North London’s Louis Dunford has released latest single entitled ‘Queer’. Taken from his upcoming album, ‘Queer’ is another example of Louis’ heartfelt narratives, tackled with sincerity and compassion. The song reflects on the experience of a close friend and addresses the lingering effects of homophobia in their life.
“This story deserves to be heard.” - Louis Dunford
The release of ‘Queer’ comes ahead of Dunford’s debut album, ‘Be Lucky’, released February 14th via RCA Records. The album, named after the mantra embraced by his fans, delves into themes of resilience, loss, and the tight-knit communities that shape us. The 14-track record features recent singles ‘Billy Flynn of Bethnal Green’, a tale of an East End boxer who reinvents themselves in Soho’s drag scene, and ‘The Local’, a celebration of the characters and camaraderie found in a neighbourhood pub.
‘Queer’ is a powerful song about witnessing domestic abuse. Louis says that: “people might become blind to what the song is about because of that word (the title, Queer). It's about a real person in my life that was horrifically abused when we were younger. I wrote it at three or four in the morning and it kind of just fell out of the sky and I caught it. The vocal that you hear on the track is the first time I ever sang that song properly. You can even hear the mechanics of the piano and the squeaking of the wood and in the end, we just leant into that. The person it’s about is okay now, they’ve heard the song.”
Dunford’s songwriting paints vivid portraits of the people and places that define his world. Tracks like the title song, ‘Be Lucky’, written over several years, reflect on the loss of his friend Ben Kinsella and the journey of navigating that trauma. “I’ve always tried to write songs that feel true to me and to the people around me,” Dunford says. “This album is a collection of those moments—some big, some small—but all meaningful.”
The release also coincides with Dunford’s biggest career milestone to date: a sold-out headline show at Alexandra Palace. Since his debut headline show, Dunford has now sold over 45,000 tickets with past shows at venues like the O2 Kentish Town Forum, Eventim Apollo, and Electric Ballroom.
Be Lucky Tracklist
Superman
1999
Madeleine's Medicine
The Unlucky Ones
Queer
Under Waterloo Skies
Rave Now Die Later
Billy Flynn of Bethnal Green
England Till I Die?
Lucy
The Local
PTSD
Be Lucky
The Angel (North London Forever)
Queer Lyrics
Your father thinks I’m queer cause I like writing songs
He drinks his beer and White Lightening all day long
And you feel the sting of his sovereign ring when he’s in a bad way
I’m going to kill him some day
Your father thinks you’re strange cause you like boys and girls
There’s no room for change in his little world
And I’ve seen the bruises on your skin, but you say that you’re okay
I’m going to fucking kill him some day
If I buy a gun I’ll shoot him through the heart and run
Away from here
With you my dear
There ain’t nothing wrong with being queer
Your father never knew that we met every night
We’d play GTA in my room, or watch Goodbye Charlie Bright.
And you’d burn a smiley into my skin with the tip of your Lighter
We’d two’s a blunt and pull an all-nighter.
But one day your father saw a text from a boy you like.
And when we meet you try your best to say you’re sweet but start to cry.
And I beg you go to the old bill before it’s too late.
You say he nearly killed me today
If I buy a gun I’ll shoot him through the heart and run
Away from here
With you my dear
There ain’t nothing wrong with being queer
There ain’t nothing wrong with being queer
