Rising singer and songwriter Andrew Cushin unveils new brilliant single “You Don’t Belong”, joins Pete Doherty’s Strap Originals label, Debut EP April 2022
Noel Gallagher has not only championed the young Geordie, but he also produced and played guitar on his track ‘Where’s My Family Gone’. Pete Doherty is similarly enamoured by Andrew’s flair for creating big anthems from songs which explore hefty social issues; first signing Andrew to his Strap Originals label and then taking him on tour with The Libertines.
The song is the title track to his debut four-track EP, which will be released on April 22nd. In addition, he will play a huge homecoming show in Newcastle this summer as guest to Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and will hit the road with The Sherlocks in April.
Now sounding like a dynamic live band rather than a confessional singer-songwriter, the rest of the song bounds with a similar intensity. There’s also a subtle shift in his lyricism too. Whereas previous singles have felt immensely personal, ‘You Don’t Belong’ speaks of the wider struggles of a sea of young men who desperately battle issues with identity, belonging and mental health.
Andew says, “This track is the start of a new journey for me. We’re on a new record label, have a new band, and are ready to release catchy and energetic material. ‘You Don’t Belong’ still holds the lyrics of a typical ‘Andrew Cushin’ song but the sound of synthesiser, indie riffs and big drum patterns take this record somewhere else. It’s a new sound that I’m hoping everyone comes to love.”
The song was recorded at The Albion Rooms, The Libertines’ studio in Margate, and produced by Jason Stafford. ‘You Don’t Belong’ is released alongside an official video. Filmed in Bedford, the video was directed by filmmaker and photographer Andrew Willsher.
His music possesses a tangible sense of hope too. He’s the product of his upbring in Newcastle, and fittingly the city is embracing him as one of their own. His hometown headline shows all rapidly sell-out, including gigs at The Boiler Shop and The Cluny as well as a benefit night for the mental health charity Mind.
He supported The Lathums, Two Door Cinema Club, and The Libertines, while major festivals included Reading, Leeds, Hit The North, Victorious, and Boardmasters.
