White Novels - New Release August 2023

"Lost Boys" is an anthem and a rallying cry initially written for my hometown of Sunderland, UK. The scars of the early 1980s still linger, when the UK government rapidly shut down the national shipbuilding and mining industries, tearing away the very essence of the city's identity and pride. These industries were not only sources of income for the men of Sunderland; they represented a centre of gravity for the community, their sense of belonging, and their pride. The jobs lost weren't replaced for decades and the community suffered greatly. 

The consequences of that jolting loss continue to reverberate today. Addiction-related deaths in the area are a staggering 50% higher than the national average, and the suicide rates soar over 40% above the rest of the nation. Yet, amidst this pain, I have encountered some of the warmest, most resilient people in my hometown. They deserve so much more than the decades of neglect and mistreatment by successive governments. With "Lost Boys," we aim to contribute to the rising wave of revitalisation for a city and its people. 

Hear the industrial sounds of the percussion elements in the production - like hammers on steel - and listen to the lyrics to be transported back. We hope this can become an uplifting anthem for a renewed togetherness, countering the hate that disillusionment can lead to when capitalised on by negative actors. We could be, we can be more.

- Matt Belmont


LYRICS

My town was meant to build the boys 
We fell asleep to all the hammering, a lullaby of noise and 
these boats are build to face the waves 
And if no one’s gonna build ‘em how the hell we ever gonna prove our names 
On the river…….
There’s a toll on the river

Lost boys what we gonna do now 
who do we look to to lead us all out
And can an old town ever get bold 
when they took it’s soul
will we ever be, ever be more 
than our fathers ghosts 
We could be
We could be more

We hold the air ‘til Friday night 
Then too much oxygen at once can cause a fire start a fight and…
So we drink ‘til we forget
That we can’t sleep without the noise
This sound was meant to build the boys

But there’s a toll on the river
There’s a soul to deliver

Lost boys what we gonna do now 
who do we look to, to lead us all out 
And can an old town ever get bold 
when they took it’s soul
will we ever be ever be more 
Than our fathers ghosts 
We could be 
We could be more 

Making noise on the river
Cutting your hands in the dirt
Endless smoke in the air
breathe it in ‘til it hurts
But there’s a lie that we
That we don’t have to believe
When we could be
We could be free

Lost boys what we gonna do now 
who do we look to, to lead us all out 
And can an old town ever get bold 
when they took it’s soul
will we ever be, ever be more 
Than our fathers ghosts 

We could be more 
We could be more.

Lost Boys

This song is about gaslighting and is the first song written & produced by me! The first of my songs also to make it on to an Apple Music Editorial Playlist in Germany and Austria - Neu In Pop (New In Pop)Super proud!

Verse:
You said you’d love me for infinity
So why’d I have to go and watch you leave
Your words don’t mean much to me

Pre:
I used to hang on everything you said
Even when you messed with my head
You kept holding back

Chorus:
I tell myself I’m better without you
I’m better without you
I’m better without you

I know my head works better without you
Works better without you
I’m better without you

Verse 2:
I told you my love lies behind closed doors
So why’d you keep asking me for more
All you ever did was start a war

Pre:
I used to hang on everything you said
Even when you messed with my head
You kept holding back

Chorus:
I tell myself I’m better without you
I’m better without you
I’m better without you

I know my head works better without you
Works better without you
I’m better without you

I tell myself I’m better without you
I’m better without you
I’m better without you

I know my head works better without you
Works better without you
I’m better without you

Better Without You - Zahra Deljoui

This song is about homophobia I experienced at a wedding with my partner. It's a conversation to the main aggressor, the conversation I wish I had the strength to have at the time.

Homophobia doesn’t just affect queer people; it affects straight people too. Homophobic slurs are used as weapons to shame and belittle, from children in playgrounds not fitting stereotypes to women in clubs turning down the attention of a man. We’ve come so far yet there are still mountains to climb.

Music has the power to change anything, love doesn’t discriminate, it holds no bounds, that’s why I wrote Love Is Love

Lyrics:

Sitting on the side lines, watching you watch over me 
I feel like an outsider, it’s making me want to leave 
I don’t love like you do, but love is love to me
It comes naturally, so just let me be

And I’ll never get to figure out how
You get lost in a crowd, while I stand out 
And I didn’t ask but you like to tell 
Me about yourself, and the way you feel

The tide is changing, but you’re still waiting 
Failing to get out of your own way 
Stuck on yesterday 
And when I’m near you I start to fear you 
Doubt myself, and question everything 
Won’t let you in

Cause I hold my head up high 
Love is love, I won’t hide

Standing on the sidelines, listening patiently 
I’ve heard it all before, but you still haunt me when I leave 
You can love who you love, and that’s ok with me 
Its what’s meant to be, do the same for me

And I’ll never get to figure out how 
You get lost in a crowd, while I stand out 
And I didn’t ask but you like to tell 
Me about yourself, and the way you feel

The tide is changing, but you’re still waiting 
Failing to get out of your own way 
Stuck on yesterday 
And when I’m near you I start to fear you 
Doubt myself, and question everything 
Won’t let you in

Cause I hold my head up high 
Love is love, I won’t hide

Love is love, love is love, love is love
Is love, love?
Is love, love?
Love is love, love is love, love is love
Is love, love?
Is love, love?

Cause I hold my head up high 
Love is love, I won’t hide

Love is Love

Every Stranger

Newborn Adult - Generation Feral

My Drum & Bass Remix of Zahra Deljoui's amazing single 'Anything Goes' OUT NOW

The song is about falling for someone whilst navigating autism and being scared to fall. When you're not looking for love but it finds you.

Anything Goes (redpanda Remix)

Zahra Deljoui - Anything Goes (redpanda Remix)

Chaos Hearts

First release in a while. Teaming up once again with
Milsky Vocals and Lyrics

Vocals Tracked at The Forge by Kev Burton

Waves feat Milsky

Cheap Queen

If You Think It's Love

Singer-songwriter Shelly Poole discusses her time in Alisha's Attic and current band Red Sky July, with Jim Drury. Shelly is a prolific songwriter, working with some of the biggest names in the music industry. She speaks openly about the miraculous survival and recovery of husband and band-mate Ally McErlaine after he suffered a Grade 5 aneurysm in 2009.

Fistful of Chords - Shelly Poole (Alisha's Attic & Red Sky July)

British-Iranian alt-pop artist Zahra Deljoui blends raw emotion with sleek, genre-blurring production — crafting powerful, deeply personal songs rooted in queer identity, introspection, and cinematic storytelling. Her latest single Dreamt I Kissed Her, co-written and produced by long-time collaborator Jonatan Bäckelie, is a haunting coming-of-age anthem released during Pride season. The track has since been remixed into a dark, dance-ready Swedish garage version, set to drop in September, offering a fresh take on its original emotional landscape.

Zahra’s music has been featured on BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio UK, and platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, FLO, and VEVO — where her video for Love is Love was highlighted on LGBTQIA+ Women in Music playlists. With a sound that draws influence from artists like Halsey, King Princess, Tove Lo, and FLETCHER, Zahra is building a world of introspective pop for anyone who’s ever felt different.

Better Without You - Zahra Deljoui

Zahra Deljoui

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