Today sees the first music of 2025 and the second single from When Youth Fades Away - the highly anticipated second album from Dublin's Somebody's Child. The band, led by frontman Cian Godfrey, share "Last Night I Held Your Hand" which follows on from the album's breakout single "Time Of My Life".
"Last Night I Held Your Hand" deepens the central themes of When Youth Fades Away, exploring the weight of ageing with poignant lyrics like, "And I thought my youth was over / Now I'd die for you / Now I feel myself get older / But not when I'm with you." The track showcases Somebody's Child's signature style, blending euphoric, soaring choruses with a touch of Americana-inspired swagger.
Speaking on the new track Godfrey said: ""Last Night I Held Your Hand" was the first song that came out in the writing process for this album. We wrote it during an autumn-turned-winter trip to Western Wales, and it marked the beginning of a sound that would ultimately define the album. It carries a sense of innocence from earlier releases, yet breathes new life into the direction this album has taken."
Following the breakout success of their self-titled debut album in 2023, When Youth Fades Away marks a triumphant return for Somebody's Child with a bold new chapter in their musical journey. Since the release of their first record, the band have taken their powerful live performances to new heights, opening for The War on Drugs, Bloc Party and Kings of Leon at BST Hyde Park, following on with a sold-out night at London’s Heaven to celebrate the debut album release. Appearances in their native Ireland have included the bucket list moments, headlining the 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin and playing on the Main Stage at the country’s biggest festival, Electric Picnic. To finish 2024 the band played an intimate show at London's Sebright Arms, selling out the show in a matter of minutes, gifting a room full of eager ears with a taste of the music to come in 2025.
Recorded in the US with Grammy Award-winner Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Frightened Rabbit), When Youth Fades Away showcases a leap in maturity, both musically and thematically, for the band. Frontman Cian Godfrey describes the album as a reflection on the inevitable process of ageing and the shifting perspectives that come with it. “If our first album was about running away, this one is about staying put and reflecting,” says Godfrey. “It’s about letting people in and letting ourselves out.”
When Youth Fades Away explores a new range of emotional and sonic territory, from the synth-driven experimentation of the title track, to the introspective, stripped-back vulnerability of "Irish Goodbye." Drawing influences from early electronic pioneers Kraftwerk (whose use of technology became a north star for the band) and the personal lyricism of Leonard Cohen, the album is indicative of the band pushing beyond indie rock conventions into new creative ground. The record features additional keyboard instrumentation by The Gloaming member Thomas Bartlett (Doveman).
Godfrey likens the album's narrative themes to seeing something old with fresh eyes. “It’s like going back to your parents’ house and noticing something you haven't seen in years, and having a completely different perspective on it now that you're older,” he says. "Perhaps you’ve reached the age they were upon purchasing it. Whatever it is, it formed a part of your parents life and had significance in their past. You may not have been there for its use, but like the yellowing of a book, it becomes highlighted by time. By recognising this, we are giving value to it."
After a monumental few years that saw Somebody's Child perform alongside some of the biggest names in music and headline major venues, When Youth Fades Away promises to be a defining moment in Somebody's Child's journey, setting the stage for the band to carve their place on modern rock music.
Somebody's Child start their live assault on 2025 with an in-store tour playing intimate shows up and down the UK, this will be followed by an extensive German tour. Tickets are available to purchase from www.somebodyschildmusic.com. Full list of dates below.
Instore tour
28th March - Rough Trade East - London, UK
29th March - Rough Trade Nottingham - Nottingham, UK
30th March - Jumbo Records - Leeds, UK
31st March - Reflex - Newcastle, UK
1st April - Assai Records - Edinburgh, UK (afternoon performance)
1st April - Assai Records, Glasgow, UK
2nd April - Jacaranda Records - Liverpool, UK
3rd April - Spindizzy Records - Dublin, IE
German tour
8th April - Yuca - Cologne, DE
9th April - Im Wizemann - Stuttgart, DE
10th April - Kranhalle - Munich, DE
12th April - Gleis 22 - Münster, DE
13th April - Mephisto - Hannover, DE
14th April - Nachtleben - Frankfurt, DE
16th April - Speicher - Husum, DE
17th April - Molotow - Hamburg, DE
When Youth Fades Away track listing
Out 28th March via Frenchkiss Records
1. The Kid
2. Last Night I Held Your Hand
3. Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)
4. When Youth Fades Away
5. New Orleans
6. Wall Street
7. My Mind is on Fire
8. Irish Goodbye
9. The Waterside
10. Life Will Go On
11. Time Of My Life
