Lost Velvet


Lost Velvet are a British alternative rock / post-rock duo from Reading, England, formed in 2024. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist Robert Butcher and vocalist Melissa Morris. Their music blends cinematic textures, dual vocals and a ‘90s dream-scape aesthetic, drawing on shoegaze, post-rock and alternative rock influences.

History

Lost Velvet first emerged in 2024 when Butcher and Morris began collaborating in Reading. Their debut single, “Endless”, was released in 2025 and received attention in several independent music publications, described as “a thoroughly consuming success… their knack for atmosphere-heavy, witching-hour rock intrigue is on full display”. The band's self-description declares: “Grunge, post-rock and pop collide in a haunting ’90s dreamscape”.
Later that year, they followed up with the singles “Wasted” and “Make It Alright”, and announced their debut album “Dark Cells’’ set for release in 2026.
In January 2026, the band released the album’s title track as a single. “Dark Cells” was mixed by Michael Patterson and mastered by Maor Appelbaum, and was reported by music publications as a stylistic shift toward a heavier and more expansive sound.

Musical style and influences

Lost Velvet’s sound has been characterised as melding ambient, cinematic post-rock with the layered guitars and ethereal vocals of shoegaze. One reviewer wrote: “A sound fit for late-night drives… jangly mystique and dreamily enticing vocals …” Another noted that the band bridges the gap between atmospheric and aggressive alternative rock while retaining a moody nostalgic core. Critics have observed their work as focused on mood and texture, with a use of layered instrumentation and harmonised vocals rather than conventional song structures.
On BBC Introducing in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, presenter Dave Gilyeat described the band’s sound as having a “Lynchian” atmospheric quality.

Band members

  • Robert Butcher – multi-instrumentalist, vocals
  • Melissa Morris – vocals

    Discography

Singles & EPs

  • Endless – 2025
  • Wasted – 2025
  • Make It Alright – 2025
  • Endless – 26 Sep 2025
  • Dark Cells – 2026

    Albums

  • Dark Cells – due 2026