‘The Voice’ Runner-Up Matt McAndrew Changes Band Name Ahead of New Music
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You might remember Matt McAndrew from his time on Season 7 of The Voice, when he came in second place on Team Adam. Since 2019, McAndrew has been the lead singer in a band called Slaves.
However, the band has since rebranded, and will now be called Rain City. They’ve also signed to a new record label and are planning a new album and tour.
‘The Voice’ Singer Matt McAndrew’s Band Slaves Rebrands as Rain City
Last June, before the release of their album To Better Days, the band formerly known as Slaves shared on their Facebook page that they would be going by a different name for future releases. They explained that the name was initially meant to be a reference to their battles with substance abuse, and being “enslaved by our addictions.”
“However, this definition of the name neglects to take ownership of its racial connotations,” they shared in their statement. “As obstinate supporters of the BLM movement, we cannot continue to tie our music and our positive message to a word associated with such negative weight and hurt.”
The band recently revealed that their new name will be Rain City, explaining that it’s a nod to the English city of Manchester, where the band members met. They shared on Instagram that the new name refers to “the serendipity that brought us together and a reminder to keep looking up even when there’s a cloud overhead.”
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Rain City Signs to a New Record Label, Plans New Single
“To our incredible fans, we appreciate you and are forever grateful for your support. This new album is for you,” the band wrote on Instagram. They also shared that their European tour dates have been rescheduled to 2022.
To go along with the rebranding, the band also signed to a new record label, Thriller Records. They shared on Instagram that their next album is recorded, and they’ll be releasing a new single called “Cutting It Close” this week.
Rain City will be performing in the U.K. this month. Their new song “Cutting It Close” will be released October 22, premiering early on SiriusXM Octane October 21 at 6 p.m. ET.
