Ian Roland – Boxing Gloves (2026)
Almost every two or so months, singer-songwriter Ian Roland brings audiences another piece of intriguing music by releasing a new single for eager ears. In May, we enjoyed ‘The Real Thing’, and in February, it was ‘Virtually Free’. Now, I may not hear this music at one of Roland’s popular live performances, but despite that, you feel the intensity and tenderness of his gigs streaming through your speakers. Emotionally charged, sensational, and far more than mere words set to sound, the UK-based musician can scoop you up in the palm of his hand and carry you along a moving melody. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Boxing Gloves’.
Recorded and produced at Brighton Road Recording Studios by Jake Sinner and Roland, with mastering at Subvert Central Mastering by Bob Macciochi, ‘Boxing Gloves’ retains the folk music sound of ‘The Real Thing’ while sitting solidly in an indie-rock tone. Soft, chilled-out, and rather languid with a flowing rhythm, James Chapman’s drums beat in the background, while Dave Coomber’s bass saunters along the melody. Roland’s guitar weaves in the arrangement, as Mishkin Fitzgerald’s keyboards peek out like a fairy behind a tree.
‘Boxing Gloves’ is easy on the ears and a refreshing breath on a dreary day; it is this harmonic symphony that perfectly anchors you while still letting you twirl about with a grin on your face. Roland’s honey-soaked vocals have a whispering effect, but are bold in their own way, keeping the track simple and cool. For me, the lyrics make ‘Boxing Gloves’ more enticing, using the soothing melody to express its theme of a zealous desire to fight for love. Roland explains:
“’Boxing Gloves’… is a powerful anthem about passion, escape, and fighting for love… a visceral picture of life’s struggles through boxing metaphors… The single perfectly captures that universal experience of navigating life’s challenges while clinging to hope and love as guiding forces.”
In addition to the single, Ian Roland released a live gig video of ‘Boxing Gloves’. Recorded at Brighton & Hove’s The Neptune, it isn’t the full song, but even though it’s a one-minute recording, the video showcases Roland’s confident, engaging performance. A real treat, if you ask me.
Find out more about Ian Roland on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, BlueSky, and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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