South Wales four-piece The Now return, ‘Did You Miss Me?’, the latest preview of the band's forthcoming second album, Moments in Motion - out October 27.
Built around a ridiculously catchy chorus, a groove-heavy bassline and a distinctly eighties-flavoured production, the track finds the band pushing further into the pop side of their sound without abandoning their rock instincts. Vintage-sounding guitars weave through glossy synths, creating a retro sheen that feels nostalgic without becoming a pastiche.
Lyrically, ‘Did You Miss Me?’ captures the rush of attraction, the nerves, anticipation and uncertainty that come with knowing there’s something between two people but not quite knowing where it’s going. After building around its infectious central hook, ‘Did You Miss Me?’ erupts into a full guitar solo before stripping almost everything back for its final stretch. With Shane Callaghan’s vocals taking centre stage and handclaps keeping the rhythm alive, the track arrives at a natural live moment, the kind of section designed for a room full of people to sing, clap and shout the hook back at the band.
Listen to ‘Did You Miss Me?’ on the Premier League playlist.
‘Did You Miss Me?’ follows five singles already released from Moments in Motion: ‘Wild Curse’, ‘Breathe’, ‘Something Beautiful’, ‘Infection’, and ‘Drug’. Together, the tracks have revealed an album that moves between romance, loss, obsession, identity and self-discovery while maintaining the band’s increasingly dance-driven sound.
Where The Now’s 2024 debut Too Hot To Handle was rooted in the classic rock formula of quiet verses, loud choruses and guitar solos, Moments in Motion takes a more adventurous route. Influences from Michael Jackson, Prince and ABBA sit alongside the band’s guitar-led foundations, with groove and space becoming just as important as volume.
The new single arrives at the end of a landmark summer for The Now, following festival appearances and a recent high-profile support slot with Madness, alongside Cast, The Beat, and The Ordinary Boys in Canterbury. The band have also previously shared stages with Reef and Florence Black, performed at the Isle of Wight Festival, and completed headline UK tours.
