Red Light Factory emerges from the shadows with Manson Song, their electrifying debut single, released on March 14, 2025. In an era where new artists struggle to break through the noise, Red Light Factory isn’t just making an entrance—they’re kicking the door wide open. The Manchester-based duo, Harry Lavin and Ben Warwick, refuse to play it safe, naming their first release after one of the most infamous cult figures in history. If their goal was to spark intrigue, mission accomplished.
Born out of post-pandemic disillusionment, Red Light Factory represents the sound of reinvention. After years of building momentum with their previous band, Twisted Wheel, which saw them playing to massive crowds, including supporting Liam Gallagher across Europe, the duo found themselves at a crossroads. The pandemic halted their ascent, and by the time the world reopened, their previous project had lost its spark. But rather than waiting for a return to the past, Lavin and Warwick forged a new path, harnessing their frustration and ambition into something fresh, something vital.
Manson Song isn’t just about its provocative title. It’s a brash, unrelenting, and hypnotic introduction to Red Light Factory’s sonic universe—a place where the dark poeticism of Echo & The Bunnymen collides with the raw, thundering energy of Queens of the Stone Age, all while keeping the precision and minimalism of Kraftwerk’s electronic pulse. The track lures you in with its brooding bassline and sharp, enigmatic lyrics, then erupts into a ferocious wall of sound that demands attention.
The track taps into society’s obsession with true crime, cults, and the psychology of infamous figures. Lavin himself notes that “songs like Gary Gilmore’s Eyes by The Adverts just don’t seem to exist anymore.” And yet, in the age of Netflix documentaries dissecting every detail of criminal history, public fascination with figures like Charles Manson hasn’t faded—it’s only grown. Red Light Factory embraces that curiosity, flipping the script on macabre storytelling and setting it against an anthemic, high-energy backdrop.
The duo’s decision to name-check a controversial figure isn’t about glorification—it’s about examining the power of influence. Much like Manson’s eerie ability to manipulate, Manson Song pulls the listener in with an almost hypnotic force. The pounding drums, razor-sharp riffs, and pulsating synths create a track that is as unsettling as it is addictive.
Red Light Factory may be new to the scene, but their sound is anything but amateur. Lavin and Warwick have spent years refining their craft, and their studio chemistry is undeniable. They embrace the tension between light and dark, injecting their songs with an undercurrent of menace and mystery that sets them apart from the sea of emerging indie rock bands.
With Manson Song, Red Light Factory is not asking for permission—they’re taking up space. In a music industry that often rewards predictability, they are a welcome disruption. And if this first single is any indication of what’s to come, Red Light Factory is about to ignite a scene that’s been begging for something dangerous, something thrilling, something real.
