired by 70’s classic rock. Singles like “Remedy,” “Mothership,” and the title track “Road” gave audiences an early taste of the album’s sound.
“The album truly captures our own voice – it moves between moody lightness and heavy, hard-hitting power. It’s been a long but rewarding journey for us. Most of the recording was done independently in our rehearsal space and home studio”, the band explains.
Road is an album of striking contrasts ranging from delicate melodies to huge, crushing riffs. The band’s unique sound revolves around Jocke Levälampi’s charismatic vocals, while Toni Kajasti’s guitar work flows seamlessly between gritty riffing and sensitive picking. The rhythm section drives the groove with Matti Vähätalo’s progressive bass lines and Tuukka Ilmakari’s dynamic drumming. The band treated their audience with singles like Remedy, Mothership and title track Road.
The album opens with the lead single “Godmaker”, a commanding track whose massive guitars and driving pulse provide the perfect foundation for Levälammi’s powerful vocal performance.
In production, East Electric stayed true to their own creative vision while trusting the finishing touches to a seasoned team: mixing was handled by Robert Palomäki (Kingston Wall, Olavi Uusivirta) and mastering by Jaakko Viitalähde of Virtalähde Mastering. The same duo worked on East Electric’s debut EP, which received international airplay and landed on several Spotify playlists. To date, the band’s songs have accumulated over 200,000 streams on Spotify.
Throughout the year, East Electric has performed at major Finnish events including Espan Lava, Louhela Jam, and Konepaja Festival. This fall, the band will celebrate the release of Road with a series of high-energy club shows at On the Rocks (23.10.), Bar Loose (29.10.), and Semifinal (13.12.) in Helsinki — where the new songs will be performed live for the very first time.
Autobiographical Anthem Celebrates Dreams, Perseverance, and Music as Therapy – Released today, October 10th in Recognition of Mental Health Awareness.
Cairo, October 10, 2025 – On World Mental Health Day, Citowicz and the Fireflies of February releases “Living Room Rockstar”, the title track from the album “Living Room Rockstar, Part 2”. Available now on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music, the single represents both a deeply personal reflection on unfulfilled dreams and a celebration of the enduring power of music to heal and sustain.
FROM WAŁBRZYCH TO THE WORLD: A ROCKSTAR’S JOURNEY The single’s artwork features a photograph from 1997—a young Andrzej Citowicz in his childhood bedroom in Wałbrzych, Poland, surrounded by Bon Jovi posters, clutching a white guitar with dreams bigger than the small town that held him. Nearly three decades later, that image has become the perfect visual metaphor for “Living Room Rockstar”: a song about the dreams we chase, the reality we live, and the music we make regardless of whether anyone is listening. “That photo is me at the beginning of everything,” Citowicz reflects. “I’m standing in my mother’s home, in my room, with Bon Jovi posters covering every inch of the walls. Back then, Bon Jovi was writing the soundtrack to my youth. They made me want to pick up a guitar. They made me believe I could be a rockstar. Well… that never happened in the way I imagined. But I became something else—a living room rockstar who still plays guitar, still writes, still dreams, and still releases music and visions.”
He continues with striking honesty: “The song is about understanding that your dreams might not look like you thought they would, but they still matter. I never played stadiums. I never had screaming crowds. But every night, in whatever room I’m in, the stage is mine. And I still play like it means something—because it does.”
DREAMS TOO BIG TO STAY TOO SMALL “Living Room Rockstar” captures the bittersweet reality of artistic dreams deferred but never abandoned. The track explores themes of perseverance, the passage of time, and the quiet dignity of continuing to create even when the spotlight never arrives.
“The song talks about faded posters on the wall, about dreams that were too big to stay small,” Citowicz explains. “It’s about singing loud before the moment’s gone, even if no one’s out there listening. It’s about playing in a dim-lit room but strumming those six strings like you own the moon. That’s what being a living room rockstar means—you keep going because the music itself is the reward, not the fame.”
The anthem resonates with anyone who has held onto a dream despite the odds, who has continued creating art in obscurity, who has played for an audience of none and still given it everything. “There’s a line in the song about how it might all be a lie—this idea that you’re on a stage, that you’re going somewhere,” Citowicz shares. “But here’s the truth: it’s not a lie. The stage is real because you make it real. The audience might be imaginary, but the music isn’t. The passion isn’t. The meaning isn’t. I still play like it means something because it means everything.”
