New Oldham outfit Red Light Factory announce debut single

Red Light Factory are Harry Lavin and fellow familiar Oldham face Ben Warwick

The endeavour of announcing yourself to the world as a new musical artist can often get lost in a sea of unintentional ignorance from the general public.

Most now have instant access to any artist they like, at any given time of the day, on a multitude of different devices.

So how does one go about ensuring they stand out above the crowd in this era of instantaneous judgement and disposability?

It certainly helps to have good songs, a razor sharp image and an effective marketing strategy… but name checking America’s most mysterious and infamous cult leader in the title of your debut single?

Well, that’s certainly not something you’ll find in the handbook of advice for new bands starting out.

One half of new local duo Red Light Factory, Oldhamer Harry Lavin, said: “You don’t really hear songs like Gary Gilmore’s Eyes by The Adverts anymore, which is a shame, because I think society is more curios than it’s ever been to look through the biographical lens of notorious criminals and enigmatic cult leaders.”

Red Light Factory was conceived in Saddleworth, off the back of a post-covid malaise.

Many bands split up, entered a long hiatus or just simply failed to get back on the horse again.

In February 2020, Harry and fellow familiar town face Ben Warwick had just come back off a hugely successful European tour with Twisted Wheel; supporting Liam Gallagher at arenas around the continent.

By March 2020 the world was in lockdown, and by March 2024, the band still hadn’t returned to pick up the momentum they had spent the last three years building up.

At the ages of 25 and 26, the duo decided to stop waiting around for their youth to pass them by and re-kindle their songwriting partnership under the red studio lights.

It was at this point that two separate blueprints were laid out - musically they would look to channel the lyrical mystery of Echo and the Bunnymen, tinged with the visceral thunder of Queens of the Stone Age; two elements married together through the minimalist aesthetic of Kraftwerk.

Recorded at Vibe Studios with highly-renowned producer Dean Glover, Manson Song - due to be released on March 14 - is the first piece of evidence laid out in this new public trial.

International smash hit or international commendation? - that's up to you to decide.

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