A breakup, a wedding, and a whole lot of truth – Welsh singer/songwriter Laura Evans’ second album ‘Out of the Dark’ captures a woman who’s lived, learned, and turned every heartbreak into art.

Stream: ‘Out of the Dark’ – Laura Evans

On her latest single, “ATM,” Laura Evans delivers a message that’s as clear as it is catchy: She’s done being the one footing the emotional bill.

The Welsh-born artist calls time on the emotional freeloaders: The smooth talkers, the late-night texters, the ones who only show up when they’re running on empty. It flips the script on transactional love with just the right amount of sting.

“It’s definitely the sassiest track on the record,” she says of the song, which was inspired by time spent in Los Angeles, where Evans encountered “people with too much money and too little soul.”

Out of the Dark - Laura Evans — Out of the Dark – Laura Evans

It resonates because it’s a familiar dynamic for many, especially in a digital world where ghosting is easy and genuine connection feels rare. But Evans doesn’t wallow. Instead, she holds her head high, calls it like it is, and walks away with style.

That same clarity and confidence fuel her next chapter.

If her 2022 debut album State of Mind introduced listeners to an intensely emotive songwriter with an ear for melody and a heart for storytelling, her sophomore album Out of the Dark (out now) shows how far she’s come.

This evolution in Evans’ sound and songwriting reflects an artist who’s stepped into her power. Produced and co-written with Ian Barter (known for his work with Paloma Faith and Amy Winehouse), Out of the Dark offers twelve tracks that weave pop melodies with bluesy undertones, southern rock edges, and intimate ballads. It opens with “Wherever You Are,” a haunting yet uplifting track that has already earned consistent BBC Radio 2 airplay and featured spots on major streaming playlists, setting a powerful tone for the album.

She describes the album as “a little bit of everything I love, tied together with honesty.”

From the bittersweet breakup anthem “Honest” to the anthemic “Superman” and tender wedding ballad “Always & Forever,” the collection moves effortlessly across genres while remaining personal, unapologetic, and grounded in unfettered emotion.

To celebrate Out of the Dark, Evans will embark on her biggest UK headline tour this November, bringing the energy and intimacy of these songs to life on stage.

“I can’t wait to play these songs live with my full band. They take on a whole new life when we perform them live, and I’m excited to share this new chapter with fans,” she says. “There’ll be big rocking moments, singalongs, stripped-back ballads, and everything in between.

Atwood Magazine connected with Evans for a quick Q&A to talk about the inspiration behind her latest single, what we can expect from Out of the Dark, and why she’s more comfortable than ever trusting her instincts.

— —

:: stream/purchase Out of the Dark here ::

:: connect with Laura Evans here ::

— —

A CONVERSATION WITH LAURA EVANS

Atwood Magazine: If someone’s never heard your music before, which song from Out of the Dark would you tell them to start with and why?

Laura Evans: Ooh, that’s a tough one as I love every track on this record, but I think “Wherever You Are,” which is the first track on the album, sets the tone. It was also the first song I wrote for the album. It’s a haunting but uplifting track with elements of blues, pop, and rock that I feel really defines me as an artist.

If Out of the Dark were a movie, what kind of film would it be, and who would play you?

Laura Evans: I think it would be a witchy tale of love and loss with a happy ending, and I would love someone like Riley Keough to play me. I think she’s amazing.

You’ve got such a mix of sounds on this album. What were you listening to while making it? Any unexpected influences?

Laura Evans: Yes, I listened to lots of music, and I do love a melting pot of genres. Probably an unexpected influence was the artist Maggie Rogers.

What was the moment in the studio where you thought, “Okay, this album is really coming together?”

Laura Evans: After we were about six tracks in, the album really started to take shape, and I was super excited about how all the songs fit together.

You wrote and performed a song for your own wedding. Did your partner hear it before the big day, or was it a surprise? What is it like for you to perform that live?

Laura Evans: Well, we actually wrote that song together. It was something my husband and I had started and had been working on. When we finished it, we thought it was a great wedding song and a cool love song. It also gave us a fun way to skip the traditional “first dance” – instead, we surprised our guests and played the song live. It really was the highlight of the day and so fun to perform live!

With all the emotion and honesty in this album, was there a song that felt the hardest to write or record, emotionally speaking?

Laura Evans: “Hear Me Out” was quite emotional to write, and I still get a bit emotional listening to it now. It’s about my journey, staying in my own lane, and not giving up.

The new single “Honest” has really struck a chord with listeners. Can you tell us about the story behind it and why you chose it as a lead single?

Laura Evans: Yes – when I started writing “Honest” with my producer Ian, it felt so fresh and unlike anything I’d written before. It was also fun to pair a sad breakup lyric with a happy, upbeat melody. I think it’s something a lot of people can relate to.

Was that always intended to be the final song, or did it take that place naturally as the album came together?

Laura Evans: I had written “Hear Me Out” quite early in the process, but when it came time to decide on the tracklist, it was clear this had to be the closing song. Hopefully, it leaves listeners wanting more.

You worked closely with Ian Barter on this album, who’s known for his work with Amy Winehouse and Paloma Faith. What did he bring out in you as a songwriter and performer?

Laura Evans: Ian is amazing, and he definitely knows how to get the best out of me as both a vocalist and a writer. He knows the recipe for a great song and how to capture a great vocal. I’d come into the room with so many ideas, lyrics, and production references, and Ian just steered the ship and made it all come together. It was a great creative partnership, and we worked really well together.

You’ve mentioned that co-writers really pushed you vocally and lyrically this time around. Can you talk about a specific moment or song where that challenge paid off?

Laura Evans: Yes – I wrote “ATM” with two writers, Samuel Jack and Patch Boshell, and they pushed me out of my comfort zone when it came to lyrics and sass on that song! It’s definitely the sassiest track on the record, and they gave me the confidence to own it. Similarly, with “Nobody Loves Me Like You,” Ian pushed me vocally so that sometimes my voice would crack, and we really captured the emotion in that performance.

You’ve had some amazing BBC Radio 2 support. Did you have a “pinch me” moment when you first heard one of your songs on the radio?

Laura Evans: Absolutely! It was amazing to hear my song on such a huge national radio station – a real highlight for me as an independent artist.

What can fans expect from the upcoming tour?

Laura Evans: I can’t wait to play these songs live with my full band. They take on a whole new life when we perform them live, and I’m excited to share this new chapter with fans. There’ll be big rocking moments, singalongs, stripped-back ballads, and everything in between.

— —