George Shelley begins a bold creative reinvention as he today introduces his new band LIGHTLINES and shares their debut single ‘Wasted’. Fronted by George, the core LIGHTLINES line-up also features Alex Pothecary (electric guitars) and WillJackson (drums / production). Particularly focused on playing live, LIGHTLINES’ upcoming debut shows will see the main trio boosted with a bass player and keyboardist. Listen HERE.
‘Wasted’ immediately sets the tone for LIGHTLINES’ future with boundless energy, undeniable pop hooks and a gritty rock edge that masks the boundaries between alt-pop and radio rock. Fueled by feeling, this is George as you’ve never heard him before: a frontman and storyteller who therapeutically surges vulnerable and confessional lyrics exploring identity, control and emotional fallout into a raw outlet of high-octane expression.
But while this is musically a departure, the personality fans have come to love George for is undiminished – as proven almost a million social media followers, four Top 10 hits with Union J, and popular spells on ‘I’m A Celebrity…’ and The Capital Breakfast Show.
George says, “I wrote ‘Wasted’ in the aftermath of a breakdown. It’s me reclaiming my power, my self-worth and setting boundaries. ‘Wasted’ is about saying no, taking back control of life and the release that comes with finally letting go. It’s a proper play on the word ‘Wasted’, what we waste our energy on, the things we do and the people we become under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the frustration towards controlling environments that stifle your creativity, diminish your identity and silence your voice. Basically, it’s about the cycle of wasting life by getting wasted when you’re in a bad place.”
‘Wasted’ was written by George Shelley and was produced by the band’s drummer, Will Jackson, with Alex Pothecary on guitars and bass. Their shared philosophy is to use live instrumentation to help amplify the power and personality of George’svoice.
LIGHTLINES already have a catalogue of songs ready for release, which further subvert pop and rock tropes with thumping elements, darker grunge-tinged sonic textures, and excursions into acoustic-based indie-pop influences. Their collective influences include Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine and Nothing But Thieves.
George has spent time over the past few years freelancing as a graphic designer and content creator. He met Alex working at a coffee shop, who then became his boss as George picked up extra shifts as a barista to save money to spend on his passion for music. Later learning that Alex has a masters in musical composition, the two went through George’s 300+ songs and shaped what is now LIGHTLINES’ first body of work. Will came on the scene when George overheard him talking about music production in another local cafe. The trio have spent the last seven months shaping their sound together and are excited to share what they have achieved.
With George’s experience on stage and his love for storytelling, he is excited to perform live again with his new project. Lightlines are looking to perform festivals next year as well as hosting an industry showcase this October with limited tickets going on sale for followers. With the music lending itself perfectly to the live arena they are excited to show people what they are made of.
Lightlines are across social media, sharing podcast style conversational content as well as mini music videos, lyric videos and behind the scenes moments from the band.
