Synth Pop story teller PRIDES – Stewart James Brock – isn’t just back with a new single but a new era of Prides.
It’s summer 2025 and Prides make an almighty comeback with a new track, bringing a new era to the project Prides as the blue season is upon us all. There is a wonderful sense of community and support buzzing on social media on the lead up to the Brand New Start release date as Stewart takes us on a trip down memory lane through a series of ‘how tracks were made’ of some of our favourite Prides hits!
“Tell me a story, let it be one I’ve not heard before” is the opening line to Brand New Start and I’m going to take this as my invitation from Stewart to take you on my journey with Prides….
It’s summer 2014, I’m studying at university and the long summer awaits…. The sun is splitting the pavements in the sunniest city in Scotland – Dundee – and Prides is blaring in the headphones. For not really being a fan of synth or pop, I always felt different about Prides. The music is mature, raw, dynamic and feel good (or cry worthy), depending on what track you listen to. Prides are being played literally everywhere, there wasn’t any escaping their incredible success from their Fifa 15 feature, major mainstream radio play across the BBC, appearing on TV shows such as Towie and Dapper Laughs, add in a chart topping album for good measure, not forgetting their memorable performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in Glasgow – a massive platform, a worldwide stage for (at the time) this synth pop duo from Glasgow. What a time to be alive, right?
I saw Prides own the stage at Electric Fields festival that Summer – I’m certain the festival was in it’s first year and the line up was insane – best £20 I’ve ever spent. I got to spend the weekend seeing so many Scottish bands in one place! Prides lit the stage up, the energy, the charisma and the talent showed why the band had literally blown up!
I think it’s often overlooked at the sheer magnitude of the Scottish music scene and some of the incredible talent that has taken flight from our very sacred grounds. I truly believe something special happens here – and often great music gets missed, as people don’t go looking for it! Prides certainly sowed some seeds and took off in a big way but as the seasons changed and new bands came to the forefront Prides social media went quiet and fans were left wondering if this was the end? – Some may say it all came out of the blue.
I know I’m not the only one delighted to see Stewart reignite the spark back into this project of passion, love and despair and what a poignant and poetic way to launch, than with Brand New Start. A song steeped in heartfelt honestly, a tale of resilience and a kick down of the door to this new solo era of Prides. Brock’s song writing is fierce yet gentle, his voice is passionate and heart- warming and again I’m swept into the vast sea of emotions that Brock manages to stir up deep inside, continuedly creating music that resonates with the listener in a way I don’t know that even he will ever understand himself.
The first three tracks Brand New Start, Dynamite and Fighting Sleep have catapulted Prides right back into the lives and hearts of many of us who adored them previously. Although the music is new, there is a nostalgia attached, whether I’m remembering the incredible summer of music in a field in 2014 or I’m holding on to things I didn’t even realise I was, Prides have created music that matters.
I have no doubt that this new era is going to be great for Stewart Brock and I’m excited for music fans because for those that are yet to find Prides, I’m envious that they get to listen to this beautiful track – hearing Prides for the first time – before taking a deep dive into the music I loved in my 20s. What a feeling.
Thank you Prides for this brand new start!
