Acclaimed UK rock singer-songwriter Slyder Smith returns with his powerful new single “Plan To Fail”, an anthemic and deeply personal track that dives into the universal struggle of self-sabotage – the paralysis of overthinking, procrastination, and perfectionism that too often keeps dreams unrealized.
Driven by Slyder’s signature blend of hook-laden melodies, gritty guitars, and honest lyricism, “Plan To Fail” explores the darker corners of ambition; an anthemic and deeply introspective track that lays bare the tension between confidence and self-doubt, ambition and fear of failure capturing that internal battle between wanting to succeed and being afraid to even begin with a mask of confidence concealing the quiet despair.
“It’s about fighting the voice in your head that tries talking you out of chasing your dreams, refusing to give in, even when it feels like the world’s writing you off. You make endless plans and convince yourself you’re preparing — but really, you’re just stalling because you’re frightened of not being good enough” says Slyder. “We all hit moments when everything’s telling us we can’t do it — this song is about the freedom that comes from admitting our flaws doing it anyway.”
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‘Plan To Fail’ follows the success of the anthemic “Nobody’s Listening”, released in August, a song born of the frustration of feeling unheard, capturing the isolation of modern life. Rockfiend Blog described it as “beguiling, hypnotic, multi-layered, lush and very well produced”. “Plan To Fail” cements Slyder’s evolution from cult glam-rock guitarist to one of rock’s most authentic and emotionally resonant voices. Produced again by Robin Wynn Evans (Manic Street Preachers, The View, Sam Brown, Dodgy), “Plan To Fail” highlights Evans’ trademark edge and clarity showcasing Slyder’s gritty vocals and melodic sensibility, creating a sound that’s both timeless and fiercely modern.
The single arrives on the back of two sold-out live shows earlier this year (17th August – Forfar 10 Bar, and 25th August – Rockwich Festival, Cheshire), where Slyder once again proved why he’s a favourite among UK rock crowds.
“Slyder Smith is a firm favourite at Rockwich, and it’s easy to see why… commanding the marquee with charm, skill, and energy that left the crowd buzzing.” – Jace Media (Rockwich Festival 2025)
‘Plan To Fail’ is available to presave on Spotify & all streaming platforms plus limited edition SIGNED CD collectable bundle, including 2 exclusive pre-production demo tracks of Nobody’s Listening & Plan To Fail, signed poster & lyric sheet from 5th November.
In support of the release, Slyder & his band featuring Brian Kerr on bass & Adam ‘Bam Bam’ McNaughton, head out on the road for a run of live shows in the UK in November with ex-Wildhearts bass player Danny McCormack & The UK Reprobates.
Supporting ex Wildhearts Danny McCormack & The UK Reprobates:
8th Nov, Vic Bikers Bar, Coalville
21st Nov, Dragonffli, Pontypool
22nd Nov, Coopers Arms, Aberystwyth
Slyder first made his name as guitarist and backing vocalist in cult power-poppers Last Great Dreamers, a colourful glamourous four-piece who started life in London in the 1990s. After their 1994 debut Retrosexual, the Dreamers were championed by Kerrang! magazine — nominated as Best New Band in 1995 — before reforming in 2015 and releasing a string of albums alongside tours with The Quireboys, Enuff Z’nuff, The Wildhearts, The Alarm, The Boys, and Wolfsbane.
In 2021, with Covid in full flow and Last Great Dreamers on hiatus, Slyder started to cook up a batch of new songs, some of them in styles that he’d little explored in public. The following spring, he decamped to Oxfordshire to record them with Pete Brown – a talented producer and studio engineer who, over a 40-year career, has worked with the likes of George Harrison, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Marc Almond and The Smiths.
The album Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids’ ‘Charm Offensive’ came out in August 2022, to some fanfare from the rock press. Vive Le Rock rated the record “excellent”. Powerplay lauded it as “an album which restores the fact we are still home to the world’s best songwriters”, while the reviewer from Fireworks called it “a serious contender for my album of the year”. Straight out of the gate, ‘Charm Offensive’ lived up to its title. Slyder promoted the album live with numerous festival appearances in UK & Europe plus UK tours with Electric Boys & Cherie Currie and gained worldwide airplay on BBC Radio 2 Rock Show, Planet Rock Radio, BBC Introducing, Radio Caroline & many more.
Since relocating from Somerset to rural Scotland in 2023, Slyder has set about proving that he has what it takes to cross borders figuratively as well as literally. Writing & demoing material in his home studio, Slyder has so far recorded a batch of songs with producer Robin Wynn Evans at TPot Studio, Perthshire, to be released in the coming months culminating in an album release in 2026.
Previous single ‘Nobody’s Listening‘:
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Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-VMCo7MAM0
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