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TOBY SEBASTIAN
ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
EYES LIGHT UP
OUT APRIL 4 TH – PRE ORDER HERE
‘LET’S PRETEND’
BRAND NEW SINGLE OUT NOW
BRAND NEW SINGLE OUT NOW
LISTEN HERE
Acclaimed British musician and actor Toby Sebastian has announced his new album
Eyes Light Up for release on April 4 th 2025. The album is available to pre-order now
here.
Marking the announcement Toby has released the brand new single and album
opener ‘Let’s Pretend’. The delicate indie ballad from the singer songwriter is a
poignant ode to the bittersweet reality of falling in love during challenging times.
Inspired by the turbulence of current world events, the track taps into a universal
longing for connection.
Regarding the single Toby says, “It’s essentially a love song about escaping with
your lover from the reality and uncertainly of the world to somewhere else. Dreaming
of a moment elsewhere… a moment in time without the everyday noise and chaos of
the world.”
Produced by Toby Sebastian and Matty Benbrook (Paolo Nutini, Dido, Jack
Savoretti), Eyes Light Up is an emotional journey over 11 tracks which take
inspiration from the sounds of the late 60s and early 70s, from songwriters and
guitarist such as Marc Bolan, the warm acoustic sounds of John Martyn, to the
smooth soul of Marvin Gaye, while also playing with a fresh sound reminiscent to
contemporaries such as Hozier or Jake Bugg.
Continuing about the album Toby says, “This is the album I’ve been yearning to
make since I started writing as a kid. It’s taken a couple of musical chapters to
achieve a sound that I feel properly represents what I love listening to. I grew up in a
household that celebrated music and it played throughout the house daily. My love
for 60s and 70s rock came from my dad and my love for soul from my mum.
Matty Benbrook and I worked together on my first ever session when I had just left
school for a record deal at 17. It feels apt that years later, we’ve ended up making
this album. We recorded it over two years in his studio in Bethnal Green and it’s
been a joy to make.”
‘Let’s Pretend’ follows the release of previous single ‘I Won’t Leave You Behind’, a
haunting emotive song rich in textures from deep cavernous verses and bold
anthemic choruses celebrating the powerful strength love brings.
Things get kicked into a new gear elsewhere on Eyes Light Up with the likes of
‘Heaven Is The Backseat Of A Rental Car’ providing a jubilant carefree energy with
propulsive riffs and infectious harmonies revelling in life’s simple pleasures.
‘Oona’ is a silky-smooth rock ‘n’ roller, suave yet potent, with the lush vocals tones of
Toby matched with a deep blues rhythm and dextrous guitars with a powerful solo.
Meanwhile the title track draws influence from Paul Simon, John Martyn and Nick
Drake in a wistful glistening love song. The free-flowing diversity of the record
continues into ‘Why Did You Leave’ which bursts with bold soul and gospel influence.
Acclaimed British musician and actor Toby Sebastian has announced his new album
Eyes Light Up for release on April 4 th 2025. The album is available to pre-order now
here.
Marking the announcement Toby has released the brand new single and album
opener ‘Let’s Pretend’. The delicate indie ballad from the singer songwriter is a
poignant ode to the bittersweet reality of falling in love during challenging times.
Inspired by the turbulence of current world events, the track taps into a universal
longing for connection.
Regarding the single Toby says, “It’s essentially a love song about escaping with
your lover from the reality and uncertainly of the world to somewhere else. Dreaming
of a moment elsewhere… a moment in time without the everyday noise and chaos of
the world.”
Produced by Toby Sebastian and Matty Benbrook (Paolo Nutini, Dido, Jack
Savoretti), Eyes Light Up is an emotional journey over 11 tracks which take
inspiration from the sounds of the late 60s and early 70s, from songwriters and
guitarist such as Marc Bolan, the warm acoustic sounds of John Martyn, to the
smooth soul of Marvin Gaye, while also playing with a fresh sound reminiscent to
contemporaries such as Hozier or Jake Bugg.
Continuing about the album Toby says, “This is the album I’ve been yearning to
make since I started writing as a kid. It’s taken a couple of musical chapters to
achieve a sound that I feel properly represents what I love listening to. I grew up in a
household that celebrated music and it played throughout the house daily. My love
for 60s and 70s rock came from my dad and my love for soul from my mum.
Matty Benbrook and I worked together on my first ever session when I had just left
school for a record deal at 17. It feels apt that years later, we’ve ended up making
this album. We recorded it over two years in his studio in Bethnal Green and it’s
been a joy to make.”
‘Let’s Pretend’ follows the release of previous single ‘I Won’t Leave You Behind’, a
haunting emotive song rich in textures from deep cavernous verses and bold
anthemic choruses celebrating the powerful strength love brings.
