Johnny Marr's music is like a gentle breeze on a summer's day – it lifts you up and carries you away to a world of beauty and wonder. His latest single, 'Ophelia', is the perfect example of this, weaving together shimmering guitar work and soaring choruses that'll leave you breathless. Released today, 'Ophelia' gives us another tantalising glimpse into Marr's highly anticipated fifth solo album, 'The Age Of Everything', which drops on 2 October 2026.
Following hot on the heels of lead single 'Spin', 'Ophelia' shows Marr's distinctive sound is still as potent as ever. The track draws inspiration from the timeless world of literature – and who wouldn't be inspired by the enigmatic Ophelia herself? Marr has revealed that he drew parallels between the character and someone in his life, saying, "The character of Ophelia is confounding but there's a real nobility and strength which reminds me of someone in my life. So the name just stuck and sounded like a song." He also notes that 'Ophelia' "sings really well over the track", which says it all!
Marr's been keeping busy, with gigs at Manchester's Castlefield Bowl, Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens, and – until recently – London’s OVO Arena Wembley (now postponed to a later date). But even with his packed schedule, he's still managed to contribute to various projects. Last year saw the release of 'Look Out Live!', a live album featuring 22 tracks from his 'Spirit Power' tour at the Eventim Apollo in London. More recently, he lent his talents to Gorillaz' latest album, 'The Mountain', and participated in a charity album for War Child.