After a lifetime spent immersed in the rhythm of London, singer-songwriter Garlen Lo is stepping into something slower, greener, and more intentional. His tenth single, ‘Country Boy, Country Girl’, marks a turning point — a warm, reflective song about leaving the city behind, reconnecting with nature, and living a life shaped by passion and wellbeing.

Rooted in indie pop but coloured by a country twang and a touch of soul, the track defies simple categorisation. Garlen describes it as “a little bit of a genre bender,” and you can hear that in the details: a bassline lifted from The Faces, violin flourishes reminiscent of The Bluebells, and a wistful sentiment that echoes McCartney. But perhaps the most surprising influence is ‘Dial Your Number’ by fellow indie artist Kookroom. Playing that track on guitar led Garlen to tweak the rhythm and chord progression, ultimately sparking something entirely his own. “Listening to them now, you couldn’t tell they’re related,” he says. For curious ears, he’s even compiled a playlist of songs that vibe with ‘Country Boy, Country Girl’, with Kookroom’s original closing out the set.

Reaching ten singles is no small feat, and for Garlen, it’s a proud milestone. His journey as a recording artist began in early 2023, and two and a half years later, the catalogue is album-worthy. “With 10 songs, I could release my first album,” he reflects, noting how the latest track feels like a natural progression both musically and personally.

There’s also a storytelling arc at play. ‘Country Boy, Country Girl’ serves as an uplifting sequel to his third single, ‘London, Tell Me Why’ — a melancholic meditation on love and the strain of life in the capital. That song, in turn, was written as a follow-up to The Kinks’ ‘Waterloo Sunset’, making ‘Country Boy, Country Girl’ the closing part in a loose trilogy following the fictional Terry and Julie. “It could be seen as the final part of their story,” Garlen says, bringing closure to characters (and emotions) that have travelled with him through multiple releases.

The music video was filmed at Mudchute Farm in South East London — one of the largest city farms in Europe, nestled right by the DLR. It’s a fitting location, where the city meets the countryside in unexpected harmony. Viewers may even spot Jo the gardener in a cameo, seen handing Garlen some fresh lettuce during a scene. “Jo runs a fab Gardening for Wellbeing session every Wednesday,” he notes. “Highly recommend it.”

With its sun-drenched tone, open-hearted lyrics, and genre-blurring approach, ‘Country Boy, Country Girl’ isn’t just a song about leaving the city. It’s about moving forward — with gratitude for the past and optimism for what’s to come.

BIO

Quirky indie-popster from London. Likes singalongs and wordplay. AKA Hong Kong Cockney*

Garlen Lo is a born-and-bred Londoner of Hong Kong-Chinese origin. Aged 7 he was raised by a wine-guzzling auntie who played country music at max volume. One Christmas, he got a guitar and took naturally to writing drunken singalongs with twee wordplay.

He formed an unruly, skinny-jeaned indie band in the mid-2000s, but after that imploded, tried to become a respectable member of society. Not quite succeeding at that either, he resumed his love for songwriting during the pandemic. The result is this.

He is a one-man band: playing all the instruments, singing, producing, and making the music videos. Songs about lost love seems to be his thing. His Mastermind subject would be The Beatles.

*For a short time, he went by the artist name Hong Kong Cockney but lacked the confidence to see it through. He likes it as a nickname though, like Springsteen's The Boss.

WEBSITE

https://www.garlenlo.com

STREAMING

https://garlenlomusic.bandcamp.com (all songs are FREE download)

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AfQHC4ytNadhcYkNcm9EI

https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/garlen-lo/1668194465

https://music.amazon.co.uk/artists/B0BT2HBHDY/garlen-lo

https://soundcloud.com/garlenlomusic

SOCIALS

https://www.youtube.com/@garlenlomusic

https://www.instagram.com/garlenlomusic

https://twitter.com/garlenlomusic