Luxury Stranger

LUXURY STRANGER is a progressive indie-rock band, inspired by various fashions and modern music trends from the 1930s to 1990s, as well as elements of classical and jazz music, and written literature. The project was started in August 2006 by frontman/singer-songwriter Simon York when, after a five-year period away from the music industry, he wrote and recorded the Desolation album.

After putting together the first live band line-up, Luxury Stranger recorded the 'Commitment and Discipline' album, followed by the non-album releases Empty Men EP, Nothing Holy EP and the Face EP. During these times, and various line-up changes, the band has continued to tour extensively across the UK and in Europe, building a loyal and obsessive fan-base. A third album, Darkness Falls Upon The Light was recorded by Simon and promoted heavily through touring across the UK and Europe and world-wide radio airplay. In the studio, Luxury Stranger is a 'music scientist' whereas live on stage, Luxury Stranger is a wild animal putting out a raw energy rarely seen.

As well as gaining critical acclaim, Luxury Stranger music has featured in television and film, and is a melodic wall of sound that gives a majestically slick and regimented cushion for Simon's vocals, “easily one of the finest vocalists in the UK right now." (Reflections of Darkness magazine). With comparisons to the likes of David Bowie, Pearl Jam, Scott Walker, Depeche Mode, The Police, Editors and U2 – a Post-Pandemic Luxury Stranger is now working on a new album, Above and Below – a selection of special shows are currently being performed to test out the new material before heading in the studio to record. There are plans to then tour this album...

"One of the UK's stand out dark alternative acts” (Sphere Magazine)

"...we have nothing against Editors, why should we, but these three Brits actually are at least as good as them." (Luminous Dash magazine)

"Though the scene has had a feast or famine existence recently, the city[Nottingham]'s hard working Luxury Stranger has done more than most to keep the flag flying" (Neil Anderson, Vive Le Rock magazine, issue 46 July 2017)

"Think of early U2 when they were still good. This is of that calibre." (Penny Black Music magazine)

"It's about emotive immediacy, twice-underlined by the vocals, which apparently come not from a teaching book but straight from the bones..." (Reflections of Darkness magazine)

"...with all sorts of influences, from Joy Division to Pearl Jam, but with clever songs." (Luminous Dash magazine)

"...certainly a thing of beauty... a band that's hard to pigeon hole, and you know that their influences are as extensive as they are eclectic, and a whole range of influences can be heard throughout their music from the chameleonic Bowie to the anthemic Echo and the Bunnymen, and everything that’s cool inbetween – and they do this whilst retaining their own individuality and style. Quite an achievement." (Lyric Lounge Review magazine)

"Comparisons are great, but you have to sample the genuine article. Go and see Luxury Stranger!" (Andy Nixon, LS fan)

"...picking us all up in one mighty swoop and bludgeoning us all into oblivion with the powerhouse that is Luxury Stranger. Once again it is apparent that this is no ordinary band." (live review, Penny Black Music magazine)

"Devoid of any pretension and heart breakingly sincere, “Take my hand, I can save you now” sings Simon, meaning every word. It feels like trespassing into a broken man’s psyche." (live review, Left Lion magazine)

"York's voice with its raucous timbre reminded more of the one of a rock singer. But it also gave the song a bolshie appearance... proof that York's voice could shine even brighter on atmospherically calm songs." (live review, Reflections of Darkness magazine)