Growing up listening to 90s R&B and hip-hop, Lois recalls bopping to Snoop Dog as one of her first memories of listening to music as a toddler. But from the age of five she moved onto something a bit more dexterous – playing classical piano. It when then she knew she had an affinity with music.
Image: Lois Rae/Instagram
“Music is a universal language that everyone can understand,” Lois told Audio. “It has the power to make you feel every emotion.
“I love the way it brings people from all walks of life together and allows people to express themselves however they want, when words alone simply aren’t enough.”
She’s right – nothing quite compares to the way music can make you feel. It’s a lifeline for so many people, even more so in lockdown.
Lois’s love affair with music has grown ever since touching that piano for the first time. But although she’s moved away from Snoop Dogg and classical piano (not something you usually hear in the same sentence), Lois has taken her music down a pop route these days – and it suits her well.
Now, she takes inspiration from strong, independent female role models with powerful voices, like R&B icons Alicia Keys, J.Lo and Ashanti. But Lois explains how she often finds inspiration in everyday life too. Things as simple as looking out the window at the Manchester skyline, trying new food or meeting somebody new she says can spark ideas. Spoken like a true creative.
But over the last year, Lois has been no stranger to the effects of the pandemic on the music industry. Of course, that hasn’t stopped her though. Whilst finding ways of adapting, she’s still grown as an artist. “COVID-19 has decimated parts of our industry. But seeing how people have diversified has been inspiring and made me proud to be a musician,” she said.
“The virus has shone a light on the versatility, creativity and fighting spirit that the music industry possesses, against all odds. I truly think Manchester has led the way.
“Personally speaking, it’s meant I haven’t been able to gig live. But it has definitely made me push myself to be more inventive in other areas such as with social media. I have a whole home studio set up now too and it’s also given me time to write more which is something I love doing.”
Lois’s latest song, ‘THAT’S ME’, shares the same liberating attitude as her R&B predecessors. It’s a tribute to her independence and her own relationship with herself.
“‘THAT’S ME’ is all about not relying on anyone else for your own self-confidence and success,” she said.
“Right now, a lot of people aren’t feeling their best. So, I wanted to release something uplifting and empowering to remind people how important it is to love and celebrate themselves and their successes. I want THAT’S ME to make people feel confident and capable of anything.
“I’m really excited for my first big body of work to finally be out there for the world to enjoy. I can’t wait to engage and connect with everyone who hears my music too!”
Whilst Lois Rae’s debut EP is out this March, her new single THAT’S ME is out on all platforms from today. Go and support your girl.
Audio
Soft rock heroes Foreigner announce UK tour including big Manchester gig
Thomas Melia
Foreigner are bringing their soft rock classics over the waters and to the UK as they embark on a new tour which features a Manchester stop.
Formed in the 70’s, Foreigner are a British-American rock band known for their catalogue of soft rock, including hits like ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ and ‘Cold As Ice.’
These rockers have gained a newfound following of late thanks to their music making an appearance in an array of yet more contemporary TV shows like Stranger Things, Euphoria, Wednesday and more, having been heard in plenty of films over the years.
This UK tour marks the band’s return to Manchester after four years – and no, you’ve not got ‘Double Vision’: they are in fact revisiting the same iconic arena they played back in 2022, AO Arena.
The band may look a little different on their next visit as Kelly Hansen, former vocalist of Foreigner, has stepped down after 20 years and has handed the reins over to the equally impressive Luis Maldonado.
This newest gig announcement, set for 2026, will celebrate a landmark 50 years since the band formed back in 1976, and you can expect to hear all their greatest hits.
Foreigner are no strangers to the charts with a chart-topping album and single as well as five Top 40 hits and five Top 40 albums – I guess you could call them the ultimate ‘Juke Box Hero’.
The band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2024, and to celebrate, they played their timeless classic ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ with pop singer Kelly Clarkson performing alongside.
Whether you’re there for ‘Urgent’, ‘Double Vision’ or ‘Waiting For a Girl Like You’, the New York-formed rockers will be smashing out their variety of anthems at AO Arena next year.
Now, Foreigner are coming back to Manchester and the AO Arena on Thursday, 18 June, with tickets for the gig going on presale this Wednesday, 3 September at 10am GMT.
As for general admission tickets, they will be available from the same time on Friday, 5 September – you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
They’re not the only rock legends booking big Manc arena gigs recently, either.
Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)/Jim Geuther (via Vinyl Records Gallery)
Audio
Aussie punk rockers and cult favourites Amyl and the Sniffers announced biggest Manchester gig yet
Danny Jones
Australian pub rockers and punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers have announced their biggest Manchester headline show to date, and we CANNOT wait.
In case you hadn’t guessed, we’re pretty big fans here at The Manc Group.
The cult favourites have made a big splash on the music scene over the past couple of years, playing big festival slots at the likes of Glastonbury and R&L Fest 2025, winning over new fans in the process. We had a feeling they were bringing some big to our shores…
I mean, you could argue they made it fairly obvious where it was going to be held, but it was still a cool little teaser campaign, nevertheless.
That’s right, Amyl and the Sniffers have booked the O2 Victoria Warehouse – an ideal venue for any heavy gig – later this year, following the big poster going up outside the venue in Trafford Park last week.
Fronted by frenetic frontwoman Amy Taylor, they’ve grown a strong following outside of their home country of late, not only winning multiple Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards but picking up gongs from the NME, Kerrang and more since 2022.
They received plenty of accolades for their sophomore record, Comfort To Me, and collected even more for their latest album, Cartoon Darkness, which they’ve been touring pretty much ever since.
It’s that same project that they’re bringing to Victoria Warehouse this autumn, with the punchy ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ performers almost nailed on to sell out the 3,500 capacity venue.
Tipped as a ‘one-night only’ experience, with support from Floodlights and The Menstrual Cramps, this should be a tasty one.
Aussie rock and indie really is having a moment right now, with the likes of Spacey Jane and Royel Otis both set for big Manc gigs this year too.
The early access window opens from 10am this Wednesday, 3 September, with general admission tickets live from the same time the following Friday (5 Sep). Besides the sold-out Ally Pall show, this is their very LAST headline gig of the year, don’t miss it.
You can get ready to grab yours for 22 October right HERE.
In the meantime, why not watch the moment Amy joined Fred Again in the flesh for a live set over in Sheffield last month?
Hannah Starkie -
29th January 2021 
