Until The Ribbon Breaks

After the enormously successful 2024 return of UNTIL THE RIBBON BREAKS with their critically lauded masterpiece V I S I T O R, the act returns on with “2025” – an electronic-pop song penned by frontman Pete Lawrie Winfield over a decade ago.

The uniquely predictive composition unpacks seemingly science fictional images of a world that Winfield foresaw as “filled with alienation and isolation because of technology – leaving us feeling more alone than ever before.”

Although never officially released, “2025” became an instant fan favorite in concert, with an early version on YouTube earning more than 353k views.

The track’s new incarnation frames the original lyrics in a contemporary arrangement that is enhanced by Winfield’s notably confident and commanding vocal performance. “Re-recording the song was quite nice and even a bit nostalgic,” he says. “The words don’t make me feel existential dread any more.”

In fact, Winfield notes that “2025” (VERO Music) is more bittersweet than bleak. “There’s a part of the song where I say, ‘I think I’ll marry a stranger that I met online,’ which is exactly what I’m about to do in real life. The song seems like a doomsday prophecy, but it has an upside. We can control the narrative of technology if we want.”

The release of “2025” follows the release of a limited edition vinyl edition of V I S I T O R. Fans who buy a copy of the album will have a chance to receive a special gift from Winfield: A one-of-a-kind handmade turntable. This pressing of the album is available exclusively at https://untiltheribbonbreaks.merchtable.com/music/v-i-s-i-t-o-r-vinyl-lp.

Winfield enters the new year following a sterling 2024 for UTRB. V I S I T O R was the act’s first full-length collection of new songs since their eponymous 2018 opus.

Working within a hauntingly compelling electronic-pop framework, UTRB mastermind Pete Lawrie Winfield made the album during what he has described as a period of “renewed emotional and creative clarity” resulting from his hard-won sobriety. “These songs were not originally intended to take the shape of an album. I simply started to write and record them out of a desire to recapture the joy of making music,” he says.

The project was introduced with the single “Everything Else but Rain,” featuring harmonies by alt-pop doyennes Lucius. It earned a global premiere on Zane Lowe’s highly influential Apple Music program, as well as winning nods from press including Rolling Stone. He released a series of singles leading up to the album, including the viral smash “Red Skies,” featuring rising Columbian pop artist LaPardo.

‘V I S I T O R’ also offered the anthemic “Nature Mother,” featuring powerhouse vocalist Emoni Wilkins. The record won acclaim and support from BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales, and KCRW. Among the many high-profile kudos that UTRB and Winfield received was from Adam Walton of BBC Radio Wales, who proclaimed, “he’s one of the most remarkable artists that Wales has produced, sonically speaking, over the last decade and a half.” To date, the track clocks in at over 200k streams.

Rounding out the years were a pair of high-profile live gigs. First was a triumphant acoustic performance at the British Music Embassy showcase during the prestigious SXSW Music Festival.

“Playing SXSW was an incredibly special experience in a multitude of ways,” Winfield says. “Not only was it my first show in 5 years, but it was also my first show ever playing sober. For this reason, I wanted to keep it as simple as possible, strip the music down and not hide behind anything.”

Finally, UTRB took to the iconic Dreamland Margate stage in Kent, England for the Margate Summer Series on June 8. The event featured a performance by drum’n’bass legends Rudimental. The Margate Summer Series is part of the iconic “Soundcrash” UK concert series, bringing epic music acts to local outdoor parks. “I cannot recall ever feeling so joyful after a show,” Winfield says. “It will go down as one of the great moments of my life.”

Look for Winfield to continue his creative renaissance well into 2025 with several new UTRB singles and a host of new collaborations with rising young artists.