Over more than two decades, Richard has built a sound that feels both familiar and deeply personal. He’s a true craftsman, blending the rawness of rock with the atmosphere of electronic music. You can hear echoes of bands like Depeche Mode, New Order, Editors, and Soulwax, but he always filters those influences through his own creative vision. His music lives where guitar-driven energy meets electronic precision, a place where melody and rhythm have equal emotional power. As a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer, Richard thrives on having total creative control. His songs pull the listener in with shifting moods, balancing shadow and light, introspection and momentum. The final result feels cinematic, propulsive, and deeply human, connecting with fans of both alternative rock and electronic music.
Richard continues his prolific streak with Lost Friends & B Sides, Vol. 2, a 10-track, 50-minute album that shows why his artistry is both timeless and forward-looking.
The “Lost Friends & B Sides” series is Richard’s ongoing creative vault. It’s a place where songs that never found a home in earlier projects are lovingly dusted off and given a new life. As he puts it, “I’ve written too much stuff for there not to be a third, fourth, and beyond.” This second volume, which is part of an ever-expanding catalogue, finds him refining and reimagining his material with the same intensity and craftsmanship that has defined his 25-plus-year career.
The album starts with “7 Days (Live, but not quite Live Version),” a rock masterpiece that grabs your attention immediately. It’s built on raw, organic guitar work and a percussive foundation that feels like it’s circling you. The track has the energy of a live show but still keeps a polished studio sound. Richard’s vocals are rich and full of emotion, and the songwriting cleverly weaves together a story with big, anthemic hooks. It’s immersive, unpredictable, and proves his ability to merge intimacy and grandeur in a single song.
From there, the mood shifts to “Terror House,” a song that sounds like a digital neon dream. Pulsing with a funky vibe and soaked in warm synth sounds, the track gives a nod to classic funk while staying firmly in alternative territory. The synths glide effortlessly, pulling you in, and the vocals are cool, confident, and unbelievably catchy. This is Richard in full experimental mode; it’s playful, groovy, and he’s not afraid to let rhythm lead the way.
The third track, “Stealth Bomber (Remix),” strips things down to a stark minimalism. Dark synth leads hang like shadows, creating a cinematic tension that is both haunting and beautiful. Richard’s emotional vocals take center stage here, showing the raw vulnerability that inspired the song. It’s a reminder of his talent for balancing atmosphere with feeling, his ability to translate emotion into soundscapes that feel deeply human, even when they’re bare to the bone.
By the fourth track, the album dives into a futuristic sound with “Douglas Adams,” featuring Bainy. This is a masterclass in electro music. Robotic textures, industrial pulses, and soaring synth layers collide with flashes of human warmth to create a grand, filmic experience. Like the writer it’s named after, the track is both witty and expansive, weaving together ideas that feel as much about the cosmos as they do about the dance floor. It’s experimental, smart, and full of a confidence only Richard could deliver.
“Brand New Day,” the fifth track, shows off Richard’s love for reinvention. It’s a futuristic, electro-wavy track that channels the sleek pop sound of the late 2000s while pushing it somewhere new. Pulsing synths and booming bass push the song forward, paired with Richard’s signature percussive style. The result is a minimalist electro-funk anthem that is stylish, cutting-edge, and made for moving. This is Richard at his most playful, but also his most precise.
I’ll let the rest of the album be a discovery for a music fanatic like you. The first five tracks show the range of his artistry, from rock anthems to alt-funk grooves, from haunting minimalism to cinematic futurism. The remaining five tracks of Lost Friends & B Sides, Vol. 2 promise equally compelling discoveries for anyone who dives in. In true old-school fashion, I’ve given you just enough to spark that thrill of exploration that I know is in you.
With Lost Friends & B Sides, Vol. 2, Richard Self proves that no song is ever truly lost. It’s simply waiting for its moment to shine. This project is a testament to his unstoppable creativity, his ability to take what was discarded and turn it into something essential, and his unwavering commitment to a sound that moves between what’s familiar and what’s new.
Lost Friends & B Sides, Vol. 2 is available now on all major streaming platforms.