Things get kicked into a new gear elsewhere on Eyes Light Up with the likes of
‘Heaven Is The Backseat Of A Rental Car’ providing a jubilant carefree energy with
propulsive riffs and infectious harmonies revelling in life’s simple pleasures.
‘Oona’ is a silky-smooth rock ‘n’ roller, suave yet potent, with the lush vocals tones of
Toby matched with a deep blues rhythm and dextrous guitars with a powerful solo.
Meanwhile the title track draws influence from Paul Simon, John Martyn and Nick
Drake in a wistful glistening love song. The free-flowing diversity of the record
continues into ‘Why Did You Leave’ which bursts with bold soul and gospel influence.
Photo Credit – Mike Palmer
The funky ‘Will You Be… My Wife’ closes the record in a huge celebration of all the
wonderful sounds which form the beating heartbeat of Eyes Light Up. From solemn
beginnings with delicate guitars and a soft croon, it blossoms into bouncy crescendo
of foot stomping beats, vibrant guitar licks and a trumpet fanfare.
Eyes Light Up comes 12 years after his debut album Into The Light. Where the first
record captures the start of Toby Sebastian’s impressive journey, which has seen
him command stages and the big screens, the new album Eyes Light Up displays
maturity and a honed craft, with timeless musicianship and expertly crafted
songwriting to truly reflect the artist he is today.
Toby’s acting and songwriting career have skyrocketed seamlessly in tandem since
the release of his debut album and he’s found himself playing roles onscreen which
have fed directly into his musical passions. He’s starred alongside Kate Nash in
Coffee Wars, worked alongside the likes of The Libertines’ Carl Barat, Fall Out Boy’s
Pete Wentz and Elvis Costello in ALL YOU NEED IS ME, and portrayed Andrea
Bocelli in the biopic The Music Of Silence. Toby’s major acting breakthrough came
with Game Of Thrones as Trystane Martell, while he most recently starred as the
lead in feature film Perfect Match as Andre Agassi.
As a critically acclaimed artist, Toby has been consistently releasing successful
singles in recent years which have achieved multi-million streams and support from
the likes of The Times, The Sun, Metro, Rolling Stone UK, DIY, The Line Of Best Fit
and more.
Toby has sold out London headline shows including Omeara and Islington Academy
while last year saw him embark on his first headline tour across the UK and Europe.
He has more live dates for 2025 to be announced soon.
EYES LIGHT UP TRACK LISTING
1. Let’s Pretend
2. I Won’t Leave You Behind
3. Oona
4. Heaven Is The Backseat Of A Rental Car
5. Eyes Light Up
6. No One Loves Like You Do
7. Something Romantic
8. Light Years
9. Daddy Daddy
10. Why Did You Leave
11. Will You Be… My Wife
wonderful sounds which form the beating heartbeat of Eyes Light Up. From solemn
beginnings with delicate guitars and a soft croon, it blossoms into bouncy crescendo
of foot stomping beats, vibrant guitar licks and a trumpet fanfare.
Eyes Light Up comes 12 years after his debut album Into The Light. Where the first
record captures the start of Toby Sebastian’s impressive journey, which has seen
him command stages and the big screens, the new album Eyes Light Up displays
maturity and a honed craft, with timeless musicianship and expertly crafted
songwriting to truly reflect the artist he is today.
Toby’s acting and songwriting career have skyrocketed seamlessly in tandem since
the release of his debut album and he’s found himself playing roles onscreen which
have fed directly into his musical passions. He’s starred alongside Kate Nash in
Coffee Wars, worked alongside the likes of The Libertines’ Carl Barat, Fall Out Boy’s
Pete Wentz and Elvis Costello in ALL YOU NEED IS ME, and portrayed Andrea
Bocelli in the biopic The Music Of Silence. Toby’s major acting breakthrough came
with Game Of Thrones as Trystane Martell, while he most recently starred as the
lead in feature film Perfect Match as Andre Agassi.
As a critically acclaimed artist, Toby has been consistently releasing successful
singles in recent years which have achieved multi-million streams and support from
the likes of The Times, The Sun, Metro, Rolling Stone UK, DIY, The Line Of Best Fit
and more.
Toby has sold out London headline shows including Omeara and Islington Academy
while last year saw him embark on his first headline tour across the UK and Europe.
He has more live dates for 2025 to be announced soon.
EYES LIGHT UP TRACK LISTING
1. Let’s Pretend
2. I Won’t Leave You Behind
3. Oona
4. Heaven Is The Backseat Of A Rental Car
5. Eyes Light Up
6. No One Loves Like You Do
7. Something Romantic
8. Light Years
9. Daddy Daddy
10. Why Did You Leave
11. Will You Be… My Wife