Liam Cromby, known for his work as the lead singer and songwriter of We Are The Ocean until 2017, has today announced his forthcoming debut solo album What Can I Trust, If I Can’t Trust True Love, due for release on December 1st 2023, also sharing the title track, available to stream/download worldwide now – listen and pre-save/pre-add the album here.
“Drawing from my own experiences, this song is a testament to those early, fragile moments of a relationship—where every misstep feels like a fall and every kind gesture feels like flying,” he explains. “Choosing to name the album after this song was instinctive, given that it was among the final tracks to be crafted. Even though it came later in the creative journey, it perfectly embodies the central theme of the album.”
Since revealing the first taste of new music in March, with the release of ‘Here I Am‘ – accompanied only by a contemplative, artful film featuring an elaborate dance between two performers – followed by ‘Breakdown‘, and last month, ‘At This Table‘, this new phase of his career is already off to an impressive start. With early airplay from BBC Introducing and Absolute Radio Country among others, an appearance at The Great Escape festival and sold-out headline shows across the country, Cromby was invited to play at the prestigious Black Deer Festival of Americana, and along with a full-band set, joined Brandy Clark, Drake White, Elles Bailey and Bella White for a Songwriter Session.
Although recorded in a matter of days, the project was at least five years in the making.
When We Are The Ocean, broke up in 2017 – after ten years on the road and consistent support from national radio and press such as BBC Radio 1, NME and Kerrang – Cromby found himself at crossroads, with every path seemingly leading away from his true passion, music.
Eventually driven to experience something new, he sought a stable job outside of the music industry, and found himself trying several different forms of work: as a tailor in the City of London; at a company that built office furniture; teaching online; and a role at a musical equipment supply company. Among other things, experiencing different walks of life gave Liam some perspective, showing him the value of “enjoying life, and being grateful for the little things.”
When a day job took him to Nashville, Tennessee in 2019, he took the opportunity to immerse himself in Music City, and started connecting with like-minded musicians and songwriters.
His lyrics, whether in the heavy, four-piece rock band setting of his former life, or in the more soulful, acoustic-led songs of his solo work, have frequently touched on deep topics, often reflecting on the meaning of life itself, and a search for a sense of purpose. With the release of What Can I Trust, If I Can’t Trust True Love, he hopes to reach other people asking similar questions, and it’s clear that the music is already starting to find its way into their lives.
With more live dates to be announced over the next few months, he’s currently gearing up to share the stage with First Time Flyers in Manchester tomorrow, September 22nd – limited tickets available here, before joining the lineup of London’s Country In The Afternoon festival on November 11th (tickets here).
