NEW SINGLE '' I Don’t Want To Die '' RELEASED 26th MARCH 2026

W: Amanda Jane Withers

Laforet has always been a multi-instrumentalist to watch, but "I Don’t Want To Die" proves he’s a formidable producer with a knack for capturing chaos. If this is the blueprint for his new direction, Glasgow—and the wider psych-rock scene—needs to brace itself for the impact.

Juan Laforet isn't just switching gears; he’s shifting the entire landscape of the Glasgow scene. After years of providing the instrumental backbone for local staples like Quiche and The Joy Hotel, Laforet has stepped fully into the spotlight, trading the collaborative safety of a band for the raw, unfiltered intensity of his solo vision. His journey from a founding indie-rock member to a standalone producer has been defined by a restless creativity, but his latest announcement suggests he is finally ready to let the polished melodies of his past burn away.

His upcoming single, "I Don’t Want To Die," which lands on streaming platforms on March 27, 2026, marks a definitive end to his "indie-pop" era and the beginning of something much darker and more visceral. While his previous self-produced albums—Bandama Drive and Garden Cities of Tomorrow—played with the whimsical, sun-drenched edges of psychedelic pop, this new material is a different beast entirely. It’s a sonic pivot that leans into a "heavier" sound, trading jangle for grit and incorporating the rhythmic complexity of hip-hop and electronic music.

The track is a wall of sound built on a foundation of chugging electric guitars and a frantic, driving beat that mirrors the internal chaos of its subject matter. Drawing clear inspiration from the high-octane psych of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and the desert-rock sludge of Queens of the Stone Age, Laforet creates an atmosphere that doesn’t just play—it vibrates with the tension of a mind on the brink. It is a captivating, gripping departure that proves his capabilities as a producer are as expansive as his influences.

Beyond the technical shift, the song serves as a vulnerable exorcism of Laforet’s inner struggles with anxiety, depression, and addiction. The lyrics are hauntingly claustrophobic, culminating in the evocative line, "I dissipate under the sheets, my magnum opus." This isn't a song about a neat, tidy recovery; it’s a raw acknowledgment of the "hole" that mental health struggles can create. As Laforet candidly recalls, "When you’re in a hole, you must believe in a way out to see the way out in the first place. At the time of writing this, I didn’t believe in it."

Ultimately, "I Don’t Want To Die" is a bold testament to artistic evolution. Laforet has always been a multi-instrumentalist to watch, but this single positions him as a formidable solo artist with a knack for capturing beautiful chaos. If this track is the blueprint for his new direction, the wider psych-rock scene needs to brace itself for the impact.