State Lights have just released their latest single, Don’t Make Plays On My Heart, which showcases a darker side to the ’80s tinged Dublin pop rock outfit.

Fronted by flamboyant singer Shobsy who is well-known in Irish musical circles for his vocal range, State Lights have recently added Northern Irish music stalwart Steve Strange (Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Eminem) to their management team, a move which has already started to yield results in the UK. Don’t Make Plays On My Heart has featured in influential UK music industry outlet Record of The Day and has received airplay in the states.

Don’t Make Plays On My Heart is about “somebody who toys with your emotions,” Shobsy explains over the phone. “Trying to resist someone’s attempt to control you and emotionally manipulate you.”

Like all musicians, State Lights are having to adapt to the current times and this resulted in Shobsy directing and filming the video for Don’t Make Plays On My Heart at home.

“Rather than have no video for it because of lockdown, I decided I’d try to make one myself and I’m pretty happy with it,” enthuses Shobsy, who shot the video on an iPhone using the phone’s in built light. “It was a real familial affair for the first time on State Lights video.” Shobsy’s sister did his makeup and other family members pitched in too.

Though the track has a Killers feel, Shobsy reveals that that came about by accident more than design “The song came from a jam, but when I wrote the vocal melody I was listening to Don’t Delete The Kisses by Wolf Alice a lot,” he explains. “Even though it doesn’t sound like Wolf Alice, it was something I was thinking about at the time.”

Apocalypse pending, State Lights play their biggest headline show to date in The Button Factory on October 15th having previously sold-out Whelan’s.

Check out the video for below, but be advised it contains strobing.