Marie Franc Announce Single Leave The Light On Ahead of Debut EP Saturday Boy

Manchester-based dream-pop outfit Marie Franc return with their new single Leave The Light On — the second release from their upcoming debut EP Saturday Boy, due later this year. The track officially drops on all major streaming platforms on August 22nd, 2025, following an early spin on BBC Introducing Manchester.

Rooted in nostalgia, Leave The Light On explores the act of letting go — leaving behind something (or someone) that no longer serves you — while still feeling the ghost of its presence. It’s a song about anticipation and yearning, inspired by the fragrant memory of a past lover that lingers in the air as you step into new love, new life.

Rising from the heart of Manchester’s vibrant indie scene, Marie Franc blends sultry guitar textures, hypnotic bass lines, and emotionally rich vocals into a sound that’s both intimate and expansive. The single deepens their signature mix of dream pop and soul-tinged indie, balancing vulnerability with a confident sense of style.

Their music has been described as “buttery warm but sharp as ice” — a fitting description for their ability to merge delicate, fire-flickering arrangements with the smoky charm of a late-night French jazz lounge. Led by soaring, kite-like vocals that are at once fearless and fragile, their sound carries a graceful undercurrent of soft soul and cinematic melancholy.

For fans of Alvvays, Lianne La Havas, Aldous Harding, and Drugdealer, Marie Franc channel influences from ‘90s shoegaze to modern alt-pop atmospherics, crafting immersive soundscapes with ease and authenticity. Co-written by the band and produced in collaboration with Mike Duce (Lower Than Atlantis), the single was recorded between The Joplin House and Duce’s Kent studio, showcasing a confident evolution in the band’s sonic palette.

“Leave The Light On” carries themes of letting go while still feeling the ghost of what you’ve left behind. Was there a specific personal moment that shaped this track?

All of our songs are fuelled by personal moments — sometimes I only realise after writing that I’ve been working through something. This one is very romantic, but it’s also about the confusing nature of grief and the many shapes it takes. Leaving the light on is representative of hope… but not too much, just enough to let your imagination wander back to past relationships — and not always the good parts.

Your sound has been described as “buttery warm but sharp as ice.” How conscious are you of balancing intimacy and edge when you’re writing and arranging your songs?

It’s a mix of intention and instinct. If a song was all power, we’d lose some of the vulnerability people connect with. Early tracks like Warthog were full of space and softness — before we had the full band. The band brought the edge.

Saturday Boy will be your debut EP. How does “Leave The Light On” fit into the wider emotional and sonic journey of that record?

It’s the emotional anchor — a blend of warmth and tension. A lot of the other songs are quite lustful, which can feel cool and detached. Leave The Light On is a reminder that lust still needs soul and heart.

You’ve drawn comparisons to artists from Alvvays to Lianne La Havas, but there are also hints of French jazz lounge in your music. How do those worlds find their way into Marie Franc’s sound?

We all have different preferred genres, and that fusion has become our thing. I couldn’t pin us to one genre if I tried — we blur between them so often it’s like being in five worlds at once. Sometimes it’s like doing hard maths in the studio to make all our ideas harmonise… but it works. I think.

You’ve been building a strong live following in Manchester’s indie scene. How does playing these songs on stage shape them before they’re recorded?

It reassures us we’re on the right track. We’ve had people singing along before the songs are even out, which is surreal. Some have seen us two or three times and keep asking when they can hear them on Spotify — it’s definitely built up the suspense.

‘Leave The Light On’ is out August 22, 2025 on all major streaming platforms, accompanied by a music video.📧