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: MUSIC AS THERAPY The decision to release “Living Room Rockstar” on World Mental Health Day (October 10) is deeply intentional. As someone on the autism spectrum, Citowicz understands intimately the importance of mental health care and the role that creative expression plays in emotional survival.
“Being on the autism spectrum means I process the world differently,” Citowicz explains. “Things that are already difficult become even harder. Communication, emotions, social connections—they all require more effort. But music? Music speaks a language that bypasses all that confusion. When I’m writing, when I’m playing guitar, when I’m singing—that’s when everything makes sense.”
He continues: “Writing and playing guitar is part of my therapy. It’s how I process emotions I can’t articulate in regular conversation. It’s how I deal with pain, with loss, with the overwhelming nature of existence. Music doesn’t judge. It doesn’t require me to be anything other than honest. For anyone struggling with mental health—whether you’re on the spectrum like me or dealing with grief, depression, anxiety, whatever it is—I want you to know that finding your own form of expression, your own ‘living room’ where you can be yourself, is vital. No matter what. Take care of your mental health. Find what makes you feel whole, even if it’s just for those few minutes.” The release on World Mental Health Day serves as both a personal statement and a call to action: “Mental health matters. Creative expression matters. Your dreams matter, even if they look different than you expected. This song is for everyone who plays in empty rooms but still plays like someone’s listening. Because you are listening. And that’s enough.”
THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE “Living Room Rockstar” embodies the spirit of never giving up, even when success looks nothing like the poster-covered walls of teenage dreams promised. “The song acknowledges the emptiness—the empty echoes in the night, the absent roaring crowds, the locked-away dreams,” Citowicz notes. “But it also celebrates the act of continuing anyway. There are no ticket lines, no velvet ropes, no tour buses waiting down the road. Just a melody and the person brave enough to keep playing it. That’s not failure. That’s heroism.”
The track’s soaring guitar solo—described in the composition as “emotional, filled with longing”—captures the tension between aspiration and reality, between the dream of who you wanted to be and the acceptance of who you are. “That solo says everything I can’t put into words,” Citowicz explains. “It’s longing, yes. It’s disappointment, maybe. But it’s also defiance. It’s also joy. It’s also freedom. Because when you accept that you’re a living room rockstar and you embrace it, you realize that you’ve been free all along. You’re not chasing someone else’s definition of success anymore. You’re creating on your own terms.”
CLASSIC ROCK SPIRIT, PERSONAL TRUTH Musically, “Living Room Rockstar” channels the anthemic spirit of the bands that inspired young Citowicz in that Wałbrzych bedroom—particularly Bon Jovi, whose influence permeates both the song’s structure and its emotional core. “Bon Jovi taught me that rock music could be both huge and intimate,” Citowicz shares. “Their songs had these massive choruses that made you want to sing along, but the lyrics were personal, real, relatable. That’s what I wanted to capture here—that same sense of ‘this is my story, but it could be your story too.’ The big ‘woah-oh’ moments, the sing-along quality, the guitar-driven energy—that’s all from those bands that made me fall in love with rock and roll.” The production, handled by longtime collaborator Patryk Szymański, balances the song’s stadium-rock aspirations with an intimate, honest production that reflects the “living room” reality of its creation.
“Patryk understood what I was trying to do immediately,” Citowicz notes. “The song needed to sound big—like an arena anthem—but it also needed to feel personal, almost vulnerable. He achieved that balance perfectly. His bass work grounds the song while letting the guitars soar. His production gives it that classic rock feel while keeping it contemporary and raw.”
COLLABORATION AND FRIENDSHIP The partnership between Citowicz and Patryk Szymański continues to be the backbone of the Living Room Rockstar project. “Patryk has been there through every stage of this journey,” Citowicz reflects. “He’s not just a musician I work with—he’s a friend who understands the vision, who believes in these songs even when they’re just rough ideas at 3 AM. His contributions to ‘Living Room Rockstar’ go beyond bass and production. He helped shape the entire sound, the entire feeling of what this project is about.”
