Brighton’s Star Print Clad return with ‘Melanie,’ a punchy, guitar-led single that kicks off what the band promise will be a steady run of releases through 2026.

It feels like a clear step forward: tighter, louder, and more emotionally open than their earlier material, yet still carrying the scrappy energy that has made their live shows such a draw on the south coast circuit.

Recorded at Salvation Studios with producer Jake Stainer, ‘Melanie’ leans into the warmth of classic rock tones without sounding too much retro. The guitars arrive thick and slightly ragged at the edges, circling a rhythm section that plays with real restraint. A soft thread of piano slips through the mix, adding just enough lift before the chorus bursts open. Frontman Joseph Rohan delivers the vocal with a cracked sincerity that gives the track its center of gravity, turning what could have been a straight indie rocker into something more personal.

There’s a loose, late-night charm to the arrangement too. The verses move with an almost hesitant groove, then the song opens wide for a chorus that feels built for packed club rooms, voices bouncing back from the stage. By the time the final refrain rolls in, the band let the guitars stretch out, finishing on a high note.

Speaking about the single, the band explain: “The bones of the single were recorded as a live take with all five of us playing around in Salvation Studio’s live room. This allowed us to capture the raw edge and unfiltered energy of our live sonic profile.

During the time Melanie was being penned I’d just fallen back in love with KoL’s “Aha Shake Heartbreak”, the clash of the guitars, that rasping vocal delivery that winds as it howls until you finally arrive at Caleb’s wavering destination. That sort of attitude is what we wanted to put into this song. We had an old Selmer and a Marshall stack set up, cut down the road for breakfast, came back, cranked it and the rest is on the record.”