Lawrence is looking forward and not looking back on the group’s new ’80s-charged anthem of embracing change, “Guy I Used To Be”. The track will appear on the Brooklyn indie soul-pop octet’s upcoming album Family Business, due later this year. The new single also comes on the heels of the revelation that singer Gracie Lawrence—who fronts the band alongside brother Clyde Lawrence on keys/vocals—will appear as a recurring character on MAX‘s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
“Guy I Used To Be” is introduced by a horn section that strikes at the heart of Lawrence’s feel-good ethos. Electronic drums give the song a soft feel that even Clyde’s raspy howling can’t shake as he extols the virtues of turning the page on the “Guy I Used To Be”. Before one last run through the earworm chorus, the band lets off a breakdown so drenched in retro ’80s aesthetic it’ll trigger a rebound in the sales of oversized blazers (which are not coincidentally staples of Lawrence’s press campaign for Family Business).
“’Guy I Used To Be’ is a song about how the right person can totally change your life for the better,” the band said in a statement. “Whether it be a new romantic partner or even just a new friendship, sometimes having your life turned upside-down can be a great thing. We had been listening to a lot of Huey Lewis, Michael McDonald, and 80s-era Michael Jackson, so we tried to bring some of the joy that we feel when we listen to those records into this one.”
Along with the release of “Guy I Used To Be”, Gracie Lawrence is celebrating her casting on season three of Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble‘s The Sex Lives of College Girls. Gracie is an accomplished actress with a resume dating back to 2008 that most recently included two episodes on Billions. The author of songs like “i’m confident that i’m insecure” was reliably self-deprecating when announcing the role, writing, “pretty good for a girl with no college degree or sex life!!!!!”
Check out the new Lawrence single “Guy I Used To Be” below or on your preferred streaming platform. The band has yet to announce a tracklist or release date for Family Business but has detailed its largest headlining tour to date. Find tickets and a full list of concerts here.
Lawrence — “Guy I Used To Be” [Lyric Video]