Emerging from Manchester’s thriving music scene, The Streetlights arrive with a debut single that already feels like a defining statement. “Something More”, released on September 26th, 2025, captures the turbulence of young love, the ache of disconnection, and the hunger for meaning — all within a storm of impassioned vocals and razor-sharp guitars. This is a declaration of emotional authenticity from a band that understands that sometimes the loudest cry for connection comes wrapped in distortion and heartbreak. Formed just six months ago, Ryan Wynne, Matty Garmston, Max Holmes, and Owen Marsh have crafted a sound that’s familiar and fresh — the spark of Manchester’s golden indie lineage reignited for a new generation.
At its core, “Something More” is a heartbreak song — but not in the usual sense. Written by Ryan Wynne after a shared breakdown with his girlfriend, the track flips perspective and gives voice to her side of the story. It’s a rare act of empathy, one that immediately sets the song apart. The narrator’s frustration and sadness seep through lines that speak to the exhaustion of trying to love someone perpetually dissatisfied, someone who can’t see what’s already in front of them. The refrain — “Something more” — becomes a plea and a curse, echoing the endless, human need to reach for what’s just out of grasp. Lyrically, it draws from the existential edge of Fontaines D.C., pairing sharp realism with poetic longing. There’s a self-awareness in Wynne’s writing that feels mature beyond the band’s short existence — a confession dressed in a melody that refuses to fade quietly.
Musically, the song is a rush — all soaring choruses, dynamic builds, and propulsive drumming that mirrors emotional unravelling. Recorded at Boxyard Studios in Manchester, “Something More” captures the kind of raw, live energy that can’t be manufactured. Each guitar riff carries the urgency of a debut statement, while the rhythm section pulses like a heartbeat under strain. The production is crisp yet unpolished enough to preserve its authenticity, allowing every layer of emotion to cut through. The track’s hypersonic intensity and wide-open soundscape call to mind The Killers in their Hot Fuss era, while its emotional grit channels Catfish and the Bottlemen’s cinematic melancholy. But there’s something distinctly Northern in its DNA — that blend of hope and despair that Manchester bands seem to translate so effortlessly into sound.
What makes “Something More” truly stand out, though, is its emotional precision. Rather than wallowing in heartbreak, The Streetlights channel it into something expansive — a reflection of the universal need for meaning in relationships and in life. There’s a feeling of catharsis in the way the chorus explodes, as though the narrator and the listener are finally exhaling after holding their breath for too long. It’s the kind of song that belongs on a late-night drive through rain-slick streets, headlights blurring into neon, thoughts drifting between past regrets and uncertain futures. The Streetlights prove here that indie rock doesn’t have to reinvent itself to stay relevant, but has to be real.
For a debut, “Something More” accomplishes what many bands take years to achieve: a sense of identity. The Streetlights manage to balance vulnerability and swagger, introspection and energy. They’ve taken personal pain and turned it into a shared emotional experience — the true hallmark of great songwriting. As they prepare to tour across the UK, their momentum feels unstoppable. To borrow from critic Amelia Vandergast’s words, “The Streetlights will likely find the ‘more’ they’re lyrically searching for — and that will come in the form of rapturous applause.” If “Something More” is any indication, that applause is already echoing just beyond the horizon.
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