Credits: Music, Guitars, Lyrics: Andrzej Citowicz Bass and Production: Patryk Szymański
FROM THEN TO NOW: THE JOURNEY CONTINUES The 1997 photograph that graces the single artwork serves as both a time capsule and a bridge—connecting the dreaming teenager to the artist he would become. “When I look at that photo now, I see so much hope,” Citowicz says. “I see a kid who genuinely believed he would conquer the world with a guitar. Part of me wants to tell that kid, ‘It won’t happen the way you think.’ But another part of me wants to say, ‘You’ll still be playing that guitar nearly 30 years later, and you’ll still love it just as much. You’ll still be chasing something. You’ll still be creating. And you’ll realize that was the dream all along—not the stadiums, not the fame, but the music itself.'”
He adds: “That room in Wałbrzych, those Bon Jovi posters, that white guitar—they represented possibility. And you know what? I’m still living in that possibility. My living room might be in a different country now, the posters might be faded, but I’m still that kid at heart. Still playing. Still dreaming. Still believing that this song, this next song, means something.”
THE LIVING ROOM ROCKSTAR PHILOSOPHY Beyond the personal story, “Living Room Rockstar” has become a philosophy—a way of approaching creativity and life that celebrates persistence over perfection, passion over fame, and meaning over metrics. “Being a living room rockstar means you create for the love of creating,” Citowicz explains. “It means you don’t need validation from the industry or massive streaming numbers to know your music has value. It means you play like people are listening even when they’re not, because you’re listening. You matter. Your art matters. Your dreams matter.”
This philosophy extends beyond music: “Whatever your ‘living room’ is—whether it’s music, writing, painting, whatever—the point is to keep doing it. Keep creating. Keep dreaming. Even if the world never notices, you notice. And sometimes, that has to be enough. Actually, sometimes that’s more than enough. That’s everything.”
MENTAL HEALTH, MUSIC, AND MEANING Returning to the significance of releasing on World Mental Health Day, Citowicz emphasizes the connection between creative expression and mental wellbeing. “For anyone struggling—and I mean really struggling, the way I have—please find your living room,” he urges. “Find your safe space where you can express yourself without judgment. For me, it’s music. For you, it might be something else. But find it and protect it. Your mental health depends on having that outlet, that place where you can be authentically you.”
He continues: “On the autism spectrum, socializing can be exhausting, overwhelming, sometimes impossible. But in my living room, with my guitar, I don’t have to perform for anyone but myself. I don’t have to mask or pretend or struggle to communicate in ways that don’t come naturally. I just play. And in those moments, I’m free. That’s what I want people to understand on World Mental Health Day—creative expression isn’t a luxury. It’s survival.”
ABOUT THE ALBUM: “Living Room Rockstar” is the title track from Living Room Rockstar Part 2, released with Patryk Szymański. The album explores themes of dreams, perseverance, love, loss, and the enduring power of music to provide meaning in uncertain times. Part 2 of the album series, dedicated to Citowicz’s late son Jonasz, will follow in autumn 2025.
ABOUT CITOWICZ AND THE FIREFLIES OF FEBRUARY: Andrzej Citowicz, performing as Citowicz and the Fireflies of February, is a songwriter, composer, and guitarist known for deeply personal rock compositions that blend classic influences with contemporary honesty. His work explores themes of dreams deferred but never abandoned, the healing power of music, and the importance of creating art on your own terms. Based in Cairo and originally from Wałbrzych, Poland, Citowicz has spent decades creating music that serves as both artistic expression and therapeutic practice. As someone on the autism spectrum, he advocates for mental health awareness and the vital role of creative outlets in emotional wellbeing.
RELEASE INFORMATION: Single: “Living Room Rockstar” Artist: Citowicz and the Fireflies of February Album: Living Room Rockstar Part 2 Release Date: October 10, 2025 (World Mental Health Day) Music, Guitars, Lyrics: Andrzej Citowicz Bass and Production: Patryk Szymański Platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music
Andrzej on the single and cover: “I never became the rockstar on those posters. But I became something better—someone who still plays, still creates, still believes. That’s what a living room rockstar is. And on World Mental Health Day, I want everyone to know: your living room, your creative space, your safe place where you can be yourself—that matters. Protect it. Honor it. Keep playing like it means something. Because it does.” — Andrzej Citowicz
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