Courting is a British electronic rock band based in Liverpool, UK. Sean Murphy-O’Neill, Sean Thomas, Joshua Cope, and Connor McCann have been making music together since 2018. Now, releasing their sophomore album New Last Name, they continue to create their authentic sound.
After playing music on the road during some test shows throughout the UK and Europe, the era of New Last Name began in early July with the release of four singles. The band has stated that while the record is connected by a complete narrative overall, it is also a representation of the band’s restrained pop tracks alongside some that are unusually experimental to their sound.
“Throw” was released in early November 2023 and was the second title to be released prior to the album. With a classic pop-rock beat, strong drums and even more rugged vocals – the song sets the tone for the album and is considered to be the prelude to a narrative memory. Although, as previously mentioned, the band is experimenting more with their sound, and the transition to a more pop-punk based instrumental and unison vocals, is one example.
The last single released in early January “We Look Good Together (Big Words)” sounds more like their electronic rock roots. The natural and explicit love song orchestrates through the lyrics of pure infatuation. The true representation of love sits in the lyrics of “Well I guess I’ll get back to kicking my feet behind my head / Don’t think I was waiting for you to love me / Not just for the sake of it – “I’m not even trying” but / I’ve been dreaming of this since I was fourteen.”
The first single to kick off their sophomore studio album was “Flex,” released back in early July of 2023. With highlights of a trumpet throughout the track, and the continuation of irregular sound, the lyrics tell the story of a protagonist who is very successful, but must ask at what cost? “Flex” has a similar musical structure and build to “Throw,” but the lyrics of “I see you / All the time / So I CC / Subject line / RE: how’ve you been / Well I’ve been fine” tells of the opposite to “We Look Good Together (Big Words).” Through this track alone, the protagonist is heavily missing their past relationship, to the point of forgetting their wealthy life and moving towards the past.
As the musical adaptation of a fictional character in the larger story of New Last Name, “Emily G,” was released in December 2023. The woman, was inspired by a real story found in a magazine, and turned into a narrative that ends the first part of the album with upbeat guitars with synthesizers throughout. As a key contributing song to the album, it shows that Courting had clear intentions, heavily diving into their lyricism while generating new musical growth.
Courting only has six years under their belt as a band, but their story-telling technique and maturity when it comes to their range of vocals and instrumentals puts them much higher in terms of potential. The flow of the tracks in New Last Name is a total experience from first to last, each having their own value. From this album alone, there are so many possibilities the band can dive into in the near future.
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