Legendary British independent label releases its first new music in decades with Scott Lavene’s new single ‘Be Happy’ b/w ‘Decisions’
‘Be Happy’ video shot at this year’s Brighton Pride on a 1960’s Canon Super 8 camera: WATCH THE VIDEO
The 7-inch single will be released on 25 September to coincide with Scott’s extensive Acoustic Songs and Stories Tour
Just over 50 years since Ted Carroll and Roger Armstrong founded the pioneering British independent Chiswick Records, releasing songs by the likes of Motörhead, Joe Strummer’s The 101’ers, Hammersmith Gorillas, The Count Bishops, The Radiators From Space, Johnny Moped, the label returns to its roots of releasing one-off singles. Kicking-off with a new song by 21st century troubadour Scott Lavene.
British singer-songwriter and storyteller Lavene’s work blends kitchen-sink realism with dark humour, poetic grit, and a distinctly English sense of place. Emerging from Essex, Lavene has carved out a niche as a chronicler of the overlooked; his songs populated by down-and-outs, late-night wanderers, and small-town dreamers. He has built a loyal following through the strength of his songwriting and his honest, unsettling, yet funny, and deeply human stage shows.
Last year’s outstanding album Cars, Buses, Bedsits and Shops (“a delightful, wistful exploration of age, longing, lust and marathon road trips.” 4.5/5, Louder Than War) was an artistic tour de force, full of Essex and East End poetry, and classic ballads, to add his growing, cult catalogue.
Chiswick Records were so impressed by the album – and a live show they caught – they approached Lavene with the offer to release a one-off single. What he delivered far exceeded their expectations.
The first recording from Lavene’s new home studio, the single’s A-side ‘Be Happy’ is a funny, poignant and uplifting song bursting with romance and a dash of melancholy – a poke in the eye of modern pessimism. A heartfelt decree to live life to the full whilst recognising its absurdity, over strings, picked guitar and a steady drum beat its wide references from Dirty Dancing, Beat poets, Cocteau Twins, Martin Scorcese documentaries, to wearing double denim whilst eating a pile of toast, perfectly capture Lavene’s unique take on the world.
The B-side ‘Decisions’, with its woozy, warped soundtrack atmosphere, ponders the everyday mundane decisions we have to make, as Lavene’s mind wanders through some of the bad decisions boredom has led to in his life and the subsequent embarrassment they caused.
Scott Lavene is the perfect addition to Chiswick’s rich, alternative legacy, and the label’s celebration and promotion of fiercely independent maverick artists and musicians.
“I’m so thrilled to have my new single released on the revamped Chiswick,” says Scott. “To be part of a label full of music I’ve always adored is very special to me. Count Bishops, Joe Strummer, Motörhead, The Damned and Johnny Moped to name but a few.”
The 7-inch single will be released on September 25 and is available to order now: PRE-ORDER LINK
Scott Lavene’s Acoustic Songs and Stories Tour dates:
14.08 • Leamington Spa • Temperance • SOLD OUT
15.08 • Barnoldswick • Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre
16.08 • Strines • John Bramwell’s March Hare Vol. I
16.09 • London • The Water Rats • SOLD OUT
17.09 • Portsmouth • Edge of the Wedge
18.09 • St Leonards-on-Sea • The Piper
19.09 • Tunbridge Wells • Forum Basement
20.09 • Brighton • The Folklore Rooms • SOLD OUT
26.09 • Westcliff-on-Sea • Fickle Pickle Club
27.09 • Northampton • The Black Prince
03.10 • Ramsgate • Ramsgate Music Hall
24.10 • Trowbridge • The Pump
30.10 • Budapest, HU • House of Music
03.11 • Paris, FR • Supersonic
18.11 • Norwich • The Holloway
19.11 • Leicester • Duffy’s Bar
20.11 • Stoke-on-Trent • The Artisan Tap
21.11 • Malvern • West Malvern Social Club
22.11 • Cardiff • Paradise Garden
27.11 • Oxford • Jericho Tavern
28.11 • Bedford • Esquires
In October Chiswick will release His Lordship’s fiery garage rock version of Chuck Berry’s ‘Nadine’, b/w Chuck’s original version.
