The Longing — Kiss From A Rose (Single)

During these uncertain times, it is important for people to have something to enjoy whether it is cooking a home-made meal, having an online chat with friends and loved ones, binge-watching a new television series or just listening to some music. One real important thing is that whilst the world of live music is in a state of flux, musicians and artists across the globe are still releasing new material and versions of well-known hits.

Allow me to introduce you to The Longing; a four-piece band founded by LA-based musician/singer/composer Lauren Bradley who has steadily built a fanbase with their previous singles receiving extensive radio airplay in eighteen countries including the UK, appearances on MTV and The Cannes Film Festival and having one of their own compositions chosen as the anthem for International Women’s Day 2017.

During 2020, the band turned their hand to reinterpreting classic pop tracks by everyone from The Pet Shop Boys to Billie Eilish and are now pleased to officially release their version of Seal’s ‘Kiss From A Rose.’

The song originally debuted on Seal’s second eponymous 1994 album and was produced by Trevor Horn a man who has worked with everyone from Frankie Goes To Hollywood to Yes, Marc Almond, T.A.T.U. and The Buggles. Interestingly, when I attended Cornbury Festival in Oxfordshire in 2015 The Trevor Horn Band were performing a hit-packed set to a capacity crowd when Seal himself appeared on stage to perform a selection of songs. He explained that when he first heard the track he actually threw the tape it was on across the room but over time changed his mind. Fast forward and it starred in ‘Batman Forever’ and ‘Never Ending Story’ and won a Grammy for ‘Song of the Year’ in 1996. It is funny how things happen!

This version opens with Bradley’s melodic vocal framed with Michael Wallace’s heavy bass riff and solid rock drum beat courtesy of Tom Plumb as an electric guitar springs into action. The punchy metal/rock delivery allows the song to take on a new life as an anthemic rock ballad complete with a hypnotic guitar solo by John Huldt.

I am reminded of vocalist Tarja Turunen whose powerhouse vocals are truly magical especially in a live setting and can also take popular songs such as ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’ and Alice Cooper’s ‘Poison’ and put her own stamp of originality on them.

In conclusion, The Longing has been able to take a popular radio hit song and put their own brand of female-fronted metal on it showcasing not only their musical abilities but also their appreciation of the material. If you enjoy the music of bands such as Lacuna Coil, Nightwish, Evanescence and Within Temptation to name but a few then make some room on your playlist for The Longing.

The Longing’s new single ‘Kiss From A Rose’ is out now on Filthy Princess Records. For more information visit www.thelonging.com

(Many Thanks to Sam G at The PR Stable for help with this review)