Chvrches have returned to the stage for the first occasion in nearly three years, marking a important occasion for the Scottish synth-pop trio. The band took to the stage 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 listen to material from their upcoming album. Singer Lauren Mayberry spoke about the song to the crowd, acknowledging the milestone with humour and candour, saying: “I promise I’m not just inside watching telly all the time, we have been making a record.”
A Joyful Gathering After Decades Away
The Royal Albert Hall performance marked a successful comeback for Chvrches, whose last album, Screen Violence, was came out in 2021. The years in between saw major shifts within the band, particularly for frontwoman Lauren Mayberry, who announced her departure in 2023 to pursue a solo career. Despite this change, the reunion 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 enhanced her artistic vision and shaped the band’s new direction. She released her debut solo album, Vicious Creature, in December 2024, with a full touring schedule throughout 2025. Speaking to NME about her choice to pursue solo work, she explained that certain lyrical concepts and themes required a personal voice rather than the collective narrative of Chvrches. This distinction has evidently allowed her to explore artistic ground that might not fit inside the band’s established sound, ultimately improving the material she brings back to the group.
- Last album Screen Violence came out in 2021
- Mayberry launched solo career starting in 2023
- Solo LP Vicious Creature dropped December 2024
- Band confirmed fresh material in development during summer
Uncovering ‘Conman’ to a Held Audience
The Moment of Revelation
The unveiling of “Conman” marked a watershed moment for Chvrches, offering dedicated listeners their first glimpse of the group’s artistic development following their prolonged break. Mayberry’s honest words to the Royal Albert Hall crowd struck a perfect balance between self-deprecation and authentic enthusiasm, acknowledging the extended period between studio albums whilst generating excitement for what was to come. Her assurance that the band had genuinely remained active during their time away—rather than just stepping back from public life—offered comfort to supporters who had been uncertain about the ensemble’s path forward and focus on upcoming work.
The decision to premiere “Conman” at such a prestigious charitable event added significant weight to the moment. By choosing the Teenage Cancer Trust charity concert as the platform for introducing new songs, Chvrches showed their willingness to use their platform for meaningful causes whilst simultaneously honouring the loyal fan community who had remained loyal through years of uncertainty. Mayberry’s modest appeal for the crowd’s understanding and compassion, given that the band had never performed the track before a paying crowd, fostered an intimate atmosphere that transcended the grandeur of the historic venue and cultivated genuine rapport between performers and spectators.
The release of “Conman” indicates that Chvrches’ forthcoming record will probably reflect the musical evolution and experimentation that Mayberry explored during her independent work. Though the band has remained characteristically tight-lipped about launch schedules and other specifics about the latest project, the presence of completed tracks suggests that fans are unlikely to experience an extended wait for a complete album. The song’s debut at an event of this calibre demonstrates the band’s faith in their new direction and their enthusiasm for advancing with this new phase, blending the collective identity Chvrches have developed with the new viewpoints their band members have explored during their time apart.
Lauren Mayberry’s solo career and return
Lauren Mayberry’s decision to step away from Chvrches in 2023 marked a pivotal moment in her professional journey, one that finally brought about a deeper understanding of her own creative expression. The Scottish vocalist’s solo album, Vicious Creature, released in December 2024, provided a transparent view into her artistry separate from the group structure of the synth-pop group. Throughout 2025, she performed widely in promotion of the solo project, reconnecting with audiences on a deeper, more personal basis and establishing herself as a formidable solo artist in her own right. This time of self-direction became artistically vital, allowing her to explore thematic areas and lyrical spaces that could not have achieved authentic voice within Chvrches’ recognised style.
The reunion at the Royal Albert Hall represented far more than a simple reintegration into the band; it reflected a reconciliation between Mayberry’s solo artistic goals and her sustained commitment to Chvrches’ shared artistic direction. Rather than regarding her solo venture as a abandonment or dismissal of the group, Mayberry has described it as a essential development that has enhanced her awareness of herself as an artist. The experience of creating and delivering Vicious Creature on her own evidently has revitalised her methodology to songwriting and performance, introducing revitalised momentum and vision to the band’s shared projects. Her readiness to rejoin to Chvrches with this recently developed certainty indicates a greater equilibrium and satisfaction in their artistic collaboration moving forward.
Discovering 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’ established framework. She explained that some material demanded a single storytelling perspective rather than the shared viewpoint that defines the band’s output. This difference was essential to her creative growth, as it allowed her to explore emotional depth, lived experiences, and subject matter that might have felt at odds with Chvrches’ sonic identity. The solo album became a necessary outlet for personal creativity that transcended the band’s collaborative boundaries.
Mayberry’s expression of this creative distinction illustrates a typical difficulty experienced by members of successful groups: the conflict between personal creative expression and collective identity. By acknowledging that she stays the narrator within Chvrches whilst concurrently requiring the opportunity to communicate a wholly personal perspective, Mayberry demonstrated mature insight about her role within the band. Her individual endeavour wasn’t an defiant move but rather a supplementary investigation that ultimately enhances her involvement in Chvrches. This growth in her creative approach implies that the forthcoming release will gain from the clarity and confidence she has acquired from her period apart.
What The Future Holds for the Scottish Synth-Pop Legends
Whilst Chvrches have offered tantalising glimpses of their forthcoming record, the band remains typically tight-lipped about launch schedules and supplementary content. The Royal Albert Hall concert served as a meticulously planned reintroduction, signalling to fans and industry observers alike that the group’s creative momentum remains actively engaged. Lauren Mayberry’s candid remarks to the audience—acknowledging both the nerves surrounding their evolving sound and the real anticipation of sharing unfinished tracks—struck a genuinely relatable quality that struck a chord with attendees. The intentional decision to debut “Conman” at such a prestigious, charity-focused venue underscored the importance of this moment for the band’s trajectory.
The reunion also signifies a broader change in the way Chvrches aims to work moving forward, potentially establishing a more sustainable model that supports individual personal projects alongside joint ventures. Rather than demanding total commitment from all members, this evolved approach recognizes the creative benefits of enabling musicians to pursue solo projects. For Mayberry specifically, her work on Vicious Creature appears to have provided essential insight and revitalised passion for Chvrches’ signature style. As the group remains focused on their new album, fans can expect a project informed by both the band’s distinctive sonic approach and the deeper self-knowledge each member has developed during their period separated.
- The new album marks Chvrches’ first full-length project since 2021’s Screen Violence
- Lauren Mayberry’s solo work informed her creative perspective for the band’s forthcoming album
- The group has not yet announced an official release date for their forthcoming release
