Yorkshire alt-rockers Beauty School are back with a brand new single, When I’m Feeling Down—a tender yet powerful track that captures the emotional weight of life’s in-between moments. Released today via Slam Dunk Records, the song highlights the band’s continued evolution both sonically and lyrically, offering listeners a raw glimpse into the quieter corners of the human experience.
Written by guitarist Dan Shaw during a period of personal uncertainty, the song reflects on the emotional limbo between life’s louder milestones. “I was between jobs, the band was quiet, and we wanted to sell our house,” Shaw explains. “It was a strange stillness, made heavier by the grief of losing my grandparents.” The track was born out of solitude, with Shaw alone at home while his wife was away for work—a dynamic that shaped the song’s emotional core. Rather than seeking comfort, Shaw wanted her to enjoy her travels, unburdened by the heaviness he was carrying.
Musically, When I’m Feeling Down leans into the rhythmic backbone that has become a staple of Beauty School’s sound, while embracing new textures and inspirations. Drummer Charlie Thomas cites 90s American radio rock as a key influence, particularly acts like Third Eye Blind, resulting in a steady, driving pulse that mirrors the quiet persistence it takes to keep moving forward. The track builds on foundations laid in previous singles like PSJ and Evergreen, yet marks a clear step forward in maturity and depth.
The band—Joe Cabrera (vocals), Dan Shaw (guitar), Grant Beeden Clayton (guitar), Jordan Hill (guitar), Jason Blackburn (bass), and Charlie Thomas (drums)—have grown from their roots in the Leeds DIY scene into one of the UK’s most compelling emo-leaning rock acts. Self-described as “Slam Dunk Festival born and bred,” they’ve shared stages with genre heavyweights like The Wonder Years, State Champs, Hot Mulligan, and Bowling For Soup, and earned their stripes with slots at Slam Dunk, Download, and 2000 Trees.
With whispers of a sophomore album on the horizon, When I’m Feeling Down serves as a poignant reminder of the band’s ability to blend vulnerability with anthemic energy. Whether you’re in the thick of life’s noise or stuck in the stillness between, Beauty School’s latest offering hits exactly where it needs to.
Listen to the single on Spotify.
