Deaf Havana – We’re Never Getting Out
Release Date: 3rd October 2025
Label: SO Recordings
With We’re Never Getting Out, Deaf Havana have crafted perhaps their most emotionally resonant album to date – a record that feels both cleanly intimate and cinematic. Frontman James Veck-Gilodi delivers a deeply affecting performance throughout, but it’s the interplay with his brother Matthew’s shining guitar work alongside deft production instincts that truly brings these songs to life. Together, they form the beating heart of an album that balances vulnerability with power.
The opening track builds gracefully to provide an emotional introduction that sets the tone for what’s to come. Fans of Inhaler, Spacey Jane, or, surprisingly, Ed Sheeran’s more heartfelt moments will find plenty to love on this record. The duo’s chemistry elevates these songs beyond familiar reference points. Emotive vocal delivery intertwined with moments of atmospheric, widescreen guitar textures give the record its deserved weight.
‘Lawn Tennis’ stands out as a defining moment: an impassioned, stadium-ready semi-acoustic anthem. There’s a Mallory Knox-like power to it, yet the Veck-Gilodi brothers’ distinct musical identity makes it unmistakably Deaf Havana. Meanwhile, ‘Car Crash’ leans into a more delicate space, where restrained chord choices and layered textures add intimacy before an unexpected, vocoder-heavy outro offers a modern edge Imogen Heap would approve of.
‘Hurts to Be Lonely’, is warm while the subtle electronic production nods to artists such as The Japanese House, creating an atmosphere that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking. Then comes ‘Cigarettes & Hotel Beds’, one of the record’s standout moments: an expertly crafted, radio-ready rock track that balances heartbreak and hope with the finesse of Lewis Capaldi and the grit of Sam Fender – in the best way.
The title track, ‘We’re Never Getting Out’, opens with a Hoosiers-esque synth before shortly after bursting into an infectious hook. There’s intimate moments too, however, like the crowd-chorused ‘Frida, 1939’ which feels warmly touching and familiar. There is a lot of charisma in this record.
Deaf Havana have always known how to tell great stories, but here they’ve found a new way to make them worm their way in. We’re Never Getting Out is an album that lingers long after the final note. Heartfelt, confident, and a testament to the creative partnership between the Veck-Gilodi brothers.
FFO: Inhaler / Sam Fender / Hoosiers
Recommended Track: Frida, 1939