Downes Braide Association (DBA) who are keyboard maestro Geoff Downes and multi award-winning songwriter Chris Braide (vocals), announce the second single and video “Hello Hello” from their 6th Studio album Trauma, which will be released on September 25th via Cherry Red Records.
Chris Braide says:”’‘Hello Hello’ is a deceptively upbeat song about how our own psychology can sometimes work against us. We can retreat into ourselves, build walls and become isolated, and that isolation can have a devastating effect. At its heart, the song is about having the self-awareness and courage to reach out and say, ‘I’m scared, I need help, is there anyone there?’ When we say ‘love can open doors’, that begins with learning to love and accept yourself. Sometimes opening that first door is what allows the rest of the world back in.” – Chris Braide
Geoff Downes states “The opening track on our Trauma album is a message full of hope. The start of a new chapter on our 6th DBA album, embodying the discovery of a new world and the start of a journey into the unknown. When Chris sings the poignant lyric “Hello, Hello, Hello, Love can open doors” it immediately captures the sentiment of a positivity outlook which calls all genres, nations and creeds to come forward and join together.”
Trauma is a return to the expansive DNA of classic DBA, with long-form pieces sitting comfortably alongside tracks, like the epic melodic rock and cinematic songwriting that have always defined with Chris Braide and Geoff Downes together.
The road to Trauma began overlooking the River Thames in Richmond before taking on new life beneath the skies of Los Angeles. The songs ultimately found their true identity back in the Gloucestershire countryside and South Wales, while the album was completed with mastering in Devon. Fittingly, a record centred on resilience followed a journey of its own before reaching its final form.
Chris Braide explains, “These songs emerged from the cracks. ‘Trauma’ is about the ghosts we inherit, the wounds we hide, and the light that still finds its way through. In the end, it is not an album about suffering, but survival. ‘Trauma’ isn’t an album about defeat—it’s about what happens after. It’s about carrying your scars with dignity, refusing to be diminished, and remembering that kindness and perseverance ultimately outlast cruelty and fear. Making music with Geoff continues to be one of the great privileges of my career.”
Geoff Downes adds, “Working with Chris on our Downes Braide Association albums is always a great inspirational and joyous experience for me. In ‘Trauma,’ our 6th studio album, we have dug deep into our respective layers and reservoirs of emotion, a theme of darkness followed by light – something we both could relate to. And in particular on this album, we have explored numerous diverse influences characterising the contrast of these polarised emotions. For instance, our epic long track “Lake Of Memories” begins with a quasi-classical bombastic intro and immediately jumps into a fast trance-like up-tempo techno workout – It’s pomp-rock straight into pop-rock! And it’s Chris at his absolute best, grabbing my ideas and working them into some kind of intricate musical kaleidoscope. I think it’s what contributes to our uniqueness, and this album is one we are immensely proud of. Sit down, turn it up, listen and enjoy the ‘traumatic’ DBA journey!”
PRE-ORDER LINK HERE: https://cherryred.co/Trauma
Tracklisting:
1.Hello, Hello – 4:57
2.Trauma – 8:20
3.King of Karma – 4:53
4.Wonderland – 5:12
5.Love and Loss – 3:16
6.I Wish I’d Known – 4:11
7.Do You Remember? – 4:54
8.Juliet – 2:24
9.Lake of Memories – 14:29
10.Wherever You Are Now – 5:44
Written & Produced by Chris Braide & Geoff Downes. Paintings and logo by Roger Dean
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