Lawson thrilled to experience Manila music scene

MANILA, Philippines - British pop-rock band Lawson is arriving in Manila on Tuesday, April 9, with its members already feeling excited they would somewhat get a glimpse of the country’s music scene. 

In a past interview with The STAR, the quartet mentioned about hearing some positive information about Manila being a city inhabited by musically-inclined people.

“We want to go to as many places as we can and it will be a dream come true for us to be there,” said Joel Peat who plays lead guitar for the band. 

Lawson, behind the hit singles When She Was Mine, Taking Over Me, and Standing In The Dark, is scheduled to perform at Eastwood Mall Open Park in Libis, Quezon City on April 9 at 8 p.m. 

Having sold over 300,000 singles, one of the year’s breakthrough acts (under the care of major label MCA Music) is currently promoting the single Learn To Love Again taken from its Top 5 debut album Chapman Square. 

Bass player Ryan Fletcher related, â€We’re really excited to release Learn To Love Again. It’s a bit different to previous singles and it’s one we love performing live. It’s got our usual guitars and drums sound but with a dance element.”

Though some listeners persist in tagging them as a boy band in a quite negative sense, Lawson expressed confidence in their music and identity.

Peat assured, “We’re not bothered if some people think we’re a boyband. Truth is we’re a bit of a rock band.” 

Both Peat and Fletcher have been performing together since they were 14, or a span of close to 10 years. Vocalist Andy Brown used to be in a boy band. 

The group came up with its name to pay tribute to a real-life surgeon named Lawson who successfully treated Brown’s brain tumor after he was diagnosed of having one when he was 18. 

When asked about the band’s artistic workflow, Fletcher stated, “I think we’re working under a perfect system where we got individual roles to fulfill. It’s cool that Andy is our singer-songwriter and he is the eldest.”

Completing the Lawson line-up is drummer Adam Pitts.