If you’ve been on socials this week, you’ll have seen the cryptic, one-word-a-day rollout from one of Manchester’s most intriguing new outfits. Letters He Left have been building a slow-burn fever for their second single, ‘Hang On To Hope’, and the snippets we’ve heard so far suggest something special is brewing. The single is due for release on Friday 22nd May.
The band brings together a wealth of local experience: Scott Jeffreys (vocals), Jason ‘Nut’ Coverdale (drums), and Andy Travis (guitar) have a shared history from previous projects, now joined by the foundational low-end of Yousef Sheikh on bass. Following the success of their debut, ‘Running Home’, the quartet seems to be narrowing in on a sound that is uniquely theirs.
We sat down with the lads to talk about the new release, studio secrets, and where they want to leave their mark on the city.
The Interview
Following on from ‘Running Home’, you’ve just announced your second single ‘Hang On To Hope’. How does this new track differ from the debut, and how do you feel you’re shaping the “Letters He Left” sound as a band?
Trav: Running Home was our announcement, like the “we’re here” moment…it took under a month from writing to release – it was a very natural song, everything fell into place quickly. Hang On To Hope was almost ready to go at the same time – but it feels a little darker and we took our time getting the feel right.
Scott: I think it’s a harder song, the first single ‘Running home’ was really a catchy pop song, and I think Hang on to Hope has a slightly more aggressive sound. Maybe a touch of Pearl Jam about it. We are all experienced songwriters and it shows in how varied each track is from each other. I don’t think we’ll ever be a band that repeats itself. We want each song to be a different flavour.
We’ve been loving the teaser campaign – one word a day is a great way to keep us guessing. We also heard through the grapevine that there was some “extracurricular fun” in the studio while filming video content for this single. Are you allowed to spill any beans on what went down behind the scenes?
Trav: We came to the studio one day, and there was a freestanding bath in the corridor. I mean, how often do you just find a bath?! We had to…it wasn’t comfy at all though
Scott, Nut, and Andy – the three of you have a long-standing history of playing together in a previous project. Now that you’ve formed this new unit with Yousef, what’s the biggest difference in the creative energy this time around?
Scott: The biggest one for me is the fact we’re all involved in the recording / production process now. Previously we’ve sat back and let others lead but we’ve had to learn some new skills and it’s been really exciting. It’s just made the whole process more enjoyable as it’s a team effort now. Yousef is a great guy and naturally fitted in with us. There’s is so much more to mine with the four of us.
Trav: Projects end sometimes; we sort of felt we’d stumbled a little in autumn 2025. We’d worked with Yousef before and he totally understood what we were trying to do – he’s been phenomenal to have around. The only debate was who was playing bass and who was playing guitar…we never got an answer so I suppose it’s “both of us” really. The creative process is really laid back and we completely trust and understand each other. It’s really easy to get things done like this.
Every Manchester band has that one stage they dream of conquering. If you were to headline a Manchester venue later this year to celebrate the new music, which one would it be and why?
Trav: I’ve got a soft spot for Gorilla and The Deaf Institute…The Night And Day has always been special to me too.
Scott: It would be a dream to play the Apollo but at this stage I think I’d be keen to play somewhere new , where I’ve never played before.
With two singles now under your belt, what does the rest of 2026 look like for Letters He Left? Are there plans to take this sound on the road for some live dates soon?
Scott: More writing , more recording and hopefully a gig at some point later in the year.
Trav: We have 2 further songs from the same sessions as HTH, both are being mixed and mastered by Andrew Pimblott who’s a wizard – again, someone who totally understands what we’re aiming for…and in the next few weeks we’ll have another 3 songs recorded. We’ve been non stop really since we started. We’re just conscious that between Running Home and Hang On To Hope, there was a bit too long – Letters He Left Songs are like busses, you wait…then three come along at once.
The SoundMate Verdict
The teaser campaign for ‘Hang On To Hope’ wasn’t just clever marketing; it showed a band that understands the value of the build-up. Letters He Left are transitioning from a “new project” into a formidable part of the Manchester furniture.
With a line-up this experienced, the execution was never in doubt, but the heart and “hope” behind the new music is what’s really going to stick with the fans.