Brighton has such a rich queer and underground music scene — how has living and creating there shaped the sound and identity of LADSCLUB?
Greg: I think moving to Brighton in my 20’s was perfect timing in some ways as the clubs, the music and the vibe here was second to none. Also everywhere was so mixed so I didn’t feel limited to gay spaces to feel safe and have a fantastic night out. Also, the cover of our debut album sums it up pretty well!
Ed: Brighton is such a special little bubble with such a varied music scene , I think that shows in our music as we like to experiment with multiple genres.
Your music blends electronic, alt-pop, and emotionally raw storytelling. What artists, experiences, or nightlife spaces have influenced your sound the most?
Greg: Madonna has always been my biggest inspiration, I love the simplicity of her lyrics and her melodies – how she just loves to write songs about dancing – even now in her 60’s. As for experiences, 20 years of marriage is the key story we are telling on the new album. The ups and downs!
Ed: For me as a producer I idolise a lot of dance / electronic producers , Frankmusik is a huge hero of mine, he’s an absolute master of his craft and would love for LADSCLUB to collab with him in the future
As queer artists, do you feel there’s still pressure to “fit” into certain narratives in the music industry, or has the landscape genuinely changed?
G: We are a gay married couple making music together in our 40’s so id say we are quite unique – I don’t think the music industry knows what to make of us, but we are quite resilient and very patient. For now we just enjoy what we do and appreciate that some people really love our music and come to our shows.
E: It’s not something I really think about that much , I guess so far we’ve been accepted for what we do and we certainly haven’t hid the fact that we’re gay and I never would.
A lot of your tracks feel both euphoric and vulnerable at the same time. How important is emotional honesty in your songwriting process?
G: I have to say it wasn’t important at all on the debut, but for the follow up “Play Together” I wanted to tell some stories and really open up in my writing. I wanted to push myself and be fearless. I’m really happy with the results. A friend of ours who heard it recently said “no one else is writing songs about these subjects” – and I have to agree. There are some real taboo subjects in there but with killer chorus’s.
E: Greg’s songwriting really has gone up a level with this album, I try my best to get the sound that reflects what he’s trying to say and I feel confident that this album really pushes us on some bold ways both lyrically and sound wise
LGBTQ+ audiences often connect deeply with music that creates a sense of escape or belonging. What kind of experience do you hope listeners have when they hear your music live?
Greg: I hope they are enlightened…and compelled to dance!
E: We just want everyone to have a great time :)
Social media can build artists quickly, but it can also flatten creativity into trends. How do you balance authenticity with the pressure to stay visible online?
Greg: We honestly don’t factor it in at all. We don’t trend chase, we use music that has influenced us a template – and I don’t think any of it is particularly trending right now. I was listening to a lot of Soft Cell when I started writing. That’s where The Playpen came from, I think.
E: We’ve never set out to chase any trends I think what we do is very much us, the most important thing is always say to Greg is we need to have fun, I like to think that comes across in our music too
What has been the biggest challenge of working as a duo, and what’s the biggest advantage?
Greg: The biggest challenge is that we never really have a day off from being LADSCLUB, we kind of live it 24/7 – whilst also trying to hold down day jobs to pay the rent. The biggests advantage is that we both have our own strngths that compliment each other perfectly – I write and Ed produces, we share vocal duties. we don’t step on each others toes. It works.
E: It can be overwhelming sometimes for sure as Greg points out we live and breathe LADSCLUB and the whole package is done by us , writing / producing and a full time job on top. The advantages are is we’re in it together so when it comes to live shows and promo we have each other backs and we look after each other :)
Queer nightlife and club culture have always influenced pop music. Are there particular spaces, nights, or moments that inspired the world of LADSCLUB?
G: My memories of G-A-Y in London Astoria and the Ghetto will always live rent-free in my head and heart.
E: Being a Brightonian my early club memories are places like Revenge and my favourite club night was called Monkey which used to be at a club called The Gloucester ( it’s now The North Laine Pub ) very happy memories of that place listening to amazing electro dance music
Greg: there’s a song about it on the album called Dancing.
If someone discovered LADSCLUB today, which song would you want them to hear first — and why?
Greg: Argh that’s a tough one. MATINEE will always hold a special place in my heart. That was the first “proper” song I ever wrote. We never get bored of performing that one.
Ed: That is tough as they all feel special, I would go with Be Kind Rewind from the new album , it has an acid warehouse sound to it that could of come out in the late 80s, it’s a sweet song that sounds both sad but uplifting
What’s next for LADSCLUB in 2026? Are there new sounds, collaborations, visuals, or themes you’re excited to explore?
Greg: The release of our new single “LOVE ON TOP OF LOVE” and the album “Play Together” – it’s been 7 long, hard months of writing and recording and we are such perfectionists. I personally never thought we’d better the debut but we 100% have with this body of work. Its stunning. We hope people hear it and appreciate it.
E: The new album is now the focus and hopefully we’ll get to promote it with some more gigs too , Totally open to another collaboration too if that comes up. Also want get another music video too , we already have 2 classic music videos. Think it’s time for another
Greg: yes we are doing our first headline show at The Brunswick in Brighton on July 31st so we are busy preparing for that. It’s going to be amazing!