Chvrches have performed live once again for the first time in nearly three years, marking a significant moment for the Scottish synth-pop trio. The band played at Friday night at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of Robert Smith’s Teenage Cancer Trust concert series, which also included Garbage, My Bloody Valentine, and Elbow. During their set, the group unveiled a brand new track titled “Conman,” giving the audience an exclusive preview to material from their upcoming album. Singer Lauren Mayberry introduced 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 Successful Gathering After Decades Away
The Royal Albert Hall performance marked a successful comeback for Chvrches, whose last album, Screen Violence, was released in 2021. The intervening years saw significant changes within the band, especially for frontwoman Lauren Mayberry, who announced her departure in 2023 to focus on solo work. Despite this change, the reunion demonstrates that the group’s artistic collaboration remains strong and appreciated. The personal feel of the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert provided an ideal setting for such a significant return, allowing the band to engage with their audience in a prestigious London venue.
Mayberry’s solo work have clearly enriched her artistic vision and shaped the band’s new direction. She released her first solo record, Vicious Creature, in December 2024, with a comprehensive tour across 2025. Speaking to NME about her choice to pursue solo work, she explained that specific songwriting ideas demanded a individual perspective rather than the group approach of Chvrches. This distinction has clearly enabled her to explore creative territory that might not fit within the band’s signature style, in turn improving the work she contributes to the group.
- Last album Screen Violence came out in 2021
- Mayberry launched solo project starting in 2023
- Solo LP Vicious Creature released December 2024
- Band confirmed fresh material being worked on during summer
Uncovering ‘Conman’ to a Held Audience
The Point of Discovery
The release of “Conman” marked a pivotal point for Chvrches, providing devoted fans their opening view 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 genuine excitement, addressing the extended period between studio albums whilst building anticipation for what lay ahead. Her declaration that the band had actually continued working during their break from the spotlight—rather than just stepping back from public life—gave confidence to fans who had wondered about the band’s direction ahead and commitment to new material.
The decision to premiere “Conman” at such a prestigious charitable event lent considerable gravitas to the moment. By choosing the Teenage Cancer Trust charity concert as the venue for introducing fresh material, Chvrches demonstrated their commitment to use their profile for meaningful causes whilst simultaneously rewarding the loyal fan community who had stayed committed through prolonged periods of doubt. Mayberry’s modest appeal 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 went beyond the grandeur of the historic venue and fostered genuine connection between performers and spectators.
The release of “Conman” signals that Chvrches’ upcoming album will likely reflect the artistic growth and creative exploration that Mayberry explored during her solo project. Though the band has remained characteristically tight-lipped about timeline details and additional details about the upcoming record, the availability of recorded songs implies that fans won’t encounter an extended wait for a finished work. The track’s premiere at such a prestigious occasion indicates the band’s belief in their fresh approach and their eagerness to move forward with this new phase, blending the shared sound Chvrches have developed with the new viewpoints their individual artists have gained during their period of separation.
Lauren Mayberry’s solo journey and comeback
Lauren Mayberry’s decision to step away from Chvrches in 2023 marked a significant juncture in her creative trajectory, one that finally brought about a deeper understanding of her own creative voice. The singer from Scotland’s solo album, Vicious Creature, came out in December 2024, delivered a transparent view into her artistry separate from the group structure of the synth-pop group. Throughout 2025, she travelled extensively in support of the solo project, reconnecting with audiences on a deeper, more personal basis and establishing herself as a powerful solo performer in her own right. This time of self-direction became artistically vital, letting her delve into subject matter and lyrical ground that would not have gained authentic voice within Chvrches’ defined sound.
The reunion at the Royal Albert Hall represented far more than a simple return to the band; it reflected a resolution of tensions between Mayberry’s solo artistic goals and her sustained commitment to Chvrches’ shared artistic direction. Rather than viewing her solo venture as a turning away of the group, Mayberry has described it as a essential development that has deepened her comprehension of herself as an artist. The experience of creating and delivering Vicious Creature on her own seems to have refreshed her method to composition and live delivery, introducing revitalised momentum and vision to the band’s shared projects. Her readiness to rejoin to Chvrches with this newly acquired self-assurance indicates a improved harmony and contentment in their creative relationship moving forward.
Developing Her Unique Voice
When talking about her solo work with NME, Mayberry disclosed that certain lyrical concepts and creative approaches could not easily fit within Chvrches’ existing structure. She explained that some material required a singular narrative voice rather than the collective perspective that characterises the band’s output. This difference proved crucial to her artistic development, as it allowed her to explore emotional depth, lived experiences, and subject matter that might have felt at odds with Chvrches’ musical character. The solo album served as a necessary outlet for personal creativity that transcended the band’s collaborative boundaries.
Mayberry’s expression of this creative distinction illustrates a common challenge experienced by members of thriving collectives: the tension between individual artistic vision and collective identity. By accepting that she continues as the voice within Chvrches whilst at the same time needing space to express a deeply individual perspective, Mayberry demonstrated nuanced understanding about her role within the band. Her individual endeavour wasn’t an rebellious gesture but rather a enriching pursuit that eventually enhances her work with Chvrches. This maturation in her musical perspective suggests that the upcoming record will profit from the certainty and self-belief she has developed through her period apart.
What The Future Holds for the Scottish Synth-Pop Icons
Whilst Chvrches have provided tantalising glimpses of their new material, the band remains typically tight-lipped about release timelines and supplementary content. The Royal Albert Hall performance served as a strategically designed reintroduction, indicating to fans and industry observers alike that the group’s creative engine remains very much operational. Lauren Mayberry’s candid remarks to the audience—acknowledging both the nerves surrounding their new direction and the authentic enthusiasm of sharing unfinished tracks—struck a genuinely relatable quality that struck a chord with attendees. The deliberate choice to debut “Conman” at such a high-profile, philanthropic venue underscored the weight of this moment for the band’s trajectory.
The reunion also represents a broader shift in how Chvrches plans to function moving forward, potentially establishing a more viable framework that supports individual personal projects alongside joint ventures. Rather than insisting on full involvement from all members, this developed strategy acknowledges the productive value of letting members develop solo projects. For Mayberry specifically, her involvement with Vicious Creature appears to have provided essential insight and revitalised passion for Chvrches’ distinctive sound. As the group remains focused on their new album, fans can anticipate a project influenced by both the band’s characteristic electronic style and the enhanced self-awareness 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 shaped her creative perspective for the band’s forthcoming album
- The group has not yet announced an confirmed launch date for their next album
