Chvrches have performed live once again for the first time in nearly three years, marking a notable milestone for the Scottish synth-pop trio. The band performed on Friday night at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of Robert Smith’s Teenage Cancer Trust concert series, which also showcased Garbage, My Bloody Valentine, and Elbow. During their set, the group unveiled a brand new track titled “Conman,” giving the audience an exclusive first hearing to material from their forthcoming record. Singer Lauren Mayberry presented the track to the crowd, acknowledging the milestone with wit and honesty, saying: “I promise I’m not just inside watching telly all the time, we have been making a record.”
A Joyful Reunion After Decades Away
The Royal Albert Hall concert marked a triumphant return for Chvrches, whose last album, Screen Violence, was released in 2021. The years in between saw major shifts within the band, especially for frontwoman Lauren Mayberry, who revealed she was leaving in 2023 to focus on solo work. Despite this change, the comeback demonstrates that the group’s creative partnership remains intact and valued. The personal feel of the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert offered an ideal setting for such a significant return, allowing the band to reconnect with fans in a prestigious London venue.
Mayberry’s solo work have clearly enriched her artistic vision and contributed to the band’s evolving sound. She unveiled her first solo record, Vicious Creature, in December 2024, with a comprehensive tour across 2025. Speaking to NME about her decision to branch out, she noted that specific songwriting ideas demanded a personal voice rather than the collective narrative of Chvrches. This distinction has clearly enabled her to venture into creative territory that wouldn’t suit inside the band’s signature style, ultimately improving the work she contributes to the group.
- Last album Screen Violence released in 2021
- Mayberry launched solo project starting in 2023
- Solo LP Vicious Creature dropped December 2024
- Band confirmed new music being worked on last summer
Exposing ‘Conman’ to a Held Audience
The Instant of Disclosure
The unveiling of “Conman” represented a watershed moment for Chvrches, giving dedicated listeners their initial look of the band’s creative evolution since their extended hiatus. Mayberry’s frank remarks to the Royal Albert Hall audience struck a perfect balance between self-deprecation and genuine excitement, recognising the extended period between recorded releases whilst generating excitement for the future. Her assurance that the band had indeed been productive during their time away—rather than just stepping back from public life—offered comfort to supporters who had wondered about the ensemble’s path forward and dedication to fresh releases.
The choice to premiere “Conman” at such a prominent philanthropic event lent considerable gravitas to the moment. By selecting the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert as the venue for introducing new songs, Chvrches showed their willingness to use their platform for meaningful causes whilst also rewarding the loyal fan community who had stayed committed through years of uncertainty. Mayberry’s humble request for the crowd’s understanding and compassion, given that the band had not previously played the track before a paying crowd, created an intimate atmosphere that transcended the grandeur of the historic venue and fostered genuine rapport between performers and spectators.
The release of “Conman” signals that Chvrches’ new release will probably demonstrate the musical evolution and experimentation that Mayberry explored during her independent work. Though the band has remained characteristically tight-lipped about release timelines and additional details concerning the upcoming record, the presence of completed tracks indicates that fans may not face an lengthy delay for a complete album. The song’s debut at an event of this calibre demonstrates the band’s confidence in their new direction and their eagerness to move forward with this new phase, merging the collective identity Chvrches have cultivated with the innovative ideas their band members have explored during their period of separation.
Lauren Mayberry’s solo career and return
Lauren Mayberry’s move to depart from Chvrches in 2023 represented a pivotal moment in her creative trajectory, one that eventually resulted in a more profound comprehension of her own artistic identity. The Scottish singer’s solo album, Vicious Creature, launched in December 2024, provided a transparent view into her artistry separate from the band format of the synth-pop group. Throughout 2025, she toured extensively in backing the solo project, reconnecting with audiences on a deeper, more personal basis and positioning herself as a powerful solo performer in her own right. This stretch of autonomy was creatively crucial, allowing her to explore themes and lyrical territories that could not have achieved organic articulation within Chvrches’ established aesthetic.
The reunion at the Royal Albert Hall constituted much more than a simple comeback with the band; it embodied a resolution of tensions between Mayberry’s individual artistic ambitions and her enduring connection to Chvrches’ unified creative purpose. Rather than viewing her solo venture as a abandonment or dismissal of the group, Mayberry has described it as a vital progression that has deepened her comprehension of herself as an artist. The experience of crafting and performing Vicious Creature independently evidently has reinvigorated her approach to musical creation and stage work, delivering fresh vitality and vision to the band’s collaborative efforts. Her willingness to return to Chvrches with this recently developed certainty points to a improved harmony and contentment in their creative relationship moving forward.
Uncovering Her Own Voice
When talking about her solo work with NME, Mayberry revealed that certain lyrical concepts and artistic directions could not easily fit within Chvrches’ existing structure. She noted that some material required a single storytelling perspective rather than the shared viewpoint that characterises the band’s output. This distinction was essential to her creative growth, as it enabled her to examine vulnerability, personal experiences, and thematic territory that might have felt incongruous with Chvrches’ musical character. The solo album served as a necessary outlet for personal creativity that transcended the band’s collective framework.
Mayberry’s articulation of this artistic differentiation underscores a typical difficulty faced by participants in thriving collectives: the tension between personal creative expression and group cohesion. By accepting that she continues as the voice within Chvrches whilst simultaneously needing space to communicate a purely personal standpoint, Mayberry displayed mature insight about her position within the band. Her solo project was not an act of rebellion but rather a enriching pursuit that ultimately enhances her involvement in Chvrches. This maturation in her creative approach suggests that the upcoming record will profit from the certainty and self-belief she has gained through her period apart.
What Lies Ahead for the Scottish Synth-Pop Legends
Whilst Chvrches have offered tantalising glimpses of their forthcoming record, the band remains characteristically tight-lipped about release timelines and extra tracks. The Royal Albert Hall performance served as a carefully orchestrated reintroduction, communicating to fans and music critics alike that the group’s creative engine remains fully functional. Lauren Mayberry’s honest comments to the audience—acknowledging both the nerves surrounding their fresh approach and the real anticipation of sharing unreleased work—struck a notably human tone that struck a chord with attendees. The intentional decision to debut “Conman” at such a high-profile, philanthropic venue underscored the importance of this moment for the band’s evolution.
The reunion also signifies a broader change in the way Chvrches plans to function moving forward, potentially establishing a more enduring approach that allows for individual artistic pursuits alongside collaborative endeavours. Rather than requiring complete dedication from all members, this refined method recognises the productive value of enabling musicians to pursue solo projects. For Mayberry specifically, her work on Vicious Creature appears to have given essential understanding and fresh energy for Chvrches’ signature style. As the group keeps working on their new album, fans can anticipate a project influenced by both the band’s signature electronic sensibilities and the enhanced self-awareness each member has cultivated during their spell away.
- The new album represents Chvrches’ debut full-length offering since 2021’s Screen Violence
- Lauren Mayberry’s solo endeavours shaped her artistic vision for the band’s upcoming record
- The group has not yet announced an confirmed launch date for their next album
