W: Jackie Hill

Homerton-born polymath Truman (Charley Palmer Rothwell) has officially fired the opening salvo for his highly anticipated March album, Kid Raise Kid, with the release of his new single, "BEER KNIGHTS." Far from a standard indie debut, the track is a visceral, "cry into the void" that examines the fractured identity of the modern British man. Backed by Jakwob’s claustrophobic, "dystopian grunt" of a production, Truman utilizes a distinctive East London flow to navigate the shadows of his upbringing, delivering a song that feels less like a performance and more like a public exorcism of generational trauma.

The track’s power lies in its unflinching lyrical precision. Over a bed of droning, atmospheric synths, Truman tackles the cyclical struggles of working-class masculinity, culminating in a hauntingly catchy chorus that questions the very fabric of one's heritage. When he chants about DNA being unable to "connect the dots and the seams," he isn't just rapping; he’s diagnosing a societal ache. It is a brave, self-exposing piece of art that cuts through the shallow nature of modern identity politics to find something much more nuanced, painful, and ultimately, human.

Drawing on the same emotional intensity that has defined his acclaimed acting career, Truman brings a cinematic depth to his music that few of his peers can match. There is a dark, nihilistic humor woven into the track’s DNA, served with an "uncanny instinct" that keeps the listener hooked even as the themes turn cold. As a first glimpse into Kid Raise Kid, "BEER KNIGHTS" establishes Truman as a vital, uncompromising voice in 2026—an artist who isn't afraid to look into the darkness of a white, working-class home and report back exactly what he sees.